Religious Devotion Can Bring Tangible Health Benefits

I am honestly made, of My Father, and for His purpose. I am the Message. The Messenger came before Me, but you did not know him, and so you destroyed him. Now I have come, and am here among you. The time is short, because I have returned wearied. I will not wait long.

Might want to read this before assuming wine is healthy...

http://chetday.com/healthywine.htm

statistics are a funny thing...

Oh... by the way, the Word of Wisdom was given in 1833... not the 1900s. But remember smoking, alcohol and a few other familiar ones aren't all that was said. To get a better understanding you can read it here:

http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/89

Cheers

Steven

My father was born in 1920, and according to him, it was always well-known common knowledge that smoking caused a whole bunch of health problems including cancer. They just didnt put the official government warning labels on ciargette packs until about 1965. But you would have to be a moron, not to notice how bad it was to smoke.

And it has been known for thousands of years that drinking alcolhol is bad for you.

And for Pagan Place, about Mormon Missionaries, I have noticed that they always pair them up so that one is a really geeky nerd, and the other is sort of polished and worldly; one is all wrinkeled and stained, and the other is pressed and crisp. I think they try to make sure that one of them has enough sense to look out for the other one. That sure makes me think that the Headquarters must be very organized about these things.

Thanks as well Brother Otterson,

Those who have itchy ears and are never coming to a knowledge of the truth might want to consider that a true prophet receiving revelation from GOD might say something that would get a "no kidding" or "for real" sarcastic remark just as Noah I'm sure got. To even mention that Daniel who refused the King's meat, ate pulse and gained a health benefit would also merit from some a comment such as: "so what" or "I'd rather trust what CNN told me then from what some old or new Prophet of God says".

Point is I would not put my trust and salvation in any Man's intelligence (via articles, polls or comments). I don't put much stock in trying to verify God's word through the wisdom of the world. I just do the homework go to the source (scriptures), ask God, try it and receive added light and truth. It has blessed my family, me and countless others.

Also, condemn not the truth due the weaknesses of a few.

I saw an interesting show on PBS where this Doctor (I don't believe he was Mormon) stated that we know are own bodies and that we should try different things and see what works for us. We are all genetically different and have certain tolerances for food (or other substances) and certain environmental conditions that affect what we can eat or consume. He advised that we can make a more intelligence decision based on our internal intelligence than any outward source of information. Partner that up with inspiration (which is communicated to our internal) and trying some revealed health laws from God and "Wow", possible we might really learn instead of taking a nibble and script a negative belief for our minds to settle with.

Worth reading!!!

Health and Healing in the Land of Israel

A Paleopathological Perspective

by Joe Zias

http://www.joezias.com/HealthHealingLandIsrael.htm

Hmmm, if the flaws of Mormonism were removed i.e. all references to Moroni and his revelations and if the flaws of Islam were removed i.e. all references to Gabriel and his revelations, there would hardly be anything left in either religion other then some version of the Commandments. Finally the start of the Utopia of Religious Convergence!!!!

Hmmm, what shall we call this potential joining? Musmors? Morms? Musmos? M&Ms? Ismors? Moisls? or Islamorms?

John D the First,
Thanks for the link to very insightful reading. That exchange was a pretty clear example of how people (or the media) can make inferences by "association" that are absolutely untrue, to fit their pre-conceived agenda.

On another note, I knocked on a lot of doors in a "melting pot" of California and in Illinois, met wonderful people from all walks of life and from all over the globe, but never once did I encounter a person with the kind of hatred, bigotry, and discourteousness that several commenters among those here (especially the repetitious ones) offer to the world. I doubt if it was how they were raised. I suspect they're "internet originals" needing to release a lot of guilt and frustration over very sad personal lives. I guess that's one way to do it.

Peace, all. Re-reading "Merchant of Venice" might help. When Shakespeare wrote about the "quality of mercy" and about the "pound of flesh", he demonstrated a keen understanding of human nature.

