A Review of “Discovering the Word of Wisdom” by Jane Birch

“…showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—…Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—” (D&C 89:2,4)

The Word of Wisdom is something that will only become more and more relevant to each passing generation. Before I provide my review of Discovering the Word of Wisdom, I would like to give you some background.

Background

Back in 2011, I wrote an article here on oneClimbs titled A Fresh Take on the Word of Wisdom. In an attempt to resolve some personal questions regarding the Word of Wisdom that had haunted me since my mission days, I spent six months studying, pondering, and collecting the information that I presented.

What resulted for me was a “fresh take” on the principle that provided me with answers and guidance. After publishing the article, I made some key changes in my life, perspective, and diet. I’ve been contemplating writing a new article as a follow-up to detail some of these changes and what I have learned. I might have to postpone that particular article for a future date because recently I have made even more significant changes as a result of a great book that crossed my path.

I have decided to review Discovering the Word of Wisdom because I believe that the author, Jane Birch, gets it. The book eloquently confirms my independent conclusions along with many more using sound reasoning, and many great references.

The book in a nutshell

The book is written by Jane Birch and advocates a whole-food, plant-based diet (WFPB) and if you liked the movie Forks Over Knives then you’ll appreciate this book.

Now, bear with me here. Some of you might be recoiling in horror at the mention of a whole-food, plant-based diet. You might be thinking, “That’s something only weirdo Californian liberal tree-hugging tofu-eating hippies practice!”

You should understand that I was raised in Texas where Bar-B-Q is more than food, it is a tradition. Family gatherings, holidays, and get-togethers are heavily centered around eating meat and lots of it! We love our brisket, steaks, sausage, Bar-B-Q sauce, and more!

I’ve lived on both sides and I’ve studied the issue in-depth. I’ve come to the conclusion that the “evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days” have blinded a great many of us. Before you jump to conclusions or get all bent out of shape, please read the rest of my review with an open mind and let the Spirit guide you. If you don’t feel good about it, then stop reading, but if you feel that this is something you need to look into more, then keep reading.

Discovering the Word of Wisdom promotes a whole-food, plant-based diet as a way to live the Word of Wisdom as intended while seeking to address many concerns in 10 compelling chapters:

1. Awakening to the Word of Wisdom
2. The Flesh of Beasts
3. Wholesome Herbs and Every Fruit
4. All Grain is Good
5. What about Dairy and Eggs?
6. Science and the Word of Wisdom
7. Common Objections
8. Stewards of Our Bodies, the Earth, and Its Creatures
9. Why Doesn’t the Church Tell Us These Things?
10. The Promised Blessings

I read these chapters here on Jane’s website before I decided to do the review. I decided that I really wanted to see what she had to say in chapters 2, 4, 5, 7, and 9 in particular so I told her to send me a copy of the book and I’d check it out.

The book follows Jane’s own journey to understanding the principle in her own life while presenting the information she discovered. Each chapter ends with a “Real Mormons, Real Stories” section where someone recounts a real-world experience that relates to the chapter. To be honest, while flipping through the book, I didn’t think I’d appreciate these personal accounts very much, but I read them anyway and found them to be a very enlightening and worthwhile addition to the book.

The end of the book presents some ideas and practical suggestions about how you can begin to implement this lifestyle along with a nice selection of other resources that you can check out to learn more. I really appreciated Jane’s reasoning on why you should go 100% and not ease into this diet. She liked the change to overcoming addictions; cold turkey (no pun intended) is best.

Chapter 1: Awakening to the Word of Wisdom

The author takes us back a few years to where her journey began. She was suffering from crippling leg pain and began praying and searching for answers. One day, she was watching a TV program where they were doing a segment called “The Last Heart Attack” where a diet that could eliminate heart disease was being discussed. Heart disease is the #1 killer in America (597,689 deaths per year) and you might be interested to know that it kills more than cancer on a yearly basis (574,743 deaths per year)!

After doing some research, she realized that a whole-food, plant-based diet, was key to avoiding many chronic illnesses and diseases so she decided to try it out. It was a challenge for her and she did not like it in the beginning, but the desire to attain better health and weight loss kept her going. She tried a number of recipes that all failed but kept on going until around seven to eight weeks later she realized that she was beginning to enjoy her food.

