What are we?

I love science. It is a means of discovery. It enlightens us with truths we otherwise would not know. It throws down bigoted false ideals and superstitions. It is albeit an imperfect tool to discover truth, but a great champion for refining the knowledge we have until in time, we come to the full truth. I believe that true science and true religion complement each other. I believe they go hand in hand as instruments to disseminate and enlighten mankind. I learn from both of these. The more I learn about the inner workings of the human mind, body, and brain, the more convinced I grow into the realization that what we, humans, really are, are not animals, but machines. We are organic machines, fitted with overlying and very sophisticated integrated systems that construct what we perceive as reality, or life. Joseph Smith is known to have said that there is no such thing as immaterial matter, all in fact is matter. I believe that. I don't believe in space. I believe in matter too refined to notice, much like air molecules are too small to see with the natural eye, but which all can feel when the wind blows. Our coarse scientific instruments at the present can not detect spiritual matter, and its interesting that the smallest particles known to man continue to show smaller particles from which they are comprised. I believe Joseph Smith was right in declaring that spirit is but refined matter. I see the imperfect machinery of the human body, combined with the perfected machinery of the eternal spirit body, consisting of refined matter, as a human soul. In studying the many mysteries of the nervous system, brain, and human functions, I can't help but notice that what we think and believe has very real physical effects translated into neuronal activity, neurotransmitters, neurohormones, neuronal connections, cell growth, as well as cell death. Emotions and thoughts are reflections of physical properties happening within the human brain. It is interesting to note that people can endure hardship and external trials by what they hold on to in their head. Joseph Smith taught that when a man works by faith he works by mental exertion instead of physical force. It is by words, instead of exerting his physical powers, with which every being works when he works by faith. Science is now speculating that our perception of consciousness arises from language and the ability to mentally associate language to our perceptions. Patients that have had their corpus collosum severed in fact seem to have two minds, but only one conscious, meaning they seem to be aware or conscious of only one hemisphere, typically the left hemisphere where the language centers of the brain are located. This correlation of verbal representation, working by words, faith, and consciousness, is quite fascinating to me. Somehow in the complexities of the interactions within the neuronal networks of the brain, the pre-frontal cortex and the anterior lateral portion of the temporal lobe seems to be able to reorganize, regulate, or short circuit otherwise deleterious external stimuli. The key seems to be in the mental belief structure and the reality of purpose to the mind in enduring any specific set of circumstances. This capacity is fascinating. Even more so when the held belief or endurance is substantial and actually couched in reality or truth. It seems that belief, hope, and faith are powerful methods of reorganizing the mind.