LDS Freedom Forum

Mind you, I am not saying the Word of Wisdom is a stumbling block and an irony-filled joke.

I'm saying the Church's policy on it is, as you have to be abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee to be "worthy" to enter the temple -

- and yet Jesus drank wine and was the worthiest of all.
- Many, many of us are totally unhealthy with our diets, which flies in the face of the Word of Wisdom, yet are still "worthy" to enter
- we have created an opportunity to "sin" that did not exist before
- we have created extra hurdles and difficulties for people to join the Church and enjoy the blessings of the temple, who would otherwise do so

The Word of Wisdom is largely about moderation and self-control, not abstinence, anyway.

Maybe it worked, on some level, to enforce it so rigorously back in the days when we were primarily a shut-in Utah church. But those days are gone.

So unless the Lord has other designs on this matter....I say it's time to drop this policy and let the members govern themselves.

Sound good?

Let's take it to the Brethren. I'm sure they'll make it a matter of serious prayer.

That's actually the sad thing....that we know they won't. Because it has become such an ingrained tradition in Church culture that it's almost unthinkable to take the idea of getting rid of the current policy seriously.

Sad. Very sad. Is there any hope?

"It doesn't matter that it doesn't make sense! It's supposed to be a test of obedience!"

“To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint”…really simple.

The good news is that while you can't have a mocha, you can take cannabis. That's according to the advice of current church leaders:
viewtopic.php?t=64034

Don't worry, you can also have all the sugar that you could possibly inhale. In fact, sugary treats are encouraged and pushed on us. We are no longer taught about gardening or creating healthy meals for our families. We can drink our cokes and eat our big macs.... When sleepy just down some red bulls... It's all good.

You can take every medicine that you doctor will prescribe, so that you can avoid stress and sleep. Fill your children with Adderall and Ritalin so that they will walk quietly in a line...

Amen, I agree!

So here's a question for laughs:

Temple recommend question #11: "Do you understand and obey the Word of Wisdom?"

Seems to me you could answer yes, even if you were drinking wine, coffee or tea and/or maybe enjoying a pipe or something now and then - and still be understanding and obeying the Word of Wisdom. After all the WoW says "not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints"

Now, I know the intent of SLC is to have people, by policy, practicing abstinence.....but the temple recommend question still says what it says.

Would it really be dishonest to say you are obeying it? Would God be displeased if you said you were and went ahead and got that recommend and went to the temple?

Magus wrote: ↑September 10th, 2023, 3:30 pm Mind you, I am not saying the Word of Wisdom is a stumbling block and an irony-filled joke.

I'm saying the Church's policy on it is...

It's what happens when a Church becomes too dogmatic rather than simply teaching correct principles and letting the people govern themselves.

How many good people have we turned away because of our "holier than thou" attitude regarding the WoW?

Mike