The course of Study for the church this year in Sunday School is the Old Testament. My family and I started "In the beginning" last night. We read six verses at a time and then discussed after each six. I was struck by these verses:
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29 ¶ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
Reading these verses reminded me of Question #9 I proposed early last year. Last summer a friend of mine said that vegetarian members of the church were not following the word of Wisdom because they didn't understand that the Lord gave us dominion over the animals. I think the above excerpt from Genesis explains this clearly. If people follow a vegetarian diet or mostly vegetarian diet strictly because they believe we are all animals and we shouldn't eat other animals because they are God's creation, there is some room for debate.
On the other hand, there are some points that are not debatable in my mind. I told this same friend that I follow a mostly vegetarian diet for two greater reasons (in my mind). First of all, my health and second of all I believe it is a higher law preparatory for things to come.
I really do believe this. We can see in these verses that man was given dominion over the animals and fish but He did not say to eat them in these verses. He said that man was given herb and fruit and the animals were given herb for their "meat". I don't think that man or beast ate flesh until after the fall. And I believe that when the earth is restored to this original state, we will once again not eat meat.
I think this is one of the concepts to ponder when the Word of Wisdom mentions that this is given for the weakest of saints.
This is open for discussion. I just had these thoughts again last night as I was reading and it re-peaked my curiosity.
Great insight. We are told that the lion and the lamb will lie together, and that lion isn't going to pounce on the lamb! So if this lion, who ONLY eats meat isn't going to eat this sweet little lamby after the earth is renewed, how are we to expect to eat meat? I think that this is the time for us to prepare as much as we can and put forth a HUGE effort to eating as little meat as possible and being as provident as possible, so that when the time comes, we will be ready.
ReplyDeleteRonald and I were talking briefly about the whole health-care bill that was just passed the other day, and I can't help but think that this is also something that should really be pushing us to take better care of these beautiful bodies we were blessed with. Health care is going to chance DRASTICALLY, and I really do believe that the more we follow the Word of Wisdom, excercise, and get adaquate rest, the better off we will be. We aren't given guidence and commandments for no reason. Heavenly Father wants us to be prepared. I am so greatful for all the scriptures we have, for modern day revolation, and for prophets that can help us prepare for that great day.
Oh, and on a side note, vultures were picking through our beautiful, newly dumped compost pile the other day, and THAT made me think. They are flesh loving birds, but they were picking at our veggie and fruit and grain scraps.....hmmmm. Makes you think.
Great post. You really touched on a lot of similar thoughts I have been having.
ReplyDeleteSuch interesting insight! I'm a friend of "Likely" and I am LOVING your blog! It's under favorites now, and I'm going to link it onto my blog (if that's cool with you!) I LOVE THIS!!!
ReplyDeleteI was just reading a couple recent posts of yours to my husband and he mentioned, "Yeah, I mean in the lamb and the lion will be together, they wouldn't be eating meat" and then I click on comments and someone also mentioned that! It does make sense huh?! And this coming from a family who eats meat (and from a wife who is weaning the family, unbeknownst to the family!- LOL)
Thanks for the insight! I'll be an avid reader now!
So I found your blog via The Apron Stage and I love all your recipes, thoughts, etc. I was really interested in your early posts and interpretation of Section 89. I'm definitely not a vegetarian, but we are striving to incorporate more vegetables into our diet in different ways, and I don't plan meals thinking meat has to be a main part (if present at all).
ReplyDeleteTwo things that I consider as I hear people discussing the "eat meat sparingly" aspect of the D&C as well as the healthiness (or lack thereof) of eating meat are:
1-Something an institute teacher shared, which I have not yet been able to research, was that a certain comma--which lends favor to the don't-eat-meat-pretty-much-ever line of thinking, was inserted rather arbitrarily in later-year editing.
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,(<--this comma) only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
It seems to make the reading of the verse a little more clear that we should eat meat sparingly all year round. Of course, the truth/history of that comma is up for debate as well as all subjective interpretations of the counsel as a whole.
2-Have you read the book Real Food? By Nina Planck? Pollard quotes her a bit in the "...Manifesto," and what she shares is really interesting. I think a lot of people attribute meat to be rather bad, but I think it's most often the kind of meat (pastured vs. regular grocery fare) we are eating that is problematic. Not to mention all the non-whole food junk, marketed as food, which we consume so readily.
I'm interested in catching up and keeping up with your blog. I am always grateful for new recipes & ideas regarding food!! =)