You may have noticed Mormons steering clear of illegal drugs. Not too strange, right? Others may have observed Mormons refraining from smoking and alcohol. This also is generally acceptable in most cultures. The most astute of you might also be aware that Mormons do not drink coffee or tea. Now we are stepping into peculiarville. All of these consumption-related Mormon habits are part of what is commonly known as the “Word of Wisdom.”
To many Mormons, the Word of Wisdom is simply a footnote within their belief system. However, if a survey were taken among non-Mormons to discover the most recognizable Mormon characteristic, you would likely find many have checked the “no beer” box.
This law of health was received by Joseph Smith in 1833. In it, the Lord counsels abstention from tobacco, strong drinks, and hot drinks. He also encourages Church members to eat meat sparingly, and to eat mostly fruits, vegetables, and grains. He then promises both physical and spiritual blessings to those following this counsel.
The Word of Wisdom as a commandment provides some “bare-minimum” parameters concerning one’s health. These “bare-minimums” include not smoking, not chewing tobacco (do people really still do that?), not drinking any alcoholic beverages (including beer), not drinking coffee, and not drinking either black or green tea. In recent decades, the use of any illicit drugs has also been added.
Naturally, many see this list and start asking questions. “What’s so bad about coffee? I have a cup every morning to help me wake up. And what’s wrong with it? Is it the caffeine? Would that mean you can’t drink Coke or Pepsi either?” (Dr. Pepper is of course encouraged for consumption because if it is of heavenly taste) “And what about having a beer with my friends or a glass of wine with dinner? It’s not like I am a booze-hound or a wino!”
Unfortunately, the Word of Wisdom does not include a detailed “reasons” section. It doesn’t define what the specific reasons are for avoiding these substances. So why keep the Word of Wisdom? And in keeping it, what should we look for?
Amidst all the spiritual and scientific debate, I believe an important rule of thumb to consider when looking at the Word of Wisdom is “harmful habits.” It’s up to us to do the research and determine our own personal limits. Some addictive substances are stronger than others, and therefore are included on the black list of permanent off-limit items. However, everything else is then given to us to use at our own discretion.
I have been told that I have a “genetic predisposition” towards alcoholism. I can’t say for certain whether this is the case, but many of my relatives have struggled with it in the past. Some of my behaviors lead me to believe that it may be true. If somebody puts any drink in front of me I always drink it all very quickly and am left wanting more. If desert is being served, the only limits I have ever discovered are vomiting and running out of whatever I am eating. Something tells me that taking up drinking wouldn’t go well.
And so, the Word of Wisdom is alright by me. No, I don’t believe that beer is the sweat of Satan or that coffee is liquid fire and brimstone. The substances themselves are not “evil.” Furthermore, the people who use the substances are not evil. There are many people I know who use these substances in moderation and are fine. The only “evil” associated with the Word of Wisdom is gross misuse of any substance which ultimately has the potential of impairing our judgment or harming others. And since I can’t really trust myself as it is, I would rather not make myself a liability. Sprite and chocolate pretzels are dangerous enough for me. I’ll stick with the Word of Wisdom.
24 comments:
I'll have to admit that one of the things that attracted me to the Church was the WOW (Word of Wisdom). In fact, I was taught that Joseph Smith was ahead of his time in having this revelation. For me, it became an affirmation of his prophetic prowess, and as a new convert, I was pretty naive when it came to the history of the times. I accepted it without reservation.
Since then, I have (hopefully!) become less naïve, and appreciate that health codes have been around “forever” (e.g. the Jews).
I’ve also come to appreciate the following bit of info, taken from Leonard Arrington’s writings regarding temperance:
"… a number of scholars have contended that the revelation is an outgrowth of the temperance movement of the early nineteenth century. According to Dean D. McBrien, the Word of Wisdom was a remarkable distillation of the prevailing thought of frontier America in the 1830s. Each provision in the revelation, he claimed, pertained to an item which had formed the basis of widespread popular agitation in the early 1830’s.
“A survey of the situation existing at Kirtland when the revelation came forth is a sufficient explanation for it. The temperance wave had for some time been engulfing the West…In 1826 Marcus Morton had founded the American Temperance Society…In June, 1830, the Millennial Harbinger quoted…an article from the Philadelphia ‘Journal of Health,’ … which most strongly condemned the use of alcohol, tobacco, the eating intemperately of meats…Temperance Societies were organized in great numbers during the early thirties, six thousand being formed in one year. On October 6, 1830, the Kirtland Temperance Society was organized with two hundred thirty nine members…This society at Kirtland was a most active one…it revolutionized the social customs of the neighborhood.”