Her tastes had changed, she had lost weight, lowered her cholesterol, and felt her energy levels improve. She observed, “What I was not expecting when I made that decision was to discover that everything I was now learning about good health and nutrition was already contained in a document that was very familiar to me – Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Word of Wisdom.” (p.8)

It’s interesting how many poor decisions regarding the food we justify until we get sick.

Chapter 2: The Flesh of Beasts

This topic is a tough one for many, especially because of our traditions and society in general. Like the author, I used to mock vegetarians and vegans because I was a carnivorous Texan! I used to crack up at the bumper sticker that said, “I love animals, they’re delicious”!

This chapter was actually the first one I read and I have to give it a hearty “amen”! She does a beautiful job of addressing this subject and I was amazed at how closely her research matched my own; it’s nice to be validated by someone with a Ph.D.! She points out that a careful reading of the Word of Wisdom reveals that animal flesh is indeed for our use but intended as a “backup source” of nutrition in times of scarcity.

She states: “As animals eat plants, vital nutrients become part of their bodies. Therefore, in times of necessity, when we humans can’t get enough plants to sustain life (for example, in time of famine or excess cold when plants are scarce), we can eat animals as a backup source of nutrition.” (p.16) She mentions some of the nutritional downsides of consuming animal foods and concludes, “Perhaps this is one reason the Lord ordained them for our “use” under certain conditions, but not for the “constitution” or “nature” of our bodies” (D&C 89:10-13).

She addresses the protein myth as well and makes a bold claim: “What most people do not know is that protein is so ubiquitous in plant foods that if you get a sufficient number of calories, it is almost impossible not to get enough protein, including all the essential amino acids” (p.17).

There’s a section called “Should we never eat animals?” that I’m glad she included because this is a very polarizing subject with many on both sides who slide too far to the extremes. She gets this right as well by noting that animals are indeed for our use, but under the right conditions. Like me, she doesn’t call herself a “vegan” because her “focus is not just on avoiding animal foods” but “eating the food that are best for [her] body” (p.19). She says that she is “grateful now to refrain from eating meat when there is no need, knowing this is pleasing to the Lord” (p.19).

We know that refraining from eating animal flesh when not needed is pleasing to the Lord because he said so, “And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.” D&C 89:13

Some rightly point out that the comma before “only” was not there in the original revelation and removing the comma certainly changes the meaning of that verse. However, that comma was not put there by accident and there’s a reason why it has remained for nearly 100 years. Here’s the story:

First, consider the use of the word only in that part of the Word of Wisdom that deals with eating meat: “Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly; and it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine” (D&C 89:12–13, 1921 and 1981 editions). In editions prior to 1921, the comma before only was missing: “And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine” (1879 edition). A reader might interpret this as meaning that meat could be used at any time, not only in times of winter, cold, or famine.

Of course, the real problem here is in the meaning of only. In the last century the word only very often had the meaning ‘except’. For example, the Oxford English Dictionary quotes a use of only that undoubtedly means ‘except’: “For many years the following notice was painted up at Bolton railway station: ‘Do not cross the line only by the bridge.’” Clearly, this is the appropriate sense of only in this verse from section 89.

James E. Talmage put the comma in the 1921 edition, but not in order to change the meaning of only. Instead, the meaning of only had changed and the comma was put in so that the modern reader could read the verse and still get out its original meaning. A similar difficulty with only occurs in my patriarchal blessing, given by William R. Sloan in 1957: “Counsel with your dear parents, and they shall never direct you only in paths of righteousness and truth”—and without a comma! As a youth I thought the word never was a mistake, and I was tempted to cross it out. But I was wrong. Now when I read my blessing, I mentally replace only with except. (Royal Skousen, Through a Glass Darkly: Trying to Understand the Scriptures, BYU Studies 1986, pg. 5) Source

The words of Joseph Fielding Smith settled this subject for me back in 2011:

This is my answer to you in relation to President Brigham Young’s statement that mothers should not feed their small children meat. Yes! Small children do not need the flesh of animals. May I add also that adults would be better if they would refrain from too much eating of meat. As far as I am concerned the eating of meat should be very sparingly. In fact I will be contented if the Millennium was to be ushered in next week. When it is, we will learn that the eating of meat is not good for us. Why do we feel that we do not have a square meal unless it is based largely on meat. Let the dumb animals live. They enjoy life as well as we do.

