Lovest Thou Me More Than These? (John 21:15)

By Sidne O'Reilly

O.K, so I have twenty pounds to loose. Ugh! At my stage in life it takes more effort to accomplish what I thought was difficult before. Actually it is not as much the pounds that are a problem but what they are made of and where they are located. In doing research for my Spiritually Based Sustainable Healthy Lifestyle Program, I have come to learn that the biggest danger is not how much you tip the scales. Rather the size of your waistline is the greater indicator of health or the lack there of. A large waistline can put you in increased danger of getting:

“Heart disease
Breast cancer
Diabetes
Metabolic syndrome
Gallbladder problems
High blood pressure
Colorectal cancer “

By Mayo Clinic Staff, Apr 16, 2007, Mayo Clinic.com, Women’s Health, Belly Fat How to Keep it Off. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/belly-fat/WO00128, (Accessed 05/22/08)

Even knowing that is sometimes not enough motivation to make the necessary changes. People are stopped from change by two scenarios:

1. The reasons for change are not important to them
2. They don’t have the confidence, knowledge or skill it takes to make the change.

So in the interest of self-motivation, what is important to me about making the necessary changes to create a spiritually based, sustainable healthy lifestyle?

In D&C 138, it talks about the spirits in paradise waiting to reunite their spirits and their bodies.How they seemed to long to have their bodies back. Do you get the same impression I did? D&C 138:15-17
15 I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand.
16 They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death.
17 Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame, bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fullness of joy. That they might receive a fullness of joy! So a fullness of joy is possible when the body and the spirit are united? How interesting. Yes, I believe that is true. It is with a healthy body I can complete my purpose here. How I long to do that. How I desire to be with my children and grandchildren as long as possible. How I want to be an influence for good and not a burden because of my poor health habits. I wish to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord as long as I possibly can.

I guess the real question is, “Lovest thou me more than these?” More than enticing food, more than the desire not to exercise? Do I love the Lord more than my lack of desire to figure out how to live the Word or Wisdom more completely? Can I live counter to the culture and eat foods that will promote my health even in public? Do I desire for my life to end on the Lord’s timetable or on the premature timetable that I set by going with the flow?

Is my desire to fulfill my purpose here on earth strong enough to make the needed changes? I have to answer with an unequivocal yes! A resounding yes! Will it be easy? Will I be perfect at it? Certainly not. I will need all the support I can get from my Heavenly Father. One thing I do know, I must prove by my actions that I love the Lord and what he has given me to do more than all of “these.”

I am cheering for you!

A Closer Look at the Word of Wisdom and Weight Loss

By Sidne O'Reilly

We are often counseled in the scriptures not to “trust in the arm of flesh.” (Philip. 3:3) What does this mean to you as far as your health goes? Certainly it doesn’t mean to never go to the Doctor or listen to his advice. No, I don’t think this is what was intended.

As I reflect back on my own life, there have been many instances when we first had a priesthood blessing and were then given reassurance and direction concerning how to proceed. Often there were miraculous healings without the benefit or assistance of the medical profession. Sometimes direction was given to seek medical help. There were times in my life when going to the doctor was not an option. We were dependant upon the Lord and our own resources. How grateful I am for his tender mercies at times such as this. Perhaps this is one reason I might have a different view of what it means to have a spiritually based, sustainable healthy lifestyle. (This is my next book, based on the second priority of the “Twelve Week Challenge,” Orange, Health, Mental and Physical.)

I love the word of wisdom. After all it was given for, “the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days.” (D&C 89:2) In D&C 29:34 it says, “Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created.” Does this mean that the Word of Wisdom is a spiritual commandment? I think so. It is as much for the benefit of our spirits as it is our bodies. Isn’t it our desire to have a healthy body so that our spirit can shine through unfettered?

When is the last time you took a close look at the Word of Wisdom? Maybe this is a good time. Summer fruits will soon be available. What a great opportunity in this time of plenty to eat “every fruit in the season thereof.” (D&C 89:11)

How about all the wonderful promises that are made in the Word of Wisdom. Did you know that there are eight positive admonitions, three don’ts and five promises made in those twenty-one verses?

Can you find them?

On top of all this, if that weren’t enough, scientific evidence and the latest weight loss systems have a lot in common with the concepts given in the Word of Wisdom. If we adhered to the concepts in this revelation, the LDS Utah population would not have the following claim to fame. According to a BYU/Idaho professor, “The LDS culture in Utah is 14 percent more likely than those of another faith to be obese.” (Roy Merrill -- http://www.byui.edu/Scroll/archive/20060606/news3.html)

Knowing that this is a spiritual as well as a temporal commandment, maybe it would be a good idea to read it again, this time prayerfully seeking for your own personal Word of Wisdom to find the best way to apply it to yourself.

I am cheering for you!