4/16/2018 - Section 89:4-21

April 16, 2018

Section 89:4-21

Gratitude, Commandments Come With Promises, Word of Wisdom,

V 11 ends with the phrase “all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.” To me, prudence means wisdom, and thanksgiving means gratitude. Isn’t that how I should approach everything in life—with wisdom and gratitude?

Elder LeGrand Richards: is there “any treasure of knowledge in this world to be sought after, more desirable than to know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, to know that his kingdom has been established again in the earth, to know that God has promised a reward for every commandment that he has given, to know that he has created this earth that we might prove unto him that we would do all things, not just a few of them, all things whatsoever the Lord our God hath commanded?” Apr 1961 Gen Conf

But the very best quote comes from the final 4 verses of this section: “18. 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 to their bones. 19. And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; 20. And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. 21. 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.”

8/16/2021 – D&C 89

This section is the one in which the Word of Wisdom was given. 

V 1 tells us it was given for the benefit of the saints. 

V 2 tells us it was given for “the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days”. 

V 4 tells us it was given “in consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days”

And then the Lord continues to tell us just why these things are here for us:

V 6 “strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies”…they sterilize

V 8 “tobacco is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle to be used with judgment and skill

The Lord then speaks of all the things of the earth that are wholesome and good for us. 

V 10 -11: herbs & fruits

V 12-13: meat, to be used sparingly

V  14 –17:  grains and how to use them

And then He follows up with the promises that come to us when we honor this wisdom.

V 18: “health in their navel and marrow to their bones”.  =better health

V 19: we “shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures” = refers to the ability to gain increased access to personal revelation.

Elder Joseph B Wirthlin: “When we obey the Word of Wisdom, windows of personal revelation are opened to us and our souls are filled with divine light and truth. If we keep our bodies undefiled, the Holy Ghost ‘shall come upon [us] and … dwell in [our] heart[s]’ [D&C 8:2] and teach us ‘the peaceable things of immortal glory’ [Moses 6:61]”

V 20: we shall “run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint”- Isaiah used similar phrases to describe the tireless strength of God Himself and prophesied that “they that wait upon the Lord” will become like God and receive the same unending strength. (Isaiah 40:28-31…but also Romans 8:11 and Alma 11:42:45)

V 21: “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.” I would think that the Lord is speaking here of both our physical and spiritual lives.

I am now in my 70’s. I am so thankful that I can still lead a productive live, and that I still have the energy and ability to serve those around me…in my home and in my community. For that is where I find that love grows, and I grow!