Chapter Two - Words of Wisdom If health is obtained by obedience to law as we have shown, then LDS people should immediately recognize that one of the primary laws which we have been given in regard to health is the Word of Wisdom. Among the blessings this revelation promises for obedience to the commandments is "health in their navel and marrow to their bones." "But," one might think, "I obey the Word of Wisdom and I still get sick." Obeying the Word of Wisdom to almost all church members is limited to abstaining from tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. However, there is much more to this revelation than avoiding these substances. These prohibitions have been accepted as binding upon members of the Church, and abstaining from these substances is considered to be part of the basic standards of worthiness. When a Church member is asked in a temple recommend or other interview, "Do you live the Word of Wisdom?", the real question being asked is, "Do you abstain from tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, and harmful (illegal) drugs?" Because the requirements of abstinence have been made binding on church members, better than 90% of all talks and books on the Word of Wisdom are focused on these "don'ts." Whole books have been written about the "don'ts", but very little has been written about the "do's." Yet there is as much information, or even more, substantiating these positive recommendations. Oddly enough, those "don'ts" of the Word of Wisdom account for only five of the twenty-one verses of that revelation, while eight of those twenty-one verses are devoted to positive things we should do. Even parts of the five verses of "don'ts" contain suggestions on positive things we should do. (The remaining eight verses comprise three verses of introduction, one verse of warning, and four verses of promised blessings). The Word of Wisdom "Do's" To refresh our memories, here are the eight verses of "do's" found in this revelation. And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature and use of man Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving. Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly; And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth. And these hath God made for use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger. All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground - Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for the swine, and for all the beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain. (D&C 89:10-17) In addition, here are some of the "do's" found in the five verses of "don'ts." ...this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make. (verse 6, referring to the wine used for the sacrament.)...strong drinks are...for the washing of your bodies. ...tobacco...is an herb to be used for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill. (verses 7 & 8 referring to positive uses for alcohol and tobacco). (D&C 89) The fact that these do's are not obligations of church membership does not mean they are not important. The promised blessings are available only to those who obey all of the principles of the Word of Wisdom, while walking in obedience to the remainder of God's commandments. Hence, if we want health, we must understand and obey these positive principles as well. We should especially consider these positive principles in light of the growing evidence that our American diet, heavy with salt, sugar, fat, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods is damaging to our health. We will consider this evidence in our next chapter. Meanwhile, we need to address an important issue about refraining from these substances.

Many times it has been pointed out that the Word of Wisdom does not prohibit the use of salt, sugar, fat, white flour, chocolate or any one of a number of things that many nutritionists feel are not good for us. Church leaders have made it abundantly clear that we should not judge others by our personal dietary standards, nor impose them on others using the Word of Wisdom as our reasoning. This does not mean, however, that it is a wise and a good thing to eat salt, sugar, fat and white flour. Consider the following. Let's suppose that you just purchased a new car. Along with that car, you obtain an instruction manual which tells you what type of fuel to use, what type of motor oil, power steering fluid, etc. Now, you know that if you want to get good performance out of this engine, then you should follow the manufacturer's recommendations. After all, they made the car and they know what fuel, oil, etc., it was designed to use. The instruction manual won't say, "Don't put kerosene, white gas, coal oil, rubbing alcohol or water in the engine." The manufacturer doesn't have to specify all the things that should NOT be put in the engine, because he has already told you what you SHOULD put in the engine. By default, all other substances are inferior, and perhaps even harmful. The Lord Knew What He Was Doing Doesn't the same thing apply to the Word of Wisdom? The Lord does not have to tell us everything we shouldn't eat because He has told us what we should eat. The following material from a discourse on the Word of Wisdom given in Nauvoo, Ill., by Hyrum Smith should help us understand this point better.

