Picnic Tree/Word of Wisdom

Maddison sang a song yesterday and it was so cute I wanted her to sing it for her dad.  I had her sing it again but she couldn't remember all the words she had sang before.  Here are the original lyrics:

Mommy and Daddy sitting in a tree,

H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P,

First comes you then comes me,

Our whole family in a picnic tree. 

 

We have been commanded to follow the Word of Wisdom.  This is a commandment given to our first prophet Joseph Smith to abstain from coffee, tea, tobacco, and alcohol.  It is one of the many things that makes Mormon's unique.  The whole revelation can be found in Doctrine and Covenants 89.  But it further commands us to eat fruits and vegetables, grain, and meat.  We are then promised that if we follow these commands we will have great promises.  I feel that my family needs to work harder at eating properly.  I have been wondering how and what to do so I decided to reread the revelation today.  Here is some of what I found.

A Principle with a Promise

Ezra Taft Benson, April 1983 General Conference

"Brothers and sisters and friends, learn this principle. The Lord will increase our knowledge, wisdom, and capacity to obey when we obey His fundamental laws. This is what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said we could have “sudden strokes of ideas” which come into our minds as “pure intelligence.” (See Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, p. 151.) This is revelation. We must learn to rely on the Holy Ghost so we can use it to guide our lives and the lives of those for whom we have responsibility."

This gives me the strength I need to start my family eating right. I know that if I strive to do this I will be given the ideas and knowledge of how to do it. One idea I had yesterday is that my family has consistently been complaining about the meals I make, so why not make meals that are very healthy and they will just continue to complain but they will be healthier.

Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 89:3

"3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints."

This is a commandment with a reward. It has been "adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all" I think this means that anyone can obey it. It is not extreme. I should be able to follow this.

Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 89:18-21

"18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen."

What a great promise. That if we eat healthy we will be given such great blessings.

A Principle with a Promise

Ezra Taft Benson, April 1983 General Conference

"In this revelation the Lord counsels us to use meat sparingly. I have often felt that the Lord is further counseling us in this revelation against indiscriminately killing animals, for He has said elsewhere in scripture, “Wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.” ( D&C 49:21.)

Wheat is particularly singled out as being good for man, as is the fruit of the vine—vegetables and all fruits. This is the wisdom of the Lord on the matter of sound nutrition and diet.

The Word of Wisdom allows us to know that the Lord is vitally concerned about the health of His Saints. He has graciously given us counsel for improving our health, endurance, and resistance to many diseases.

The temporal promise for obedience is: They “shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; … [they] shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.” ( D&C 89:18, 20.)

I have always felt, however, that the greater blessing of obedience to the Word of Wisdom and all other commandments is spiritual.

Listen to the spiritual promise: “All saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, … shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.” ( D&C 89:18, 19; italics added.)"

I think to start if I strive to have two servings of vegetables, one whole grain, and a small portion of meat at dinner we will be doing well. That the meat will keep us full, the grain will fill us up and the vegetables will give us the nutrients we need.