Why the Lord Wants Us To Be Healthy
A popular hobby especially among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to stay healthy and fit. Why is that? Is it a mandate from God to take care of ourselves? Well, yes. When you think about it, the Lord has encouraged us as we live on this earth that we take care of our bodies. He taught that our bodies house the temples that house our spirits (1 Corinthians 6:19). Naturally, from this fact, Mormons tend to make healthy lifestyle choices and try to eat healthy and exercise.
I believe part of is is due to the Word of Wisdom and its teachings that members are encouraged to follow. Additionally, according to the “Strength of Youth” pamphlet put out by the Church, it greatly challenges not only the youth, but all people of any age to follow its guidance to eat right and get some physical exercise.
A good majority of America is health conscious, and several people participate in some sport or exercise routine and also eat a proper diet. Many make it a lifelong hobby to stay healthy and fit. Despite this, there is also concern for the opposite happening, where others are living on fast-food and are sedentary for the majority of the day. Avoiding such a lifestyle is imperative, and God wants us to do these things instead to take care of our bodies:
Eating Well
We are taught from the Word of Wisdom, revealed to Joseph Smith by God, which is written in Doctrine and Covenants 89, that we are to eat “wholesome herbs,” fruit (also meaning vegetables), grain, and little meat. The Lord knew that food can become a temptation for man. When Jesus was tempted by Satan to break his fast, Satan offered bread to Him. Christ was had a strong will to not fall into Satan’s trap. (See Matthew 4: 1-11). Like Jesus, we need to avoid that voice in our head that says, “One more cookie shouldn’t hurt.” God wants us to keep things in moderation as well. If we are keeping our appetites in check, the Lord will bless us with good health because we are obedient in obeying the Word of Wisdom.
Staying Fit
You will never find a scripture that commands us to go out and shoot some hoops or to run around some bases, but we know that if we follow the first step to eating right, He promises that we can “run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint” (Doctrine and Covenants 89: 20). Thankfully, God gave us creativity so that we could come up with a variety of sports so that we can have fun exercise in different ways. Sports are meant to be enjoyed. If we keep that in mind, exercising wont’t feel like such a chore.
My Role Model
A great example in my life who is someone that has benefited from a healthy lifestyle is my Aunt Jenny. Jennifer Strassburg, a former music teacher for Junior High students, loves sports and eating wholesome foods. She has a strong testimony about how keeping healthy has blessed her. She is a cancer survivor as well, but that did not keep her from doing tennis and eating foods that don’t hinder her performance.
I remember when she and my other family members would get together in Niagara Falls, New York, and Aunt Jen would often bring her tennis racket and take out her stash of tennis balls. My cousins and I would practice hitting the balls around my grandparents’ backyard. We would also have fun playing basketball related games on their one basket court. These are some of my fondest memories with her and the Strassburg clan.
A Challenge
As the Word of Wisdom states: “all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings” (of eating according to His teachings) “walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures” (D&C 89:18-19). My challenge is that if you do not already, create a healthy pattern to live by. Blessings will come to you (and I) if we do what is commanded by God to actively have a healthy diet and participate in regular exercise that will help our bodies physically, mentally, and spiritually.