Joseph Smith has been quoted as saying that we should never kill an animal unless we face “starvation.” This is in church history when he comes across two rattlesnakes crossing the embarras. The Holy Spirit also speaks strongly that I have no desire to draw the blood or take the life of.... anyone. If ordinary people were to kill their own meals they would immediately feel the despair and sadness and even trauma and grief. We are not meant to kill, unless we have to. #veganISlove. It’s really selfish to find reasons to kill others when it’s not for need: it’s truthfully killing for pleasure. Spiritual people have abstained from meat in many cultures becuase it draws you closer to God, and if you can’t give up your meat for 30 days than you are suffering from addiction to it.
Jane BirchNovember 21, 2014
Thanks, Barry: I love Elder Packer’s words and counsel on the Word of Wisdom! I agree that the Lord’s counsel is that we each find the appropriate place between eating meat sparingly and forbidding the use of meats. Forbidding others from eating meat is not the way of the Lord, but there is absolutely no prohibition against Church members choosing to forego meat for any number of sound reasons. It is helpful to remember that the Lord tells us it is pleasing to Him if we don’t use meat except in times of winter, cold, famine, and excess of hunger (D&C 89:13, 15) and “wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.” (D&C 49:21). The Lord’s counsel is not an “extreme or fanatical” position, nor is it a commandment. Each of us gets to prayerfully study these scriptures and decide what the Lord’s counsel means to us as individuals. Our bodies are temples of God. Let’s treat them with the due respect they deserve and allow others the privilege of deciding what that means to them. Thanks for your comment!
Barry HNovember 19, 2014
Along with the other quotes, here's one to consider from a General Conference talk referenced in one of the November 2014 Aaronic Priesthood Come, Follow Me lessons:
"Young people, learn to use moderation and common sense in matters of health and nutrition, and particularly in medication. Avoid being extreme or fanatical or becoming a faddist.
"For example, the Word of Wisdom counsels us to eat meat sparingly (see D&C 89:12). Lest someone become extreme, we are told in another revelation that “whoso forbiddeth to [eat meat] is not ordained of God” (D&C 49:18)."
Boyd K. Packer, “The Word of Wisdom: The Principle and the Promises,” Ensign, May 1996, 17–19
Read the entire talk here:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/04/the-word-of-wisdom-the-principle-and-the-promises?lang=eng
It seems to me that most of us need to do better at eating meat sparingly, but, according to Elder Packer, we should not go to the extreme of avoiding meat entirely.
Steve AndertonNovember 18, 2014
I believe: Read, study, ponder, pray, read, ponder, pray and pray for the Holy Ghost to CONFIRM to my spirit if my best interpretation is correct. Without praying for the confirmation by the Holy Ghost we are either "leaning on our own understanding" or leaning on the word of others. When even leaders come up with different assumptions of the meaning confirms all the more WHY we need the Holy Ghost to confirm or guide us prompting us with further ways to study it out. Then we pray again for the help of the Holy Ghost. Most articles and talk I have read and heard seem to leave out what to me is the most important factor in coming to a TRUE understanding.
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Kathryn VarnerJune 2, 2019
Joseph Smith has been quoted as saying that we should never kill an animal unless we face “starvation.” This is in church history when he comes across two rattlesnakes crossing the embarras. The Holy Spirit also speaks strongly that I have no desire to draw the blood or take the life of.... anyone. If ordinary people were to kill their own meals they would immediately feel the despair and sadness and even trauma and grief. We are not meant to kill, unless we have to. #veganISlove. It’s really selfish to find reasons to kill others when it’s not for need: it’s truthfully killing for pleasure. Spiritual people have abstained from meat in many cultures becuase it draws you closer to God, and if you can’t give up your meat for 30 days than you are suffering from addiction to it.
Jane BirchNovember 21, 2014
Thanks, Barry: I love Elder Packer’s words and counsel on the Word of Wisdom! I agree that the Lord’s counsel is that we each find the appropriate place between eating meat sparingly and forbidding the use of meats. Forbidding others from eating meat is not the way of the Lord, but there is absolutely no prohibition against Church members choosing to forego meat for any number of sound reasons. It is helpful to remember that the Lord tells us it is pleasing to Him if we don’t use meat except in times of winter, cold, famine, and excess of hunger (D&C 89:13, 15) and “wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.” (D&C 49:21). The Lord’s counsel is not an “extreme or fanatical” position, nor is it a commandment. Each of us gets to prayerfully study these scriptures and decide what the Lord’s counsel means to us as individuals. Our bodies are temples of God. Let’s treat them with the due respect they deserve and allow others the privilege of deciding what that means to them. Thanks for your comment!
Barry HNovember 19, 2014
Along with the other quotes, here's one to consider from a General Conference talk referenced in one of the November 2014 Aaronic Priesthood Come, Follow Me lessons: "Young people, learn to use moderation and common sense in matters of health and nutrition, and particularly in medication. Avoid being extreme or fanatical or becoming a faddist. "For example, the Word of Wisdom counsels us to eat meat sparingly (see D&C 89:12). Lest someone become extreme, we are told in another revelation that “whoso forbiddeth to [eat meat] is not ordained of God” (D&C 49:18)." Boyd K. Packer, “The Word of Wisdom: The Principle and the Promises,” Ensign, May 1996, 17–19 Read the entire talk here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/04/the-word-of-wisdom-the-principle-and-the-promises?lang=eng It seems to me that most of us need to do better at eating meat sparingly, but, according to Elder Packer, we should not go to the extreme of avoiding meat entirely.
Steve AndertonNovember 18, 2014
I believe: Read, study, ponder, pray, read, ponder, pray and pray for the Holy Ghost to CONFIRM to my spirit if my best interpretation is correct. Without praying for the confirmation by the Holy Ghost we are either "leaning on our own understanding" or leaning on the word of others. When even leaders come up with different assumptions of the meaning confirms all the more WHY we need the Holy Ghost to confirm or guide us prompting us with further ways to study it out. Then we pray again for the help of the Holy Ghost. Most articles and talk I have read and heard seem to leave out what to me is the most important factor in coming to a TRUE understanding.
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