Gospel Principles
Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 29: The Lord's Law of Health
Concept 5: Blessings for Living the Lord's Law of Health
"Our Heavenly Father has given us health laws to teach us how to care for our bodies. The Scriptures tell us about God's laws. "No temporal commandment gave I,... for my commandments are spiritual" (D&C 29:35). This means that his commandments concerning our physical state are for our spiritual good.
When we keep the Lord's law of health and obey his other commandments, the Lord promises to bless us physically and spiritually.
Physically we have been promised good health. As a result of this good health we "shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint." (D&C 89:20). This is a great blessing, but the spiritual blessings he has promised us are even grater than the physical ones.
The Lord promises us that we "shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures." (D&C 89:19). We will be taught important truths by the Holy Ghost through revelation. The Lord also promises that the destroying angel shall pass us by. Elder Spencer W. Kimball said that in our time this means we will be saved from spiritual death: "For observing the Word of Wisdom the reward is life, not only prolonged mortal life but life eternal" (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 211)
Discussion
What eternal blessings come to us from living the Word of Wisdom?
Think if ways that you can better obey the Word of Wisdom and overcome any problems you might have.
Additional Scriptures
Judges 13:13-14; Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:11-12; Daniel 1 (avoid strong drink)
Judges 13:13-14
"13 And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.
14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe."
Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."
Isaiah 5:11-12
"11 ¶ Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine in flame them!
12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands."
dan/1">Daniel 1 Daniel and certain Hebrews are trained in the court of Nebuchadnezzar They eat plain food and drink no wine God gives them knowledge and wisdom beyond all others.
D&C 59:16-20 (things of the earth for the benefit of man)
"16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for thebenefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion."
Proverbs 23:20-21 (warning against drunkenness, gluttony, laziness)
"20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags."