Word Of Wisdom

[Cal]

What was the original purpose of the Word of Wisdom?

[Winnie G]

The prophet prayed for guidance after Emma was up set over the chew and spit on the floor above in the meeting room above their store.

It was at that time the promise of heath came from the Lord if we fallow the word of wisdom. It was not thought of, as a commandment for some time members did not always fallow the word of wisdom. Coffee was used for trading on the trail out to Utah.

[Snow]

Whatever the purpose, I think that is mark of JS's religious genius (if you are not a TBM) and his prophetic gift (if you are a TBM).

A normal man would have thought about the problem and then bought an additional spitoon. JS plugs in to some circuit of cosmic intelligence and overnight comes up with a spiritual law (recommendation) with eternal blessings, a health code, and a great unifying commality that would go on to set the Saints up as a seperate and distinct people.

[Guest bat]

Originally posted by Snow@Feb 3 2004, 10:09 PM

Whatever the purpose, I think that is mark of JS's religious genius (if you are not a TBM) and his prophetic gift (if you are a TBM).

A normal man would have thought about the problem and then bought an additional spitoon. JS plugs in to some circuit of cosmic intelligence and overnight comes up with a spiritual law (recommendation) with eternal blessings, a health code, and a great unifying commality that would go on to set the Saints up as a seperate and distinct people.

Because polygamy was only being practiced in secrecy (sacred) and therefore wasn't a distinction.

[Guest Starsky]

Purpose?

D&C 89:

4... In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

Pretty interesting...knowing that today most our food contains a large dose of corn syrup and preservatives, not to mention carcinogens.

[Guest bat]

Originally posted by Peace@Feb 4 2004, 12:03 AM

Purpose?

D&C 89:

4... In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

Pretty interesting...knowing that today most our food contains a large dose of corn syrup and preservatives, not to mention carcinogens.

What evidence do we have that JS actually received a revelation about this? Were there any witnesses? Disinterested observers? Are we simply taking one man's word for it? I hope not, that seems pretty silly.

[Guest antishock82003]

Originally posted by Peace@Feb 4 2004, 12:03 AM

Purpose?

D&C 89:

4... In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

Pretty interesting...knowing that today most our food contains a large dose of corn syrup and preservatives, not to mention carcinogens.

The WoW deals with corn syrup? Please. Someone. Tell me why Mormons only follow a couple of the tenets of the WoW. Also, why don't they drink beer when the WoW clearly authorizes it?

[Winnie G]

That is why we have modern revelation, as years passed and gained more was known about what we eat the W of W dose set us apart from the world. The date alone shows the church knows something the rest of the world did not.

I think we should look at the parts we don’t fallow.

The less meat more vegetables. The in session part.

I heard a talk once on the Do’s of the W of W that by past the don’t.

Don’t drink smoke or hot drinks.

Hot drinks?

A friend of mine had a daughter who served in the tropics and teaching the W of W was a slam-dunk there. Were she served they never drink any thing hot, there medical advisers are ageist it for your throat health.

All I can say is once I fallowed the W of W closely I have been come healthy.

I use to spend the winter battling colds Flu’s and every spring or summer I would have pneumonia and be hospitalized. I was my doctor best friend; Yes I would make his car payment every month.

[Cal]

Two things make me wonder about the original "revelation" on the WoW--can anyone help me out on this:

1- If the Lord was so concerned about the health of the early Saints, why didn't he include "and boil your water before you drink it"---this would have saved countless lives in the early days of the church, as hundreds died of typhoid and dystentary etc which could have easily been prevented by boiling the water.

2-According to historical research of the early 1800's much of what is in the WoW was popular lore as to what was healthy and what was not. So why does the WoW make JS such a genius?

[Snow]

Originally posted by Cal@Feb 4 2004, 08:10 AM

2-According to historical research of the early 1800's much of what is in the WoW was popular lore as to what was healthy and what was not. So why does the WoW make JS such a genius?

Why are you asking more such questions when you, I am quite certain, already know some plausible answers...

