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.
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