Commentary on Meat

Does the Word of Wisdom have a restriction on meat?

Yes. The Lord states that the "flesh...of beasts and fowls of the air...are to be used sparingly." He goes further on to say that they should be eaten in times of winter (cold) or famine.

There is no mention of a restriction on poultry (fowl of the ground), seafood, eggs or dairy products.

Are the terms "cold" and "winter" referring to something different than how we interpret it today?

When the Word of Wisdom was revealed, methods for preserving meat were still primitive. Spoiled meat can be fatal if eaten, but the chance of spoilage is not as great in winter as in summer. Modern methods of refrigeration now make it possible for meat to be frozen and thereby preserved for later use in any season. The key word with respect to the use of meat is 'sparingly'" (Student Manual, Religion 324-325, p. 210).

Why should meat be eaten during times of "famine"?

Let them be sparing of the life of animals, it is pleasing saith the Lord that flesh be used only in times of winter, or of famine. And why to be used in time of famine? Because all domesticated animals would naturally die, and might as well be made use of by man as not.(Oliver Cowdery, Times & Seasons 3:799-801

Doesn't the revelation say that meat "should not be used only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine"?

Often some people forget the comma between "used" and "only" and thus misinterpret the entire verse. The sentence fragment following the commandment is further conditions from the Lord to the instructions he has given concerning the consumption of flesh of beasts and flying fowl.

In this case, as in many instances of its usage within the scriptures, "only" is used as an adversative, being synonymous with "save" or "except." In other words, it "should not be used, [except] in times of winter, or of cold, or famine." A handful of other occasions of this usage can be found within the following passages:

Notice in these verses, as well as in the others which have a similar usage of the word, that the placement of punctuation is nearly identical to that of D&C 89:13.

Does this mean that vegetarianism is a preferred diet for the Lord's people?

Perhaps. However, in previous revelations, He counseled that animals have been ordained for our use for food and clothing (see D&C 49:19; 59:16-20).

Of course the Lord advised eating meat sparingly, but He did not ban it altogether" (Elder Mark E. Peterson, Patterns for Living [Bookcraft, 1962], pp. 235-37).

Didn't Paul teach that vegetarianism is a sign of apostasy?

No. He taught that commanding to abstain from meats was a sign of apostasy (1 Tim. 4:3).

Do you have another question? Be sure to ask me, and I will try to find the answer.