McBrien then goes ahead to point out that the Temperance Society succeeded in eliminating a distillery in Kirtland on February 1, 1833, just twenty-seven days before the Latter-day Saint revelation counseling abstinence was announced, and that the distillery at Mentor, near Kirtland, was also closed at the same time." (Brigham Young University Studies, Winter 1959, pp.39-40).
. . .
Personally, I think it might be considered unfortunate that what was intended to be a health code and truly, a “word of wisdom,” has essentially become the barometer of one’s worthiness to participate in temple ordinances. A quick glance at those qualifying for temple recommends, including those in church positions of authority, indicates that not all temple goers are abiding by those health codes. It is clear that the consumption of food in moderation has somehow been dropped from the radar screen. I ask you, why has this part of the WOW been deemed irrelevant?
BTW, Nils, me thinks you are wise to be concerned about your personal relationship with alcohol. Coffee? I’m not so sure, but that’s a cultural thing, I suppose. My suspicion is that the consumption of coffee is FAR less hazardous to one’s health than overeating. In fact, there is ample evidence that the consumption of coffee, with or without caffeine, is protective for Type 2 Diabetes. And I’m sure that most of you are aware of the benefits of alcohol in moderation when it comes to heart disease. Overeating and heart disease? That's another story.
Janet -
Thank you for your response, and for the great information you provided. I think it is very important for many, Mormons and Non-Mormons alike, to understand that health codes, such as the Word of Wisdom, are not unique to the Mormon community.
I admit that I like the idea of temperance societies and the temperance movement as described in the material from Arrington which you quoted. I am a strong advocate in temperance in all things, not only the consumption of food and/or other physical substances, but in the non-physical aspects of our lives too. Especially during the election year, I would like to give a quote which I often use in describing my own political beliefs: "Moderation in all things - especially Politics."
Your concerns about the importance of the "black listed" Word of Wisdom items (tobacco, alcohol, coffee, tea) vs. the less pressed issues of overeating, etc. is very legitimate and is a concern which I share. I do believe that these aspects of the Word of Wisdom are just as vital as the aspects of abstention. Moreover, I believe that the most important aspect of the Word of Wisdom is found in the promises it gives, both temporal and spiritual. It is very true that not all church members live up to the fullness of this law of health. These individuals ultimately forfeit either the temporal blessings, the spiritual blessings, or both. For instance, I doubt there are any individuals who have clearly been over-eaters their entire lives who can "walk and not be weary" or who can "run and not faint."
I would like to challenge your notion that coffee would not be bad for me. True, it would not cause me instant death or horrible illness. However, along with the same behaviors I described concerning myself that make me believe that I might have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism, I have also been known to have an overactive or even impulsive personality at times. As Emily will tell you, it is hard enough to get me to calm down and act like an adult for even a few minutes sometimes. I'm not sure that a daily jolt of caffeine is going to help me in that department. I mean, even when drink a Coke I am up all night.
I'm the same way with caffeine, so you may have gotten that from me. I drink coffee, but mix it with half decaf. I cannot have caffeine after about 1pm, or I can't sleep. However, I do think that in certain circumstances, my overall performance is enhanced with some caffeine on board (cold or hot...but I've pretty much given up drinking sodas).
Currently, I'm having a few heart flutters, which tells me that I've overdone the caffeine thing, so I will be switching to decaf to see if that is the culprit (I suspect it is). BTW, the research about Type 2 diabetes and coffee shows that decaf works just as well as caffeinated coffee, so it doesn't appear that it is the caffeine that is protective. Probably the antioxidants of the coffee bean? I really don't know.
My point in this whole discussion is that I'm bothered by some of the simplistic rules that seem to govern a temple worthiness interview. One can make excuses all day about it not being a "perfect" system, but really and truly, this question is seriously flawed. Can somebody help me here?
As I have said before, I was raised as a very liberal Jew, went through an Orthodox phase, discovered politics and feminism, and now here I am...in an endeavor and a life in which my faith plays a central role. During my childhood, I did not keep kosher and never considered doing so; as a teenager I began to follow kosher law, and now here in Romania I keep kosher-style. It's simply not realistic here. I don't see them as health codes; that makes them irrelevant for today. I am just as likely to get sick off poorly-washed lettuce as I am to become ill from pork. I regard kosher regulations as a demonstration of self-discipline, and one that has become much easier over time. If I had simply been raised in a kosher home, this would not be the case- it would be second nature to me. Keeping Shabbat is much the same, though I still struggle with that, especially here. So much work here is dependent on the schedules of others, and I will often find myself running out of something important on Saturday morning. Then I have to question whether I want to use money on the Sabbath. But that's another topic. It was a great post.