For info on Mormon and suicide see here:

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/lds_LowSuicideRate.html

For the suicide statistics for 2004 see suicidology.org/associations/1045/files/2005datapgs.pdf . Utah was ranked 15th out of 51. DC was included in the study and had the lowest suicide rate.

Rank State (2004 rank)
1 Montana
2 Nevada
3 Alaska
4 New Mexico

15. Utah

How does one explain, then, that Utah has one of the highest suicide rates in the Nation.

Could it be that Mormon women are still subjugated in the Utah tradition or that gay Mormons have no other alternative in life than to be "cured" or kill themselves?

Y'know, a lot of you here are rolling your eyes about the "revelation" and are saying, "Wuppeee, so non-smokers live longer, duh."

I don't know how old some of you are, but when I was a child, any prohibition against smoking and drinking was considered absurd. There was no "evidence" to suggest there was anything wrong with it.... It was terribly uncool.

Now you want to claim it was self-evident.

But let me add that the counsel against addictive substances serves another end. It preserves one's agency, or the freedom and ability to chose. When you are addicted to a substance you become a slave. When your mind is befuddled with alcohol or other drugs, your ability to make sound decisions is lost, yet you are still accountable for the consequences.

But again, duh.

Yeah, sending some kid around with the word 'Elder' on him is insulting on a temperate day... Trying to treat *heat-stroke* when they think you're the Ahem of Babylon is just ...Well.
Ahem.

Then again, I lived in Massachusetts when Romney was governor. Reality can go away in a cloud of Right-Guard, right?

Just don't have no coffee.

It's annoying enough to have kids come to your door selling cookies, I mean, salvation, and if they don't, something's wrong with their soul.

It's another to put em in black polyester and do it on the prairie.

Not that I have a big problem with black suits.... Black plastic bags and the midday sun?

That's not virtue.

That's something else.

'Elder.'

Sorry if I get peeved about that. It's not like I don't actually do that kind of drag, myself...

But in the words of Will Smith, difference is,

'I make this look *good.* :)

Try some linen... natural fibers...

Hydrate your offspring.

I mean, seriously, if you must send your kids doo-to door with he word 'Elder' on them before the acne clears, *don't* put me in the osition of saying, "OK... It appears you've stopped sweating, now. Shut up about your prophet, it's time for you to hydrate. Shut up. Sit down. I'm bringing water."

Then have em flee.

I sure didn't teach the poor wittle 'elders' that.

Sincerely to Mormons, btw, just for Pity's sake, cool it with the black polyester suits. Ain't worth it.

"It's funny that this article has attracted the usual "lets attack anything Mormon" crowd. I've always wondered what motivates them to misrepresent and lie about a religion. It does make for entertaining reading though."

Well, that's hardly noble... Then again, sending your kids out on hundred degree days in black polyester suits with the word 'Elder' on them and making em afraid to accept water...

Eeeeh, Not sure that's worse than a coffee.

Actually, they drink a lot of hot coffee, rather than iced drinks, in the equatorial reagions, because this does *not* temporarily fool your body into raising your core temperature....

But who am I to argue with a sixteen-year-old 'Elder,' don't know better than to come in out the sun, eh?

History is not bigotry!!!

Thanks for the insight Pam. I was wondering what the ingredient in wine was that the health benefits are tied to.

It's funny that this article has attracted the usual "lets attack anything Mormon" crowd. I've always wondered what motivates them to misrepresent and lie about a religion. It does make for entertaining reading though.

Some intelligent and clever comments here, except for those from "Concerned The Christian Now Liberated" -- who appears to be an evangelical nutjob. Shouldn't he be on the myriad anti-Mormon blogs, along with the other bigots who don't seem to have a life?

Otterson, you have got to be kidding us? Joey Smith drank wine the night before he was killed in a blazing gun battle (with a gun smuggled in to him) he engaged in at Carthage Jail. He had a bar in his home in Nauvoo. The Word of Wisdom says meat should be used sparingly and only in time of cold or famine but Mormons gorge themselves on it steadily and are some of the fattest, gluttonous slobs around. Look at most Mormon women and the girths they have. Otterson, you need to stop lying to the world. We know better and are not going to fall for your shenanigans.

