It’s a fair question.
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The story goes that during a lesson on the word of wisdom, a visitor who was not a Latter-day Saint asked why there were so many fat people in our church.
This was the story my brother-in-law told my father who then shared the story with me.
It’s a fair question.
You’d think for a people who have a health code and a requirement to enter the most sacred building in their faith would be a little leaner than we are.
But we aren’t. A quick glance around most chapels on a Sunday will provide ample evidence that we probably aren’t doing a whole lot better than state and national averages when it comes to waistlines and obesity.
We can sometimes be sticklers when it comes to coffee flavored chocolates and ice cream, yet we engorge ourselves on all sorts of rubbish at the ward linger longer or activity. It’s like straining at a gnat but then swallowing a camel.
I’ve been good my whole life with regards to smoking, alcohol, drugs and tea or coffee. I’ve never touched the stuff. But a little over 100-days ago I was in the obese category and let me tell you, I was very weary when I was running. I’m still weary when I run, but now I’m only overweight and heading in the right direction… I call it repentance.
Repentance? Of course! Because it’s become self-evident to me that obesity cannot possibly be in harmony with the word of wisdom, which means I need to change what I am thinking and doing so I can alter what I am becoming.
It’s true that you don’t have give your weight in a temple recommend interview but obesity, though a complicated matter, is out of step in my opinion with the spirit and letter of the law.
The unhealthy person who thinks frequently about food, craves food, and uses food as a way to numb hard feelings is in many ways no better than the alcoholic or the drug addict.
Equally the person who is out of shape and uncomfortable in their own skin will struggle to feel the spirit. It’s hard to focus on higher and holier things when you are self-conscious, uncomfortable or distracted with cravings.
I hope no one brands this as fat shaming. I have never once sat at church and judged or condemned someone for being fat. The same way I don’t if they smell of smoke. I’ve got my own wrestles and struggles without wasting precious resources. But we have to talk about it, surely?
We can’t continue cherry picking and living the bare minimum to get a recommend and expect the full blessings. When we hear increasingly of members contracting diabetes, heart disease and lifestyle or diet induced cancers, we must ask ourselves why so many of us aren’t able to run and not be weary and walk and not faint.
I’m not suggesting it is easy or painless to change our behaviors, habits and lifestyle, but can we at least start to have honest conversations about the word of wisdom that include the topics of being overweight or obese. Perhaps instead of avoiding it, we could start helping one another to more fully live the word of wisdom and reap all the blessings and privileges of doing so.
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