Ok! Here I go on trying to make some sort of intelligible addition to these posts: I am definitely one of those people who has had the WOW pretty much ingrained in my lifestyle from an early age, which is interesting since I was exposed to both sides of the spectrum. I have seen quite personally the effects that can come about as a result of addictive substances and behaviors. Then again, there are also those who have followed this code of health religiously (pun intended) that fall victim to seemingly random fates: i.e. cancer, accidents, etc.
Yet, I am still very gung ho about the WOW. The idea and practice of moderation in ALL things, really is beneficial all around, and hey, even if you end up getting hit by a truck in the end, I still would go for the healthier lifestyle.
To me the more intriguing question is that of the seemingly small things that hold such weight in temple recommend interviews. In my opinion, it is the small things and the way that you deal with them that make or break you. I'm not talking only WOW things here, but in general.
In D&C 98:12 it says, "For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith." The way that I see it, we as individuals are hopefully trying to become better every day. It would be well beyond me to take upon myself something so big that I would be doomed to fail from the start. I believe that we have been given a chance to show that we are willing to align ourselves in every respect, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant, to God's will. So from my point of view, the somewhat "simplistic rules" of the temple recommend questions really reflect something a lot bigger, because technically "no unclean thing" should be able to enter into the home of God right? Well none of us would be anywhere near there then, but if we are willing to do the small things, then it is a better indicator of our willingness to change and make the effort in the right direction.
Thanks for the post!
I really liked your comment, Catie, and would add that the issue for a Temple recommend is obedience more than health.
I would also like to caution that we should not judge those who are obviously overweight as having "overeaten." Yes, that is the usual view, but there is one book at least that points out that the human body is more complicated than that. I refer to "Lean and Free 2000 Plus" by Dana Thornock.
While gaining some 60 pounds in 25 years, from age 34 to 59, my attempts at following that "healthy eating plan" was the first time I had lost more than 5 pounds without immediately gaining back ten.
I lost a total of 15 pounds so far this year--until a colonoscopy, since which, I gained back 2. My Doctor viewed my weight loss as a sign of poor health because "No one loses weight in America" implying: unless something is seriously wrong with them.
Dana Thornock's plan essentially throws out restrictive dieting and replaces it with "comfortable satisfaction" in getting what your body needs, including sufficient calories.
I just know for me it worked, and maybe after my body plateaus for a little while it may work again.
Responding to Janet's comments (which are always very insightful and always get me thinking a lot)-
To kind of play on your words (and I mean no jest or disrespect), maybe a person would be wise to use things like the Word of Wisdom as their own personal barometer, to gauge their own personal understanding of what is right and what isn't.
As I listened to General Conference this weekend, I remember thinking during one talk that there is a difference between knowing the rules and understanding the rules. I think one of the fundamental differences between the two is that the former means we can recite the law/rule and maybe its meaning, while the latter influences our actions.
Example: someone can quote all day long the rules that have been set forth in the LDS church regarding pornography, which shows he nows the rule. But if he then goes out and buys Playboy or a porn flick, then he demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of the law. "Understanding" in this sense encompasses the "why" of the law, the many levels of the "how," and the "what's in it for me." Incidentally, this last part is something people so often use as an excuse for their actions, yet do not fully understand (in my opinion).
In the likely event that my meaning is unclear, let me try to clarify: in this regard, knowing is kind of like the "letter of the law," whereas understanding is like the "spirit of the law." Those who know the Word of Wisdom know that we don't drink coffee, tea, alcohol, don't smoke or chew tobacco (Nils, they still sell it so someone must still do it), and so on. Those who know may even follow it. But where understanding comes in is when one realizes that these aren't simply rules to see if we'll follow them like so many circus monkey- rather, they are choices we are asked to make by God in order that we may be blessed accordingly.
That's where so many people trip up in the issue of "commandments." They get caught up in the things that commandments don't allow them to do that they don't realize the things they can do and can enjoy through obedience to said commandments.
Why does God give us commandments? Is it to gratify His own pride, to satisfy Himself that we, His children, will jump when He says jump? Absolutely not! I honestly believe that God gives no commandments to us unless they were, if followed properly, the best possible choice we could make. Limited mortal understanding means we often don't see the end from the beginning, and that's where faith and hope come in.
I remember learning once that the word "commandment" has roots/origins relating to the idea of a royal invitation. Again, God doesn't give us commandments for His sake- He gives them to us for our sake, invites us to make those choices because He knows they will bring us the most and brightest happiness. And the choice is ours to make- God will not interfere in that.
