The Word of Wisdom: A Closer Look at the LDS Nutritional Law of Health

Combining modern science with recent studies, we take a deep dive into the efficacy of the the latter day saints law of health known as, "The Word of Wisdom." We examine all aspects of the instruction found in the Doctrine and Covenants section 89, uncover its value to modern health practices, and point out how part of this health warning too often goes overlooked and ignored. Found out the deeper meaning behind the word of wisdom, and the potential real reason we should all be following it in these last days.
Article references and links:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Doctrine and Covenants 89"
www.churchofje...
National Library of Medicine, "Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency." Oct 2021
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
The Conscious Cleans, "7 Reasons to Kick Your Coffee Habit." Sep. 2013
www.consciousc...
Al Jazeera English, "Big tobacco's big profits 🇺🇸 | Counting the Cost"
• Big tobacco's big prof...
National Library of Medicine, "Hot Tea Consumption and Esophageal Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies." April 2022
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
British Journal of Cancer, "A very-hot food and beverage thermal exposure index and esophageal cancer risk in Malawi and Tanzania: findings from the ESCCAPE case-control studies." June 2022
www.nature.com...
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "The Gospel Shall Roll Forth." 2017
www.churchofje...
New York Post, "Coffee during pregnancy can make your kids shorter: study" Nov 2022
nypost.com/202...
National Institute of Health, "Moderate daily caffeine intake during pregnancy may lead to smaller birth size." March 2021
www.nih.gov/ne...
Wikipedia, "Corporatocracy" -Corporate influence on politics in the United States
en.wikipedia.o...
27 Teas, "The Truth About Tea Bags" April 2019, Cancer and Carcinogens.
27teas.com/201...
News, Medical Life Sciences, "Is maternal caffeine consumption associated with child growth, and are such associations present in low-consumption groups?" Nov 2022
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Men's Health, "The Great Millennial Strength Crisis"
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National Library of Medicine, "The Perils of Ignoring History: Big Tobacco Played Dirty and Millions Died. How Similar Is Big Food?" March 2009
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Harvard School of Public Health. Obesity Prevention Source, "Health Risks: Weight Problems Take a Hefty Toll on Body and Mind" 2023
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TED, "What if we paid doctors to keep people healthy?" Matthias Müllenbeck 2018
• What if we paid doctor...
Music:
1. "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief"
2. "Emotional" Cinematic Background Music.
3. "All Creatures of Our God and King"
4. "Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice"
4. Inspiring Documentary Background Music
5. Storytelling - Music Backsound Cinematic By Dreamvoidplay x Dreamplay
5. "Israel, Israel, God Is Calling"
6. "Defender" Cold Cinema
7. "Praise to the Man."
Written and Narrated by: Ryan K. Shanahan
This is an independent production of All About Your Faith, and has not been in association with, or in collaboration with anyone from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

[@184721]

Nutrition means a lot to me and this is one way we can all thinking about helping each other. With so much "science" conflicting with itself on what is healthy, it is incredibly useful having a simple methodology to abide by that takes all the guess work out of it.

[@TheKetoSurvivor]

