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Word of Wisdom - FAT! - Page 5

User Fiannan, please use Doctrinal sources for this Board only, since the topic is generally covered in the Parenting Board. See the Read Me Thread within this Board.

FAT Wisdom Word

But we cannot judge our obese Brother's and Sister's as not obeying the Word of Wisdom. There could be health factors such as Thyroid Disease that can be a contributing factor. There are pleanty of thin people who smoke, drink and engage in other unhealthy practices and there are overwieght people who are trying to live the gospel but have health problems. We also have to factor in how many children a woman has borne, are they menopausal? What is their age? Do they take medications that cause weight gain? I don't know if LDS members would struggle if they were commanded to give up meat but I wonder if they would fall away if they had to give up sugar? I have noticed that most Church socials have food that is hight in fat . Most desserts are chocolate and most punches are sugar ladden. I have never seen a "diabetic friendly" church dinner. In my ward there are several diabetics including my 10 year old daughter, and I have made it priorty to ensure that these members have sugar free, low-carb options at our socials. The Word of Wisdom is a commandment for all and we need to obey this commandment in our lives. I think we do indeed send mixed messenges to non-members.

Word of Wisdom - FAT! Studies Doctrine Mormon

In conference Elder Faust I believe said that (ranking in priority) that a man (and I would assume a woman) should prioritize maintaining health even above church activity. He was not saying we should be less active in church, only that maintaining one's health was more important.

From my understanding, few people are obese due to thyroid problems and the like. Such people should be on doctor's medications and that should minimize the effect on metabolism.

Also, fat is not mentioned in the Word of Wisdom.

Rather off topic, but... I would show medical sources to demonstrate that fat is a necessary part of our diet (especially for maintaining health and development in children) but the moderators would probably delete my references so I won't use any evidence to back up my points. Sorry 'bout that.

Also, there are people who are thin who might drink, but they probably exercise as well. So since we are to be an example to the world shouldn't LDS people be more active so we have a reputation not only of being drug-free but also maintaining excellent physical standards?

Message Edited... Persephone: It is not necessary to quote the entire post of the user above you. See Constructive Posting Policy. Check your spelling.

Page 5 FAT Wisdom Word

Calgary said:

Nobody is "judging" anyone (I notice as LDS people that's our favorite phrase "Let's not judge") when you are simply trying to make a point. There are some real health issues with obese members of the Church, but do you consider high blood pressure, diabetes etc as "health" problems? They are, but they are related to DIET (not in all cases, but MOST of them). Let me give you an example, I know a young married girl in Church, she is very short (around 5 2") and long while ago she was around 220lbs (she is much bigger now) She used to be pretty small and did not suffer of all the health complications she has now: high blood pressure, diabetes, ovary infections, back problem, even heart problems! She consider these things as REAL health problems and of course they are but they are related to her size and extremely poor eating habits. In few words, she MUST lose the weight for the body to recover itself. Now, as LDS members we cannot allow ourselves to reach that stage. I believe is a psychological issue than a physical one (to reach 300 lbs) It shows a tremendous problem with self-mastery and it does indeed show a Spiritual problem at hand.

Nobody can say they are "happy" living the Word of Wisdom when they are that size (because of overeating), nobody can say they are in "tune" with the Spirit when they are stuffing food constantly, nobody can say overall they feel "good" about the way they look, nobody can say they have a good "conscious" knowing they have hurt and are hurting the precious tabernacle Heavenly Father gives them. Indeed, no fulfilling the Word of Wisdom in these extreme cases shows a much more serious Spiritual malady.

Fiannan said:

I agree with this. I think also that the size of your body should not determine whether or not you should exercise. I can put myself as an example. I have two kids (youngest almost 7 months old) and I am naturally slim, yet I do not exercise at all and I know I should and I think it is within the spirit of the Word of Wisdom that we should exercise to keep our bodies (hearts specially) healthy. I need to work on that.