One case in point being, JS created a health code (whether or not his science was known to the rest of civilation), and turned it into a mark of spiritual purity. It became a great unifying and strenghtening theme that continue through this day. Without saying that one is better than the other, a Lutheran may be a Lutheran, or a Methodist a Methodist, but a Mormon is a MORMON. In the absence of any overriding ethnic or geographic specificity, Mormons, to some significant degree, are seperate and distinct, a people unto themselves. Unity brings power.

Without temples and a lay priesthood, and widespread missionary service, and the WoW, and Mormon specific scripture and shared hardship... etc, Mormonism might well be just another, of many, denomination.

Oh yeah, and the Word of Wisdom works.

[Cal]

Snow--I don't really disagree with what you have said, in fact it makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure it directly addresses my questions, but if that is the furthest you want to take, no problem.

Does anyone else care to address my questions?

[Snow]

Oh, I'll address your question, and if fact I already have to a certain extent:

1. as a health code

2. as a sign of faith and then obedience

3. as a test of spiritual purity

4 as a unifying force to steel the saints; us versus them

[Jenda]

Originally posted by Snow@Feb 4 2004, 05:23 PM

One case in point being, JS created a health code (whether or not his science was known to the rest of civilation), and turned it into a mark of spiritual purity. It became a great unifying and strenghtening theme that continue through this day. Without saying that one is better than the other, a Lutheran may be a Lutheran, or a Methodist a Methodist, but a Mormon is a MORMON. In the absence of any overriding ethnic or geographic specificity, Mormons, to some significant degree, are seperate and distinct, a people unto themselves.

Sorry, Snow, but this part of your post is evidently not true. There are whole other denominations out there that were part of the original movement, just like the LDS, that are not capital M Mormons. We are mormon, but we are not LDS.

[Cal]

Snow--it is true that the WoW doesn't really make LDS very unique. The 7th Day Adventists have similar codes, and many conservative protestants, and even muslims follow similar codes of health.

As to whether it is a code of health revealed from God, I still have a hard time understanding why he would tell the Saints not to drink hot drinks, when doing so, at least in the early days, would have saved more lives than it cost.

[Snow]

Originally posted by Jenda+Feb 4 2004, 05:59 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Jenda @ Feb 4 2004, 05:59 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--Snow@Feb 4 2004, 05:23 PM

One case in point being, JS created a health code (whether or not his science was known to the rest of civilation), and turned it into a mark of spiritual purity. It became a great unifying and strenghtening theme that continue through this day. Without saying that one is better than the other, a Lutheran may be a Lutheran, or a Methodist a Methodist, but a Mormon is a MORMON. In the absence of any overriding ethnic or geographic specificity, Mormons, to some significant degree, are seperate and distinct, a people unto themselves.

Sorry, Snow, but this part of your post is evidently not true. There are whole other denominations out there that were part of the original movement, just like the LDS, that are not capital M Mormons. We are mormon, but we are not LDS.

Jenda, I don't get what part of my post you say is untrue.

Mormonism is a considered by many, Mormon or not, to be a seperate and distinct religion - Christian but in a way that no other Christian movement is. Mormons do not consider Community of Christ Church to be the Mormon Church nor do they so consider the Stangites, nor the Culterites nor the Fundamentalist.

The non-Mormon does not, I think, consider any of those groups to be Mormon either. If some non-LDS person is talking about "those Mormons" 998 times out of a 1000, they are not thinking of the Community of Christ Church. You might be more like us than, say, the Catholics, but in the Mormon and non-Mormon consciousness, you are not part of a "seperate and distinct" people - a "peculiar people"

You may call yourselves Mormon, like Mormons call themselves Christian - as far as I know we don't own the word but you went your way, and we went our way.

Am I missing your point?

[Snow]

Originally posted by Cal@Feb 4 2004, 06:07 PM

Snow--it is true that the WoW doesn't really make LDS very unique. The 7th Day Adventists have similar codes, and many conservative protestants, and even muslims follow similar codes of health.

As to whether it is a code of health revealed from God, I still have a hard time understanding why he would tell the Saints not to drink hot drinks, when doing so, at least in the early days, would have saved more lives than it cost.