In the beginning the Lord granted man the use of the flesh of certain animals. See Genesis 9:1-6, but with so many fruits of the soil and from the trees of the earth, why cannot man be content? Naturally in times of famine the flesh of animals was perhaps a necessity, but in my judgment when the Millennium reaches us, we will live above the need of killing dumb innocent animals and eating them. If we will take this stand in my judgment we may live longer. [In a letter to a member sister in El Paso, Texas, dated 30 Dec. 1966, quoted in Health Is A Blessing: A Guide to the Scriptural Laws of Good Health, by Steven H. Horne, advance publication copy (Springville, Utah: Nature’s Field, 1994), p. 34.]

But just like many other things, we abuse the creations of God because of our own lusts.

Chapter 3: Wholesome Herbs and Every Fruit

This was a great chapter because it focused on the “dos” of the Word of Wisdom. She does a fantastic job of pointing out that the definition of “herbs” in Joseph Smith’s time, referred to plants in general, especially culinary plants.

I was appalled at a lesson on the Word of Wisdom I heard in Utah at a ward I was visiting. The teacher was this older gentleman who came to verses 10 and 11 where “herbs” are mentioned and he proceeded to talk about cinnamon, basil, and oregano for a large portion of the lesson. I’m pretty sure that the Lord didn’t intend for spices to make up our body’s “constitution” and “nature.”

The author frowns upon processed plant foods, pointing out their weaknesses and dangers. She points out that while Pringles, Ritz Crackers, and Pop-Tarts are “vegetarian,” they are empty calories! So just because something is “vegetable” based, doesn’t mean that it is good for you. Another good point she mentions is how some molecules like glucose and fructose are not addictive in whole foods like beets and corn but they are addictive in forms like table sugar and Jolly Ranchers (p.27). She includes a really great quote from dietician Jeff Novick who stated:

“The answer has to do with concentration. Same as with cocaine. Coca leaves are not very addictive. Cocaine, a more concentrated form, has a much higher potential for addiction. Crack, a much more concentrated form, is much more highly addictive.”

The last section I found a little surprising because it frowns upon refined plant oils. I use a lot of coconut and a little olive oil but, yeah, they are technically pure fat. She points out that we get enough fat from whole-plant foods and we don’t really need to be adding to our constitution additional high concentrations of these fats. Very true, so I tried sautéing some bell peppers with just water, adding more as needed, and they turned out fantastic!

The author doesn’t conclude that we need to abstain from all oils in the same way we abstain from alcohol and tobacco. She suggests going ahead and using them every now and then but not because we think they are “healthy.”

Chapter 4: All Grain is Good

The virtues of grains are explored in this chapter including this part that I found insightful, “[Grains] can also be more easily stored away for use in times of cold or famine” (p.34). The great thing about grains is that their ability to last through the winter months makes it possible to avoid killing animals for food if we are able to prepare properly in advance.

I really wanted to read this chapter because there’s a lot of fear out there about gluten and such. I’ve been a little conflicted because of things I have read about how bad modern wheat is. Now, I still believe a lot of the research out there suggests that modern wheat is a poison compared to what it used to be, but the Word of Wisdom says that all grain is ordained to be the staff of life. If it’s so bad, then why didn’t the Lord warn us about it like other plants such as tobacco, tea and coffee?

She doesn’t address the gluten issue here which I thought would have been pretty important to address considering that it is such a hot topic right now. That said, I believe that the principles she addresses are sufficient enough to help you make your own decision. As for me, I’m just going to try to find purer wheat; it’s certainly still out there. We still have many, many other healthy grain options to choose from as well.

Chapter 5: What about Dairy and Eggs?

This chapter begins with a great quote that made me laugh out loud, “Dairy and eggs are not specifically mentioned in the Word of Wisdom – neither are Twinkies or Junior Mints” (p.43). I’ve been eating an egg or two for breakfast every other day or so. I’ve ditched milk and yogurt from my diet but a very little cheese here and there along with some ice cream and milkshakes every now and then are indulged in.

She prefaces this chapter by declaring, “I realize I am stepping outside the wording of the Word of Wisdom to form an opinion” (p.43), but since I welcomed her opinion, I read on. She called dairy and eggs “liquid meat” and suggests that, “meat, dairy and eggs are not the original source of any essential nutrients. Like meat, dairy and eggs can provide nutrients to the human body, but they are not superior to plants in providing these nutrients, especially in light of the drawbacks” (p.43-44).

