Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 89:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 89:2-3
"To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—
Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints."

I pondered and began to research when the word of wisdom became a commandment. The one overwhelming thought I kept having was the history and timing didn't matter. What matters the most is the saints living it today. It is today that we have highly processed food, and meat full of antibiotics and chemicals. We have man telling us grains and carbs are not good and push us to eat things the word of wisdom says to moderate or be sparing. It is today we face evil designs of conspiring men. The desire to make us addicted or become habit-forming, tempting us day and night with incessant advertisements. The word of wisdom is even more critical for the saints in this latter part of the last days. It was given for my day. It is to help the saints that are weak to heal and be made strong.

The word of wisdom is a principle with a promise. It's important to understand what a principle is.
1. fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.
2. a general scientific theorem or law that has numerous special applications across a wide field.

When we take the word of wisdom as a guide we don't need everything spelled out that is not good for us. We should know based on the principled given us. If you can become addicted to alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea, then wouldn't other items that cause addiction also be included? We don't need to be commanded in all things. As Joseph Smith said, “I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.”

"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward."
(Doctrine and Covenants 58:26)

"Elder John A. Widtsoe wrote: “The reward for keeping the Word of Wisdom is four-fold. 1. Self-control is developed. That is implied in verse 3 of the revelation which states that the Word of Wisdom is ‘adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all Saints, who are or can be called Saints.’ 2. Strength of body, including resistance to contagion, is a result of wise living. 3. Clearness of mind is the gift of those whose bodies are in a healthy condition. 4. Spiritual power comes to all who conquer their appetites, live normally and look upward to God.” (Program of the Church, pp. 39–40.)
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Section 89, The Word of Wisdom)

Day 3678

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 10:1, 3

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 10:1, 3

"Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.

Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law."

I pondered on how hard a thing it was to ask them to put away their wives and children that were not of the covenant. I'm sure they loved them, otherwise they would have not wept so sorely. It does sound harsh and cruel. Then I reflected on how painful sin is, and having to repent of it. If they had followed the Lord's commandments and laws they would have never been in this position. When you become involved in anything against God's laws turning away from it is never easy. Two prime examples are drug and pornography addictions. Once you touch it, give yourself to it, it's not so easy to turn your back on it. There is much pain involved.

Day 2572