The Bielefeldt Papers

An archive of the thoughts, ideas, and discoveries of an inquiring mind, by Michael Bielefeldt.

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  • Healing of the Whole Self (the Body, Mind, and Spirit)

    Have you ever noticed how deeply our thoughts and feelings can affect us physically? We live in an era where science has confirmed what many ancient peoples intuitively understood: the mind, body, and spirit are intimately connected. Long before modern science mapped the nervous system or measured stress hormones, ancient records described people whose inner torment manifested as literal physical suffering. Powerful emotions like guilt, shame, or unrelenting anxiety don’t just stay in our heads. They trigger real physiological changes.

    The mind-body-spirit link isn’t a new discovery. It appears vividly in scripture. The Book of Mormon captures one very clear example of this in the story of Zeezrom.

    Zeezrom, once a prominent lawyer-figure in the city of Ammonihah, had initially sought to trap Alma and Amulek, two Nephite missionaries, with cunning questions, hoping to discredit their teachings and protect the city’s corrupt status quo. When the bold testimonies of the two missionaries exposed Zeezrom’s hypocrisy and stirred the people, Zeezrom’s conscience was awakened. Overcome with remorse for his role in inciting violence against the two missionaries and believing they had been martyred because of his actions, he was left in profound spiritual and emotional agony.

    Alma 15:3 says, “And also, Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat.”

    We know from modern psychology and neurology that powerful emotional states, especially intense guilt, fear, or shame, can profoundly impact the body. When these feelings become chronic, they keep the sympathetic nervous system in overdrive. Over time, this sustained activation spikes cortisol levels, ramps up inflammation throughout the body, and begins to wear down physical health. In extreme cases, prolonged emotional torment can even trigger psychogenic fever, which is a genuine rise in body temperature without any infection, leaving people literally feverish, weak, and bedridden.

    This is a classic example of what we now call a psychosomatic (or more specifically, psychogenic) illness. In Zeezrom’s case, his profound moral and spiritual crisis, intense guilt over his past actions and the belief that he had caused the deaths of Alma and Amulek, triggered an acute psychosomatic collapse, manifesting as a burning fever and debilitating weakness. When Alma and Amulek later visit Zeezrom, they guide him toward peace through faith in Christ and sincere repentance, a process of deep cognitive, emotional, and spiritual reorientation. As soon as his mind and spirit find reconciliation and forgiveness, his body is immediately healed, and he leaps up, walks, and is made whole.

    This leads us to a deeper question: Does all healing, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, require harmony among the body, mind, and spirit? This question strikes at the heart of what it means to be whole as children of God.

    Both ancient scripture and modern science point toward an integrated model of the human person, where these dimensions are deeply interconnected rather than separate. In the case of Zeezrom, Alma and Amulek’s healing wasn’t simply a laying-on of hands and calling it done. It was an act of repentance, forgiveness, and renewal of mind. His body followed his soul’s direction: once his guilt was resolved through faith in Christ, his fever broke, and he leaped up whole (see Alma 15:8-11). This mirrors a holistic view echoed in many faith traditions and increasingly supported by research.

    Modern neurology and the field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) affirm this connection: mental states such as belief, purpose, hope, guilt, or chronic stress shape immune responses, hormonal balance, and even aspects of neural regeneration. For example, positive expectations and hope can modulate the immune system, reducing inflammation, enhancing antibody production, and aiding in recovery, while unresolved guilt or fear activates the stress response (via the HPA axis), spiking cortisol and suppressing immunity. The well-known placebo effect demonstrates this powerfully: belief in healing alone can trigger real physiological changes, from pain relief to improved immune function, often rivaling or complementing active treatments.

    So, perhaps it comes down to this:

    Physical healing can and does occur without spiritual peace, but it often remains incomplete, fragile, temporary, or shadowed by lingering unrest. Mental healing requires both biological restoration and emotional rebalancing. Spiritual healing, however, restores our deepest orientation toward God and truth, and from that center, healing cascades naturally into the body and mind.

    When the spirit finds reconciliation with God through repentance, faith, and forgiveness, the rest of the self seems to follow almost obediently. Zeezrom’s fever broke the moment his guilt lifted and faith took root in his heart. His body responded to the renewal of his soul. This integrated view reminds us that true wholeness isn’t about fixing one part in isolation. It’s about harmony across body, mind, and spirit, with the spirit leading the way.

