Word of Wisdom

Over one hundred fifty years ago a revelation from God was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith. At that time few could understand the reasons for many of the restrictions placed upon them in the matter of their dietary and health habits. As a result, no doubt there were many who did not choose to observe what came to be known as the Word of Wisdom.

On the other hand, there were others who, because of their faith and their desire to be obedient to the word of the Lord, accepted and heeded the counsel and instruction.

I feel that the promise given in the last four verses of this revelation is one of the most glorious promises that the Lord has pronounced for our benefit.

“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.” (D&C 89:18–21; italics added.)

Too often we think of the promise as pertaining only to observance of the Word of Wisdom, but note in the first sentence, it states, “walking in obedience to the commandments,” which means that we observe not only the counsel in this revelation, but keep the other commandments in order to obtain the promise.

This revelation has such far-reaching effects on so many aspects of our lives, and on the social behavior of those in our communities, that I believe most of the ills of society today could be cured by the acceptance and observance of the Word of Wisdom.

Consider the spiritual, moral, physical, and economic problems caused by the use of tea, coffee, tobacco, and alcohol or the use of illegal drugs and misuse of legal drugs.

No one would knowingly go into his garden or a forest of beautiful trees and pour a mixture of poisons at the roots of flowers or shrubs. Yet there are those who make no effort to stop, but actually assist in getting people to use the habit-forming substances which eventually poison the bodies and minds of those who indulge, causing many forms of illness, and even death.

Surely the Lord gave a revelation and a promise for the benefit and blessing of his children.

May we continue to stand for physical, mental, and spiritual health through observance of the Word of Wisdom and receive the blessings predicated upon obedience to the word of the Lord.

Integrity - Thought

To me, integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous … , not only in our actions but, more importantly, in our thoughts and in our hearts.

We show our integrity by caring for and serving others.

The Lord expects us to live lives of integrity and to be obedient to his commandments.

Let us strive for personal, practical integrity in every endeavor, regardless of how mundane or inconsequential it may seem.

Having received the Spirit of Christ to know good from evil, we should always choose the good.

-Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Thought from Dave: Integrity

1 Chronicles 29:17

I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

Just a thought on Unity

The Lord has said, “If ye are not one ye are not mine” (D&C 38:27). We can seek and promote this standard of unity in our families and in the Church. If we are married, we and our spouse can be unified in purpose and action. We can allow our unique qualities to complement one another as we face challenges together and grow in love and understanding. We can also be unified with other family members and with members of the Church by serving together, teaching one another, and encouraging one another. We can become one with the President of the Church and other Church leaders as we study their words and follow their counsel.

Psalms 133

[1] "Behold, how good and how pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together together in Unity!"

Of this I do Testify.

Lesson: Ten Commandments

I am taking Hunter’s Safety this week to get ready to hunt. I just read about the Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety.

1. 1. Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

2. 2. Firearms should be unloaded when not actually in use.

3. 3. Don't rely on your gun's safety.

4. 4. Be sure of your target and what's beyond it.

5. 5. Use proper ammunition.

6. 6. If your gun fails to fire when the trigger is pulled, handle with care.

7. 7. Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting.

8. 8. Be sure the barrel is clear of obstructions before shooting.

9. 9. Don't alter or modify your gun and have it serviced regularly.

10. 10.Learn the mechanical and handling characteristics of the firearm you are using.

In hunting and in life instructions are necessary to be able to do what we need to do. Rules and laws are like instructions.

We know that rules are necessary in many aspects of our lives. There are rules we should follow to be safe, to have good health, to have good relationships with others, or to have eternal life. Rules bring order into our lives and are necessary for us to know how to live happily. Heavenly Father has given us the Ten Commandments, which are laws to help us know what to do and how to live so we can be happy.

· 1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3).

· 2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (Exodus 20:4).

· 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain (Exodus 20:7).

· 4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8).

· 5. Honour thy father and thy mother (Exodus 20:12).

· 6. Thou shalt not kill (Exodus 20:13).

· 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14).

· 8. Thou shalt not steal (Exodus 20:15).

· 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness (Exodus 20:16).

· 10. Thou shalt not covet (Exodus 20:17).

Notice that all of the Ten Commandments fit under the two great commandments that Jesus Christ gave in Matthew 22:37–40: to love God and to love our neighbors. Think of specific ways to live these commandments, and challenge yourself to choose one specific way to show love for God and to show love for your neighbors this week.

