"A Principle with Promise"

Mark Weinberg (American, born 1985)
Produce Color Wheel (2017)
Photograph, dimensions variable
Courtesy of the artist
Artist’s website

First of all, let’s just say it: this photograph by Mark Weinberg is so beautiful, it could turn anybody into a lover of vegetables. The Church’s website provides a simple and clear overview to the Word of Wisdom, a revelation received February 27, 1833. There are good foods: fruits, herbs, vegetables; sparingly-used foods: flesh of beasts and fowls of the air; and foods that are the staff of life: wheat, rice, and oats. Then, there are harmful substances for the body: alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee.

In this list of good/bad, it is easy to forget the wonderful promise connected to its observance: “And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow in their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen” (D&C 89: 18-21).

Gospel Questions

1. "All grain is ...the staff of life" (D&C 89:14). Elder Jeffrey Holland explained: "It takes broken earth to nourish grain. It takes broken grain to make bread, broken bread to nourish us. Things are broken in order to be whole, in order to give life" https://news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-jeffrey-r-holland-honours-and-strengthens-british-latter-day-saints-at-online-devotional-invites-all-to-build-jerus. How does this idea of broken grain impact your understanding of grain as the staff of life?

2. Jesus explains that the day will come when everyone will "hear" the gospel "in his own tongue, and in his own language" through the Comforter and personal revelation (D&C 90:11). No matter your mother tongue, in what language do you most directly hear the gospel message?

3. Jesus instructs that the "affairs of this church and kingdom" are to be presided in council (D&C 90:16). In what ways have you felt your participation in a council furthered the affairs of the church? How has participation in councils (either directly or indirectly) helped you feel a part of the community of Saints?

For Children & Youth

Hi. Eat your vegetables. You’ve probably heard that before. It’s great advice. An American author named Michael Pollan boiled down mountains of dietary advice to a mere seven words, which are worth memorizing: “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”

Gospel Questions

1. Jesus tells us, in giving us the Word of Wisdom, that we should eat good foods with "thanksgiving" (D&C 89: 11, 12). How can eating with thanksgiving be good for our bodies?

2. Jesus says we should "study and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people" (D&C 90:15). How are you fulfilling this instruction?

3. Jesus gives a promise that if we "search diligently, pray always and be believing, ... all things shall work together for your good" (D&C 90:24). What does it mean for things to "work together for your good"? Have you ever felt this promise working in your life?

Art Project

D&C 92 is a very short section - just two verses. Jesus broadens these verses with the explanation, "what I say unto one I say unto all," and then tells us to each be "be a lively member."

If you were building a model for a "lively member" of the Church, what characteristics would you include? Draw and label a sketch of yourself as a lively member.

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