Cal,

Here's what I said:

"Without temples and a lay priesthood, and widespread missionary service, and the WoW, and Mormon specific scripture and shared hardship... etc, Mormonism might well be just another, of many, denomination."

The WoW is one of many defining charactersitics. However, mention abstinence from coffee, tea, alcohol and tobacco and I don't most people we know would say... "those wacky Muslims" They might well say, "Whaddareya, a Mormon?

[Jenda]

Originally posted by Snow+Feb 4 2004, 06:26 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Snow @ Feb 4 2004, 06:26 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Originally posted by -Jenda@Feb 4 2004, 05:59 PM

<!--QuoteBegin--Snow@Feb 4 2004, 05:23 PM

One case in point being, JS created a health code (whether or not his science was known to the rest of civilation), and turned it into a mark of spiritual purity. It became a great unifying and strenghtening theme that continue through this day. Without saying that one is better than the other, a Lutheran may be a Lutheran, or a Methodist a Methodist, but a Mormon is a MORMON. In the absence of any overriding ethnic or geographic specificity, Mormons, to some significant degree, are seperate and distinct, a people unto themselves.

Sorry, Snow, but this part of your post is evidently not true. There are whole other denominations out there that were part of the original movement, just like the LDS, that are not capital M Mormons. We are mormon, but we are not LDS.

Jenda, I don't get what part of my post you say is untrue.

Mormonism is a considered by many, Mormon or not, to be a seperate and distinct religion - Christian but in a way that no other Christian movement is. Mormons do not consider Community of Christ Church to be the Mormon Church nor do they so consider the Stangites, nor the Culterites nor the Fundamentalist.

The non-Mormon does not, I think, consider any of those groups to be Mormon either. If some non-LDS person is talking about "those Mormons" 998 times out of a 1000, they are not thinking of the Community of Christ Church. You might be more like us than, say, the Catholics, but in the Mormon and non-Mormon consciousness, you are not part of a "seperate and distinct" people - a "peculiar people"

You may call yourselves Mormon, like Mormons call themselves Christian - as far as I know we don't own the word but you went your way, and we went our way.

Am I missing your point?

Well, you are not missing my points, you understood them, you just don't agree with them.

Part of the point was about the meaning of the word Mormon. Yes, the LDS mormons are the ones that everyone thinks of first when the word Mormon is mentioned, but anyone who knows about our church calls us Mormons, even when we try to correct them. In books outlining different denominations, we are always Mormon. Mormons might not consider us mormon, we don't necessarily consider ourselves mormon, but everyone else does.

The other part of the point is that what you all have (except the polygamy thing, and the temple ordinance things) that makes you feel distinct, are held by other churches, also. So, you are really not distinct in your distinctness. BTW, we are a peculiar people. (But that is one of the distinctives that you share with us (whether you want to or not.))

[Snow]

Originally posted by Jimmy@Feb 4 2004, 06:53 PM

Just a thought.

And here's another thought.

Jimmy is probably not a new poster, just a recylcer, but in the unlikely event that his entirely worn and tired spiel is, um his first time posting... let me ask, you state your opinion not as an opinion, but as a fact you came into possession of (please excuse the propisiitional ending). Pray tell, what is it that you think you know that the rest of us believers don't.

[Jenda]

Originally posted by Jimmy@Feb 4 2004, 06:53 PM

I feel inclined to share a thought that just crossed my mind. When I realized the "church" was entirely created by men and run by men everything made perfect sense at last. The changing doctines (duh), the conflicting practices (secret combinations in the temple), the half truths (all church doctine is in the Book or Mormon), the lack of inspiration portrayed by leadership (the church is perfect but the members aren't), the apparent lack of checks and balances/leadership accountability (God will not allow his prophet to lead the people astray)... The list goes on. When I believed the "church" was "true" these things were all so mysterious and confusing. Now that I know the facts everything falls into place--flat on it's face like a house of cards. Just a thought.

That thought just crossed your mind, huh?? It didn't need putting together or anything? It just fell into place fully formed. That is really interesting.

