Double negative that very few seem to understand for some reason... "And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meat... the same is not ordained of God." Abstain means to "not partake"... so "whoso forbids to choose to not partake". Whoso says you must partake... is not ordained of God.
If the Garden of Eden was in perfect balance... do they really believe Adam and Eve were going out and slaughtering cows and swine for the nightly meal?! Really? Doesn't really mesh with the rest of the garden does it?!
Jane BirchApril 9, 2015
PAULA: I don’t think Hyrum Smith was forbidding others from eating meat. The way I read his words, he is counseling us to, “be sparing of the life of animals.” It is the Lord that tells us that it is pleasing to Him that flesh be used only in times of winter or of famine. Hyrum suggests a reason: “and why to be used in famine? because all domesticated animals would naturally die, and may as well be made use of by man, as not.” If you are interested, here are further reflections on D&C 49:18, https://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com/about/the-word-of-wisdom/wow-faqs/command-to-abstain. As for Genesis 9 that you refer to, I’m sure you are familiar with Joseph Smith’s translation of Genesis 9:11, “And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands.”
HERM: What you say makes sense, though I’m personally not as alarmed about GMO foods as some other people (mostly because I think we have far more evidence that other issues are more damaging to our health). You might check out what I’ve written here: https://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com/qas/food-sensitivities/
BYRON: Thanks! You are very kind, though of course, I would never compare myself with greats like Hyrum Smith and John Widstoe!
April LoveApril 9, 2015
Have you ever noticed that that quote from the Doctrine and Covenants is a double negative? And what did we learn in school about double negatives? A double negative is a positive. In other words whoso forbiddeth (speaks against) to abstain from (not eating) meats is not ordained of God. That means that whosoever speaks against vegetarianism is not ordained of God.
Herm OlsenApril 8, 2015
Thanks Jane. This was a wonderful reminder of Hyrum's counsel. I couldn't help but think that he was also warning us against high fructose corn syrup, and genetically modified grain products. "Who made the grain, and the wheat and the crops?" he asked. God did, and I fear that our meddling has and will yet cause us problems. Do you have any thoughts on that?
PaulaApril 8, 2015
D&C 49: 18-19. Genesis 9: 3-4 And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meat, that man should not eat, the same is not ordained of God
ByronApril 8, 2015
Well done! The early church had Hyrum Smith and John Widstoe and we have Jane Birch ... :-)
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ColinDecember 8, 2016
Double negative that very few seem to understand for some reason... "And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meat... the same is not ordained of God." Abstain means to "not partake"... so "whoso forbids to choose to not partake". Whoso says you must partake... is not ordained of God. If the Garden of Eden was in perfect balance... do they really believe Adam and Eve were going out and slaughtering cows and swine for the nightly meal?! Really? Doesn't really mesh with the rest of the garden does it?!
Jane BirchApril 9, 2015
PAULA: I don’t think Hyrum Smith was forbidding others from eating meat. The way I read his words, he is counseling us to, “be sparing of the life of animals.” It is the Lord that tells us that it is pleasing to Him that flesh be used only in times of winter or of famine. Hyrum suggests a reason: “and why to be used in famine? because all domesticated animals would naturally die, and may as well be made use of by man, as not.” If you are interested, here are further reflections on D&C 49:18, https://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com/about/the-word-of-wisdom/wow-faqs/command-to-abstain. As for Genesis 9 that you refer to, I’m sure you are familiar with Joseph Smith’s translation of Genesis 9:11, “And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands.” HERM: What you say makes sense, though I’m personally not as alarmed about GMO foods as some other people (mostly because I think we have far more evidence that other issues are more damaging to our health). You might check out what I’ve written here: https://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com/qas/food-sensitivities/ BYRON: Thanks! You are very kind, though of course, I would never compare myself with greats like Hyrum Smith and John Widstoe!
April LoveApril 9, 2015
Have you ever noticed that that quote from the Doctrine and Covenants is a double negative? And what did we learn in school about double negatives? A double negative is a positive. In other words whoso forbiddeth (speaks against) to abstain from (not eating) meats is not ordained of God. That means that whosoever speaks against vegetarianism is not ordained of God.
Herm OlsenApril 8, 2015
Thanks Jane. This was a wonderful reminder of Hyrum's counsel. I couldn't help but think that he was also warning us against high fructose corn syrup, and genetically modified grain products. "Who made the grain, and the wheat and the crops?" he asked. God did, and I fear that our meddling has and will yet cause us problems. Do you have any thoughts on that?
PaulaApril 8, 2015
D&C 49: 18-19. Genesis 9: 3-4 And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meat, that man should not eat, the same is not ordained of God
ByronApril 8, 2015
Well done! The early church had Hyrum Smith and John Widstoe and we have Jane Birch ... :-)
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