Bill “Papa” Lee Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 I need some help on a point of Mormon Doctrine. Due to sickness and other things I have not been to Church in a while. I thought about returning this week so I could perform my calling, teaching the Gospel Essentials class. I looked on the Website to see what lesson I needed to prepare and it is, “The Lord’s Law of Heath”. In the lesson and in the D&C we are promised “health in the navel, and marrow in the bones”. We are also told the “Destroying angel will pass us by”.Lately my Mother is suffering from a debilitating disease and my health is bad…and the “Destroying Angel” has been camped above my home. My students know of my problems (well some of them)…How do I approach this topic or lesson.Is there something I am missing…is this a flaw in the Standard Works?I would love opinions and Articles.
thesometimesaint Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) Pa Pa:Not to be glib. But if you live long enough something is going to kill you. But by followng the WoW we will be more healthy than if we do not. Edited January 27, 2012 by thesometimesaint 2
cinepro Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 I need some help on a point of Mormon Doctrine. Due to sickness and other things I have not been to Church in a while. I thought about returning this week so I could perform my calling, teaching the Gospel Essentials class. I looked on the Website to see what lesson I needed to prepare and it is, “The Lord’s Law of Heath”. In the lesson and in the D&C we are promised “health in the navel, and marrow in the bones”. We are also told the “Destroying angel will pass us by”.Lately my Mother is suffering from a debilitating disease and my health is bad…and the “Destroying Angel” has been camped above my home. My students know of my problems (well some of them)…How do I approach this topic or lesson.Is there something I am missing…is this a flaw in the Standard Works?I would love opinions and Articles.I think most people interpret this to mean that they will be healthier than they otherwise would have been had they not kept the Word of Wisdom. Unless we know how healthy we would have been without keeping the Word of Wisdom, we'll just have to have faith that that's the case.
Garden Girl Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 Hi Pa Pa...I agree wholeheartedly with TSS... I'm now 71 years old and as I type I'm wondering what "bug" is growing inside of me, silently, until it can manifest itself. Do I have cancer starting somewhere? Am I going along tra-la-la, oblivious to the internal destruction that is beginnig? I go every three months to test my blood because of certain medications that can affect my liver/kidneys... so I just got back this morning from my doc appt to go over results. I'm doing quite well at controlling my "numbers." But I have to work at it.So it is with everyone... as TSS says, if we live long enough, something is going to get us. Living the gospel principle of the WoW in our everyday life helps us to stave off a good many health issues.from the beach on a glorious sunny day... the Elders Quorum is coming over tomorrow to fix my fence sections that the wind blew down during our "high winds" (gusts up to 85 mph).GG
LeSellers Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) We are also told the “Destroying angel will pass us by”.The Destroying Angel is not the Angel of Death.There are far more ways to destroy someone than to kill him. Some are far, far worse than death.Obedience gains us blessings that can include better health and longevity, but that's not its only outcome.Lehi Edited January 27, 2012 by LeSellers
mfbukowski Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 People think they are obeying the word of wisdom because they obey the "usually enforced" sections- no coffee, booze, cigarettesAre we eating meat sparingly? Are we getting exercise regularly? Are we eating primarily whole grains?If we were as a people, we would have very few obese people, a far lower rate of diabetes than the national average, etc., many fewer ice cream socials, no diet coke instead of coffee, etc.I don't see that happening. The word of wisdom is about being disciplined in a healthy lifestyle. If LDS people are not doing that, they get the same consequences everyone else gets from overeating and no exercise.And by the way- I am including myself in my own admonition.
Nevo Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) In the lesson and in the D&C we are promised “health in the navel, and marrow in the bones”. We are also told the “Destroying angel will pass us by”. Lately my Mother is suffering from a debilitating disease and my health is bad…and the “Destroying Angel” has been camped above my home.President Packer touched on this last Sunday in his remarks at the seminary centennial broadcast. After quoting the promises in Section 89 about running and not being weary, walking and not fainting, etc., President Packer—physically weakened and confined to his chair—remarked: "The Word of Wisdom does not promise perfect health, but that the spiritual receptors within you will be strengthened. The certainty is that your body will in due time grow old and eventually become uninhabitable (let me tell you about it!). The spirit will be forced to leave. We call that death."That the Word of Wisdom does not promise perfect health seems self-evident when you consider all the great members of the Church that have been cut down before their time by disease, notwithstanding their obedience to the Word of Wisdom. The promised blessings are largely spiritual.On the larger question of whether God's promises in the scriptures can be trusted, I highly recommend this article from Cornelius Plantinga, "Can God Be Trusted?" It's one of the best things I've ever read. Edited January 27, 2012 by Nevo 2
JDave Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 On the larger question of whether God's promises in the scriptures can be trusted, I highly recommend this article from Cornelius Plantinga, "Can God Be Trusted?" It's one of the best things I've ever read.Nevo,Thanks for that link. It was beautiful and inspiring.
