There are many words of wisdom coming from wise men all over the world. Their wisdom is directed to many different subjects but most of them are generalized in respect to how a person should conduct their lives. I can honestly say that many of them have been a positive influence on my life. Hopefully a little of that wisdom has rubbed off onto my way of seeing the world.
There is a story told about a journalist traveling through Mexico who observed a very old man. The journalist asked him what he attributed his longevity to? The old Mexican told him that he started his day with 5 bottles of tequila and a pack of cigarettes. For dinner he said he had 3 more bottles of tequila and another pack of cigarettes. For supper he enjoyed several bottles of wine with three or four good cigars. Then I spend my evening with a few of the villages wild women. The journalists than asked him his age? The old man answered – “Twenty three.”
The Word of Wisdom being referenced here is a revelation given to Joseph Smith in respect to what we should eat and drink to preserve our health. For example, beer and other alcoholic drinks are considered bad for man. Living the Word of Wisdom literally paid off for me when I was working as a bricklayer during the summer of 1957 in Kemmerer, Wyoming. We were adding an addition on a grocery store and refacing (new brick) on all of it. Many of the men I was working with were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a few were not. When we were taking a break to get a drink we would go into the store. All of the workers would get a beer and I would always get a bottle of squirt. At the time a bottle of beer was 25 cents and squirt was only a dime. The store owner decided that those of us working in the hot sun, on his store, would get free drinks during the day. One morning I went into the store early to get a pair of gloves. When I went to pay for them the store owner gave them to me because I saved him money by drinking pop instead of beer. All the rest of the summer while we worked on that project they drank beer. I drank pop. I got free gloves. Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants is the revelation given through Joseph Smith, the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833. 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 is the revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom.
- A Word of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—
- 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.
- Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: 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—
- That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
- And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
- And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
- And again, tobacco is not for the body, 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.
- And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
- And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
- Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
- Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
- And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
- All grain 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;
- And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
- All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
- 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.
- 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. Amen.
I have always tried to live the Word of Wisdom and feel that it has blessed my life as it has many other Latter-day Saints. Below is an article that was in the Church News about a young Latter-day Saint girl who has been drafted to play professional soccer. She felt confident leaving home and family because she had the church where ever she went. The article follows: “They know I’m a member of The Church if Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they respect my values and lifestyle, which has been so cool.” Now she would be moving to the Atlantic Coast to play for the North Carolina Courage. Her family and best friends would be thousands of miles away. She would no longer be a student-athlete at a predominately Latter-day Saint school. She was now a professional. Soccer was her job and she’d be competing alongside some of the world’s best players. But she faced the upcoming changes like she faces ornery goalkeepers: cool and composed. “I felt so much peace going into the draft because I knew that wherever I went, the Church would be there for me,” she told the Church News.