The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormons) may have a new type of convert. It’s not about hope or holiness, but health. It’s not from the life of Christ, but from the lifestyle and longevity of its adherents. And it’s not all about faith, but about fat loss. The church may be teaching how important is to care for the life of the soul, but also caring for the lifetime of the sexy body.
People are flocking to the churchs’ standard on diet called the Word of Wisdom. Due in large part from a variety of statistics from the church’s lifestyle, if not its religious doctrines.
The Reason? Its strictures against alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea are well known. But since 1833, the church has also encouraged limiting meat consumption in favor of grains, fruits and vegetables.
The result? Turns out there is evidence that Latter-Day Saints are more likely than the rest of us to actually live into their latter days.
- Mormon women in the study had a life expectancy of more than 86 years— five years longer than comparable women overall; men lived to an average of more than 84 years, which was almost a decade longer.
- Fasting, meanwhile, may be better than a juice cleanse and 40 percent less likely to be diagnosed with clogged arteries than those who don’t.
One 25-year- study of practicing California Mormons by James Enstrom and Lester Breslow of UCLA found that Mormon men and women who were married, had never smoked, attended church weekly and had at least 12 years of education had some of the lowest death rates ever reported for any group followed for that long a time. See source or read more about the Mormon Longevity study to learn: do Mormons live longer?
What is the Word of Wisdom all about?
Prohibitions
Among the substances which the revelation indicates should not be ingested, the first is “wine or strong drink”, which the revelation says should not be drunk.[9] (An exception is allowed for the use of “pure wine of your own make” as part of the sacrament ordinance,[10] though the LDS Church today uses water in place of wine.) The revelation also advises against the consumption of tobacco[11] and “hot drinks”.[12]
The Word of Wisdom revelation also suggests proper uses for some prohibited substances. While “strong drinks” are not to be ingested, they are appropriate when used “for the washing of your bodies”;[13] likewise, while human ingestion of tobacco is forbidden, tobacco is said to be “an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.”[11]
Prescriptions
The list of foods and substances which the revelation encourages includes “wholesome herbs [and] every fruit in the season thereof”[14] and “that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground.”[15] It also prescribes the use of “all grain”, which is described as “the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field.”[16] Barley and other grains are recommended for use in making “mild drinks”.[17]
The “beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth” may be used as food “sparingly” and “with thanksgiving”. The revelation states that it is pleasing to God if these are not used, “only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine” and times of “excess of hunger”.[18]
Divine promise
The Word of Wisdom states that it comprises a “principle with promise”.[19] The promise given to those who followed the advice of the word of wisdom is as follows:
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; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. 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.[8]
Learn more about the Word of Wisdom here and how you can increase both your abs and understanding of the atonement, your heart and holiness, faith and fat loss.
