I echo the thanks of others. Hearing the reminders to eat within the counsel that the Word of Wisdom provides is a reminder to benefit spiritual and physical blessings that our Father in heaven has in mind for us.
I would be interested to hear what others think of vs 12-13, 13 especially. I think many read that verse wrongly and assume it is saying that we are to only eat meat in times of famine etc when it actually says it is pleasing to the Lord that we NOT eat it only in those times.
"..And it is pleasing unto me that they should NOT be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine." (caps added)
I'm not saying that we should never eat meat or that we should eat it every day for every meal. I guess just to eat as healthfully as we possibly can to receive the blessings from that.
Jane BirchJuly 22, 2015
Thanks, Deborah! I’m pretty sure the Lord’s counsel in D&C 89 is part of the gospel. Not everything in the gospel is asked in the temple recommend interview. Of course when I share my interpretation of these verses, it should be obvious to everyone that they are my interpretations. I’m just an author, not the prophet, after all! I also try to remind people that D&C 89 is given “not by commandment or constraint.” Church leaders have asked us to carefully follow the clear prohibitions you mention, but that does not mean the rest of D&C 89 is of no value. It is the Lord’s words, after all! This explanation of “Two Meanings of ‘Word of Wisdom’” may be useful: https://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com/about/the-word-of-wisdom/wow-faqs/wow-two-meanings/. I do feel sorry that you have a hard time eating some the healthy foods the Lord ordained for our use, but I hope you’ll not discourage others from eating a healthier diet because of this. The word “moderation” does not appear in the Word of Wisdom. If we use alcohol, tobacco, coffee, or tea in “moderation,” we won’t pass that temple recommend interview! Also, thanks Jean for your kind words!
ChristinaJuly 22, 2015
Thank you for this series of articles. I have really enjoyed them and love the extra support and motivation they give me to continue eating vegan, whole grain, whole foods.
DeborahJuly 21, 2015
I'm all for cutting out processed foods, going organic, but I am not a vegan and this article pushes for a vegan lifestyle that is not Word of Wisdom based. It's about moderation and avoiding the 5 No's: alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, coffee and tea. The bishop does not ask: are you vegan? when interviewing for Recommends. Some of us cannot eat a vegan diet. I happen to get ill on grains and bloat and become toxic on grains. I am not allergic to them, I just cannot eat a diet of them and not wind up padding some doctor's pockets. I think moderation is where it's at. If you eat lean chicken, fish and pork, you can be as healthy if not healthier than a vegan diet. I really wish articles like this would stop pushing their lifestyles as gospel. It's not.
JeanJuly 21, 2015
Again, thank you for writing these series of articles. I have so appreciated the wisdom (no pun intended) contained in them.
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DflanJuly 26, 2015
I echo the thanks of others. Hearing the reminders to eat within the counsel that the Word of Wisdom provides is a reminder to benefit spiritual and physical blessings that our Father in heaven has in mind for us. I would be interested to hear what others think of vs 12-13, 13 especially. I think many read that verse wrongly and assume it is saying that we are to only eat meat in times of famine etc when it actually says it is pleasing to the Lord that we NOT eat it only in those times. "..And it is pleasing unto me that they should NOT be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine." (caps added) I'm not saying that we should never eat meat or that we should eat it every day for every meal. I guess just to eat as healthfully as we possibly can to receive the blessings from that.
Jane BirchJuly 22, 2015
Thanks, Deborah! I’m pretty sure the Lord’s counsel in D&C 89 is part of the gospel. Not everything in the gospel is asked in the temple recommend interview. Of course when I share my interpretation of these verses, it should be obvious to everyone that they are my interpretations. I’m just an author, not the prophet, after all! I also try to remind people that D&C 89 is given “not by commandment or constraint.” Church leaders have asked us to carefully follow the clear prohibitions you mention, but that does not mean the rest of D&C 89 is of no value. It is the Lord’s words, after all! This explanation of “Two Meanings of ‘Word of Wisdom’” may be useful: https://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com/about/the-word-of-wisdom/wow-faqs/wow-two-meanings/. I do feel sorry that you have a hard time eating some the healthy foods the Lord ordained for our use, but I hope you’ll not discourage others from eating a healthier diet because of this. The word “moderation” does not appear in the Word of Wisdom. If we use alcohol, tobacco, coffee, or tea in “moderation,” we won’t pass that temple recommend interview! Also, thanks Jean for your kind words!
ChristinaJuly 22, 2015
Thank you for this series of articles. I have really enjoyed them and love the extra support and motivation they give me to continue eating vegan, whole grain, whole foods.
DeborahJuly 21, 2015
I'm all for cutting out processed foods, going organic, but I am not a vegan and this article pushes for a vegan lifestyle that is not Word of Wisdom based. It's about moderation and avoiding the 5 No's: alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, coffee and tea. The bishop does not ask: are you vegan? when interviewing for Recommends. Some of us cannot eat a vegan diet. I happen to get ill on grains and bloat and become toxic on grains. I am not allergic to them, I just cannot eat a diet of them and not wind up padding some doctor's pockets. I think moderation is where it's at. If you eat lean chicken, fish and pork, you can be as healthy if not healthier than a vegan diet. I really wish articles like this would stop pushing their lifestyles as gospel. It's not.
JeanJuly 21, 2015
Again, thank you for writing these series of articles. I have so appreciated the wisdom (no pun intended) contained in them.
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