The Lord's Law of Health
Chapter 29

31110, Gospel Principles, Unit Seven: Perfecting Our Lives, 29: The Lord's Law of Health, 192

One of the great blessings we received when we came to earth was a physical body. We need a physical body to become like our Heavenly Father. Our bodies are so important that the Lord calls them temples of God (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Our bodies are holy.

Because our bodies are important, our Father in Heaven wants us to take good care of them. He knows that we can be happier, better people if we are healthy. The Spirit of our Heavenly Father can be with us if our bodies are clean. Our Father knows that we face temptations to treat our bodies unwisely or to take harmful things into them. For this reason he has told us which things are good for our health and which things are bad. Much of the information God has given us concerning good health is found in Doctrine and Covenants D&C 89. This revelation is called the Word of Wisdom.

We must obey the Word of Wisdom to be worthy to enter the temple. If we do not obey the Word of Wisdom, the Lord's Spirit may not dwell with us. If we defile the "temple of God" which is our body, we hurt ourselves physically and spiritually.

Discussion

*     Read Doctrine and Covenants D&C 89.

We Are Commanded Not to Take Certain Things into Our Bodies

The Lord commands us not to use wine and strong drinks, meaning drinks containing alcohol. The First Presidency has taught that strong drink often brings cruelty, poverty, disease, and plague into the home. It often is a cause of dishonesty, loss of chastity, and loss of good judgment. It is a curse to all who drink it (see "Message of the First Presidency," Improvement Era, Nov. 1942, p. 686). Expectant mothers who drink can cause physical and mental damage to their children. Many automobile accidents are caused each year by people who drink alcohol.

The Lord has also told us that "tobacco is not for the body" (D&C 89:8). It is harmful to our bodies and our spirits. We should not smoke cigarettes or cigars or use chewing tobacco. Scientists have shown that tobacco causes many diseases and can harm unborn children.

The Lord also counsels us against the use of "hot drinks." Church leaders have said that this means coffee and tea, which contain harmful drugs. We should avoid all drinks that contain harmful drugs.

We should not use drugs except when they are necessary as medicine. Some drugs are even more harmful than alcohol and tobacco (which are also drugs). Those who misuse drugs need to repent of this habit.

We should avoid anything that we know is harmful to our bodies. We should not use any substance that is habit forming. The Word of Wisdom does not tell us everything to avoid, but it does give us guidelines. It is a valuable temporal law. It is also a great spiritual law. By living the Word of Wisdom, we become stronger spiritually. We purify our bodies so the Spirit of the Lord can dwell with us.

Discussion

*     List the things we should not take into our bodies.

*     Discuss why these things should not be used.

We Are Taught That Certain Things Are Good for Our Bodies

Fruits, vegetables, and wholesome herbs are good for us. We should use them with wisdom and thanksgiving.

The flesh of birds and animals is also provided for our food. However, we should eat meat sparingly (see D&C 49:18; D&C 89:12). Fish is also good for us to eat.

Grains are good for us. Wheat is especially good for us. Grains may be used also to make mild drinks.

Discussion

*     According to the Word of Wisdom, what are some of the things the Lord says are good for us?

Work, Cleanliness, Rest, and Exercise Are Important

In addition to Doctrine and Covenants D&C 89, other scriptures tell us how to be healthy. They tell us that we should "cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; ... cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated" (D&C 88:124). We are also told, "Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work" (Exodus 20:9). The Lord counsels us not to labor more than we have strength for (see D&C 10:4).

A latter-day prophet has told us that people "should learn to keep their bodies healthy by right living, ... by inhaling pure air, taking plenty of exercise, and bathing ... often in fresh water" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 241).

Discussion

*     What do work, cleanliness, rest, and exercise have to do with the Lord's law of health?

Blessings for Living the Lord's Law of Health

Our Heavenly Father has given us health laws to teach us how to care for our bodies. The scriptures tell us about God's laws: "No temporal commandment gave I, ... for my commandments are spiritual" (D&C 29:35). This means that his commandments concerning our physical state are for our spiritual good.

When we keep the Lord's law of health and obey his other commandments, the Lord promises to bless us physically and spiritually.

Physically we have been promised good health. As a result of this good health we "shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint" (D&C 89:20). This is a great blessing, but the spiritual blessings he has promised us are even greater than the physical ones.

The Lord promises us that we "shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures" (D&C 89:19). We will be taught important truths by the Holy Ghost through revelation. The Lord also promises that the destroying angel shall pass us by. Elder Spencer W. Kimball said that in our time this means we will be saved from spiritual death: "For observing the Word of Wisdom the reward is life, not only prolonged mortal life but life eternal" (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 211).

Discussion

*     What eternal blessings come to us from living the Word of Wisdom?

*     Ask the members to share ideas about how they can obey the Word of Wisdom and overcome any problems they might have.

Additional Scriptures

*     Judges 13:13-14; Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:11-12; Daniel 1 (avoid strong drink)

*     D&C 59:16-20 (things of the earth for the benefit of man)

*     Proverbs 23:20-21 (warning against drunkenness, gluttony, laziness)



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