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969 Years

Why do you think that men do not live to be over 900 years of age anymore? One religious man (not LDS) once wrote that he thought it was because after the flood man started to eat meat. In the Book of Mormon we are told the average age of man would be in the eighties - why this stark difference from that of the Old Testament.

Years

I don't know the answer, but I don't think eating meat is the answer either. There are plenty of vegetarians today and none of them live to be 900. But I do think the answer lies with the flood because after the flood, men began to live shorter lives. Possibly there was a food source necessary for extended living that did not survive the flood.

969 Years Studies Doctrine Mormon

Nice theory about something that was eaten before, but did not survive, the flood. Interesting.

In my opinion, it may have had something to do with exposure to the Almighty. I think the veil was much thinner in those days, or that maybe God was keeping a closer eye on things in the beginning.

Of course, it could be that as Man becomes more corrupt his lifespan decreases -- the world is becoming more polluted, evil, etc.

We'll know soon enough
Roz

Years

Here's a couple of questions you'll need ot think about:

(1) what age was Adam when he died?

(2) who was the first to kill an animal?


As for age, I do wish I had 900 years plus and I might get some of my books and other stuff finished!

I think food does have a lot to do with age, but that it is a cumulative thing as well. Hence healthy eaters in the Industrial world might avoid some diseases but they still do not live that much longer on average - Yet some healthy eaters who live in the developing world are still quite spritely at 90 and can live to 140 (well, were in the 1970s anyway, not researched it lately). This would seem to indicate, however, than another factor is at play that is diminishing longevity.

I think it was Talmage who classified Adam's transgression as one that fell with the laws of the Word of Wisdom. And I believe Brigham Young made some comment on food and longevity...

Interesting stuff but not sure if it's too important right now. Do eat B17 though (apple seeds, apricot seeds, grape seeds) - just a tip from a little research;)


Dubhdara.

Years

Interesting thread. As somebody mentioned before I think it was Joseph Smith who said the reason Adam and Eve did not live forever in the Garden is because they transgressed the Word of Wisdom.
But before the flood c God told Noah that after the flood the life span of man would be much shorter "..yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." (Genesis 6:3).
Only in a few remote places on earth today do people attain the age of 120 with any regularity. In our so-called sophisticated, medically advanced society, average life span is little more than 75 years. Interestingly, a Biblical psalmist recorded 2,400 years ago, and some 1,500 years after the flood, that life spans were then down to "threescore years and ten," which is 70 (a score being 20) "...and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years" or 80 "yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Psalms 90:10)

Isn't it fascinating that a psalmist lamented that his people were only living from 70 to 80 years, a life span typical of our modern era. Maybe that's what Brigham Young, the second prophet of the LDS Church who led the pioneer saints across the plains, had in mind when he said, "It is an unusual circumstance to see a man a hundred years old, or a woman ninety. The people have laid the foundation of short life through their diet." (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 187)

https://www.vegsource.com/articles/catano.htm


Some interesting quotes and facts:

Brigham Young stated:

"The fathers and mothers have laid the foundation for many of these diseases, from generation to generation, until the people are reduced to their present condition.... The people have laid the foundation of short life through their diet, their rest, their labor, and their doing this, that, and the other in a wrong manner, with improper motives, and at improper times. I would be glad to tell mothers how to lay the foundation of health in their children, that they may be delivered.... Some say that 'this is a miserable world, I do not care how soon I get through.' Well, go and destroy yourselves, if you choose; you have all the opportunity that you can desire...Latter-day Saints who live merely to get ready to die are not worth much; rather get ready to live, and be prepared to live to the glory of your Father in Heaven and to do the work He has given you to do." (Journal of Discourses 2:269-71)"

Apostle John A. Widtsoe: "It was shown in the history of plant science that plants contain all the necessary food substances: proteins, fats, starches and the carbohydrates, minerals...water [and] vitamins. The Great builder of the earth provided well for the physical needs of His children. Countless varieties of edible plants, vegetables, cereals, fruits and nuts are yielded by Mother Nature for man's daily food. If one uses meat it must be used sparingly and in winter or famine only.... They who wish to be well and gain the promised reward stated in the Word of Wisdom must obey all of the law, not just part of it as suits their whim or their appetite, or their notion of its meaning." (The Word of Wisdom, a Modern Interpretation, 1950).