People are vastly different, and so find pleasure in different things. Some are able to control their physical habits (like drinking) while others are extremely volatile and unbridled in its presence. The reason for the Word of Wisdom, I think, or at least one of them, is to provide a constant that people can look to, turn to, and rely on when questions arise. God leaves a lot of choice up to us (like caffeinated soda or herbal tea or what constitutes a healthy diet). I think that our main responsibility is to first, follow those specific guidelines that have been set forth, and then go about learning and studying the law and seeking for greater understanding to help us hone our personal choices into better ones.
Where does that leave us with the Word of Wisdom as a worthiness guideline? I think that's something that is largely a personal matter- again, God has asked that we abstain from certain things in order to enter His temple- what the law means beyond that is up to us to figure out. And the good news is that the Lord helps us do that.
That's my initial thoughts- I am eager to read others' comments and see what you think of Nils' post, the comments already made, and maybe even what I wrote here.
Don't want to hog this thread (too much :)). I appreciate what I'm reading, particularly midorilium's perspective coming from a different belief system. Seventh Day Adventism, founded in the 19th century like the Mormon faith, also has dietary restrictions, which you all probably know. They are more Jewish-like in their beliefs, in that their health code also comes from Leviticus (is that correct?). Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I guess my point in posting my original response was that MY belief is that the WOW was not a revelation, but merely a statement (guidance) reflecting the beliefs of the time, which is why there were so many temperance movements going on. Now, one could argue what constitutes "revelation." If one defines revelation rather loosely, then I guess it IS revelation.
I don't know that the Church is super hard core about some violations of the Word of Wisdom. I had a very good friend (a convert) who evacuated from New Orleans after hurricane Katrina and struggled with a lot of emotional and spiritual issues in the aftermath. She was pretty upset with God and went to Starbucks for a coffee. This was not the first time in her life she has done this. She confessed to her bishops (one in Boston and one in Houston) and neither one of them acted like it was that huge of a deal. They just thanked her for confessing and told her to not do it again. They didn't take her temple recommend or forbid her from partaking of the sacrament. I have another friend who deals with bipolar disorder, and part of her drug regimen is a caffeine drug. She has always had problems with the side effects of the caffeine pill so her doctors have always recommended just drinking a cup of coffee instead. She doesn't drink coffee every day, only when she needs it. She has always just talked to her bishops about her medical situation and not one of them has denied her a temple recommend. I don't have any experience with anyone who has had the occasional beer and how bishops have responded to that. I certainly have Mormon friends who have/had struggled with alcohol abuse. It's the abuse of the substance that is the problem and not the substance itself, in my opinion. Honestly, I believe the Word of Wisdom was given to us for our day. It didn't apply to early Christians or any other dispensation of the Gospel that we know of. The Word of Wisdom specifically says that it is given to us because of the designs of evil men in the last days. With all the the controversy and lawsuits regarding tobacco and alcohol advertising, I think the warning was quite prescient. Personally, I believe that coffee and tea are part of the Word of Wisdom for obedience and to make Mormons that much more "peculiar". But that's just my opinion. Maybe when Jesus returns, we'll be able to have wine or beer in moderation. If so, I wouldn't mind trying some wine or a nice Guiness stout, but for now, I'll just get the benefits of wine from drinking grape juice.
Janet - I think you have pointed out a very important link between the Word of Wisdom and its use as a standard for Temple Worthiness. Along with a handful of other questions, one of those that any member who is interviewing for a temple recommend is asked is "do you live the Word of Wisdom?" Generally, this means "do you refrain from tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea." However, this question is usually only specified as this in two circumstances that I know of.
1) During an interview for a new member to be baptized.
2) If a member asks for clarification during an interview.
Catie makes an interesting observation on this point below. She states that this is a small thing which in essence reflects a larger issue. Also, I would like to highlight Fern RL's comment, which says that the questions concerning the Word of Wisdom is more about obedience rather than health. I agree with this notion. The Word of Wisdom as a health code is and always has been, as stated in the beginning of Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, “not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation.”
With the idea of continuing revelation being an important tenant of Mormon doctrine, subsequent church leaders who established parts of the Word of Wisdom as commandments could be seen as having made decisions based on contemporary revelation.
To further address your points, I have found that there is often wisdom in setting limits, and I think the minimum points of the Word of Wisdom (abstentions) should reflect a foundation and not a goal to strive towards (though this might be different for others who have not yet established these habits of the Word of Wisdom). As a church member, I gladly abstain from these substances for several reasons. Below I have listed some of the most prominent:
1) They are not necessary for a successful life. Though as Janet stated there may be some health benefits from certain substances which are not allowed by the Word of Wisdom (i.e. antioxidants from coffee beans, health benefits of wine) I do not believe that these benefits can only be found in these substances. Often there are simple substitutes available (i.e. pure grape juice for wine, decaf coffee).