I don’t mean to be crude, but I’ve always wondered about how necessary it is to eat the product of another animal’s menstrual cycle (that’s what a chicken egg is).

Next, it is a little trip down the rabbit hole. Remember how the Word of Wisdom mentions the “evils and designs…of conspiring men” (D&C 89:4)? Here’s where we get to see some of that. In the US, the dairy industry is amazingly powerful and effective, especially at manipulating the truth. The only body that milk does good is the body of a baby calf!

In dairy, you get really high concentrations of animal protein, especially in cheese. You’ll find in cheese the highest concentrations of casomorphin which have an identical structure to morphine and, you guessed it, it’s very addictive! The dairy industry knows this, I’ve studied this myself and it is amazing how they know full well that cheese houses a high concentration of an addictive molecule and intentionally seeks to load everything from pizzas, hamburgers, and more with “double cheese” this and “double cheese” that.

When we get more cheese on something, we’re thinking, “Yay! They just made that more delicious for me!” while they are thinking, “That idiot is going to get hooked on this.” Dr. T. Collin Campbell goes so far as to claim that the protein in milk is, “The most relevant [closely connected] chemical carcinogen ever identified” (p.46).

If all you know about milk is what you’ve heard in TV commercials, then you’re the victim of fantastic marketing. If you haven’t ever really looked into milk and dairy in general, do it now.

Chapter 6: Science and the Word of Wisdom

This chapter begins by suggesting that the Word of Wisdom is the answer for protecting the top three causes of death in America, which are: tobacco use, poor diet, physical activity, and alcohol consumption (p.49). The author notes how science is just barely catching up to the sound counsel the revelation has blessed us with for over a century.

She looks at some of the highlights of a book written in 1937 by John and Leah Widtsoe called The Word of Wisdom: A Modern Interpretation, along with a couple of other doctors that recommend a plant-based diet. Overall, it’s got some good stuff, I enjoyed it.

Chapter 7: Common Objections

This chapter does a good job at addressing many of the concerns that I think anyone who is new to this subject is probably itching to ask. The first is “Why aren’t we taught these things?” If so many experts agree that a whole-food, plant-based diet is the best for us then where’s the USDA? Why don’t we hear the benefits of eating this way shouted from the housetops, just think of how many lives we could save!

Well, first off, think of how large the cattle and dairy industries are. The government subsidizes these industries, and many of the key players in the government come straight out of the leadership of these very industries. So they do everything to promote milk (got milk?), the other white meat (Pork!) and beef (it’s what’s for dinner). These things are promoted as perfectly normal and healthy, and the government even made a pyramid to prove it to you.

Well, the pyramid is gone and is now a plate, but you get the idea. Even the plate still shows “protein” and “dairy” as essentials to this diet. They don’t even mention what “protein” is, but I’d argue that it’s a veiled way of saying “meat” and I think it erroneously conveys the idea that fruits and vegetables are not sources of protein (they are!).

Keep your pyramids and plates, I’ll stick with revelation. She hits on supplements, individual needs and the fallacy of “moderation” which I’ve written about before. Since I eat a plant-based diet, I supplement with vitamin B12 which is really important to do if you go that route.

Chapter 8: Stewards of Our Bodies, the Earth, and Its Creatures

Most Latter-day Saints I know, express a genuine wonder and admiration for the beauty of nature and feel that it should be protected. Yet we turn a blind eye to appalling conditions and horrific abuses that are inflicted upon the animal kingdom to fulfill our desire for their flesh.

Now, I don’t go around throwing red paint on people with fur coats but have you ever watched any videos showing the conditions that we raise livestock in? Is that what God intended for animals he created to have joy? With all the plenty that surrounds us do we really need to have the enormous industries built around continual slaughter because we crave and do not need their flesh?

Our health is not what drives that industry, it’s profit and greed, pure and simple. All the essential nutrients come from plants anyway, so why do we need to filter them through the bodies of animals when the original sources of that nutrition are readily available? Do you want the nutrients from corn? Eat some corn, why eat it filtered through a cow that is hopped up on antibiotics and hormones? Is this proper stewardship or have the evils and designs of conspiring men blinded us?

The author quotes Lorenzo Snow, “We have no right to slay animals or fowls except from necessity, for they have spirits which may someday rise up and accuse or condemn us” (p.88). Could the health problems associated with the overconsumption of animal foods be a curse upon us because we have abused our stewardship?

I think that’s a fair question to consider.

