- 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).
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.
Theprovide nutirents, however they do so in a way that the body cannot use, Grains have something called Phytic acid which is an antinutrient that interferes with the absorption of minerals from the diet, not only from the grain itself but anything you eat at the same time. Only soaking sprouting and fermenting grains lower the phytic acid and allow more absorption of the nutirents.
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.
In a world so filled with so many opinions and “facts”, especially on health, it’s very easy to feel as Joseph Smith so adequately described, “So great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong…if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know….At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God.” (Joseph Smith – History 1:8, 11-13)
If you want to know what’s healthy and what’s not, there’s only ONE way to find out. An appeal to the Internet, or anywhere else will give you loads of conflicting info. So, ask the source of our bodies.
The truth is that “Staff” really does mean the following: Staple, Main/Important, Primary, Dominant, Best, and Most Needed. I’m not going to argue with anyone who comes to me and tells me “No! Grains are bad for you! bad, Bad, BAD!” I’m simply respect their right to eat whatever, and continue to eat my oats, and rye, and wheat, and rices. I may even bear my testimony about the Word of Wisdom and how it’s a “principle with promise” that will bring you health and happiness if you follow ALL of it.
And Eric Bakly, the WOW is actually referring to the eating of wild animals as “only in times of famine and in hunger”. It was saying that they shouldn’t be killed for sport or pleasure. I feel sick when I hear people say they “hunt because it’s fun”. Look at the JST translation of Genisis 9:10-11, if you doubt me. But again, I’m not here to argue, just to throw in my annoying two cents. Peace!! <3
Ok so am I missing something all my life I’ve believed grain was to be eaten all the time. As part of the word of wisdom. Then recently I’ve learned about paelo eating and the claim is, grains are not to be eaten at all, because they cause inflammation that leads to other health problems. So when I heard this I was like this totally conflicts with section 89 of D&C until I decided I better go re read it and when I did I found this.
14 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;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
So the verse 15 immediately following the grain verse says only for the use of man in times of famine and excess hunger. It seems to be saying to me, no mater how many times I read it that grains are to only be used in times of famine and hunger.
I’ve discussed it with my wife and we both have concluded that grains at least back in the days of Joseph Smith were the one thing that stores well. Your fruites and vegetables can’t be stored all that long without refrigeration. I mean even potatoes in a root cellar will only store 6 or 8 months grains stored properly can store for hundreds of years. So maybe staff of life isn’t referring to daily nutrition but saving your life in times of famine. I’m not trying to start any kind of argument here. I’m really asking for what others think.
Just go re read the whole thing in its context and maybe I’m way off on this, but I can’t read it any other way without having to throw out verse 15. I think some times we interpret things a certain way because it is what we want to believe. I’m not wanting to go paelo, but I just re read it very carefully this time.
My understanding is that verse 15 refers to the beasts of the field, fowls of the heaven, and wild animals that run or creep. See verses 12 & 13.
Ryan I agree with you about v.15
Here is my take on wheat as the “staff of life,” if anyone is interested. It has a well-defined meaning in the English language, so it really doesn’t make sense to try to make up an alternative meaning to suit the current diet trends, in my opinion. LINK: http://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com/about/the-word-of-wisdom/wow-faqs/staff-of-life/.
And here are some thoughts on “Does the pronoun ‘these’ in D&C 89:15 refer to grains, wild animals, or all animals?” LINK: http://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com/about/the-word-of-wisdom/wow-faqs/pronoun-these-in-verse-15/
I loved it! Thanks for sharing! It just makes so much sense. God told Adam that by the sweat of his brow he would eat bread all the days of his life (not necessarily saying that he would eat bread all his days, but it definitely shows that after the garden of Eden men ate grain and it was a part of everyday life!)
I think there are some good things about the Paleo diet, but it also seems clear that much of the diet directly contradicts the Word of Wisdom. Paleo is high meat, low grains. Word of Wisdom is low meat, high grains. In a world of confused messages, we are so blessed to have the Lord’s direction!
I’m currently writing a series on the Word of Wisdom and the Paleo diet for Meridian Magazine. If anyone is interested, here are the first two articles:
“Discovering the Word of Wisdom: The Problem with Paleo”
http://ldsmag.com/discovering-the-word-of-wisdom-the-problem-with-paleo/
“Discovering the Word of Wisdom: Paleo Diet and Grains”
http://ldsmag.com/discovering-the-word-of-wisdom-paleo-diet-and-grains/
For those interested in a Mormon approach to a plant-based diet, I invite you to watch a new 12-minute video on the Word of Wisdom. It features faithful Latter-day Saints embracing a whole food, plant-based Word of Wisdom diet and experiencing the blessings in D&C 89: http://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com/videos/
An understanding of the use of a semi colon ; implies implies a continued thought.
Notice the ; between verse 14 and 15. The subject matter of 14 is grain. Not for daily use. A staff is used in difficult situations only, not all the time.
14 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;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
Mike
“Staff of Life” is an Idiom. I don’t think you can parse words out of an idiom, rather take them as a whole. “Staff of Life” in english means “a basic staple” food. It doesn’t really matter what a staff is used for (help, crutch, etc) because we’re not talking about a staff. We’re talking about the “Staff of Life.” That’s all for me now 🙂