2) I like being the peculiar person. I like attention, and not drinking alcohol at a social event usually draws as much or more attention than the person who drinks too much. Moreover, the Word of Wisdom has probably given me more opportunities to explain my beliefs to others than any other thing. Dozens of times when I have been offered coffee, wine, champagne, etc., my polite refusals have led to conversations about what Mormonism is. Many people I have met have gotten their first exposure to Mormonism through these instances.
3) To me, this seems like such a simple sacrifice to make. I believe that learning to make the ultimate sacrifice (a broken heart and a contrite spirit) by becoming humble and meek is so much more challenging than simply saying no to certain items. However, if I am not even willing to not follow this most simple direction, how can I be expected to follow the greater sacrifices I promise to make?
Ultimately, this last reason is why I feel these questions are included in the temple interview. In the temple, much of the lessons taught focus on the concept of sacrifice, and a willingness to follow a simplified version of sacrifice (i.e. the Word of Wisdom) reflects a greater willingness to sacrifice the things that really matter.
Midoriliem –
Thank you very much for your comments. I would like to echo Janet’s words. Especially on this topic, it is good to get some perspective from one who comes from another background, but who is familiar with ideas such as dietary restrictions. Your notions of self-discipline I think are spot-on. I have always tried to be a more disciplined person, and focusing on little things like my eating habits, study habits, exercise, etc., have always been helpful in helping me maintain a mental balance. Sometimes, taking these quests to extremes can result in significant imbalance in our lives, so we do have to be careful. I applaud your efforts to keep Kosher-style as well as your efforts to keep Shabbat. I think we all face the similar challenges, and learning how to balance them is the quest of a lifetime.
By the way, if you are willing, I would be very interested to hear some more of your ideas considering what you think the reasons for kosher and other commandments are. Self-discipline is one key, but why these particular things. The same question could be addressed to Mormon readers concerning the Word of Wisdom. Why substances vs., say, laws concerning what time to get up in the morning, or praying five times a day to the East, or anything else?
Catie –
We welcome you and thank you very much for your wonderful insights. As I said in my earlier post to Janet, I really like your view of how the Word of Wisdom is a reflection of something much greater. I would be interested in knowing what exactly you think those “greater” things are, and how obeying the Word of Wisdom reflects those things?
Fern RL –
Again, thanks for adding to Catie’s comment and addressing the idea of obedience. This concept is bound to play a major role in future posts, as it is one in which I have been particularly interested in the past.
I would also like to apologize if my earlier comments regarding over-eating came across as too accusatory to anybody who might be struggling with weight problems. You are absolutely right to point out there are many complex reasons for how much a person weighs. In my post I mention that I have been told about my genetic predisposition to alcoholism. Likewise, others face a genetic predisposition to obesity, or other problems regarding maintaining a healthy body weight. Moreover, I think it is even more difficult to face this type of genetic makeup, because as humans we have to eat, as opposed to me, who can solve my genetic problem by simply never drinking.
Congratulations on losing 15 pounds this year, I hope you are feeling well. I incidentally lost about that much weight this year as well.
The word of wisdom has always been a minor bone with me, because of the way it evolved since it was first put down on paper.
Specifically, verse two says sent by greeting, not by commandment.. and yet it's rather commandment-like these days.
Specifically also, what does 'hot drinks' mean? How about herb tea, and hot chocolate, and hot cider? Does it mean 'fire water' or alcohol?
The emphasis has really gotten away from good health, as Janet points out, and is much more focused on a few items, or categories of items. Someday, when I am old and should be doing my genealogy and serving in the temple, I'll instead be constructing a timeline showing how the word of wisdom evolved, and when certain items were suggested for forbiddenment, and when same were expressly forbidden.
Another vein to mine is degrees of violation. In tara's examples, would those same bishops be aghast if someone came to them saying they had a medical marijuana card, and were taking advantage of it (for medical reasons of course).
I've wondered before what kind of drunk I'd be. Mean drunk? Happy drunk? Quiet drunk? And how much would it take to get me under the table?
When I get to heaven one of the first items on my agenda is to try everything, and I mean everything including marijuana, alcohol (I mean good quality stuff and maybe some bad quality stuff too), LSD, cocaine, codeine, haggis, and a garbage plate.
My assumption here, of course, is that in a resurrected body it's impossible to o.d. and impossible to become addicted.
Although... they do say that one takes their personality with them. What if I have an addictive personality?
