LDS Woman Shares How Living ‘Word of Wisdom’ More Perfectly Prevents Deadly Diseases

Jane Birch, author of “Discovering the Word of Wisdom,” believes many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not completely living the Word of Wisdom, and therefore, not receiving the fulness of the promised blessings.

In 2011, Birch watched a show on CNN called, “The Last Heart Attack,” that changed her life. Learning that people can eat in such a way that completely eliminates the chance of getting heart disease, she decided she needed to make a change in her life. After researching the diet more, she realized that many diseases and health issues could be prevented by switching to a whole food, plant-based diet. 

Knowing that the most serious forms of heart disease could be prevented but that it still remains the number one killer of both men and women in the United States, Birch compared it to another disease. “It’s like saying the number one killer is lung disease, caused by smoking,” Birch said. “It’s a completely preventable disease.”

What started out as a path to a healthier life and preventing disease, turned into a spiritual experience. Birch explained that as she kept following her new diet, the Word of Wisdom kept going through her mind. She realized that, as with all commandments, the more she followed the Word of Wisdom, the more she felt more peace and created a closer relationship with Heavenly Father.

In her video, Birch says,

[pull_quote_center]The spiritual blessings have come through feelings of peace, feelings of joy, feelings of comfort, clarity of mind, increased inspiration, revelation, for me feeling more in tune with the Spirit of the Lord. What could be more precious than feeling in tune with the the Spirit of the Lord?[/pull_quote_center]

Birch explained to LDS.net that there are three main dietary principles to the Word of Wisdom: 1) eat wholesome foods, such as fruits and vegetables, 2) eat meat sparingly, and 3) that grains are the staff of life. Though most people follow the first principle well, many seem to struggle with the second and third principles, as most people’s diets consist heavily of meat and not enough of whole grains.

Although Birch, and many others following the diet, have gone completely vegan by cutting out any animal products, she understands that not everyone is willing to go that far, and they don’t need to. Simply limiting the amount of meat in a diet can do wonders for one’s health. Birch explained that decreasing the amount of meat in one’s diet does not prevent him or her from getting the necessary nutrients, as all of those nutrients can be found in plant based foods and whole grains.

In the short film, posted above, many who have followed this diet and, as they see it, lived the Word of Wisdom more fully, claim to have seen dramatic health benefits in their lives. Watch the 12 minute video to learn more about how it has impacted others’ lives and brought them closer to the Lord in the process.

For more personal accounts, recipes, or to learn more about how this diet fulfills the Word of Wisdom, visit discoveringthewordofwisdom.com.