D&C 89:3,18-19
There is a division among the people: the majority choose to eat what I call the 'adaptation' while the minority quietly eat full Word of Wisdom with healthful intention. Who is more likely to be obedient to the principle of the Word of Wisdom - the healthy eaters or the eaters of regular American fare? Most of us eat according to the adaptation made to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints. (v. 3) The adaptation is to avoid alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee. But, why is it so difficult to eat as prescribed by the Word of Wisdom? The main part of the diet, as I read it, is herbs and fruit. The herb is the leaf, stem or root part of a plant. The fruit is the seed bearing part of the plant above or below the ground. Then comes grains and finally meat. Sugar, I hear, isn't even a food! Why is it that we get so defensive when others are trying to live the Word of Wisdom more fully? Here are some reasons.
We get defensive when our eating tradition is put into question.
We eat what we grew up on. What our mothers fed us to comfort us might not be as healthy as we think.
The stuff we are told to eat tastes delicious while herbs and fruit are less tasty (to nondiscerning taste buds) in comparison.
Finally, perhaps we have become unknowingly addicted to the stuff we eat and when we are deprived of that stuff we start craving it. We might not be aware enough to realize that our body is sending us messages for the food it is craving and we interpret the message as, "I'm going to get some candy".
There is a promise at the end of D&C 89.
Verse 3 mentions the promise:
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.
Verse 18 - 21 enumerate the promise:
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.
We, active, Latter-day Saints live the adaptation (to the weakest of the Saints) really well and we receive a certain level of promises commensurate to principle. Our health is generally better than the rest of the United States (demonstrated by Utah's lower health care costs). It would only stand to reason, that one who tries to live the Word of Wisdom (while keeping the commandments) more fully would have its promises manifested in their fullness. This person would have greater health (v.18); have wisdom; have precious knowledge (compared to a treasure) which is hid from the minds of others (v.19); be able to have great stamina when very busy (running) and during times requiring patient endurance (walking and not fainting)(v.20); and lastly, have a natural or miraculous resistance to something that will destroy many in the last days. (v.21)
One last thought: as we live the Word of Wisdom more fully - like any other true principle - it (the new way of eating) will become delicious unto us. (Alma 32:28) Our bodies as well as our spirits will like the change. But, remember, it might take a little time for bodies to quit crying out for what it craves (sugar, excessive meat and the like). The withdrawal can be difficult. Just remember the wonderful promises!