Can we post comments when we get to heaven? Or maybe no one will care what anyone else thinks, because there's nothing more to say. It would be like
Comment 1: blah blah blah
Comment 2: yeah, we know
Comment 3: blah blah
Comment 4: yeah, we know
and so on
Will our muumuus be high tech, or just fabric?
I would like to agree with Fern's comment that not all those who are rather overweight or those who are rather skinny are that way because of eating habits, "self-control" problems, or any other compulsive emotional habits. The body is more complex than that and I would say I know people who eat very 'healthily' and remain overweight. They are just genetically heavier, and they are surely more fit than I am. The prejudice against people who are not of a typical weight in America is perhaps stronger than racism or sexism. It is certainly more acceptable, because, as this post demonstrates, an unusual weight is seen as having a measure of immoral recklessness with one's body- you can "help" your weight, while you are born with your race or biological sex. Interestingly, this prejudice is not just limited to fat people in a society in which thinness is prized: I have gotten many more comments for being rather thin than I did at a high-normal weight.
Also, I should point out that no-one is missing that much by not drinking alcohol (in my opinion)...even Guinness isn't that great. Sorry, Janet.
midoriliem said...
Also, I should point out that no-one is missing that much by not drinking alcohol (in my opinion)...even Guinness isn't that great. Sorry, Janet.
::smile:: I would agree, midoriliem. Plus, I'm not much of a Guinness fan myself.
Again, my point was to address the thinking of the times when JS presented the WOW. And my *other* point was to ask if folks here think that failure to follow the health code outlined in the WOW is something that should keep an individual out of the temple. I think most enlightened bishops don't get too hung up about the WOW, but some still do. It apparently is a big enough issue for some, because Nils' dad (on occasion) writes prescriptions for people to consume coffee or wine.
Well, I was hoping we'd get around to this.
I agree with what Toby said about "hot drinks" - there's simply too much left up to individual interpretation in some instances.
But here's one that looks rock-solid, but is largely ignored:
D&C 89:
12 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;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 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;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
If you read that carefully, the ONLY time you should eat meat is in times of winter, cold, famine, or excess of hunger.
Technically, all LDS should be vegetarians.
This is something my wife and I have discussed - her while munching on carrot sticks, me while downing Quarter Pounders.
Sorry for getting behind…I will respond to some of you now and the rest of you later this evening.
Steven-
You have brought up the ongoing discussion between the “spirit” and the “letter” of any given law. This is a great point which I feel is always relevant, and not only in a religious sphere. It has been my experience that thinking individuals tend to agree that the spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law (a principle which is incidentally demonstrated often by Jesus in the New Testament as He debated with priests). However, I have found that people make this argument for two very different reasons.
For example, let’s look at another cultural aspect of Mormonism which often gets put in the doctrinal category. Sometime in the 80’s, LDS leaders counseled church members to not watch movies which are rated “R.” I was considered counsel on how to live, though it was never taught as church doctrine or included in worthiness interviews with church leaders. Nevertheless, this principle has become firmly ingrained in LDS culture.
A few years ago, some more teachings on this subject put this in a different perspective. Church leaders counseled that watching movies shouldn’t have a specific cut-off based on a rating, but that viewers should do their best to educate themselves on the content of the film and then judge whether it is appropriate to watch. Some people reacted to this like this. “Yes! We are allowed to watch good rated R movies now!” Others reacted to it like this “Aw man, this means we can’t watch rated R movies OR movies which are rated PG-13.”
In reality, they weren’t saying either of these things. They were counseling members to judge movies based on their own understanding of what is appropriate and what is not.
The first category uses the spirit of the law to justify more flexibility, where the second category uses the spirit of the law to help use their agency more appropriately.
Janet-
Thank you for highlighting your point. I failed to address it adequately in my response above, but I think it is very important. If I am understanding this correctly, the debated question is whether the Word of Wisdom is a revelation from God or simply a reflection of the popular thinking of the time?
Might I suggest a third possibility? Perhaps it is both. Mormons are generally taught that the Word of Wisdom was received after Joseph Smith’s wife, Emma, requested that her husband inquire of the Lord concerning this matter. Some speculate that she was fed up with church leaders commonly using chewing tobacco in her house and having to clean up after them. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know as I wasn’t present. However, it brings up another interesting argument about what revelation is and how it is received.