Oh, for Pete's sake - Joseph Smith didn't know jack about what constituted a healthy diet/lifestyle - the items mentioned were considered "stimulants", likely to lead to loss of sexual control...oh, my! He was a contemporary of Queen Victoria, after all.

BTW, the red wine ingredient with the salutory effects (at least in mice) is resveratrol - and no, purple grape juice is not equivalent. It's in higher concentrations in some grape varietals than others (highest are muscadines - yuck!), and the longer a wine ferments, the more it contains. There's a trace in grape juice, but not enough to do you much good.

I mean, speaking of Mormon theology, you'd be *astounded* how much not-dying you could do if *koffkoff* Romney didn't decide whether or not you need some medicine to live ought to be up to the 'invisible hand of the market.'

I mean, tsk, guess I shoulda had some chicory, but... sometimes you just need the medicine.

Speaking of Mormons, though, whatever Romney's up to... Actual health care can bring tangible health benefits, too.

Go figure. :)

It's likea vegetarian friend of mine said, "Herbivores live fifteen percent longer than carnivores."

"Herbivores spend eighty percent of their lives chewing."

:)

I for one did not embrace the truth for any 'Health Reason' but found that the Prophet Joseph Smith was ahead of his time when he received that revelation and found it helpful in my family lives - all of which are runners [national and Olympic level].

Noting my power lifting years, I noted that the revelation did help me to succeed in my goals that a normal person could not achieve with record holdings of such a sport.

www.lds.net

Wow, people who don't smoke live longer. I think I'll die of shock. Obviously now I admit there are gods.

Wine vs. Welch's??

As one might expect, about the same benefits with one exception:

"But wine may provide at least one benefit grape juice doesn't: Alcohol has been shown to increase levels of HDL, the so-called good cholesterol, in the blood. "

archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/alternative/03/31/wine.heart.wmd

Bottom line: Non-Mormons who don't smoke have the same life expectancy as good Mormons so why bother joining a business cult with a religion as a front with said religion being founded by a con artist.

Hmmm, employees (a lot of them by the way) of the Mormon business cult pay a 10% income tax to the "prophet" and his merry men. Said money gets recycled back to said employee via a paycheck but said employee gets to write off said tithe/tax as a charitable deduction. Sounds like the IRS should investigate said dealings.

"...a withering of their 'noble parts'"???

In scientific circles, there is a saying "there is no final word, only the latest". What do suppose the latest word is on that "withering" comment? (snigger)

Cynicism aside, it is clear to me that the Mormon code of health (found here: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/89 ) was pretty insightful, particularly considering the date given.

Is red wine better for you than, say, Welch's purple grape juice? Has a study been done? Let's get somebody on that!

Hmmm, "In 1610 Sir Francis Bacon noted that trying to quit the bad habit was really hard! "

1701: MEDICINE: Nicholas Andryde Boisregard warns that young people taking too much tobacco have trembling, unsteady hands, staggering feet and suffer a withering of "their noble parts."

Joseph Smith was born in 1805.

Note: coffee, tea and alcohol in the form of red wine (ask the French) and taken in moderation typcically get good reviews from health authorities i.e. Mormons have been giving up drinks that would increase their life spans even more.

Very interesting indeed. It makes me wonder what "new" discoveries in health or otherwise that will come to light in the future.

It is interesting that this wisdom came out in a time when doctors didn’t know all the problems that coffee, tea, alcohol, and tobacco caused.

And, long before the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society ever existed.

Think about it...

Mark

Thanks Brother Otterson.

Because God is the creator of our body, he knows how to best care for it. I therefore deeply appreciate the code of health articulated in Section 88. But more so, I am grateful for the spiritual promises that are fulfilled by obedience to the principles in the Word of Wisdom.

Truly, living the commandments is to live after the manner of happiness.