Doctrine and Covenants 89-92

<p>To us man is a dual being, temporal and spiritual, and in the early revelations to this people, the Lord took occasion, many times, to give direction and commandment regarding temporal matters. He directed the Saints and the leaders of the Church in the purchase of land and other property; in the construction of temples; even in the establishment of a printing press, and a store, and in the building of a boardinghouse for the &ldquo;weary traveler&rdquo; (D&amp;C 124:23). In the great revelation known as the Word of Wisdom, he not only indicated what is good and what is not good for man, but he outlined a plan for the feeding of livestock (D&amp;C 89:14) which, through more than a hundred years, has gradually been sustained through the scientific investigation of man. Whatever affects human welfare has always been and ever will be the concern of the Church. Our people have always been counseled in temporal affairs.</p>

<p>I thank the Lord for a testimony of the Word of Wisdom. I wish we lived it more fully. But even though we do not, the Lord pours out His blessings upon those who try. The promise is before us that if we will do so, we shall receive health in the navel and marrow in the bones and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures, and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint; and the destroying angel shall pass by us as the children of Israel and not slay us (see D&amp;C 89:18&ndash;21). To me it is marvelous that beyond the promises of a physical nature is the promise of hidden treasures of knowledge concerning things divine and eternal.</p>

<p>The physical blessings of health and strength that are promised through obedience to the Word of Wisdom are now well-known and well documented. In addition, the spiritual blessings of &ldquo;wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures&rdquo; (D&amp;C 89:19), come to those who keep their bodies free from addictive substances. When we obey the Word of Wisdom, windows of personal revelation are opened to us and our souls are filled with divine light and truth. If we keep our bodies undefiled, the Holy Ghost &ldquo;shall come upon [us] and &hellip; dwell in [our] heart[s]&rdquo; (D&amp;C 8:2) and teach us &ldquo;the peaceable things of immortal glory&rdquo; (Moses 6:61).</p>

<p>Concerning human energy, we can be grateful for the Word of Wisdom, which tells us it is possible to &ldquo;run and not be weary, and &hellip; walk and not faint&rdquo; (D&amp;C 89:20) The Lord has advised us to &ldquo;retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated&rdquo; (D&amp;C 88:124). He has also counseled, &ldquo;Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength. &hellip;&rdquo; (D&amp;C 10:4).</p> <p>Healthful foods, proper rest, adequate exercise, and a clean conscience can prepare us to tackle the trials that lie ahead.</p>

<p>Not every part of the Word of Wisdom prohibits dangerous substances. A large part of the revelation encourages the Saints to use the Lord’s bounty with good judgement and gratitude. Verses 10–17 of the revelation speak of substances that promote good health. </p> <p>These verses are another illustration of how the Word of Wisdom is a living revelation. It is clear from other revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants that the Lord allows the eating of meat and the use of animal products. In a revelation given two years earlier the Lord declared, “Whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God; For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance” (D&C 49:18–19). </p> <p>The warning to eat meat “sparingly” might reference the fact that at the time the revelation was given, the typical adult in the United States consumed over a pound of meat every day.<a href="#_ftn1" id="_ftnref1" title="" class="see-footnote">[1]</a> Over time, this warning has been seen as good counsel but has not been emphasized by Church leaders in the same way that strong drinks, tobacco, tea, and coffee have been. The last time the excessive consumption of meat was mentioned by a prominent Church leader came in a fiery sermon delivered over the radio by Apostle Joseph F. Merrill in 1945.<a href="#_ftn2" id="_ftnref2" title="" class="see-footnote">[2]</a> Since that time, Church leaders have generally refrained from providing counsel on this subject, and it is not typically mentioned as a part of the Word of Wisdom in temple recommend interviews or when missionaries teach this principle. </p> <div class="footnotes"> <p class="footnote"><a href="#_ftnref1" id="_ftn1" title="" class="footnote-label">[1]</a> “Historical Introduction,” Revelation, 27 February 1833 [D&C 89], fn. 34, JSP.</p> <p class="footnote"><a href="#_ftnref2" id="_ftn2" title="" class="footnote-label">[2]</a> Joseph F. Merrill, <em>The Truth Seeker and Mormonism</em>,1946, 247.</p> </div>

<p>The end of the revelation applies to not only the Word of Wisdom but also all of the commandments God has given us. While it is common for Latter-day Saints to highlight the physical blessings that come from abstaining from the substances prohibited by the Word of Wisdom, the Lord also promises spiritual blessings to those who hearken to this revelation. The provisions of the Word of Wisdom bring knowledge in addition to good health. We should also keep in mind that though we tend to think of the Word of Wisdom as a physical commandment, the Lord makes no distinction between physical commandments and spiritual commandments. In an earlier revelation to Joseph Smith, the Lord declared, &ldquo;My commandments are spiritual; they are not natural nor temporal, neither carnal nor sensual&rdquo; (D&amp;C 29:35).</p> <p>Over time, many of the provisions of the Word of Wisdom, such as abstaining from tobacco and alcohol, have been demonstrated to have clear and measurable health benefits. The practical blessings of the Word of Wisdom are evident but are not the only reason to obey this law. We must remember that the most compelling reason to obey the Word of Wisdom is simply to show our faith in the Savior and our commitment to following the guidance given to His representatives in our day.</p>