Erik Gray's journals
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Written by Erik, April 2013
Mormon Youth: Avoid Smoking and Drinking
You may have once invited a
Mormon friend of yours to a party. He or she might have asked, “Is there going
to be alcohol there?” And if the answer was “Yes,” your Mormon friend might
have declined.
Mormons— a nickname for members
of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saintss—do not believe in smoking, drinking, or partaking of any
substance that is harmful to the body. There is a small book available
especially for youth called For the Strength of Youth. It has
guidelines on topics that all youth sometimes wonder about; for example, Agency
and Accountability, Dating, Education, Entertainment and the Media, Friends,
Language, and Sexual Purity. In the section entitled Physical and Emotional
Health, it states: “Your body is a temple, a gift from God. You will be blessed as you care for your
body. Choose to obey the Word of Wisdom.” A temple is a sacred house of the
Lord, and we see our bodies as “sacred houses” for our spirit during our life
here on Earth.
When The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established around the early
1800s, Joseph Smith, Jr., the leader of the “restored church” (meaning it is
the restoration of the ancient Church of Jesus Christ, with the same power and
authority as the early church), received many revelations from God pertaining
to the organization and well-being of the Saints (active members). These
revelations are known as the Doctrine & Covenants and are known as one of
the standard works of the Church. In 1833, Joseph Smith received a revelation
known as Doctrine & Covenants 89, or the “Word of Wisdom.”
The Word of Wisdom explains food,
drink and substances we should or should not partake of.
“And, again, strong drinks are
not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. And again, tobacco is
not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an
herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill”
(D&C 89:7-8).
An example of a strong drink is
alcohol.
As members of the Church of Jesus
Christ, we believe in following these guidelines. We don’t see the Word of
Wisdom in the way of holding us back or a list of Do-Not’s, but see it as
protecting us and helping our lives for good. “When you are obedient to this
law, you remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life”
(“Physical and Emotional Health” in For the Strength of Youth). When someone
becomes addicted, to anything, it allows that substance to take control of
him/her. Depending on how bad the addiction is, it can hurt oneself, one’s
friends, and one’s family. It can ruin marriages and tear apart families.
We have all seen the commercials
of someone who is drunk and his/her friends are messing around, allowing for
that person to be acted upon instead of act for him or herself. We have also
seen the studies and dangerous effects of alcohol on our driving, judgment, and
well-being as well as the health problems that can arise from smoking and
drinking. By following and obeying the Word of Wisdom, we protect ourselves
from these harmful situations and can live a long, healthy life free from addiction
and health problems due to smoking and drinking.
For those who are struggling with
addiction, there are four words of comfort to hear: You can overcome it. With
faith, prayer, and even the help of a trusted adult, you can overcome the
addiction and feel the blessings of a healthy lifestyle, even if you are not a
member of the Church right now. It may not be easy, but won’t the thought of
living a long, healthy life be worth it?
My grandfather is a great example
to me about obeying the Word of Wisdom. About ten years ago, my grandfather
survived a massive heart attack. The doctor said that it is a good thing he
didn’t smoke or drink, otherwise his heart wouldn’t have been strong enough to
survive. He is grateful for a promise he made to himself as a teenager to never
even take that first drink, and because he held true to that promise, he
continues a longer life and I’m grateful that he’s alive and that I can be
around him and hear his stories.
It really helps members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to know that they are free from
addictions and promised health and wisdom by simply choosing to say “No” to
drugs and alcohol and lives are blessed, improved and even saved by following
the Word of Wisdom. We are promised by God that “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… And shall run and not
be weary, and shall walk and not faint” (D&C 89:18,20).
This article was written by Erik
Gray, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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| Erik Gray |
Additional Resources:
Basic
Mormon Beliefs and Real Mormons
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