I hope you all had a happy father's day! Here is a thought to uplift and inspire. I've been thinking about the topic of health, and the following scripture chain and thought came from my pondering and study.
It begins with the word of wisdom from the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints:
THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 89
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833. HC 1: 327–329. As a consequence of the early brethren using tobacco in their meetings, the Prophet was led to ponder upon the matter; consequently he inquired of the Lord concerning it. This revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom, was the result. The first three verses were originally written as an inspired introduction and description by the Prophet.
1–9, Use of wine, strong drinks, tobacco, and hot drinks proscribed; 10–17, Herbs, fruits, flesh, and grain are ordained for the use of man and of animals; 18–21, Obedience to gospel law, including the Word of Wisdom, brings temporal and spiritual blessings.
1 A aWord OF Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—
4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of aevils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of bconspiring men in the last days, I have cwarned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—
8 And again, tobacco is not for the abody, 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.
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome aherbs 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 aprudence and bthanksgiving.
14 All agrain 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;
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.
This is wonderful to read, because it outlines many principles of bodily health that were not known in the day that this revelation was recorded. This includes avoiding completely the use of tobacco, strong drinks (coffee and tea as well as alcohol), and addictive substances. This revelation describes a healthy diet as including good herbs, whole grains, as well as fruits and vegetables in their season. Also, that meat in excess is not healthy.
Along with guidelines to healthy living, this revelation continues, and includes blessings that are promised to those who are obedient to the tenents of living as outlined here by the Lord. The scripture reads:
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;
These blessings are amazing. By being healthy and living in the way outlined in this revelation we can find both physical and intellectual treasures of strength and wisdom.
I would like to now focus on the last verse which reads:
21 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. Amen.
The plagues that haunt our society often attack various parts of our physical system, but the major causes of death are listed as the following:
For high-income countries the top ten causes of death are:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Lung cancer
- Lower respiratory infections
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Colon and rectum cancers
- Alzheimer's disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Breast cancer
- Stomach cancer
For low- and middle-income countries the top ten causes of death are:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Lower respiratory infections
- HIV/AIDS
- Fetus/ newborn (perinatal) conditions
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Diarrhea
- Tuberculosis
- Malaria
- Road traffic accidents
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The top two causes of death for low, middle, and high income countries are heart disease and stroke, and are both directly associated with the circulatory system and the flow of blood through our bodies. Both a stroke and heart disease are described in the following quote:
Stroke Overview
Stroke is brain damage caused by a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. The signs of a stroke may include weakness, numbness, blurred vision, confusion, and slurred speech. Getting to a hospital quickly is vital for a good outcome with a stroke.
Heart disease includes conditions affecting the heart, such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. Keys to prevention include quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol, controlling high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising.
4 Factors That Increase Odds of Heart Failure
Smoking, high blood pressure, excess weight, and diabetes are major risk factors for increasing the size of the heart's left ventricle, a new study shows.
Smoking, high blood pressure, excess weight, and diabetes are major risk factors for increasing the size of the heart's left ventricle, a new study shows.
Both stroke and heart disease are worsened with diets high in fat and low in fiber, as well as lifestyles void of exercise. They are diseases of the circulatory or blood system that are caused by impurities (directly associated with unhealthy lifestyle practices as well as genetic factors) in our blood stream that can build up into the form of plaque or clots. If a clot in our body breaks loose it can create a blockage in our arteries which prevents blood flow. When this happens in our heart, it is called a heart attack. When this happens in our brain, it is called a stroke. There are other forms of stroke, but often this is the most common description of this disease.
We can summarize heart disease and stroke as being related to impurities in our blood that are the result of unhealthy eating habits and lack of appropriate exercise. The word of wisdom
suggests that we make both a part of our lifestyles while staying away from addictive and destructive substances such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or using other recreational drugs or stimulants. When we read the story that the Lord relates in the last verse of the doctrine and covenants we receive greater understanding about the statement he makes concerning the importance of this revelation on living in a healthy manner.
7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the house...
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
The lamb whose blood was to be used to avoid the plague had to be without blemish, and the Hebrews were told to eat that lamb and put the blood from that pure sacrifice on the beams around the doors to their homes. That would protect them from the destroying angel that would kill all the first born in Egypt. In our day plagues still occur and as we can see from the most common causes of death, having a healthy diet which cleanses our blood from impurities that lead to deadly disease is one way we can prevent ourselves from becoming a victim of such a common threat.
The food pyramid (right) is a great visual reference for what a balanced diet looks like.
Now, looking again at the most common causes of death, there are others that are somewhat preventable when following the word of wisdom as well as keeping the ten commandments. COPD is a disease of the lungs which is directly correlated with smoking as is lung cancer. Colon and rectal cancer has been correlated to low fiber, high protein/fat (meaning meat) intake. HIV has been linked to promiscuity as well as abuse of illegal substances. Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity, which is also directly linked to unhealthy diet and lack of exercise. Diarrhea and Tuberculosis are also highly preventable with regular balanced diet, and living in a sanitary environment.
Of course I must mention that I am in no way a physician, and you should always consult your doctor with questions about nutrition and your health. Also, you can live a healthy lifestyle while exercising regularly AND STILL become ill with these diseases, and it doesn't make you a bad person. What I am saying is that prevention is always better than recouperation if yours is a case where you might not have had to endure the suffering or lose your life earlier than necessary by following principles of healthy living.
Now here is a final scripture which can also help us improve our lifestyle and be healthier and happier people.
124 Cease to be aidle; cease to be bunclean; cease to cfind fault one with another; cease to dsleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be einvigorated.
I hope you all have enjoyed the insights I have tried to highlight in this article. Overall I want the message to be one of hope. We do have some control over our future because we can dictate often the state of our health. Where we can't, we still must do our best. May we all live a little better, eat a little healthier, exercise more regularly, and enjoy all the blessings and benefits that come from those good habits.