President Joseph Fielding Smith's wife, Jesse Evans Smith, said, "my husband doesn't eat meat" and he felt a "disdain of meat and (a) love of vegetables." (Brigham Young University Daily Universe, May 6, 1971, p. 1)

Hyrum Smith:

"God...knows what course to pursue to restore mankind to...pristine excellency and primitive vigour, and health; and He has appointed the Word of Wisdom as one of the engines to bring about this thing, to remove the beastly appetites, the murderous disposition and the vitiated taste of man, to restore his body and vigour, promote peace between him and the brute creation, and as one of the little wheels in God's design, to help to regulate the great machinery, which shall eventually," and I call your attention to the word 'eventually,' "revolutionize the earth, and bring about the restoration of all things. 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." (Times and Seasons 3:799-801)"

George Q. Cannon

"If I do not see the evils that result from eating meats to excess, and the benefits that would result from abstaining, what anybody else may see would only have a temporary effect upon me. I must feel in my own heart that it is injurious to me to indulge in these things; there must be a well settled conviction within me that this is the case." (Journal of Discourses 12:44-45)".

Lorenzo Snow

"Concerning the Word of Wisdom, Lorenzo Snow is reported to have paid "special attention to that part which relates to the use of meat, which he considered just as strong as that which related to the use of liquors and hot drinks." Elder Snow "was convinced that the killing of animals when unnecessary was wrong and sinful, and that it was not right to neglect one part of the Word of Wisdom and be too strenuous in regard to other parts." (Journal History, 5 May 1893, pp. 2-3). One hundred years ago, in a meeting of the church leadership, then-Apostle Lorenzo Snow "introduced the subject of the Word of Wisdom, expressing the opinion that it was violated as much or more in the improper use of meat as in other things, and thought the time was near at hand when the Latter-day Saints should be taught to refrain from meat eating and the shedding of animal blood." (Journal History, 11 March 1897 p. 2)"

President Heber J Grant

"I think that another reason I have very splendid strength for an old man is that during the years we have had a cafeteria... I have not, with exception of not more than a dozen times, ordered meat of any kind. ...I have endeavored to live the Word of Wisdom and that, in my opinion, is one reason for my good health." (Conference Report, April 1937, p. 15)"

Elder Ezra Taft Benson

"To a significant degree, we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth, and lacking the energy that could be ours.... We need a generation of young people who, as Daniel, eat in a more healthy manner than to fare on the 'kings meat' ---and whose countenances show it." (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson pp. 476-7).

https://www.vegsource.com/articles/catano.htm

Great web site with lots of information

Those quotes are for ALL of us to think why we don't live 969 years anymore and whether or not are we living according the Word if Wisdom.

969 Years

Great information LDS_Forever.

I agree with your comments, although the Flood words may simply have been stating what would be due to natural changes rather than something the Lord specifically did. Noah still lived a long time, as did his sons, so it does seem to have affected those *born* after the Flood. Could the nature of the earth - either environment or nutrition of natural vegetation - been changed somehow?

I shall return the favour and add some charisma

Catano was on the LDS list erm.."lds natural health" was it? Anyway, I'm doing some research on diabetes and especially as it affects the eyes and thyroid.


Know a good place to look?

969 Years

For give me if I missed it, but to add to your comment, when Noah and his children left the Ark, God seems to have changed some rules or made allowances as they went out to colonize new areas, so they would not starve to death, before they got crops and fruit trees into production.

My first awareness of this Scripture decades ago, in this light, came from a Church Know your Religion Speaker, not long after becoming Vegetarian for health and religious reasons.

Might might of caused a change in mans genes, but may of allowed mans nature to take its course, once he allowed man more agency. With agency come great responsibly, it either purifies us or brigs us down, our choice.

We know from the words of modern day prophets that living the Word or Wisdom will have changes, some immediate, some long term, if it continues in successive generations, so that in time, they live to be the length of tree.

I have seen some recent medical research data, that says, what we eat can turn off and on and alter DNA functioning. Then we have the sin of the parents are visited on their children to the ? generation; that is law, we pass on both good and bad genes and heredity memory and character and etc. As we live and continue to live the light, we increase in light and beauty, that seems of simple and fair to me. We are blessed for what we do right, not so much that we are cursed for not, even though it seems similar.

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