In one video, a couple talks about how family prayer can be rewarding for parents, and another video points out that family prayer is more than just a time to pray together as a family. Mormon couples talk about how prayer has strengthened their family and helped their children become more confident, humble and mindful of others.

In another video, a Mormon mom talks about her struggles with parenting and how she remembers to follow the example of the way God interacts with his children. “I’m so grateful that God gives me second chances and that he says, ‘It’s OK you messed up. You can try over again’ and I do that with my kids and we’re in this never-ending cycle of loving, teaching, forgiving and starting over again,” she said.

In other videos in the one-minute series, members of the Church answer questions like, “Do Mormons really believe in Jesus?” and “Do Mormons believe in the Bible?” Also, in one of the videos, Latter-day Saints of diverse backgrounds and cultures describe what Mormons believe in three words or less.

These videos can be a great resource to introduce the basic beliefs of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to those who are investigating the Church or to answer general questions that people might have about the Church. The videos can also be used as a refresher for members who are striving to live their daily lives in accordance with the teachings of the Church.

What is The Word of Wisdom and Where Did it Come From

The origin of the Word of Wisdom comes from section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C:89). This doctrine is a revelation from God to Joseph Smith, and it took place on February 27, 1833. This was just a few years after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (informally known as the Mormon Church) was organized.

This particular revelation was a response from God to inquiries from Joseph Smith about the use of tobacco.

The Rules of The Word of Wisdom

There are several rules within the Word of Wisdom.  Many of the rules teach Mormons to avoid harmful substances.  Some of the rules encourage Mormons to partake of beneficial substances.

The Word of Wisdom Forbids:

Alcoholic drinks

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In D&C 89:5-7, it teaches that strong drinks (alcoholic drinks) are not for the belly, but they are useful for washing your body. It also teaches that pure wine, of one’s own making, is acceptable for the Sacrament.

In the 1830s, society was different. Today, Mormons don’t generally use straight alcoholic beverages as body wash. We just use normal, store-bought body wash. Or, homemade stuff with oils and honey if you’re into that.

We also no longer use wine for the Sacrament. In D&C 27:2, it says, “it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory.” So, since water is very cheap (try paying for enough wine to give a sip to like 15 million people every Sunday) and easy to get, we use water. 

Tobacco

D&C 89:8 teaches, “tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.”

So, no cigarettes, or cigars, for you.

Tea and Coffee

D&C 89:9, “And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.”

Latter-day prophets have defined that the term “hot drinks” in this particular verse means tea and coffee.

In regards to tea, Mormons specifically don’t drink teas that come from the Camellia sinensis plant. These teas specifically include green, black, and white tea (but there are others as well). Basically, we don’t drink caffeinated teas. However, many Mormons stay away from ALL teas. I was in my late teens when I first learned that there even were certain types of herbal teas that it was okay to drink without breaking the Word of Wisdom.

And coffee… Coffee tends to be a controversial topic, especially among those who used to be members but have since left the Church. However, the general consensus that I’ve heard about in regards to coffee is that Mormons don’t drink it because of the caffeine.

Any Other (Harmful) Substance Which is Abused

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This part of the Word of Wisdom includes any and all substances taken in a harmful excess in an effort to harm you, make you high, calm you down, etc. In addition, Mormons are taught to avoid all illegal recreational drugs, as well as to not abuse prescription drugs. Basically, this is the catchall category to cover things like sniffing permanent markers.

This is not to say that Mormons do not use prescription drugs.  As long as there is a need, and a legally obtained prescription (if needed), the word of wisdom does not prohibit substances used for physical, psychological, or emotional treatment.

The bottom line is that it comes down to agency.  Taking substances into your body that are addictive and will cause a dependency (like recreational drugs) is against the word of wisdom.  Abusing substances that are used for good (like prescription drugs) is also against the word of wisdom.

Grey Areas: Caffeine and Meat

Caffeine (which means all your favorite sodas, and energy drinks)

This is a pretty big questionable area for many Mormons, especially right now.  Just a few days ago, Brigham Young University changed their policy on selling caffeinated beverages on campus.  This has caused some debate among members of the Church.  Many anti-caffeine members feel that BYU leaders are giving in to peer-pressure, and are upset that the reasoning for the change is that they are trying to meet changing consumer preferences and demands.

However, the Word of Wisdom doesn’t technically mention caffeine. But many Mormons personally include it in for themselves. The main argument against caffeine is that it is addictive, and the Word of Wisdom teaches to abstain from addictive substances.

But then where does one draw the line? Because caffeine is in a lot of things, and I personally don’t want to give up chocolate anytime soon.

In the end, most Mormons decide for themselves on this matter.

Meat

In D&C 89:12-13, it states, “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 [the Lord] that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.”

This particular part of the Word of Wisdom is a grey area, and it may be because everyone has a different idea of what “sparingly” means. And then there’s that there hasn’t been as much counsel from latter-day prophets on the topic.

via Lukas Budimaier on Unsplash.com

However, Joseph Fielding Smith, who was the tenth president of the Church, made this statement (in his book, Doctrines of Salvation) about this doctrine:

While it is ordained that the flesh of animals is for man’s food, yet this should be used sparingly. The wording of this revelation is perfectly clear in relation to this subject, but we do not always heed it.