I don’t think there is any single way that revelation is received. However, I have come to believe that revelations are generally not revolutionary breakthroughs. Generally, they come as a system of organizing one’s understanding of information they have already obtained. Perhaps Joseph Smith was very familiar with the temperance movement and had given serious thought towards how important it was and whether it held any merit. Perhaps the “revelation” of the Word of Wisdom was simply an organization to the thoughts he had already experienced, and the process of organizing came from God. I have found that experiences with personal revelation in my life generally take a form similar to this, but I am not suggesting that this is necessarily true for the Word of Wisdom. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this matter.
Tara-
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I agree that Church leadership generally does not consider violations of the Word of Wisdom to be incredibly serious, at least in comparison to other commandments. I have seen experiences similar to those you described with your friends. I have also seen other examples of some church leaders taking Word of Wisdom violations over the top. For instance, a bishop in Texas once denied a relative of mine a temple recommend because he regularly drank Dr. Pepper. I don’t know the whole story, but in the end, my relative spoke with his stake president, and the temple recommend was given, as well as the bishop receiving instructions on how to give a temple recommend interview properly.
Ultimately, I believe these situations are judged based on the context and, like you said, how the substance is used. And, as you and others have stated, obedience is a key word in understanding the Word of Wisdom.
Here are some quotes from LDS church leaders for general consideration:
About "hot drinks"- this quote from Joseph Smith: "I understand that some of the people are excusing themselves in using tea and coffee, because the Lord only said "hot drinks" in the revelation of the Word of Wisdom .... Tea and coffee ... are what the Lord meant when He said "hot drinks."
About meat: When Joseph F. Smith succeeded Snow as president of the church in 1901, the emphasis on refraining from meat was dropped. An official church publication suggests that because "modern methods of refrigeration now make it possible to preserve meat in any season", the Word of Wisdom's limitations on the time of eating meat is not as important as observing the counsel to use it "sparingly".
From Boyd K. Packer: "I found in the Word of Wisdom a principle with a promise. The principle: Care for your body; avoid habit-forming stimulants, tea, coffee, tobacco, liquor, and drugs (see D&C 89:3–9). Such addictive things do little more than relieve a craving which they caused in the first place."
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Another thought, this one from me: Some people who have asked about the Word of Wisdom seem to focus on the things that are not allowed. So many people nowadays seem to bee so focused on making sure they don't have limits- they become preoccupied with things we "can't" do, and get upset with those who say they can't do them. They get very wrapped around the axle about what people say they can and can't do, and feel especially affronted at the latter.
My thought on commandments, the Word of Wisdom included: commandments are less God telling us what to do or not to do, and more God telling us what we must do if we want certain blessings. True, He says "avoid alcohol and tobacco, and eat healthy." But to me, that means "If you want a blessing, like a healthy body or gifts of hidden treasures or the opportunity to enter the temple, then this is what you must do. If you don't want those blessings, you don't have to keep these commandments. But if you do want the blessings, these are the conditions you must follow." And that is not God being exclusive or cruel- if I want to practice law or medicine, I have to fulfill all the requirements of those professions.
Incidentally, President Boyd K. Packer's talk in the April 1996 General Conference is really informative.
It seems that most of the discussion is following the lines of the Word of Wisdom that tell us what not to do with our bodies. However, there are more verses in section 89 of the D&C that tell us what we should be doing.
Not all addictive substances are illegal or dispensed in a pharmacy. They can also be sugars, cheeses, junk foods of all kinds, the list can go on. Chemicals put into our foods now for preservation can be addictive for some. When you go to an enrichment or ward activity and find the cookies and punch as well as foods filled with meat is that obeying the Word of Wisdom?
I have been studying health and nutrition for the past year and a half. Our eating habits are far from healthy in the church. I was recently talking to another woman in my ward about the Word of Wisdom and she mentioned a comment from a coworker. This coworker was upset because she could not get a temple recommend because she drinks coffee, but her obese neighbor can get one. Yes, obesity is a direct result of how we care for our bodies. I will admit that some have more of a tendency to be obese than others, but they are such due to the way in which they care for their bodies. As long as we use the excuse that our genetics are to blame we will never have the power to overcome them.
The Lord has laid out a plan of caring for our bodies. Following the "do's" as well as we follow the "do not's" is essential for our good health. We must use wisdom in our choice of what we take into our bodies because the Word of Wisdom is not as specific as we would like it to be. It is advice from the Creator of our bodies. We should study it and know it, not just read it. We must also seek more information on our own that coincides with the Word of Wisdom in order to make good decisions.
As a last note I would like to say that we should not justify our bad habits, but rid ourselves of them. Do not judge one another, but edify each other with the knowledge we find in the Word of Wisdom. As we have more truthful knowledge opened up to our minds we must act in order to continue receiving further instruction. "Line upon line, . . ."