mledbetter Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) Due to sickness and other things I have not been to Church in a while. I'm sorry that you have been sick. I haven't been to church in a while, myself, so I was unaware that you were absent and in poor health. Let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you. I'm not much use around the house (other than vacuuming and dishes--no handyman stuff), but good at fixing computers and such. Let me know.Sorry about your mother, as well. Hope she gets better soon. Edited January 27, 2012 by mledbetter
thesometimesaint Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 mfbukowski:We all need to eat better, get more excercise, and pray more often. But I do believe that by not smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, coffee, and tea we are ahead in the game. 1
Kenngo1969 Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 (edited) There are lots of physical benefits which may accrue to someone in choosing to obey the Word of Wisdom as "good advice." To characterize the Word of Wisdom solely (or even primarily) as a law of health is to miss the boat. By contrast, we have covenanted to obey the Word of Wisdom, and the power which comes from keeping covenants primarily is spiritual in nature. Yes, we're promised that the Destroying Angel shall pass by us and not slay us. But the most important promises in the Word of Wisdom are these:D&C 85:1919 And [those who keep the Word of Wisdom] shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures[.]I also like Job's testimonyJob 19:25-2625 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth;26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God[.] Edited January 28, 2012 by Kenngo1969
torquate Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 (edited) President Packer touched on this last Sunday in his remarks at the seminary centennial broadcast. After quoting the promises in Section 89 about running and not being weary, walking and not fainting, etc., President Packer—physically weakened and confined to his chair—remarked: "The Word of Wisdom does not promise perfect health, but that the spiritual receptors within you will be strengthened. The certainty is that your body will in due time grow old and eventually become uninhabitable (let me tell you about it!). The spirit will be forced to leave. We call that death."Regarding running and not being weary and walking and not fainting, section 89 is quoting from Isaiah 40. Verse 28 says the Lord does not faint or get weary. Verse 31 says that if we wait upon the Lord then we will not faint or get weary. I understand this as essentially saying that if we follow the Lord we will be blessed to be like him or at least with some of his attributes.As far as the destroying angel passing us by, in Exodus the Israelites were told to sprinkle lamb's blood around their doorframes to be protected by the destroying angel. So I interpret that to mean that the protection of the atonement will be there for us.Just my ideas, with nothing to back them up but my own reading and thinking. Edited January 28, 2012 by torquate
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted January 31, 2012 Author Posted January 31, 2012 I'm sorry that you have been sick. I haven't been to church in a while, myself, so I was unaware that you were absent and in poor health. Let me know if there is anything I can do to assist you. I'm not much use around the house (other than vacuuming and dishes--no handyman stuff), but good at fixing computers and such. Let me know.Sorry about your mother, as well. Hope she gets better soon.Maybe I will tell you one Sunday the horrifying thing that happened to me and why right now I am just angry at God and I don't want to be. You know me Matt, I nothing if not honest when I speak. I was teaching a class last night near the Temple so I went by...forgot it was Monday, I needed to be inside so badly! It would seem that the destroying angel is hard at work in my life.
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted January 31, 2012 Author Posted January 31, 2012 mfbukowski:We all need to eat better, get more excercise, and pray more often. But I do believe that by not smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, coffee, and tea we are ahead in the game.But what of those who seek to live to receive these blessing and do not? Eariler this month I prayed that God would just let me die...simple request; right?
Messenger Posted January 31, 2012 Posted January 31, 2012 You are alive for a reason. Pa Pa, if I were you I would find out why. But, it might have something to do with being an example, at least that's my lot in life. And by saying 'Example' I don't mean that I am some sort of savant or great example. Sometimes my example of how not to be is the best one I give! LOL Everyone, and I mean everyone, has issues with something. We go to church and put a smile on our face because we like church! But, we face a myriad of challenges everyday. This is what I love about Home Teaching - we help others, and it takes our minds off of our own problems. My mother used to say, "If you can do what you want, Do what you can do". I learned that I sometimes felt like the mountain of challenges was so great, I dare not even try. Everyone should have a mom like mine!
rpn Posted January 31, 2012 Posted January 31, 2012 Pa Pa, if you are fanning the flames, putting the fire out can get near impossible. 1
bluebell Posted January 31, 2012 Posted January 31, 2012 But what of those who seek to live to receive these blessing and do not? Eariler this month I prayed that God would just let me die...simple request; right?It doesn't matter how simple or difficult the request if it's not His will.
Kenngo1969 Posted February 1, 2012 Posted February 1, 2012 Maybe I will tell you one Sunday the horrifying thing that happened to me and why right now I am just angry at God and I don't want to be. You know me Matt, I nothing if not honest when I speak. I was teaching a class last night near the Temple so I went by...forgot it was Monday, I needed to be inside so badly! It would seem that the destroying angel is hard at work in my life.He has power to bruise your heel; you have power to crush his head ... even if you don't feel that's the case.
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted February 1, 2012 Author Posted February 1, 2012 Pa Pa, if you are fanning the flames, putting the fire out can get near impossible.Good advice.
thesometimesaint Posted February 1, 2012 Posted February 1, 2012 Pa Pa:Sometimes God says no. He knows a bit more than we do.
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted February 1, 2012 Author Posted February 1, 2012 Pa Pa:Sometimes God says no. He knows a bit more than we do. Sometimes the answer to "why"? would help a great deal.
cinepro Posted February 1, 2012 Posted February 1, 2012 It might be too late for your lesson, but there is an article in this month's Ensign on the Word of Wisdom:The Lord Has Given Us A Law Of Health
rpn Posted February 1, 2012 Posted February 1, 2012 In our short term mortal minds, knowing why might make things easier. But if the why changes from situation, maybe not. That could be pretty confusing? And don't you fundamentally know the why of all things. Either it is something planned for someone's good. Or it is something that happens because of our human circumstances, because bodies are imperfect. Or it is because of someone's exercise of agency contrary to God's will. (If I've left any out, perhaps others can suggest.)
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