    Zeezrom’s story wasn’t;t just an ancient account. It is an invitation for us today. Whatever burdens of guilt, fear, or unrest we carry, the same principle applies: true healing begins with the spirit. As we seek forgiveness through Christ, reframe our thoughts in light of His truth, and trust in His power, we open the door for peace to cascade through every dimension of our being. The body may follow slowly or miraculously, but the promise is the same. When the spirit is reconciled to God, the rest of the self follows, obediently and gracefully. In a world of partial remedies, the gospel offers the complete restoration we all need, which is harmony across the body, mind, and spirit, with the Savior at the center.

    —Michael Bielefeldt, 2026

  • The Mind, the Universe, and the Infinite Sea of Knowledge

    The Human Mind: Storage and Efficiency

    The human brain is an extraordinary organ, capable of an immense amount of information. Estimates suggest that the average adult human brain can store approximately 2.5 petabytes of data, equivalent to 2.5 million gigabytes. This capacity is primarily attributed to the cerebral cortex, which contains around 125 trillion synapses (a tiny junction between two neurons or nerve cells where communication happens, allowing the brain to process and transmit information), with each synapse potentially storing about 4.7 bits of information.

    Consider how a skilled pianist memorizes thousands of musical notes, finger positions, and dynamics. This is a real-life illustration of the brain’s vast storage capacity in action.

    However, it is essential to note that the brain’s capacity is not solely determined by the number of synapses. The efficiency of information storage and retrieval is influenced by factors such as:

    • Energy consumption: The brain consumes about 20% of the body’s energy at rest, indicating its high metabolic demands.
    • Focus and attention: Cognitive resources are limited, and multitasking can reduce the brain’s efficiency in processing and storing information.
    • Memory consolidation: Sleep plays a crucial role in transferring information from short-term to long-term memory.
    • Mental health: Conditions like stress and depression can impair cognitive functions, affecting learning and memory.
    • Learning methods: Active engagement and effective study techniques enhance information retention.

    These factors suggest that while the brain has a vast potential capacity, the actual amount of information an individual can acquire, store, and recall is influenced by how well the factors mentioned above are managed. “The human brain is the most complex object we know of in the universe,” notes neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel, emphasizing both its capacity and complexity.

    The Universe: An Ocean of Information

    When we look beyond the human brain and to the cosmos, the scale of information becomes even more staggering. The observable universe contains an estimated 6×10 to the power of 80 bits of information. This estimate is based on the assumption that each elementary particle in the universe encodes about 1,509 bits of information, a calculation derived from applying Shannon’s information theory to the physical properties of particles.

    To put this into perspective, if each bit were represented by a letter in a book, the total information content of the observable universe would be equivalent to 10 to the power of 113 digital novels, a number so vast it defies comprehension. Even if every human brain were combined, the total knowledge would pale in comparison.

    Imagine everyone on earth writing one book per year for millions of years. The accumulated knowledge would still be minuscule compared to the universe’s informational content.

    Black Holes: Guardians of Cosmic Secrets

    Among the most intriguing aspects of the universe are black holes, which challenge our understanding of information and physics. According to classical physics, information that falls into a black hole is lost forever. However, quantum mechanics posits that information cannot be destroyed, leading to the black hole information paradox.

    Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) proposed that black holes emit what he called Hawking radiation, or a form of energy that could carry information away from the black hole. This radiation is theorized to be encoded in subtle quantum correlations, suggesting that black holes might preserve information in a highly complex and entangled form. Hawking himself once said, “Information is conserved; it is never lost. It is merely transformed into new forms that we may not yet be able to read.”

    Recent theoretical developments, such as the concept of “fuzzballs” in string theory, propose that black holes may not have a singularity, but rather a complex structure that could store information in a way that resolves the paradox.

    Understanding black holes’ information storage and deciphering the information contained within them could one day help the human race design more efficient quantum computing systems, which rely on the same principles of entanglement and information preservation.

    Divine Knowledge: Beyond Human and Cosmic Limits

    If the universe already contains such an unimaginable amount of information, then God’s knowledge, by definition omniscient, must surpass it in every way. God would not only know all physical facts about the cosmos, but also every “what if” scenario, every decision that could be made, every possible event; not only what exists, but what could exist in minds, hearts, and worlds beyond our perception; and knowledge beyond measurable bits, wisdom, justice, love, and other conceptual realities.

