Rant - Word of Wisdom -

I have a friend I walk with on Wednesday mornings. We have great conversations, typically honest banter, without drawing conclusions on any of our topics. We've spoken about marriage, second marriages, negotiating steps and holidays and responsibilities, children, gifting, nutrition, health, snoring, and addiction. We talk religious and secular, beliefs and actions, regrets and hopes.

Recently we discussed the Mormon way of breaking down the goods and bads of the Word of Wisdom - which emphasizes a path for maintaining a healthy body (the body is a temple), including exercise, balanced nutrition, and no tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs, which is the primary thrust of the Mormon perspective of this Wisdom. For the most part, the Mormon conclusion is if you're not partaking of the above, and living the rest of the Wisdom following the "moderation in all things," dictate, you're doing well.

There is great history surrounding the very practical reason for this Wisdom, and historical presentations of when and for whom it was observed. What was once practical and advice, is now seen as revelation and command. Over the years this Wisdom has been brought to the forefront of science, as the need for eliminating harmful habits, including smoking. However, over the years the benefits of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine have been shown to be beneficial.

Yet, if we take a critical look at the Wisdom, and there has been document on document written about the Word of Wisdom, Mormons fail to emphasize moderation - perhaps the basic point of the Wisdom, which is - "sparingly" (D&C 89:12-14). And, the particulars do not specify anything other than the use of tobacco, hot drinks (soups, cocoa, Postum? - coffee not ok, caffeinated soda - good or bad?, chocolate?), and defining grains, fruits and vegetables, and meat, and the use of them (sparingly).

And, interestingly, another emphasis is on the blessing of being able to "run and not be weary and shall walk and not faint" (vs. 21).

And if you're obese, from not following sparingly or moderation, you cannot receive that blessing, correct? And if you smoke, drink tea or coffee, use alcohol, or illegal drugs, you cannot receive this blessing. If you ask a child or a teen about the Word of Wisdom, they will respond with the pat answer, but no depth. Yet this Wisdom is pounded in; ask a little child about this doctrine, and they will clearly explain no tea, coffee, smoking, drinking - but that's where it ends.

Often Mormons are interviewed by their religious leaders to determine their worthiness to spend time in sacred temples and fulfill "callings" in their congregations, while typically not a cause for a change in membership, although feels of guilt, or chastisement, for "breaking the Word of Wisdom" is a true emotion. A question is, "Do you observe the Word of Wisdom?" And typically that means what I've mentioned above with tea, coffee, etc. And we answer "yes," more often than not, but have been known to feel guilty or to answer , "No, but . . ." with justification. Yet what about the unspoken, but more powerful parts of the Wisdom?

Why is there not more attention played into this for members of the Church? If I'm obese, I'm not observing, but I am deemed worthy (often because, well, we don't want to hurt feelings), yet if I smoke, I'm deemed unworthy. But how about if I'm eating Paleo or Ketogenic, following the Atkins diet, or eating vegetarian?

Come on folks - seriously? Isn't it time to pat ourselves on our backs for what we know and do, but perhaps take a deeper look at what the Mormon culture sees as acceptable when observing the Wisdom and what seems unacceptable?

Think about it - and in the meantime, I'm off for a cup of -

(Mormon joke - Do you know how to tell a Mormon from a non-Mormon? By the temperature of their caffeine. [If you don't understand, ask a Mormon, a great topic for conversation.])

http://www.mormonthink.com/wow.htm

Susan Fitch Design