Temporal and Spiritual Blessings from the Word of Wisdom
from the life of George Albert Smith
Obedience to the Word of Wisdom brings not only physical
health but spiritual blessings as well. In the book of Daniel, we learn
because of his obedience to the Lord's law of health in his day, not
only was his life preserved, but Daniel also received a great spiritual
blessing: "the inspiration of the Almighty."
The Word of Wisdom is loving counsel from our Father, who
knows all things. We are given the counsel "not by commandment or
constraint, but by revelation for the temporal salvation of all saints
in tthe last days." It was "Given for a principle with promise...for
the weakest among us."
Heavenly Father said, "My son, these things are not good
for you, and if you will avoid them I will give ou the companionship of
my Holy Spirit and joy while you live in the world and in the end eternal life."
President Smith believed the Word of Wisdom was given to
us not just to increase our health, "but that our faith might be
strengthened, that our testimony of the divinity of the mission of our
Lord and Master might be increased, that thereby we might be better
prepared to return to His presence when our labor here is complete." He
rewards those who serve Him. "He has given certain rules and
regulations to govern us in this life, and obedience to His requirements
insures us His pleasure, and the blessings promised will follow. If we
violate the will of the Lord, our faith will wane, for the Spirit will
not always strive with us. Observance of the Word of Wisdom will
increase our faith and greater knowldege will be ours as a result.
By obeying the Word of Wisdom, we prepare for eternal
life. By taking forbidden things into our bodies, we defile the temple
of the spirit. When we "give way to weakness of the flesh, we deprive
ourselves of opportunities that await us in the future, and cut
ourselves off from the blessings that the Lord hath in store for the
faithful."
The best way to teach our families to obey the Word of
Wisdom is to obey it ourselves. Read the Word of Wisdom in the presence
of your families and set the example.
