When you’re first learning about the Word of Wisdom, you will probably mostly hear about the don’ts: Don’t use alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, or illegal drugs. However, the Word of Wisdom also has recommendations for those foods which are good for you.
D&C 89:10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
It advises you to eat fruits and vegetables, herbs, meat sparingly, and grains, described as the staff of life. The Word of Wisdom does not require you to be a vegetarian, since Doctrine and Covenants 49:18-19 says:
And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God;
For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for craiment, and that he might have in abundance.
Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise, says an old nursery rhyme. God says this is actually quite true. Verse 88 tells us that going to bed early and getting up early are good for us. It promises that if we do this, we won’t be tired and our minds and bodies will be invigorated. We’re cautioned to avoid extremes and to have balance, so a diet of only grains, or only fruit, for example, would not be healthy. If we eat a balance of different types of food in moderation, we can enjoy the health God planned for us.
The Word of Wisdom does not promise we will never get sick. The very healthiest people can become ill. However, living the Word of Wisdom, both the do’s and the don’ts, can give us the best possible hope of living well.
The do’s in the Word of Wisdom seem fairly obvious to us today, but at the time of the revelation, they were not common practice. People lived largely on meat, and in some cases, fruits and vegetables were banned or recommended to eat in small quantities only. In recent years, a multitude of scientific studies have shown practicing Latter-day Saints to have fewer health problems than the general public. Clearly, this principle with a promise is inspired. Little of what it advocates was known in the 1800s. It has taken science a long time to catch up with what Latter-day Saints have known since the early days of the church.
The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.
