The Truth!

A pilgrimage of mind and spirit

Thursday, January 26, 2006

 

Certain self destruction

A couple of days ago I went to the doctor. It had been a while, and after some things that raised concern over the holidays, I made an appointment and went and had a check up. It turns out that things were much more serious then I thought.

My blood pressure was high, and after hearing my symptoms, the doctor said that he wanted me to have blood work done including a screening for diabetes.

This was all shocking, I am twenty seven years old, I am not supposed to have high blood pressure or diabetes. He prescribed some blood pressure medication and admonished me to work out every day, which I have been better about since joining a gym.

This has made me reflect about how we teach the word of wisdom, and what does this revelation really say.

In all of the lessons that I can remember about the word of wisdom, all of the emphasis was placed on alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use. The health benefits of abstaining from these things stood out, and to me it was clear that one should avoid these things.

Very little attention was paid to the portions that discussed diet.

I have wondered about some of the people that I have seen at Church from time to time. The morbidly obese man in elders quorum, who will try to split hairs about postum and caffeinated sodas, but who the night before helped himself to three servings of fried chicken, potato salad, green jello-salad and all the deserts at the ward social.

Is he somehow guilty of violating this law, just like the youth who get drunk on a regular basis and then visits with the bishop? When we “pig out” on foods that are not healthy, do we violate this law given from heaven?

The injunctions in the word of wisdom against tobacco and wine are explicit. “Strong drinks”, interpreted as other alcoholic beverages, and illegal drug use, are interpretations that need to be heeded, but what about the explicit portions about diet?

I purpose a physical examination as part of the temple recommend interview. After answering the verbal portion of the word of wisdom section, the stake president then asks the interviewee to the step on a scale. Following this, the executive secretary takes blood pressure, and determines body composition using skin calipers.

An interview might go something like this. “ Well brother Johnson, as soon as you loose twenty pounds and lower your blood pressure a few points, I’ll feel comfortable about signing that recommend.” Or,” Sister Smith, what does it mean to you when I use the phrase sweet spirit?”

Oh well, I guess that I will have to change my lifestyle if I am going to live a long life. I will be at the gym tomorrow if anyone wants to go, and no, we will not be going out for Chinese food and milkshakes following.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

 

The Flat World

The world that we live in is changing at a rate unparralled then in any other in point in human history. On Sunday evening, I watched a program with Fareed Zakaria and Thomas Friedman, an eminent author who has written extensively on the fact of Globalization.

The next book on docket is Friedman’s book “The World Is Flat” which discusses in detail how the world has become smaller through the recent major advances in the IT community and how to survive in the new flat world. I would encourage everyone reading this blog, purchase this book, read it, and then take part in the lively discussion that will result from taking in the concepts that this book discusses.

Monday, January 23, 2006

 

Rough Stone Rolling

Last week I completed the monumental task of reading Richard Bushman’s “Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling”. I had heard about this book while it was being written from Truman G. Madsen when he came to BYU-Hawaii. Madsen endorsed the book and said that this would be “the” biography of the prophet.

Reader beware, this is not the correlated, seminary, institute, Church history that many of us have grown up with. Several reviewers with Amazon said that this book shows it all, warts and all. I agree with that statement. In the book there is nothing to be ashamed of, and Bushman makes this evidently clear.

While some revisionist biographers try to emphasize the weaknesses of their subjects, while ignoring or downplaying their achievements; Bushman does not fall into this trap but even handedly presents Joseph Smith, the Prophet and spiritual leader, and Joseph Smith the man.

One thing that this made clear to me is the importance of being merciful and forgiving of our fellow man. We should do more to support and assist instead of engaging in activities that tear down and detract. If anything, Joseph, Emma, and the early Saints who stayed true, are more deserving of our mercy then ridicule. They were presented with the monumental and what probably seemed like the impossible task of building the kingdom of God, and based upon their circumstances, they did a good job.

Bushman makes it clear that it is impossible to understand Church history, unless we understand the country and time in which the events took place. In some ways, men are the products of the culture and times in which they live. They may do certain things, which to us seem strange, but when viewed through the cultural lens of the past, their actions make sense though not appropriate today.

In conclusion, you should go out, buy, and read this book. This is essential reading for anyone who is serious about Church history, especially the life of Joseph Smith the American Prophet.

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