Personally, I agree with Joseph Fielding Smith. I feel like it’s an area that many members struggle with, or simply ignore. Another response to this doctrine was very eloquently stated on fairmormon.org:

Each member is encouraged to do better, but as in Joseph Smith’s day we ought not to attack or dictate to others. If the Lord is displeased with us individually, he can make his will known by [personal] revelation. If he is displeased with the Church as a whole, prophetic authority will give the necessary correction.

Joseph Smith also clarifies in D&C 49:21, “Wo unto the man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.”

The Word of Wisdom encourages:

Fruits and Vegetables

D&C 89: 10-11 teaches, “All wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

“Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.”

Grains (wheat, oats, and rice)

D&C 89:14,16 teaches us, “All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life… All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine … whether in the ground or above the ground.”

Blessing for the Obedient

If a person follows God’s commandments about the Word of Wisdom, then the Lord has promised the following blessings:

via wokandapix on pixabay.com

• They “shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;” D&C 89:18
• They “shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;” D&C 89:19
• They “shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.” D&C 89:20
• “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.” D&C 89:21

Those blessings sound pretty amazing. Especially that last one. I don’t know what form(s) the destroying angel will take, but I personally would like to be passed by, and not slayed.

The counsel of latter-day prophets and leaders have taught Mormons how the Word of Wisdom should be applied to this day and age. Some adjustments were made to better fit the society we live in now (180+ years after Joseph Smith had the revelation). Some parts need no revision.

For me, I follow the Word of Wisdom first and foremost because God said so. After that, I follow it because I want to. I physically feel better when I stay away from caffeinated beverages (soda in general) and oft-consumed, meat-heavy dishes. By not drinking or using mind-altering substances, I keep my sense of mind. My body is safe from the poisons from tobacco and the horrible, life-threatening health conditions that come with it. I’m definitely not perfect, but when I follow what God teaches, things work out better for me.

Try out the “Word of Wisdom” diet plan. If not for religious purposes, do it for yourself, because you deserve to be free from addictive substances. You are worth the effort it takes to enjoy life to the fullest, and you can’t do that when you’re suffering from tobacco-induced cancer. You deserve to be healthiest, and the most able-bodied version of you.

This results from the Mormon backstory, so to speak. Mormons look at life as having three stages, rather than the single stage of the atheist and the double stage of most Christian religions. The first step begins before we’re even born.

Everyone is a Real Child of God
Mormonism teaches that God created us first as spirits. That makes us very literally children of God, because He is the Father of our Spirits. Our spirits had form, but were not physical bodies. We had our character, our intelligence, our personality, and our agency. With those, we were able to begin learning about God’s plan for us and deciding how much we cared about God and His plans.

When the time came to come to Earth, we had to choose whether or not to accept the plan God had made. We had that right—but we couldn’t come to earth under any other terms. This meant if we rebelled against God’s plan, we would not be coming to earth at all. We would be Satan’s, who was encouraging people to reject the plan and make him their god instead. Agency does not mean the right to make consequence-free choices.

If you are here on earth, you made the right choice. Congratulate yourself! You sided with God and came to Earth to get started. You came here as a child of God. He loves you, knows you very well, and has a plan for you. He has the big general plan for everyone, but He also has a personal plan just for you. Based on everything He learned while you lived with Him, He made a plan for your life on Earth. You can choose to find out what it is and follow it, or you can choose to reject it—but again, not without consequence.

God Loves You

Whether or not you follow God’s plan, He loves you. He is a loving father in every sense of the word. Being a loving Father, He has to do what good fathers always do. Good fathers can’t make life too easy for their children, always giving them things instead of making them work for it.  They know we learn by doing for ourselves, making our own mistakes and then growing as a result. They do, however, let the children do as much as they can and then make up the difference. Good fathers don’t give children everything they ask for, knowing that what they think they want isn’t always what is best for them. Instead, they evaluate those wants, giving what is best for that given child at that given time.

God’s choices aren’t always understandable to us at the time we experience them. It is often later that we say, “I am so glad God had a different plan for me. This worked out perfectly.” As God’s children it is our responsibility to learn to trust God. In part, this will come from noticing what happens when we do or don’t follow His advice. We quickly learn life is better when we do what God asks us to do.

Knowing we are a true child of God and that He loves us unconditionally changes everything. No matter how alone we feel, we never are. While the people in our mortal world might let us down, go away, or be too busy, God is always there. He is always ready to listen when we need to talk, to give wise advice, and to give us the love we might find missing in other parts of our lives. His love and guidance brings meaning to our lives and makes everything fair. Day to day life isn’t always fair, but the atonement, a joint gift of God and Jesus Christ, evens everything out in the end.

“I am a child of God.” Mormon children sing these words from their earliest days. They are the words that change our personal world for the better.

“And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.” (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 27:8)

Jeffery R. Holland, a modern Apostle, has said that the Book of Mormon “should be considered the most remarkable and important religious text to be revealed since the writings of the New Testament were compiled nearly two millennia ago. Indeed, in its role of restoring plain and precious biblical truths that had been lost, while adding scores of new truths about Jesus Christ and preparing the way for the complete restoration of his gospel and the triumphant day of his millennial return, the Book of Mormon may be considered the most remarkable and important religious text ever given to the world.” (Christ and the New Covenant, 9-10)