- Doesn’t the Word of Wisdom say man is only supposed to eat wheat?
- Verses 14 & 16 state that all grain should be used for food and for our use.
- How much of a part of our diet should grain play?
- Verse 14 says that all grain should be the staff of life, suggesting it should be the main staple of our diet, supplemented by other foods.
- Should bread be made with whole wheat flour instead of white flour?
- From a health standpoint, yes. From a Word of Wisdom standpoint, not necessarily. The Word of Wisdom only lists the grain, not how much of the head that should be used.
There is no prohibition in Section 89, for instance, as to the eating of white bread, using white flour, white sugar, cocoa, chocolate, eggs, milk, meat, or anything else, except items classified under the headings, tea, coffee, tobacco, and liquor” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.846).
Persons who say that it is against the Word of Wisdom to eat white flour simply do not know what they are talking about. The same is true with respect to white sugar. The Church has never banned or even raised a question about either one. Only unauthorized persons who speak on their own responsibility try to make Church doctrine out of their private personal views” (Elder Mark E. Peterson, Patterns for Living [Bookcraft, 1962], pp. 235-37).
May 05
I have been really studying this portion of the word of wisdom and staff of life is so significant. A shepherd would use a staff to help him climb and walk where he heeded to go without getting tired, if a sheep is being attacked they get rid of and ward off the predator animal without being endangered and to bring back a lost sheep a good staff, unlike a cane, will be tthe perfect size and curve to gently hold the around the neck and draw her in. Also it says “All grain is… the staff of life” not all grains are.. Meaning its plural and to be the staff of life it must be a mix of all the grains we utilize daily not just one or two graons that people think of like wheat. I just recently created a wonderful multigrain mix annd the 2 hits have been cookies and bread. If you would like I would love.to discuss this further. There is so much we can learn from eachother
A staff is a crutch or support. It is clear based on the Lord’s comment in verse 15 clarifies this, “And these(grains) hath God made for the use of man, only in times of famine and excess of hunger.”
I have recently finished reading a book called “Professor Ehret’s Mucusless Healing System” I was fascinated by the simplicity and it sent me back to the Word of Wisdom. According to the Lord we should eat herbs first ie. salads and also fruits. He would like use not to eat meat but yet he does provide it as a food source. Remember Daniel refused the king’s meat(Dan 1:5-20) Pulse which was preferred by Daniel is taken from the Hebrew meaning something that is sown or ie. herbs and fruits. Professor Ehret points that we should fast which means to hold firm which explains the Lord’s comment in D&C 59:13 that when fasting “let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect.” Let us consider the World in which we now live how we say we must eat meat, but it has been proven when it is consumed in excess it causes cancer.
In short we over look those verses that say only during these times and suffer the consequences, and we will not have the promise that the destroying angel will pass us by, but we will suffer the plagues and sin’s of this generation.
Why is it that some people interpret “staff of life” to mean “main staple” and others to mean “help”? I never thought too much on it till the last year as grains are being attacked by many health enthusiasts. It would seem they aren’t the most nutritious food available, but I keep eating them because I *think* the W of W says to, but maybe it really says to eat then if we *need* to. I just can’t find a definitive answer to this.
Personally, I’ve never understood self-declared health experts who claim grains aren’t good for you. They are high in dietary fibre and several vitamins and minerals, and eating a variety of them ensures an even great nutrient intake.
It’s because grains contain gluten, pytates, and lectins, which are all anti-nutrients, and grains also have a high gycemic value. But there is a way around these problems. If you soak and ferment them the way people used to do back in the old old days (and some traditional cultures still do), the gluten is broken down to a digestible level, and the pytates and lectins are neutralized. Eating grains with fats and proteins will lower the gycemic value of the meal, preventing blood sugar spikes.
I don’t think we are *required* to eat everything the W of W suggests. People in various places around the world have access to only certain food groups. I believe the Lord is saying all these things are food, and it’s okay to eat them. I also think it’s best to have a variety of foods whenever we can. Eating large amounts of grain limits the variety of food we eat. We eat way more grain in modern days than people have eaten in the past. I personally I have seen my health improve as I’ve reduced the amount of grains I eat.
Grain doesn’t have high glycemic value; gluten does. Whole grain actually has low glycemic values.
That being said, I think the point of the Word of Wisdom is that what we do eat should be a variety of foods. Even grains should vary; we shouldn’t eat just wheat, for example.
I believe that gluten is a protein and thus doesn’t affect blood glucose levels. Carbohydrates (found in huge amounts in grains and cereals) break down into simple sugars and cause blood sugar levels to spike right after a meal. Grains also contain antinutrients that are not good for our digestive systems (antinutrients are made by plants so that animals won’t eat them).
Just to clarify, glycemic load is a measure of both glycemic index and the portion size. Grains contain a lot of carbs that break down into sugars which leads to increases in blood glucose (and insulin response). When compared to nuts, fruits, or vegetables, the glycemic load for grains is a much higher and much more unhealthy alternative.
Good point, Jared. What I should have said was that the endosperm (which gluten is part of) is has high glycemic value.
My point, however, that whole grains are low in glycemic values still stands. Whole grains take longer to digest than just the endosperm, and thus take longer to break down into simple sugars, providing sustained energy levels.
Again, it is utmost important to ensure our diets are varied.
Oh my goodness, this has been the most enlightening conversation that I’ve seen on this topic. People get soooo heated about this subject, but I mostly believe that it comes down to the WOW being sent as “greeting” and to be “Adapted” So, I do believe that a variety is important. My testimony comes from changing my diet completely and adhearing to these principles. I did start a Nutritional Cleanse of sorts by just cutting out sugars and carbs, which I don’t think I will do again. I did it because I was becoming increasingly ill with “age”, I was 25 at the time. It did amaze me how I was able to loose weight that “hung on” and my respiratory issues all disappeared, all of my auto immune issues came to a stop, my “brain fog” was gone. I thought it was all evil “grains” fault. Then I realized that I could only sustain that diet for a little whiie and my reflux acted up because I was eating too much fat, which is not bad if it’s good fat. I came to the WOW and realized that I needed to reintegrate certain foods into my diet. I tried everything from abstaining from grain to vegetarianism, veganism and realized that balance is a must, but I don’t have to balance processed foods or sugars, which make me feel horrible. Everyone’s constitution is a little different and as a mother and wife I have to be mindful of their needs as well as my own. I can honestly say that following “mainstream” studies was overwhelming, but when I would bring it back to the WOW somehow all of it made sense. I can’t tell you how many times the line “And these hath God made for the use of man, only in times of famine and excess of hunger.” confusing! Then I realized that it’s not for the “staff” all the time, as it has been mentioned here. Thank you and I’m starting a Blog soon not with my opinions but as a resource for all of us that are trying to live a higher law. It is amazing but on the subject of sodas, sugar, grain, meat, it comes down to quality. We don’t produce our own anymore and therefore the procalmation “In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days…” Impressive that he couldn’t directly tell us beware of PESTICIDES, GMO FOODS, INDUSTRIALIZATION OF SUGAR. But this is true. I know it to be true because I’m healthier because of it. Now it’s about perseverance and not getting lazy and conforming to society again. Thank you for all of your words of wisdom. I would recommend reading 1955 The Word of Wisdom: A Modern Interpretation by Elder Widtsoe.