Chapter 9: Why Doesn’t the Church Tell Us These Things?

Answer: They do, and it’s already in the scriptures. You don’t hear much pulpit-pounding about it and I think there’s a really good reason for that. First off, the apostles of the church are speaking to a world-wide audience.

Every country doesn’t have access to the many food options as, say, Americans. Where plant-based nutrition is scarce, then animal flesh is appropriately used and consumed. Remember, the use of animal flesh is not condemned, but like anything else, some of us abuse the use of it.

In my experience, I was heavily influenced by my family traditions, culture and society and didn’t see anything wrong with my lifestyle. There was no outright prohibition on eating meat so I interpreted that to mean that we could just do whatever we wanted! Plus, meat is delicious and who wants some nay sayer ruining deliciousness!

The author suggests that we are too focused on the prohibitions of the Word of Wisdom that we neglect the weightier matters. The author suggests that “Church leaders may have been more likely to focus on the prohibitions…because it is much easier to judge compliance if the commandment is specific.” She continues by observing, “In time, it also became clear that the consequences of disobeying the prohibitions, at least in terms of alcohol and tobacco, were critical for obvious health and social reasons.” (p.95)

The author suggests that we are not that different from the early Saints as well. She concludes that we

• take liberal views of the Word of Wisdom that are not specifically mandated or enforced
• interpret it based on our knowledge of science, customs and traditions
• are prejudiced by our current understanding of sound health practices
• are influenced by what other Church members and leaders are doing or not doing
• reluctant to change unless someone spells it out for us and everyone else is doing it
• desire to be gracious hosts or guests
• feel justified in ignoring the Word of Wisdom because we feel like we need meat or don’t like vegetables, etc.
• we justify moderation
• it is difficult to change
• we feel that other aspects of the gospel are more important

She frankly asserts that vegetarianism is not Mormon doctrine and that we don’t believe that humans should never consume meat under any circumstance. We are not asked about it in temple recommend interviews and animal foods are “served routinely (and not even sparingly) in the Church Office Building, Brigham Young University, and other Church-operated facilities.” (p.98)

That said, she addresses the flip side by stating, “mandatory meat consumption is also not part of our religion. There is absolutely no prohibition against Latter-day Saints adopting a plant-based diet or enthusiastically encouraging others to do so, though of course, it is not our prerogative to command others to abstain from meats.” (p.99) I think that’s perfectly reasonable.

She then goes through some great quotes from LDS leaders who have spoken about eating meats in rather plain terms.

Chapter 10: The Promised Blessings

Think of the significance of the words “promised blessings” for a moment, D&C 89 even outlines them for you. In this chapter, those blessings are considered in light of comments made by church leaders.

I particularly enjoyed the section titled “Eating as a Sanctifying Experience” which really struck a chord with me. I’m still thinking about the implications of this chapter, and don’t really know where to begin. Have you ever considered eating as a spiritual act or event? You are taking the elements of the earth and contributing them to form what is your mortal tabernacle. What are you using to build your temple? D&C 89 informs us of what God ordained for our constitution and nature, but what do we use instead?

Do we build temples out of cardboard and paper mache? This chapter was a nice dessert to the book and offered some wonderful new insights to think about.

The book has seven appendixes all with some great information, but the one that impacted me the most was the “Why Go 100%” section. Now, for the last several years I have slowly and incrementally changed my diet. I felt like that was a safe way to go and in many ways it was. We didn’t have all the info and were kind of afraid to just make big moves based on information that might not be correct.

After years of searching, we found many answers and in Discovering the Word of Wisdom, I found great support for the choices I had made and a clearer vision for where I wanted to go. I have to say that I was sold and I couldn’t see any other way to go other than 100%; why not give it a try and experiment upon the word.

Changes I’ve made

Right after reading the book, I pulled everything out of my fridge, deep cleaned it and did some rearranging. These are my temple construction materials and they should be organized better and consist of what is best!

• Shelf 1: Leftovers and stuff that needs to get used up before it goes bad
• Shelf 2: Fruits
• Shelf 3: Vegetables
• Drawer 1: Herbs, spices, peppers
• Shelf 4: Bottled goods, salsas, etc.
• Bottom Drawer: Almond milk, tortillas and anything else
• Door shelves: Sauces, dressings and more

There are several big obstacles to changing your diet. There are old habits and cravings that can be hard to break, family and friends to consider with respect and a whole new world of recipes that may be completely foreign to you!

