Words of Wisdom, Part 2: The Healing Process

I love to learn from history, from other's experience and from wise people. That way I get the most gain with the least pain. It's why I love to read and learn from Dr. Fuhrman.

But that’s not my usual style. For me, and most people I know, change is hard. Growth is uncertain. Simple, positive outcomes are the stuff of dreams. I learn most often the hard way, through tough, bitter experience, with raw dirt, so to speak, being forced into open wounds in my soul. Real pain, spiritual and physical, seems to have the most impact as my teacher. And I'm not alone in this.

Isn’t it amazing how slowly we learn some things?

My mother’s personal history tells of her grandfather, a loving, loud, cigar and pipe smoking man who wept with pride when he heard his sons singing together. My great grandmother always kept a pot of coffee on the stove. They work and lived on their farm near a small Utah town.

Mormons? You betcha. And for their day and time, pretty normal.

In about 1875, five years after my great grandfather was born, the prophet Brigham Young gave a talk where he admonished the bishops of the church for not better living the Word of Wisdom. He said while most of ‘em lived a good part of it, none lived all of it.

So the most faithful people, in general, were still catching on. A health principle that saved many thousands of lives because of its ban on tobacco, was revealed as truth, spiritual principle and finally as a commandment, but it took time.

It finally came into its own, and was general practice among most Mormons, in the late 1800’s and beyond. It was still many years before the medical community or population in general acknowledged any of its worth. General compliance with the Word of Wisdom was a gradual process, necessary because hearts and habits change slowly.

Brigham Young in his later years taught a principle that was essential in the Word of Wisdom finally took hold. He said that as young people were taught to emphasize this, it would become the major blessing that was intended. And so it did.

So when I slip up and eat too much meat, cheese, whole grains, potatoes, sugar, oils, etc., I don’t feel bad. I feel determined. I know what’s right, for me, my health, and my direction is up.

I’m doing better and better over time, as I grow in my understanding and make this more fully effective in my life (here’s one good reason for being a member of Dr. Fuhrman’s web site). There’s so much to learn, so many habits, traditions and cultural dispositions to overcome.

And too much to gain to do anything else.

It’s the ultimate motivation here. Truth heals.

The Book of Mormon tells of a magnificent healing miracle, where the resurrected Savior says to bring anyone who is “lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner.” It then records “He did heal them every one” (3 Nephi 17:7, 9).

I think the nutritarian paradigm is truth, and a healing “miracle.” Nutrients per calorie equals good health. Simple, profound, powerful and far reaching in its effect.

I believe that same God who created us, made this world, gives us life and breath, abilities and free will, and is the ultimate source of all truth, wants us to learn truth and be healed.

I find no conflict between nutritarian eating and the Word of Wisdom. I quote from last part, the lesser known, non-tea/coffee/alcohol/tobacco part:

10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 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;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
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 if knowledge, even hidden treasures . . . .

Oh my goodness, I think I’ve found hidden treasure here!

Words of Wisdom, part 1 - Truth Supports Truth

I had a sense, a  hope really, that someday I'd understand more of what certain scriptures meant. Not that it was ever a total blank. But I really thought I had much more to learn. This is a story about finding out what "more" means.

Truth is the ultimate cure for everything. This applies to all sickness, all sadness, all problems. Truth reigns supreme. We all spend our entire lives in pursuit of it, in one way or another.And nutritarian eating is a slice of truth, appears to me.

“Eat meat sparingly… and fruits and vegetables in season.”

These words are the scripture I'm referring to I believe it's modern revelation, revealed by a prophet of God.The words, written in 1832, are part of the health code of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – the Mormons.

My church. I’m a happy member, trying my best to live right.

Dietary codes are part of religious lore. Kosher eating is familiar to many, as are the Muslim restrictions from eating pork and drinking alcohol.

We call our dietary code “The Word of Wisdom.” The major expression in our lives is avoiding alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, coffee and tea. This and other things set us apart (ok, makes us weird) enough that we don’t go generally looking for more weirdness. In fact, we generally abhor more weirdness than our religious beliefs call for. But I could write many books about the difference my religious beliefs make in my life. Others certainly have.

Perhaps for these and other cultural reasons, few of us are vegetarians. Fewer are vegans. Almost none of us are nutritarians.

Yet I find nutritarian eating to be completely in line with my personal expression of faith and belief.We Mormons have this “expansion clause” part of our religion. It’s a commandment to seek and do good things, as an organization and as individuals. It runs like this:

". . . . If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, we seek after these things."

Let’s see. Longer life, better health. Definite virtue there.

How about evidence based (like how Dr. Fuhrman backs his stuff up with solid research citations and powerful real-world experience, not just his opinions). Good report there.

Then there’s this one: The nutritarian eating plan just plain tastes good. Lovely.

The major principle is, there is order in the Lord’s Kingdom. The Priesthood leads the church, from the Prophet (the whole church) to the Deacon’s Quorum President (local group of 12 year old boys). In other words, when you find a personal “pearl of great price” (and as for me, I do mean nutritarian eating and healing), you don’t presume to blab to every living creature in every possible setting, and complain that if the church were really about truth everyone would do this.

For that to generally apply would lead to total weirdness.

And although there are those that think I'm weird, I have every right and even a duty to seek health by every means possible.

I thank heaven for the truths of balance, order and personal revelation.

A Little Bit About Spiritual Knowledge

I have a testimony. To us active, believing, mostly practicing Mormons, that means a conviction of truth, absolute truth, regarding important things.

I believe, I know and I think are all involved here. And I think it makes sense. Anyone can have a different opinion. But to understand my views you'd have to walk in my shoes.

It's OK if you don't understand or agree. But I've got my experience, my life and my logic that all come together on this. I'm glad to say I know it's true.

I've seen miracles. I've learned to feel after truth. I've come to love the "whisperings" of the spirit, the still small voice that we also call a feeling. There is a difference between this and a biological or emotional feeling. Most often it doesn't come with words, but occasionally it does.

When I first heard that "voice" I was 9 years old. My father had challenged me to read the Book of  Mormon when I was 8, backed up with a $50 reward (a  huge amount to an eight year old those 55 years ago)

I read a particular verse after struggling through a few dozen pages, and the feeling/voice/whispering passed through me. It was a combined mental/emotional/physical thing, indescribable really, but I knew I had never had that kind of experience before. Doesn't matter which verse specifically. Don't exactly remember.

But I said to myself at the time, "I wonder if that's it?" The Spirit of Truth, some call it. I thought about it long, and concluded that's what it was.

It felt/tasted/impressed me as good. That was my decision, and that decision was similarly confirmed the with the same kind of impression. It's come the same-but-not-identical way, thousands of times, as I read, pray, listen and ponder over Truth.

It's become one of my favorite things about life. And when my sister stole the $50 from its hiding place, and no one made her give it back, I was actually left with something far more precious that can never be stolen (but it could be lost).

And I've long since forgiven my sister. Except for sometimes when I forget I've forgiven her. Then I experience a dulling sense of the gift of knowledge and understanding.

I love the gospel, my family, my wife and my Savior. These things are the greatest blessings of my life. Whatever I'm here for is still in process, I can tell because I'm still here, and I'm grateful for the many miracles that have made it so.

And it took many miracles to make it to here and now.