    If human knowledge is a pond, and the universe is a lake, God’s knowledge is an infinite ocean, boundless in depth and breadth, encompassing everything that exists and could exist. Unlike human minds or cosmic systems, this knowledge is perfect, coherent, and eternal, with no limits or gaps.

    The human brain, with its estimated capacity of 2.5 petabytes, is a remarkable organ capable of storing vast amounts of information. However, when compared to the estimated 6 times 10 to the power of 80 bits of information in the observable universe, the scale becomes humbling. Black holes, with their potential to store information in complex quantum states, further illustrate the intricate and mysterious nature of cosmic information. Ultimately, the concept of divine knowledge transcends these limitations, representing an infinite and all-encompassing understanding of all that is, was, and could be.

    Reflecting on Knowledge and Growth

    Finally, I invite you to ponder three things: how do your daily habits, such as sleep, focus, stress management, etc., affect your own cognitive performance, and what can you do about it? How does considering the infinitude of divine knowledge influence the way you approach your own learning and understanding? Also, what steps will you take to maximize your own cognitive and spiritual growth in light of the vastness of knowledge around and beyond us?

    Michael Bielefeldt

  • Why “I Follow Christ, Not Religion” Misses the Point

    There is a saying that has been floating around the Christian and religious community. It is a saying that sounds humble and spiritual on the surface, but when you think about the statement clearly, it doesn’t really make sense. That saying is, “I don’t follow religion, I follow Christ.”

    For one thing, if you follow Christ, you’re already practicing a religion, specifically Christianity. “Religion” just means an organized way of worshiping God that involves beliefs, practices, and community. Christ Himself instituted things that are religious in nature, such as baptism, the sacrament (or communion), commandments, ordinances, and the Church itself (see Matthew 16:18). Therefore, saying “I follow Christ, not religion” is like saying “I play soccer, not sports.” Following Christ is the religion.

    Another thing is that Jesus didn’t tell His followers to be spiritual wanderers. He called apostles, established a church, taught collective worship, and gave them priesthood authority. To follow Christ is to participate in the body of believers, which is religion. When people say they follow Christ but reject “religion,” they usually mean they reject hypocrisy, empty ritual, or institutional corruption, which is understandable and good, but those are failures of people, not of a religion itself.

    This is where I reach my main point. Many who say “I follow Christ, not religion,” are really reacting to “legalism,” or the idea that rules or rituals alone save one’s soul. Religion, properly understood, isn’t about empty rule-keeping. It’s about a covenant relationship between Christ and disciple. James says in James 1:27 that true religion is “pure and undefiled before God,” to care for others and live holy lives. That is precisely what Christ taught. Religion, when corrupted or misunderstood, becomes hollow or oppressive. That is a distortion of what Christ instituted, not its essence. So, religion without grace becomes legalism. Religion with Christ at its center becomes true discipleship.

    In the New Testament, Christ and His Church are described as the bridegroom and the bride, or the head and the body (see Ephesians 5:25-27, 30-32; Revelation 19:7; and John 3:29). One cannot claim to follow the head while rejecting the body. To follow Christ without His Church is to follow a partial and self-defined version of Him.

    In the end, to say “I don’t follow religion, I follow Christ” may sound profound, but it misunderstands what it means to truly follow Him, for Christ Himself founded the very religion that bears His name.

    Michael Bielefeldt

  • A Thought on Love

    Everything that exists in this universe is born from love of something. God created the universe out of His perfect love for us, His children. The person who invented the car did so out of love, either love for money, love for travel, or love of creating something. Every book ever written came from an author’s love of something, usually the very subject they wrote about.

    Therefore, everything that exists springs from love, whether that love is good or bad. If I chose to build a fence for someone, it might be because I love that person, I love to work, or I love the reward. Similarly, an employee shows up to work and does their job because they either love their job, love the principle/values of their company, love the people they serve, love the money, or simply love having something to do.

    It is important to remember: not all love is necessarily good. There is such a thing as loving sin, loving evil, or loving oneself in pride. So perhaps it is not enough to say that everything comes from love, rather, everything comes from love, and the nature of that love determines whether it creates or destroys, blessed or harms.