The Lord's Law of Health

Our Bodies are Temples of God
One of the great blessings we received when we came to earth was a physical body. We need a physical body to become like our Heavenly Father. Our bodies are so important that the Lord calls them temples of God (see 1 Corinthians 3:16–17; 6:19–20). Our bodies are holy.  If we do not obey the Word of Wisdom, the Lord’s Spirit withdraws from us. If we defile the “temple of God,” which is our body, we hurt ourselves physically and spiritually.


Yes and No
YES we should:

• eat fruits, vegetables, and wholesome herbs
• eat meat sparingly
• eat grains
• work
• rest, and
• exercise

President Monson said: “Nutritious meals, regular exercise, and appropriate sleep are necessary for a strong body, just as consistent scripture study and prayer strengthen the mind and spirit.”


NO we should NOT:

• drink wine or strong drinks (alcohol)
• use tobacco (in any form)
• drink "hot drinks" (coffee, tea, and anything hot enough to burn your mouth - OUCH!)
• take drugs, except when and as prescribed
• drink or eat anything harmful or habit forming, or
• overeat

The Blessings!

• the physical blessing of good health (Specifically, the ability to "run and not be weary, walk and not faint.")
• the spiritual blessing of being taught important truths by the Holy Ghost through revelation ("find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge), and
• the spiritual blessing of having the destroying angel pass us by.

Service

How We Can Serve

• Jesus said, “I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27). As true followers of Jesus, we also must serve others.

Service is helping others who need assistance. Christlike service grows out of genuine love for the Savior and of love and concern for those whom He gives us opportunities and direction to help. Love is more than a feeling; when we love others, we want to help them.

There are many ways to serve. We can help others economically, socially, physically, and spiritually. 

Why the Savior Wants Us to Serve Others

• Through the service of men and women and boys and girls, God’s work is done. President Spencer W. Kimball explained: “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 82).

• We Receive Blessings through Service

• When we serve others we gain important blessings. Through service we increase our ability to love. We become less selfish. As we think of the problems of others, our own problems seem less serious. We must serve others to gain eternal life. God has said that those who live with Him must love and serve His children (see Matthew 25:34–40).

President Spencer W. Kimball said, “We become more substantive as we serve others—indeed, it is easier to ‘find’ ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, 85–86).

Opportunities to Serve

Some of us serve only those we enjoy being around and avoid all others. However, Jesus commanded us to love and serve everyone. There are many opportunities to serve (see Mosiah 4:15–19).

Jesus Christ Is the Perfect Example of Service

The Savior provided the perfect example of service. He explained that He didn’t come to earth to be served but to serve and to give His life for us (see Matthew 20:28).

Jesus Christ loves all of us more than we can understand. When He was on earth He served the poor, the ignorant, the sinner, the despised. He taught the gospel to all who would listen, fed crowds of hungry people who came to hear Him, healed the sick, and raised the dead.

He is the Creator of the earth and our Savior, yet He did many humble acts of service. Just before His Crucifixion He met with His disciples. After teaching them, He took a basin of water and a towel and washed their feet (see John 13:4–10; see also the picture in this chapter). In those days washing a visitor’s feet was a sign of honor and was usually done by a servant. Jesus did it as an example of love and service. When we willingly serve others in the spirit of love, we become more like Christ.