The Lord has told us what is good for us to eat, and to drink, and what is pernicious; but some of our wise philosophers, and some of our elders too, pay no regard to it; for they think it is too little, too foolish, for wise men to regard-fools!...Who made the corn, the wheat, the rye, and all the vegetable substances? And who was it that organized man, and constituted him as he is found? Who made his stomach and his digestive organs, and prepared proper nutriment for his system, that the juices of his body might be supplied; and his form be invigorated by that kind of food which the laws of nature, and the laws of God have said would be good for man? And God made his food, and provided it for the use of man; and shall he be ashamed to speak of the work of his hands...1 God is the manufacturer of our bodies, and in His infinite wisdom He prepared foods that would properly nourish the body so it might operate at no performance. If we use no less than the fuel the Manufacturer has prepared and recommended, can we blame Him if our bodies do not function as they were created to do? Daniel and the King's Meat The story of Daniel and his friends is often cited as an example of the value of obeying the Word of Wisdom. Yet sometimes we miss the real point of the story. Daniel and his companions were selected to be advisors to the king. They were to be fed a daily provision of the king's meat and wine for three years. The Hebrew word here translated as "meat" refers to "delicacies." That is, they were to be fed the king's rich foods. Note that Daniel and his companions didn't just refuse to drink the king's wine, they also refused the king's food. The king's food was likely the same type of rich fair that we are offered today - plenty of meat and extravagantly prepared dishes. Daniel and his friends chose to eat pulse instead of this rich food. Various writers have associated pulse with simple food such as legumes (lentils, peas, beans), possibly grains and some vegetables like cabbage. This suggests that Daniel and his friends ate a very simple vegetarian diet. In fact, they probably ate foods recommended by our own Word of Wisdom - fruits, herbs and grains. We are told that after only ten days on this diet, that "their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat," and that "God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom..." (Daniel 1:15,17) Doesn't this sound like the blessings promised for obedience to our own Word of Wisdom?

The point is, Daniel and his companions refused to eat the same type of rich food we are offered in today's affluent society. This goes far beyond simply not drinking alcoholic beverages (wine). The Teachings of Brigham Young Brigham Young was outspoken in this regard. He said many things about the need for us to eat plain and simple foods rather than the rich food offered by an affluent society. As we got richer and built warm houses, and have lived more richly, indulging in sweet cake, plum pudding, roast beef and so on, we have had more or less disease among us."2 Go into their houses and you will find beef, pork, apple pie, custard pie, pumpkin pie, and every luxury, and they live so as to shorten their days and the days of their children."3 If Brigham Young complained that the Americans of his day, as a nation, were "killing themselves with their vices and high living."4 How much more are Americans doing so today? Are we not doing the same things? Go into our houses and you will find ice cream, pastries, beef and pork, fats and oils, and all kinds of rich food which Brigham Young claimed would shorten our lives and the lives of our children and bring disease upon us. Is this rich food not similar to the king's "meat" which Daniel and his brethren refused?

We might ask ourselves, are these things important? Here is what Brigham Young said about that subject. You may think that these things are not of much importance; no more they are, unless they are observed, but let the people observe them and they lay the foundation for longevity, and they will begin to live out their days, not only a hundred years, but, by and by, hundreds of years on the earth. Do you think they will stuff themselves with tea and coffee, and perhaps with a little brandy sling before breakfast and a little before going to bed, and then beef, pork, mutton, sweet meats, and pastry, morning, noon, and night? No; you will find they will live as our first parents did, on fruits and on a little simple food, and they will never overload the stomach.5 We Are Not Commanded, But... While we realize that these positive principles are not used as standards of worthiness, we should consider them in the light of these words of Brigham Young. I know that some say the revelations upon these points are not given by way of commandment. Very well, but we are commanded to observe every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.6 And we should also consider this passage from the Doctrine and Covenants. For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. (D&C 58:26) If we would like to regard ourselves as wise stewards, should we not refrain from any substance which would lesson our health and vitality? The Purpose of the Word of Wisdom Before we discuss in greater detail the positive aspects of the Word of Wisdom, we should realize that this commandment was given for a greater purpose than just helping to ensure our individual health. Brigham Young explained some of the purposes for the Word of Wisdom in these words: It is a piece of good counsel which the Lord desires his people to observe, that they may live on the earth until the measure of their creation is full. This is the object the Lord had in view in giving that Word of Wisdom. To those who observe it He will give great wisdom and understanding, increasing their health, giving strength and endurance to the faculties of their bodies and minds until they shall be full of years upon the earth. This will be their blessing if they will observe His word with a good and willing heart and in faithfulness before the Lord.7