😁👍👏👏👏 ABSOLUTELY 💯 WELL DONE. I approached your video this morning with skepticism but very pleased to see that it does take into account the modern effects and science. You obviously have studied well and did a beautiful job of sharing a balanced thoughtful presentation of the revelation of the Word of Wisdom.
I especially like that you highlighted the dangers of sugars, grains, and even fruit in the diet. That these can damage our bodies. Sugar is just empty calories and highly addictive. I agree that grains should only be eaten when there is nothing else available. They have been genetically modified enough to worsen their effects on how their proteins damage our gut lining. This leads to leaky gut and subsequent allergies, inflammation, nad toxicity.
I love that you mention that fruit has the ability to damage our livers. That is should only be consumed 'in the season thereof.' Again, the conspiring and profit motivated corporations have modified fruit to be bigger and sweeter than ever before in history. To maximize it's desirability and therefore profitability. Anthropologically, it was only available to us in the spring and summer months and in very small amounts. Like the bear we'd get a few berries here and there to fatten us up for the lean winter months were living on that fat would sustain us. Nowadays it is a modern plague of prosperity that we have fruit available to us in abundance at every corner market. It is also as close as our refrigerator or pantry not seasonally but all year long. 365/35/7. Modern marketing and even our government tells us to eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables every day. We have to wise to the influence of big food companies upon our government policy makers.
I'd like to share some other thoughts, experiences, and resources on this topic in hopes that it might help someone. Who might be wondering what the best diet is to choose. I will say you need to let the Spirit of the Lord guide you to that. But you might want to study some of this information as you prepare to seek that guidance.
The Lord has not commanded us to eat a vegan or vegetarian diet. The Church has not officially declared we follow a specific diet. The diet is not a condition for recommend worthiness. We are to use study, wisdom, and personal revelation in the interpretation of Section 89. We should not judge each other for dietary choices or pretend/assume authority in knowing/interpreting what is the will of the Lord in this matter.
I would encourage you to also read Section 49:18-21. Where 'sparingly' could be interpreted to mean not wastefully. Additionally, we are told "19 For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance." Later in 21 And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need. From Section 89 we know it is given to us to be used with thanksgiving. My own personal interpretation of this is to be grateful and not wasteful of the life that is sustaining mine.
I've been eating a carnivore diet for the last 4 years and a ketogenic diet for two years before that. Yes, I now eat meat, fish, eggs. Red meat mostly. The science is pointing to a very low carb diet and even this as being a very ancestrally appropriate way of eating. It is helping thousands to reverse many of the diseases associated with insulin resistance. "Insulin resistance - A condition where your cells become increasingly resistant (deaf) to insulin signaling. You probably have it! Over time it is responsible for most of the diseases of aging. It's caused by chronic carbohydrate overconsumption."
Using a very low carb diet has allowed me to get off decades of insulin in the first 3 weeks, double my kidney function after hitting stage 3 kidney disease, and has helped me lose 190 lbs. My A1C is 4.9. It has allowed me to overcome decades of sugar and carbohydrate addiction.
✅ I was worried about the potential conflict with the Word of Wisdom. No more. I do not see any conflict. It is open to interpretation. Here's what insulin and metabolism expert, and BYU professor Benjamin Bikman has to say about it in his 2018 BYU forum address [I encourage you to watch the entire talk]:
👉ua-cam.com/video/xefdEXfG9j0/v-deo.htmlsi=o8x-J8nlAObFrmE4&t=1809
It was professor Ben Bikmans early lectures on UA-cam that helped me to feel more comfortable with the diet. The Lord expects us to use wisdom. I studied it out and prayed about it before doing this.I felt personally lead to this way of eating to improve and optimize my health. And that has blessed me greatly. In fact, it has saved my life!
Great resources that have helped me to understand the science better as it relates to my health.
Low Carb Down Under has 100's of scholarly lectures on the topic:
www.youtube.com/@lowcarbdownunder
Doctorstotrust.com Has short form excerpts from longer lectures. Sortable by topic, doctor, key words. doctorstotrust.com/
Free CME: www.dietdoctor.com/cme
www.revero.com/
www.virtahealth.com/press/virta-sustainable-health-improvements-5-year-diabetes-reversal-study
www.nutritioncoalition.us/
Professor Ben Bikman has a book worth reading as well. Why We Get Sick.
I'm not telling everyone to go carnivore. The keto diet would be of amazing health benefit. I do encourage you to absolutely learn about the topic of insulin resistance. Chances are you have it and it's slowly killing you. To that end, I think the more your learn about these topics the more serious you will take your nutrition. I'll leave you with one more sobering video to consider. Very sobering. Remember the 13th article of faith."If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." We should not fear scientific truths. Seek instead to understand.
ua-cam.com/video/j1cqNDDG4aA/v-deo.htmlsi=qiARqkvO2huWSI-W
✅You will not fail your temple recommend interview for eating meat. As mentioned, I've been eating a carnivore diet for the last 4 years. My Branch President knows about this and supports it. So does my stake leaders. I humbly and gratefully hold a current temple recommend 🖖