FHE THOUGHT: The Ten Commandments

"I have come to know that the acts of men, once governed by the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, are in my day to a great extent governed by the whims of the persons committing the act. The excuse is that one has to “do his own thing.” And apparently the commandments are forgotten. But they have not been cancelled. They still stand as a beacon light on the way to eternal life—which is, of course, eternal happiness and joy...

...Incidentally, to this generation of young fathers I suggest that they spend overtime teaching their children the fifth commandment, which tells them to honor their parents. We teach children they must not lie and steal, but do little to have them understand that adolescent rebellion is a flagrant breaking of the commandment to honor parents. To make the teaching effective, parents must live to deserve the honor children are commanded to give them. It is devastating to a child to learn that his father does not have integrity..."

-S. Dilworth Young, “‘He Hath Showed Thee, O Man, What Is Good’,” Ensign, Nov 1978, 64

D&C 93:43, And now a commandment I give unto you—if you will be delivered you shall set in ^aorder your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house.

Thought on Household Work

The world has need of willing men Who wear the worker's seal...

The work to do is here for you; Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along, push along.

Do your duty with a heart full of song, full of song.

We all have work; let no one shirk. Put your shoulder to the wheel.

(Hymn 252)

Sharing Household Work

Sharing Household Work

A new study has identified an emerging domestic threat that could be responsible for making future marriages teeter and prompting a decline in volunteerism and empathy.

The study is about children and chores.

University of Maryland Professor Sandra Hofferth—who is an expert on how children use their time—reports that 6 to 12 year-olds now spend an average of only 24 minutes a day doing household chores. That’s a 12% drop from 1997, and a 25% skid since 1981.

The chore-defying dive reflects “important behavioral and values shifts that will affect lives for years to come,” says Dr. Hofferth.

Doing household chores as a child turns out to be a major predictor of whether an individual does volunteer or community work as an adult, according to sociologists, who note that housework is an important teaching tool. And when it comes to domestic bliss, the distribution of domestic duties—grounded in childhood chores—can make or break a marriage.

Chores are a Major Source of Conflict in Marriage

If you ask wives what one of their top stresses is, quite a few will respond that it is the fact that their husbands don't want to do their share of work around the house. Stress levels increase in your home when either one of you is unhappy about unfinished chores.

Couples fight over who does what around the house almost as much as they fight over money. Many surveys and studies point out that even though many women work outside the home, they still tend to do most of the household chores.

Whose job is it anyway?

The care of a house is not just the responsibility of the Mom and/or Dad or any single person. Every person who lives in the home should share in the work of keeping that house organized and comfortable for all who live there (except molds, mildews, germs and bacteria—who should find conditions uninhabitable).

Obviously, someone needs to take charge of certain areas. Women or men who do the bulk of the cooking can be rather territorial about their kitchens. Young adults can be protective of their privacy (but remember who owns the house and pays the bills!). However, ALL who live in the home share the responsibility for the crustiness of the kitchen, the litter in the living room, the bacteria in the bathroom—because EVERYONE contributes to the mess. All those hairs in the bathroom can’t possibly be traced to a single body!

How do we all work together so everyone is happy?

Families, or others who live together, should meet together to find out what needs to be done and what is most important to each person. For one person it may be a clean kitchen, another may like the fridge organized. As each person shares what things that he'd like to see happen you can add those things to the chore list. Inviting each person to share his/her ideas makes everyone feel a valuable part and helps you to prioritize what's important. It brings you together as a team all working toward a common goal.

It may be difficult at first to do all that we should to help out around the house. We may feel that doing our part takes time away from what we would really LIKE to do. But if all are working together and just doing their part it will make everyone’s job easier.

“…Our Heavenly Father asks only that we do the best we can—that we work according to our full capacity, however great or small that may be."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Two Principles for Any Economy," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 56

Remember that doing chores builds character.

Parents, grandparents, family and friends all play an important role in a child's life by expecting him or her to help around the house. Chores teach children responsibility in life and also help them feel valued, loved, and a part of something bigger than themselves.

Working together to keep our home clean serves a higher purpose.

George Eliot wrote, What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?

Do you make life less difficult for each other, or more difficult? How does your answer make you feel?

“Just as Jesus used a child in His mortal ministry as an example for the people of the pure love they must and could have to be like Him, He has offered us the family as an example of an ideal setting in which we can learn how to love as He loves.

“That is because the greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is.”

Henry B. Eyring, “Our Perfect Example,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 70-71

How we work together and serve one another is both a measure of our love for one another and a way to increase that love. When we do those things around the home that make another’s life easier or simply more comfortable or pleasant, the Lord is pleased, love for one another grows, and the Holy Ghost will dwell there more often—perhaps even always! And that’s a home we can all be pleased with!