In a discourse on the Word of Wisdom, Hyrum Smith explained that part of the purpose of the Word of Wisdom was to help restore man back to his original state before he became fallen and depraved. When God first made man upon the earth, he was a different being entirely to what he now is: his body was strong, athletic, robust, and healthy; his days were prolonged upon the earth; he lived nearly one thousand years, his mind was vigorous and active, and his intellectual faculties clear and comprehensive, but he has become degenerated; his life has dwindled to a span; disease preys upon his system; his body is enervated and feeble; and his [mental] and intellectual faculties are impaired, and weakened: and man is not now that dignified, noble, majestic, honorable, and mighty being that he was when he first proceeded from the hands of his maker. The Lord has in His wise designs revealed unto us His will; He has told us as He did the ancient prophets that the earth shall be redeemed - that the curse shall be removed from it...that man's days shall be as the "days of a tree," that he shall again live one thousand years on the earth...

Everything has become degenerated from what it was in its primitive state; "God made man pure, but he has found out many inventions:" His tastes have become innumerable, and his diseases multiplied: his taste has become vitiated, and his judgment impaired: he has fallen - fallen - fallen, from that dignified state that he once occupied on the earth; and it needs a restorative that man has not in his possession - wisdom which is beyond the reach of human intellect; and power which human philosophy, talent and ingenuity cannot control. God only is acquainted with the fountain of action, and the main springs of human events; He knows where disease is seated, and what is the cause of it; - He is also acquainted with the spring of health; the balm of Gilead - of life; He knows what course to pursue to restore mankind to their pristine excellency and primitive vigor, and health; and He has appointed the Word of Wisdom as one of the engines to bring about this thing, to remove the beastly appetites, the murderous disposition and the vitiated taste of man; to restore his body to health, and vigor, promote peace between him and the brute creation, and as one of the little wheels in God's designs, to help regulate the great machinery, which shall eventually revolutionize the earth, and bring about the restoration of all things, and when they are restored he will plant "the tree of life, whose leaves shall be for the healing of the nations."8

Thus, the Word of Wisdom is part of the machinery which will help to bring to pass the millennial era of peace when man will again live to "the age of a tree". These noble goals cannot and will not happen simply by abstaining from the five forbidden substances. Obviously, the rest of the revelation must also be heeded. We must come to understand the meaning of passages which instruct us to eat meat "sparingly" and to use barley for "mild drinks" as well as we understand the injunction to refrain from "hot drinks." Now, some might think, "oh, no" here is another thing I'm supposed to be doing. That is not the way this information was sent to us. You will recall these words were "sent as a greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom..." In other words, these things are not harsh threats, with heavy penalties for disobedience, rather they are the counsel of a loving Father in Heaven, who wants us to have good health. He wants us to have the health, clarity of mind, and the abundant energy we need to accomplish the tasks of life. Isn't the promise that we shall "run and not be weary and walk and not faint?" Rather than viewing this information as "one more thing we've got to do," we should look upon this information as an invitation, an invitation to learn how to care for our health and strength and avoid unnecessary disease and pain. These positive aspects are principles with promise. Perhaps some feel overburdened with learning more about gospel requirements because they feel rundown, tired, depressed, overwhelmed and otherwise lacking in strength to fulfill all they know they should be doing. But, as children of God it is our right to enjoy energy, vitality, and power to accomplish all God would have us do. These positive principles, these words of wisdom, have helped many saints to enjoy the physical health and strength and the clarity of mind promised in the 89th section of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Chapter Two Footnotes 1 Times and Seasons, Vol. III, No. 15, pages 799-801, Nauvoo, Illinois, June 1, 1842. 2 Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 188 3 Ibid., 4 Discourses of Brigham Young; p. 189 5 Ibid., 6 Ibid., 182 7 Discourses of Brigham Young, p 184. 8 Times and Seasons, Vol. III, No. 15, pages 799-801, Nauvoo, Illinois, June 1, 1842.

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