tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post1967796487605840580..comments2023-12-31T05:01:58.031-06:00Comments on Young Stranger: Why I Follow the Word of Wisdom (and other wacky Mormon stuff)John Gustav-Wrathallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03557940681381951271noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-26437815746222667862014-11-12T20:48:29.335-06:002014-11-12T20:48:29.335-06:00John: aprecio mucho tu franqueza, tu libertad de e...John: aprecio mucho tu franqueza, tu libertad de espíritu y tu auténtica religiosidad. Que tú, Göran, Glen y Will sean muy felices.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04179370249247209622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-55484900450006053802014-11-12T07:33:33.658-06:002014-11-12T07:33:33.658-06:00The health reasons are a good reason to observe it...The health reasons are a good reason to observe it, and good health is one of the promised benefits of following it. Though it was always also taught to me as a spiritual principle, with spiritual benefits.<br /><br />I always wondered why Mormons don't emphasize the part of the Word of Wisdom that emphasizes eating meat only sparingly, or the positive injunctions about eating lots of healthy grains, fruit and vegetables... The focus tends to be on avoiding alcohol, coffee, tea and tobacco.<br /><br />I guess it's easier to emphasize the legalistic "don'ts" than on the more nuanced "dos".<br /><br />I've never encountered a person who was willing to speak in favor of tobacco, or who thought Mormons were weird for avoiding it. <br /><br />I do remember as a kid members of the Church emphasizing that the Word of Wisdom was proof that Joseph Smith was a prophet, since clearly he couldn't have know what modern science has since demonstrated to be the clear benefits of living the Word of Wisdom. (I guess that's why, for many Mormons, recent studies promoting the health benefits of caffeine and wine-drinking seems awkward.) It's worth putting out there that the prohibitions and encouragements in the Word of Wisdom would not have been viewed as out of the ordinary in Joseph Smith's time. I think put in context, it is fair to say that the main significance of D&C 89 is that God takes as much interest in our physical health (in the temporal) as in our spiritual health. <br /><br />"All things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal..." (D&C 29:34).John Gustav-Wrathallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03557940681381951271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-67711688431715359442014-11-11T16:26:24.034-06:002014-11-11T16:26:24.034-06:00Thanks for your comments John. And I agree that fo...Thanks for your comments John. And I agree that for a believing Mormon there is a religious and spiritual aspect to obeying the Word of Wisdom. Growing up in the Church, we were taught that our bodies are temples and obeying the Word of Wisdom will keep them healthy and clean. But as I got older and thought it through more I realized there were other aspects to the observance that were never really discussed at Church. I think it is great that the Word of Wisdom has a spiritual aspect for you. As for myself, I continue to observe it for health reasons even though I have not attended Church in many years. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14364484623565981392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-30047287006841162892014-11-11T07:36:16.484-06:002014-11-11T07:36:16.484-06:00Edward, I agree, that's one function of it. Th...Edward, I agree, that's one function of it. That could even have something to do with why the Word of Wisdom became a requirement only in the early 20th century -- shortly after the practice of plural marriage ended, Utah had become a state, and Mormons were trying to "fit in" to American society. Making the Word of Wisdom a binding rule might have helped remind Mormons that they were still "set apart" in some way.<br /><br />However, I still think it's not purely social... Not just about defining our relationship with the rest of the world, but also about defining our relationship with God.<br /><br />The fact that it is "just" symbolic doesn't make it any less important in either of those aspects.John Gustav-Wrathallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03557940681381951271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-74829325353013341562014-11-11T03:29:31.300-06:002014-11-11T03:29:31.300-06:00I came to the conclusion a long time ago that the ...I came to the conclusion a long time ago that the main purpose of the Word of Wisdom was to constantly remind Mormons how they are set apart and different from others. When those around you are regularly drinking coffee or tea, etc., and you do not, it is a constant reminder in your daily life that you are LDS and have different beliefs. Any possible health benefits are nice but a secondary reason, I believe. Same for the dietary restrictions of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc. Eating and drinking is a daily and basic function. Religious dietary restrictions are mainly meant to remind believers how they are different from non believers and encourage conformity to the rules of the group you belong to.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14364484623565981392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-15857407425109774762014-11-10T17:25:37.091-06:002014-11-10T17:25:37.091-06:00I enjoyed this post. ThanksI enjoyed this post. Thanksjakenoreply@blogger.com