“Chapter 27: The Word of Wisdom,” Gospel Fundamentals, 150
One of the greatest blessings that our Father in Heaven has given us is our bodies of flesh and bones. He has given us a law of health to help us take care of our bodies. What do you know about this law of health?
Our Bodies Are Sacred
One important reason for coming to earth is to receive bodies of flesh and bones. We need bodies in order to become like our Father in Heaven. Only with bodies of flesh and bones can we learn the things we need to know to become like Him. We can have children. We can receive the ordinances necessary for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven. Without bodies we could not do these things.
Because our spirits live in our bodies, the body is sacred. When we have faith in Jesus Christ and try to obey Him, our Father in Heaven sends the Holy Ghost to be with us. The Holy Ghost cannot stay with us if we are disobedient and do not take care of our bodies.
When we die, our spirits leave our bodies. When Jesus died, His spirit left His body. After three days, His spirit entered His body again and He was resurrected. Jesus had the power to come back to life; and because of His sacrifice for us, we too will be resurrected after we die. Our spirits and bodies will be brought together again. Jesus knew that we would need to have immortal bodies of flesh and bones to become like our Father in Heaven and live forever with Him.
Our Father in Heaven wants us to take good care of our bodies. If we take good care of our bodies, we can be healthy and strong and do the other things He wants us to do. All of us must decide whether we will take good care of our bodies or do things that harm them. We know our bodies are important during this life and after this life. We should want to take good care of them. Our Father in Heaven is not happy when we do not take care of our bodies.
Parents should be the ones to teach their children that their bodies are a sacred gift from our Father in Heaven and explain to them why their bodies are so important. When children understand why it is important to take good care of their bodies, they will not want to follow Satan’s temptations.
Discussion
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• Why do we have bodies of flesh and bones?
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• Why are our bodies sacred?
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• Why is it important for us to teach our children the importance of taking care of their bodies?
Our Father in Heaven Has Given Us a Law of Health
Our Father in Heaven has told us some of the things that are good for our bodies and some of the things that are not good for them. This is written in the scriptures and is called the Word of Wisdom.
Our Father in Heaven revealed the Word of Wisdom to the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is a law. We must obey this law in order to have strong bodies and minds.
The Word of Wisdom teaches us what is good for our bodies. We should eat and drink only things that are good for our bodies. We should eat fruits, vegetables, and grains. We should eat the proper amount of these foods and not eat too much. We should not eat a lot of meat.
Discussion
Our Father in Heaven Has Told Us What Is Not Good for Our Bodies
Our Father in Heaven knows Satan will try to persuade us to misuse our bodies. Our Father in Heaven has told us some of the things that are not good for our bodies. To drink alcohol is not good for our bodies. Our Father in Heaven has commanded us not to drink beer, liquor, and other drinks that contain alcohol. These things can cause sickness and can result in unhappiness in the home. When people drink these things, they cannot think clearly. These drinks often lead people to choose bad things, to lie, to waste all their money, and to break the law of chastity. When a pregnant woman drinks alcoholic drinks, she can hurt the unborn child. People who drink alcoholic drinks cause many serious problems.
Our Father in Heaven has also told us that tobacco is harmful to our bodies. We should not smoke or chew tobacco. Scientists have proven that tobacco causes sickness and can harm unborn babies.
Our Father in Heaven has also told us not to drink coffee and tea. We should not drink coffee and tea because they contain harmful drugs. We should not use drugs, except in the medicines doctors give us.
Our Father in Heaven has told us that alcohol, tobacco, and drugs can help us if we know how to use them properly. He said alcohol is to be used only for washing our bodies. Tobacco can be used to heal wounds on sick cattle. Drugs can sometimes help heal us when we are sick. But before we try to use these things, we should learn from wise people what they should be used for and how they should be used. If we use them in the wrong way, they can be harmful.
We should not take anything into our bodies that is not good for us. The Word of Wisdom tells us of some of the most harmful things. It is an important law.
The Word of Wisdom does not tell us everything we should not use. We should understand that anything that is harmful to our bodies or minds, even though it is not mentioned in the Word of Wisdom, should not be used. We should take care of our bodies in other ways, such as washing them often to keep them clean and getting enough exercise and rest.
Discussion
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• How do we know that some things are not good for our bodies?
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• What are some of the things we should not take into our bodies?
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• What do rest and exercise have to do with our Father in Heaven’s law of health?
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• How should we keep our bodies clean?
Great Blessings Come from Obeying the Word of Wisdom
If we obey the Word of Wisdom, our Father in Heaven will bless our bodies to be stronger than they would be if we did not obey this commandment. We will be better able to do His work here on earth. He said that if we obey this law we will be able to run without becoming tired and walk without fainting. This is a great blessing.
Our Father in Heaven has also promised to bless us with great wisdom and knowledge if we obey the Word of Wisdom. The Holy Ghost will reveal to us many important things that otherwise we would not know. Satan will not have power over us. If we obey the Word of Wisdom, we will be more healthy and will be preparing for eternal life* with our Father in Heaven.
Discussion
References
Our Bodies Are Sacred
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• 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 (The Holy Ghost can be with us.)
Our Father in Heaven Has Given Us a Law of Health
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• Judges 13:13–14 (Samson’s mother was commanded not to eat or drink certain things, so that Samson would be a healthy child.)
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• Doctrine and Covenants 89:5–17 (Certain foods and drinks are good for us; others are not.)
Our Father in Heaven Has Told Us What Is Not Good for Our Bodies
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• Isaiah 5:11–12; Proverbs 20:1 (Wine and other alcoholic drinks are not good for us.)
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• Doctrine and Covenants 88:124 (We should not oversleep but should get the right amount of rest, going to bed early and arising early.)
Great Blessings Come from Obeying the Word of Wisdom
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• Daniel 1:8–17 (Daniel and his companions ate foods that were good for them, and thus they became healthier and wiser than those who ate foods that were not as healthful.)
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• Doctrine and Covenants 89:1–4, 18–21 (The blessings of obeying the Word of Wisdom are listed.)