Tobyo-
Interesting thought on medicinal marijuana. Some bishops might faint. Others might not have a problem with it. I guess it just depends on where it comes from.
As for what kind of drunk you are, I suspect you would be the type that just falls asleep in an easy chair.
Out of all the items which you hope to try someday, I am experienced with only one of them personally – haggis. During some time I spent in Scotland, I got to give it a try. I don’t know if it would be considered a Word of Wisdom violation. If anybody is truly worried about it, I can say that I was served haggis in the house of a current General Authority of the Church, who dramatically cut and served the dish after quoting Robert Burns, a Scottish poet who incidentally died at age 37 because of his “habits of intemperance.”
Midoriliem-
I agree that there is certainly a large amount of obsession about weight in American culture. As studies have shown, obesity and problems with weight have grown in the USA, particularly in certain regions. What ever the causes may be, this has certainly resulted in increased sensitivity around weight issues.
Just think about it, how many people who are skinny meet somebody who says “wow, you are soooo thin!” But, when meeting a black person, would you ever here, “wow, your skin is lighter than this other black person I know." Or, if meeting somebody, have you ever said “Hey, I just noticed how male you are. I think that is great!”
Joking aside, discrimination is just as bad no matter what the issue. To me, it shouldn’t matter if it is something that they can’t choose (like race or sex), something they can (like religion or political ideology), or something that they may have varying degrees of choice concerning (like body mass index). People are who they are, and nothing about them should qualify them for discrimination.
Again, I really appreciate your comments!
Bmillios-
Thanks for your questions surrounding the eating meat sparingly. First of all, I hope you enjoy the quarter pounders, but I feel I should warn you there is probably stuff in there which is a lot worse for you than meat…
I agree with the idea of eating meat sparingly. I am not a vegetarian, but generally don’t eat much meat, and usually only white meat when I do. I think the meaning of the word "sparingly" might be different from person to person. I have heard some suggestions of “one serving a day” as a reflection of what sparingly might mean in a modern context. For me personally, I am fine letting everybody be their own individual judge on that matter. However, I would like to see more understanding among well-meaning hosts who assume that everybody is interested in having a 16 ounce steak for dinner and not having any less-meaty options.
Steven-
You said: “commandments are less God telling us what to do or not to do, and more God telling us what we must do if we want certain blessings.”
I agree very much with this statement. The number of the good things we could or should be doing vastly outnumber those that we shouldn’t be doing. However, people like to focus on the “thou shalt nots” much more than the “thou shalts” because they are much easier to measure.
Jodi-
Thank you for your comments and welcome to Mormon Thinking.
Thank you for pointing out that many things can be addictive. I find the greatest addictions for me are not substances at all…they are reading about politics or NBA basketball on the internet while I could be working.
Certain aspects are grabbers or tossers when it comes to religion. For example: If I was told I had to vegetarian to be of good standing as a Mormon, I think I might go elsewhere, I certainly enjoy my juicy T-bone steaks my husband cooks them real good! Also happens to be one of the few things I can enjoy eating right now.
Also if I were told I had to cover up my whole body except my eyes, as gorgeous as they are in public my whole life, for a religion I'd have to say see ya later. All a bit claustrophobic for me.
I guess that's why they say there's a religion out there for everyone!
To me it's important to know and understand our bodies, recognizing our limitations and realize that the choices we make may have consequences and are we prepared to take responsibility for what they may be. Are we in possession of a weak or strong disposition and if so in what arena's are they in control of.
As to weight I just have to enter the USA and within a month I've gained about 10pounds, and sounds like Nils entered Romania and lost 10 pounds! Want to swap? (jk) If I wanted to eat great food that is nutritious and tastes great I wouldn't pick America to travel to for that experience.
I think of the Word of Wisdom as a guide, that moderation and variety it what our bodies need to function well. I personally could live on bread (not American) if I knew that my body would be fine (health wise), but as it is it clogs up all sorts of tubs so alas I have to change it up. Variety the spice of life. Moderation in all things.
Once we have mastered our own beings then I'd say upstairs might be ready to meet us, and we are ready for what's to come next, though personally some time chillin out in a grave sounds pretty good to me. Why must we be constantly doing.....??
Nils said: "People are who they are, and nothing about them should qualify them for discrimination."
Ooooo....interesting statement Bro Bergie with what is going on with Prop 8 in CA right now.
How 'bout THAT for a topic?
~Janet
Janet-
An interesting idea for a topic...In fact, your wish is my command. Over the next couple of weeks we will discuss some of those areas where religion and politics seem to collide in the world of Mormonism. The issues surrounding Proposition 8 in California will certainly be addressed (and you are not the first reader who has requested discussing this issue).
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