I’ve found tons of great recipes online and by using apps like Yummly. Finding and experimenting with new recipes has been a fun and challenging experience. There’s a peace that comes with trusting the Lord and making sacrifices where necessary to bring your life into accordance with his will. I’ve given up many things, but in return, I have seen the promised blessings fulfilled in my life.

A word about family and friends

This is something that can be very difficult when going down this path. How do we reconcile trying to live the Lord’s teachings when our families and friends (especially LDS) think we are nuts and are on the road to apostasy and extremism (which you can be by taking anything to the extreme).

First off, don’t turn into a self-righteous, pompous, food Nazi with your loved ones. We are all on our own paths, so remember that kindness and love outweigh all else. Announcing at dinner time on a family visit that you will not partake of their ‘wicked meal’ is not appropriate and certainly not what Christ would do.

I’ve found a great deal of peace in reading the CEV version of Romans chapter 14 which is full of wonderful principles so I’m going to post it here in its entirety:

Welcome all the Lord’s followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don’t criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours. Some think it is all right to eat anything, while those whose faith is weak will eat only vegetables. But you should not criticize others for eating or for not eating. After all, God welcomes everyone. What right do you have to criticize someone else’s servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right.

Some of the Lord’s followers think one day is more important than another. Others think all days are the same. But each of you should make up your own mind. Any followers who count one day more important than another day do it to honor their Lord. And any followers who eat meat give thanks to God, just like the ones who don’t eat meat.

Whether we live or die, it must be for God, rather than for ourselves. Whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord. Alive or dead, we still belong to the Lord. This is because Christ died and rose to life, so that he would be the Lord of the dead and of the living. Why do you criticize other followers of the Lord? Why do you look down on them? The day is coming when God will judge all of us. In the Scriptures God says, “I swear by my very life that everyone will kneel down and praise my name!” And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do.

We must stop judging others. We must also make up our minds not to upset anyone’s faith. The Lord Jesus has made it clear to me that God considers all foods fit to eat. But if you think some foods are unfit to eat, then for you they are not fit.

If you are hurting others by the foods you eat, you are not guided by love. Don’t let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for. Don’t let your right to eat bring shame to Christ. God’s kingdom isn’t about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people. We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith.

Don’t let your appetite destroy what God has done. All foods are fit to eat, but it is wrong to cause problems for others by what you eat. It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord. What you believe about these things should be kept between you and God. You are fortunate, if your actions don’t make you have doubts. But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin.

I draw a line where God has set a strict prohibition. If you politely refuse alcohol, tobacco, coffee or tea, I think people are generally understanding and respect that. Where it gets difficult is around people who follow the same religious tenets. If you practice a shared principle differently than them, the impression is left that one way is right and the other is wrong. So they may either feel condemned by you or assume that you are the apostate.

I believe that there is room to show mercy and understanding. If you are running around being a food Nazi and condemning people, you are probably missing the mark. So when I go out to eat with family, I simply order what I want to eat and things are fine, that is my preference. If I am served a meal at their home, I eat what I am served out of respect because my family is more important to me than food.

It’s a fine balance and it takes more humility than anything and more importantly, those you love will feel like you value them more than a plate of food. Remember that persuasion versus force is the Lord’s way.

“If I esteem mankind to be in error, shall I bear them down? No. I will lift them up, and in their own way too, if I cannot persuade them my way is better; and I will not seek to compel any man to believe as I do, only by the force of reasoning, for truth will cut its own way.” History of the Church, 5:498–99; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on July 9, 1843, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Willard Richards; see also appendix, page 562, item 3.

Conclusion

The book doesn’t give you all the answers but that isn’t the point, the point is to consider doctrine and principles in a fresh light with a challenge to put them to the test. Why not give it a shot, see what happens, follow the Spirit and consider what you learn through it all? Alma taught us how to conduct our experiments on the word and how to know what is good or not.

I use this pattern constantly throughout my life and the beauty of it is that if something just doesn’t work for you, cast it aside. If it enlarges your soul, enlightens your understanding and becomes delicious to you, then all the better!

I found Discovering the Word of Wisdom very delicious indeed.

What do you think?

• Have you read the book? What were your big takeaways?
• What are some impressions you have about the Word of Wisdom and how you practice it?
• How do you find peace with family and friends who have different views on how you choose to live the Word of Wisdom?