FAT Wisdom Word

I am skeptical of this. I do not know if we can truly that no one is in tune with the spirit when they are stuffing there faces with food. That is a big generalization and I cannot measure others in relationship with the spirit based solely on the weight. I have a bishop who is over weight and he is in tune with the spirit in my opinion. I think if we accept this false generalization we run the risk of mislabeling others. I think we also cannot say that all heavy people feel bad about how they look? I think that there are some exceptions to this rule. I find this to be interesting ask the question as to how then does fat people's relationship with god differ from slim people? Or better yet how we view fat people's relationship with God and how it differs from slim people?

Message Edited... Persephone: Please learn how to use the Quote Tags. Check spelling. See our Constructive Posting Policy.

Word of Wisdom - FAT!

Okay, I posted a link to an excellent documentary on children, adults and obesity. Here it is:

(link removed)

Now I ask the moderators to think twice about pushing that delete button since this program actually demonstrates an important Gospel principle -- choice, rather than authoritarianism, is healthier and results in less obesity.

So if a child is raised with all kinds of rules they will rebel and perhaps that is why so many people know that the Word of Wisdom promises that you will be able to "run and not be weary" yet even though they follow the WofW by the law they can barely pul themselves up a flight of stairs. The component missing is that you have to also treat your body as a temple and that means doing what you know is right. And that means exercise. Of course, until you learn that it's you that determines success or failure then you will blame your overeating on your family, your moods, your whatever and you'll never get in shape -- and maybe, to invoke a bít of Freud, you may indulge in something that you know is wrong, but you also know is a taboo that you believe God will not look down upon -- or your ward's bishop.

Message Edited... LDS_forever: Two things, first please do do not tell us how to run things here, second your link was previously erased because as it was explained to you, this is an LDS topic, if you want to discuss it through another perspective, use the Parenting board where already exist a thread about children and obesity.

Word Wisdom FAT - Page 5

Isiah53 said:

In my opinion, a person who eats to the point of reaching 300 or 400 lbs and being at risk to die, no, cannot be fully in tune with the Spirit when something so basic, and insignificant as "food" can control their lives. No difference from someone having an addiction to alcohol or porn.

You mean in your opinion.

Oh, in my opinion, I am pretty sure that the exceptions have convinced themselves that they feel good about how they look. Please, nobody can be carrying around 400lbs around, not able to walk properly, find the right size for their clothes, suffer of all sort of breathing problems, heart failure and say "You know what? I have no problem in the way I look!". Let's be realistic.

It all depends on individual cases but just because a slim person may not have a food addiction does not mean they do not have other addictions or they are "better" than the obese members.

Word Wisdom FAT Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 5

I do not believe that obese people are out of tune with the Spirit because they are stuffing themselves and I risk repeating myself with a warning about judging.I am very sure that it's the size of ones spirit, not one's body that determines whether or not an individual is in tune with the Spirit. I am also certain that there are plenty of thin "healthy" people whose hearts and spirits are far from our Savior.

I find it very disturbing that anyone would feel that their brother or sister does not have a good relationship with their Father in Heaven based on weight. As stated before, not all weight issues are because people are eating to much. Just as I would not want one to judge a thin person to be out of tune with the spirit because of vanity. It is wrong for us to assume what relationship anyone has with the Father. Again, we should all be obeying the Word of Wisdom and not just the letter of the law but the Spirit of the law. In fact we should be obeying all the Laws in that manner.And to the individual who thought that medication for Thyroid Disease would fix the problem I am afraid you are mistaken. The medication is not a "magic pill" for the weight gain. I could go into a teaching lesson on Tyroid Disease and other weight gaining disorders and diseases but you all have access to the internet.

I will tell a story of a LDS woman who used to be in my ward before I moved there, if you will permit. This dear Sister was obese and was ill. Only close family and her Bishop knew of the illness. She had endured many negative comments over the years about her weight. Over several months she started to lose weight and received many compliments and praise. She was finally being accepted by her peers. Then people noticed that she was losing too much weight and again there were comments. During one Fast and Testimony meeting this sister bore strong testimony of her closeness to her Father in Heaven over the last few months as she was dying of cancer. She tearfully said "why was I acceptable when I was thin but dying but not acceptable when I was heavy but living". She died shortly after. Too bad the members didn't get to know this sister earlier.

Message Edited... Please USE paragraphs when posting, makes reading much easier. Thanks