[Guest antishock82003]

Originally posted by Jimmy@Feb 4 2004, 07:25 PM

When I was an "active" Mormon, it bothered me that a church which was allegedly run by God could do so many dumb things. (Polygamy, denial of the PH to blacks, homophobia, subjugation of women, etc.) Once I realized that it is completely a human organization, founded by humans and run by humans, with no "divine inspiration", then it fell into place for me. The cognitive dissonance disappeared, along with any shred of belief I had in "The Church."

I think my use of the term "house of cards" is very apt.

Of course, I believe that it is the same for every other religion. They are ALL man-made attempts to explain the reason for our existence.

No way, dude. The WoW says you can't eat meat except during famine, and oh yeah, a little bit during the winter. Totally inspired. Also, you can drink beer according to the WoW. That's inspired, too.

[Snow]

Originally posted by Jimmy@Feb 4 2004, 07:25 PM

When I was an "active" Mormon, it bothered me that a church which was allegedly run by God could do so many dumb things. (Polygamy, denial of the PH to blacks, homophobia, subjugation of women, etc.) Once I realized that it is completely a human organization, founded by humans and run by humans, with no "divine inspiration", then it fell into place for me. The cognitive dissonance disappeared, along with any shred of belief I had in "The Church."

I think my use of the term "house of cards" is very apt.

Of course, I believe that it is the same for every other religion. They are ALL man-made attempts to explain the reason for our existence.

Now that I am an "non-active Mormon," it bothers me that kids like you that allegedly think they know what they are talking about could say so many dumb things. Once I realized that their opinions, even though stated as fact, were worth no more that the non-existenct paper they were written on, it all fell into place. When that happened, I was free to obseve that phrases like "cognitive dissonance" sound important but really mean nothing other than indicate that you kids all hang out on the same message board.

Of course, your opinion is simply a man-made attempt to explain something you don't get and heaven forbid that your house of semi-rational cards comes tumbling down, but hey, everybody's got to believe something.

[Winnie G]

Jimmy you seem to think you know church history, but you might want to check in to it again, JS ordained Blacks to the priesthood and after his death BY suspended there priesthood. I not impressed with that but thats the history,

Also can you since you’re a man with the name Jimmy, why would you say women are subjugation?

I have never felt that way and I am a LDS feminist.

There are more women in the church who feel the same.

You sound like hurt feelings more then a lighting bolt of knowledge hit your rump.

You sound angry and hurt.

[Guest Starsky]

Originally posted by bat+Feb 4 2004, 12:20 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (bat @ Feb 4 2004, 12:20 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--Peace@Feb 4 2004, 12:03 AM

Purpose?

D&C 89:

4... In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

Pretty interesting...knowing that today most our food contains a large dose of corn syrup and preservatives, not to mention carcinogens.    

What evidence do we have that JS actually received a revelation about this? Were there any witnesses? Disinterested observers? Are we simply taking one man's word for it? I hope not, that seems pretty silly.

LOL...you know the drill....it is called...receiving confirmation by inspiration, revelation, visitation, etc, et c.....

[Guest Starsky]

Originally posted by Jenda+Feb 4 2004, 07:24 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Jenda @ Feb 4 2004, 07:24 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--Jimmy@Feb 4 2004, 06:53 PM

I feel inclined to share a thought that just crossed my mind. When I realized the "church" was entirely created by men and run by men everything made perfect sense at last. The changing doctines (duh), the conflicting practices (secret combinations in the temple), the half truths (all church doctine is in the Book or Mormon), the lack of inspiration portrayed by leadership (the church is perfect but the members aren't), the apparent lack of checks and balances/leadership accountability (God will not allow his prophet to lead the people astray)... The list goes on. When I believed the "church" was "true" these things were all so mysterious and confusing. Now that I know the facts everything falls into place--flat on it's face like a house of cards. Just a thought.

Jimmy, jimmy, jimmy, jimmy....when will you move up in your power of discernment? When will you stop leaning to your own understanding? When will you begin to search in earnest and stop taking the 'easy' road down.

[Lindy]

Originally posted by Snow@Feb 4 2004, 09:18 PM

Now that I am an "non-active Mormon,"

Snow~

When did THIS happen?