This article is part of a series on Discovering the Word of Wisdom. To view all the articles in this series, see Featured Author Jane Birch.
Two weeks ago, I introduced “Discovering the Word of Wisdom: A Short Film.” I’m happy to announce this video has received over 12,000 views in just two weeks! I hope it motivates many to eat a healthier diet and to share the precious message about the Word of Wisdom with others.
Last week, I shared two extra videos that go along with the short film. These videos feature the stories of two of the couples in the film: the Johnsons and the Joneses. In each video, the couples describe their journey of transitioning to a whole food, plant-based Word of Wisdom diet and the blessings that have resulted.
This week, I share two more videos that feature people in the short film. The first is an interview with Rogan and Lynda Taylor. The second is the extended interview with me.
Rogan and Lynda Taylor
Rogan and Lynda Taylor are LDS whole food, plant-based pioneers. As a physical therapist, Rogan Taylor studied the medical literature and became familiar with the health risks of eating certain animal foods. In 1990, after reading some of the early writings of one of the whole food, plant-based experts, Dr. John A. McDougall, he and his wife decided to eliminate meat and dairy products from their family’s diet. They had four young children at the time.
As Lynda describes it, it was not easy at first, but soon they found good recipes and everyone enjoyed the food. What Rogan was not expecting was that this diet would complete eliminate the terrible seasonal allergies he had always suffered each year. Then, as the years went by, even more health benefits, along with spiritual blessings, became apparent.
The Taylors have been leaders in the plant-based movement in Utah County since the 1990’s. They have introduced hundreds of people to this way of eating and helped a great many to recover their heath and enjoy the blessings promised in the Word of Wisdom.
Enjoy the video interview!
You can also read Rogan’s printed story here: Rogan Taylor
Jane Birch
My story is not one of dramatic health improvements. The fact is, my health was pretty good at the time I decided to change my diet. What I didn’t realize at the time was that all the small annoying health issues I had were red flags: warning signs of worse to come. Fortunately, even those small health issues disappeared when I changed my diet! But the physical blessings of great health are just the tip of the iceberg for me: many more blessings, including rich spiritual ones, have also followed.
It wasn’t easy for me to change my diet at first, but I was so enthusiastic about the promised blessings, nothing could keep me from persisting. Fortunately, it was not long before I figured out how to cook and my palate changed to the point where I discovered that the Lord’s wholesome food is amazingly delicious.
Enjoy the video interview!
You can also read my printed story here: Jane Birch
The Promises in the Word of Wisdom are for Everyone
I am so grateful for the blessings of a Word of Wisdom diet. Wonderful food, a healthy body, and joy in following the counsel of the Lord are just some of the blessings. The fact is, the promises in the Word of Wisdom are for all of us, as many as would like to claim them.
Truly this section of our scriptures is a pearl of great price! It has infinite potential to bless our lives if we will take it to heart, but it is also all too easy to ignore. The world’s voice is so loud, it can be hard to hear the still small voice coming to us from Section 89 in our Doctrine and Covenants, but I know the Lord is eager to bless us when we stop and listen.
Please share the videos!
I produced these videos to make it easier to get the message about the Word of Wisdom out to as many people as possible. I hope you will share then with as many of your friends and family members as you can. When you share them, let people know why they should watch them. You can, for example, share your testimony of the importance of our bodies and the great blessings that come from taking better care of them, along with your desire to eat better (or the joy you have experienced by eating better).
Here is the best link to use to share the short film and all the related videos:
“Discovering the Word of Wisdom: A Short Film”
More on the Word of Wisdom
For more help on embracing a healthy Word of Wisdom diet, see: “Getting Started on a Whole Food, Plant-based Word of Wisdom Diet”
Jane Birch is the author of Discovering the Word of Wisdom: Surprising Insights from a Whole Food, Plant-based Perspective (2013) and many articles on the Word of Wisdom. She can be contacted on her website, Discovering the Word of Wisdom.
Jane BirchSeptember 25, 2015
DANA: Wow! Best wishes for amazing success. Let me know how I can help you! KELLY: Thanks for your very kind words. I agree there can be many rational interpretations of the Word of Wisdom. My reason for excluding dairy and eggs is primarily because it seems to clear to me, based on the evidence collected by whole food, plant-based experts, that they are harmful to our bodies in exactly the same way meat is. So giving up meat but consuming dairy and eggs instead will not dramatically change health (experts tell us people experience the greatest benefit from giving up dairy). The amazing health benefits people experience on a whole food, plant-based diet only come when dairy and eggs are excluded. Perhaps this is the reason dairy and eggs are no where endorsed in the Word of Wisdom? I think the Lord is not giving us a list of things to eat or not eat as much as principles. The only principle that seems at all related to dairy and eggs is that given in verses 12-13. I believe a land "flowing with milk and honey" is a description of a fertile land, not a health principle for the 21st century. Jesus did eat fish, but He also drank wine. But in our day, He asks us to not drink wine and no where in the Word of Wisdom does He endorse fish. Fish, again, has the same nutritional profile as other meats. I realize not everyone is persuaded by these explanations, but I'm just sharing my thinking ib the topic. Thanks for the opportunity! Your last sentence is so important! Thanks for the encouragement to all of us.
kellySeptember 24, 2015
Love the video! Thanks so much for taking the time to create it and share. A whole foods plant-based diet is indeed a wonderful thing. I would hesitate though to include abstaining from all animal products including eggs and dairy (as you seem to advocate on your website). There are some wonderful health benefits (especially for the brain) in consuming some of these in moderation. A closer reading of the scriptures helps us note that it is the "flesh" of beasts and fowls of the air we are to limit or only partake of in times of need. Perhaps the Lord telling us He's given us animals for our use and benefit is at least in part for animal-produced food that is not "flesh". Even the promised land has been described as a land flowing with milk and honey. Also to note is that the Savior consumed fish on several occasions, including feeding it to thousands of people. Again, not considered the flesh of beasts or fowls of the air, yet still an animal. Just some thoughts to consider, lest we jump to more than is there (in section 89) based on one or a few books, like The China Study (which has some good points to be sure, but may also have some flaws). Cross-referencing scripture, pondering, and prayer are of course the most consistently reliable sources.