Close Topic Options

Word of Wisdom - FAT! - Page 6

Calgary said:

Don't take this personal but keep your warnings, this is not Sunday School but a discussion forum where we share our thoughts, feelings and ideas.

I agree with this 100% but we are not talking about them, we are talking about the obese ones.

I do not know why you feel so disturbed because as far as I know nobody here said that obese people do not have a good relationship with Heavenly Father, that's the "judging" and "assuming" that you talked about applies to you, too?

My point is simply, if a person is obese due to overeating/food addiction they cannot be in tune with the Spirit simply because they are "slaves" of another master, just like someone who suffers an alcohol addiction. Or are some of you saying drug addicts, porn addicts, alcoholics ARE in tune with the Spirit? Because food addiction is not different from any other addiction.

FAT Wisdom Word

One reason I keep in as good of shape as possible is to be there for my kids and grandkids. Who knows, maybe someday one of those temple missions or other senior missions. How would it effect my family and my church service if I let myself go and someday died of a heart attack or a cancer caused by being overweight?

Word of Wisdom - FAT! Studies Doctrine Mormon

I do agree with you LDS Forever that overeating can be an addiction like alcohol and drugs. I believe we have to treat our bodies like a temple. It should be very sacred to us. We have several ladies in our ward that are very sick, I can't help but think that their weight has something to do with it. As far as being a vegetarian that will be a bit extreme for me for I do love a nice steak once in a while. I do believe meat and food in moderation is good.
Paintingblue

Page 6 FAT Wisdom Word

I am sorry but I just cannot buy that over weight people or those with a "food addiction" are not in tune with the spirit. Sure they may be sick, a health risk etc, but how does that keep one from the gift of the spirit in there lives? It does not make since to me in my experiences with the spirit. If we have an addiction, or problem, do we not need the spirit's help more then any time in our lives? When do we need a comforter the most when we struggle with addiction or when we are living the commandments to its fullest. The greek word for the spirit means public defender. One who defends to guilty. According to John he is there to defend the sinner.
I just do not understand from my personal understanding that such people are not in tune with the spirit. It makes no since to me.

FAT Wisdom Word

Who said that those with a food addiction are not in tuned with the Spirit?

Word of Wisdom - FAT!

JB, I did. I have already explained it but let me go again for those who do not fully understand what I am coming from:

We are talking about extreme cases here, I am not talking about someone who is just overweight. I am talking about a severe case of obesity as result of overeating/food addiction. Food addiction is just like any other addiction, alcohol, drugs, porn, name it. Can the Spirit dwell in unclean bodies? The answer is more than obvious.

Word Wisdom FAT - Page 6

I do not know if I can agree with how that is worded. I can understand what you are getting at, but not the final synopsis. The problem is trying to ascertain the level of need with regards to food because it is natural to eat or should I say... we have to eat. It is not natural or should I say it is not a physical need like food to use drugs or smoke or drink alcohol, so in many ways it cannot be compared.

Now I do agree that some people have an obsession with food to the point where they have no control and can snap, become moody and so forth. In these times they may lose the Spirit based on their choices, but not based on being fat. To try and explain myself better... you may smoke marijuana to the point of being incoherent about a certain choice you should make and end up making the wrong choice - do we blame the drug for the lost of the spirit or choice? In some cases both - but initially we must blame the individual who initially took the drug.

You see food is like a modifying factor in our daily routine. It can cause decisions to be made easily or more difficult, but in the end it is still our choice, and in that choice we lose the Spirit. An obese person who has good self control (save for the eating disorder) may be able to make very good choice all the day long and keep the Spirit. Maybe he will not be open to something more that the Lord has for him, but it does not mean he lost it.

Now with all that said... the Word of Wisdom includes dos as well as do nots. I feel Latter-Day Saints focus so much on the do nots that they believe they are living the Word of Wisdom because they do not do something. That is like saying... I do not steal and I do not kill so I am good to go. The Word of Wisdom was also made for the weak and weakest of all Saints or those who call themselves Saints - in other words - being so large to the point of obesity should not be an issue.

Word Wisdom FAT Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 6

JB said:

I am not talking about the average overweight person, I am talking about a severe case of obesity as consequence of food addition. I met two in one of my trips to the US when these two sisters (one was the RS President and the other a Counselor) stopped a Homemaking activity because they were "hungry" (4:00pm and they said they ate lunch), they unpacked their large size of Burger King combo and they just started eating it desperately. I will never forget it, while one of them while eating, tears were coming down her face as she shared how terrible she felt the way she looks, that she cannot walk properly, that her back is always hurting her and that her house is in a total mess because physically she cannot cope with what she needs to do. I am talking about two sisters who were probably around 400lbs and both suffered of food addiction. If the Lord allowed it, they may be alive by a miracle now. In cases like this one, I do not think a person can be in tune with the Spirit.

Eating is a natural thing but overeating is not. You see, people always think about coffee, tobacco, drugs, etc as "harmful" things to the body and part of the Word of Wisdom but food can become a harmful instrument if is not used properly.

Correct, is not about being "fat"...fat in this case is actually the inevitable consequence of overeating. A person that suffers of an addiction, think about the alcohol, drugs, etc 24/7 and they crave for it, their bodies ask for it, they have no peace.

I am not saying he "lost" it, I am saying he may not be in "tune" which is quite different. It is like a radio, the Lord's frequency is A but this person having the addiction their frequency is B. They are not in "tune". Is like having a piano (The Spirit) but needs tuning, in what way is serving the purpose if when I play the piano, the notes do not sound properly?

True but it is an issue in the Church, if not check this thread and you will see the amount of people who think that being overweight is not really an "issue" because let's face it (and I have seen it) as long as "I don't drink alcohol, smoke, do drugs, or anything like that then it's okay to eat as much as I want". I remember these two Argentine fellows who told me once that they met this LDS member and they invited him to eat out. When they offered him wine, he politely refused. When they offered him coffee, he politely refused and when they finally asked him why he did not drink wine or coffee, this Brother was happy to explain to them about the Word of Wisdom. They were impressed until it was time to order the food. This brother ate like if it was the last day of his life (he was severely overweight) These fellows were both pretty surprised but did not say anything. This example is what I see the most between our members.