Tuesday, June 9, 2009

The Word of Wisdom

The word of wisdom given by the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith is such a blessing to all of those who give heed to it. Over the years there have been many additives to our foods which causes some to pay more attention to labels. At our home we have learned to be wary of two products because of the injury they cause to the brain. Some people are more physically sensitive to these items than others. The two that we have learned to avoid are MSG and Aspartame. For those concerned about the dangers of MSG click here and for a video on Aspartame click here.

The greatest blessings for those who live the word of wisdom and keep the commandments are the promises that the Lord makes.

1. health in the navel and marrow to their bones
2. find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures
3. run and not be weary and walk and not faint
4. the destroying angel shall pass by them

Number three above is actually taken from Isaiah 40:31. In this context verse 31 is the conclusion of a four verse chiasm which points to the concept that man can become like God.

Isa 40:28-31 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

Verse 28 points out that it is God that never faints or gets weary. Verses 29 and 30 explain that God can give power to the faint and that even the young faint, get weary, and fall. Verse 31 declares that those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength until they are like he is and will be able to run and not be weary, walk and and not faith.

Below are these verses in the form of a chiasm. (click on image to enlarge)

1 comment:

Jo-Anne said...

My mother, not a member yet, changed the sweetner in her tea and when her health suddenly declined I sent her my concerns about Aspertame, and the articles. She stopped using it...her headaches, problems with her breathing, and other small ailments all ceased in just 10 days.