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The Word of Wisdom: A Modern Interpretation
Learn the do's of the Word of Wisdom.
"One cannot say that to refrain from smoking and from drinking tea, coffee or alcohol is to keep fully the Word of Wisdom... The many 'do's' in the inspired document are as important as the 'don'ts.'"
The classic book on how what we eat shapes us.
"Savages, and 'nature people' do not know what a tooth brush is, yet they have hard, white, solid teeth - until they begin to use civilized man's food."
Learn about the laws of health.
"one should be aware of artificially prepared products... No artificial product, even though scientifically compounded, can supplant nature's food."
A great reference book.
"Too many people use their scanty store to purchase foods which have been robbed of their most precious life giving elements."
As relevant as when it was first written.
"Men may break the laws of health for years yet seem to feel no ill effects, but sooner or later the penalty must be paid by them and too often by their progeny. Nature has no favorites."
"One cannot say that to refrain from smoking and from drinking tea, coffee or alcohol is to keep fully the Word of Wisdom... The many 'do's' in the inspired document are as important as the 'don'ts.'"
The classic book on how what we eat shapes us.
"Savages, and 'nature people' do not know what a tooth brush is, yet they have hard, white, solid teeth - until they begin to use civilized man's food."
Learn about the laws of health.
"one should be aware of artificially prepared products... No artificial product, even though scientifically compounded, can supplant nature's food."
A great reference book.
"Too many people use their scanty store to purchase foods which have been robbed of their most precious life giving elements."
As relevant as when it was first written.
"Men may break the laws of health for years yet seem to feel no ill effects, but sooner or later the penalty must be paid by them and too often by their progeny. Nature has no favorites."
312 pages, paperback
First published January 1, 1950
8 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
John A. Widtsoe
323 books9 followersJohn Andreas Widtsoe (31 January 1872 – 29 November 1952) was a Norwegian-American scientist, author, and religious leader who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1921 until his death in 1952.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 8, 2015
Reread: May 2015
*****************************************
From a blog post I recently wrote:
My early morning study as led me to ponder seriously “The Word of Wisdom.” Since it is “that time of year” when the world thinks about diets and dieting I’ll share a recent resource that I have discovered.
As I have been restudying the Word of Wisdom I remembered that in John A. Widtsoe’s biography written by Alan K. Parrish, which I had read several years ago, there was a lot of dialogue about The Word of Wisdom. So I pulled it out. Elder Widtsoe and his wife Leah wrote a book called, “The Word of Wisdom-A Modern Interpretation.” Their book was approved by President Grant and in a later edition by President McKay. The book later served as a manual for the Priesthood.
Joseph Fielding Smith said of their book, “This work is needed immediately and should be published as soon as possible.”
President McKay wrote,
“Elders Joseph F. Merrill, Charles A. Callis, and Albert E. Bowen, acting under appointment, report that they have read your manuscript entitled THE WORD OF WISDOM-A MODERN INTPRETATION, with very great interest and found it to be an ably written exposition of the Word of Wisdom as seen in light of a multitude of confirmatory evidence furnished by modern science….We are therefore pleased to give our consent to the publication of this book.”
When their book was up for another printing Leah would not proceed without the approval from the first Presidency. Packard writes, “Each of the presidency wrote a strong letter of endorsement urging that the book be updated and reprinted.”
Their book is available through Amazon and a free copy is available on line and it is available through InfoBase.
In Widtsoe’s biography the author compiled several quotes. Here are some:
Elder Widtsoe wrote: “To many of our members feel that if they refrain from taking liquor, tobacco, tea and coffee, they are keeping the Word of Wisdom. They are doing so only in part. If the law be understood and lived, people would not be ill and the blessings promised may be fulfilled….The Church of Christ must ever try to care for the whole man.”
He also said,
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to give man health and happiness. Health is concerned with the spirit and mind as well as with the body of man. The Gospel is mistakenly supposed to concern only man’s spiritual health. Mental and physical health forms the only assurance of spiritual progress. A man who is physically or mentally ill is not truly happy, though he may approach spiritual peace. The three parts of man’s nature are interrelated and depend upon one another’s welfare.”
Elder Widtsoe wrote, “In the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, the sanctity of the body is second only to that of the spirit. It is the duty, as well as the desire, of every person to preserve his physical health, so that he may live out most completely the destiny of his existence.”
The author summarized some of Leah’s writings by saying,
“That teaching children about [physical health] exceeds the importance of teaching them reading, writing, or arithmetic.”
And later he summarized her again by saying,
“Leah explained that mortal bodies are composed of dust of the earth, which chemists had divided into fifteen elements that could be found only in the Lord’s foods, the plants and fruits of the ground. Children should be fed with at least as much thought as farmers put into feeding their prizewinning livestock…a person’s health is largely a function of the food consumed.”
As some of you may be pondering health at this time I invite you to read the Widtsoe’s book as I think it will add value to your studies.
*****************************************
From a blog post I recently wrote:
My early morning study as led me to ponder seriously “The Word of Wisdom.” Since it is “that time of year” when the world thinks about diets and dieting I’ll share a recent resource that I have discovered.
As I have been restudying the Word of Wisdom I remembered that in John A. Widtsoe’s biography written by Alan K. Parrish, which I had read several years ago, there was a lot of dialogue about The Word of Wisdom. So I pulled it out. Elder Widtsoe and his wife Leah wrote a book called, “The Word of Wisdom-A Modern Interpretation.” Their book was approved by President Grant and in a later edition by President McKay. The book later served as a manual for the Priesthood.
Joseph Fielding Smith said of their book, “This work is needed immediately and should be published as soon as possible.”
President McKay wrote,
“Elders Joseph F. Merrill, Charles A. Callis, and Albert E. Bowen, acting under appointment, report that they have read your manuscript entitled THE WORD OF WISDOM-A MODERN INTPRETATION, with very great interest and found it to be an ably written exposition of the Word of Wisdom as seen in light of a multitude of confirmatory evidence furnished by modern science….We are therefore pleased to give our consent to the publication of this book.”
When their book was up for another printing Leah would not proceed without the approval from the first Presidency. Packard writes, “Each of the presidency wrote a strong letter of endorsement urging that the book be updated and reprinted.”
Their book is available through Amazon and a free copy is available on line and it is available through InfoBase.
In Widtsoe’s biography the author compiled several quotes. Here are some:
Elder Widtsoe wrote: “To many of our members feel that if they refrain from taking liquor, tobacco, tea and coffee, they are keeping the Word of Wisdom. They are doing so only in part. If the law be understood and lived, people would not be ill and the blessings promised may be fulfilled….The Church of Christ must ever try to care for the whole man.”
He also said,
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to give man health and happiness. Health is concerned with the spirit and mind as well as with the body of man. The Gospel is mistakenly supposed to concern only man’s spiritual health. Mental and physical health forms the only assurance of spiritual progress. A man who is physically or mentally ill is not truly happy, though he may approach spiritual peace. The three parts of man’s nature are interrelated and depend upon one another’s welfare.”
Elder Widtsoe wrote, “In the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, the sanctity of the body is second only to that of the spirit. It is the duty, as well as the desire, of every person to preserve his physical health, so that he may live out most completely the destiny of his existence.”
The author summarized some of Leah’s writings by saying,
“That teaching children about [physical health] exceeds the importance of teaching them reading, writing, or arithmetic.”
And later he summarized her again by saying,
“Leah explained that mortal bodies are composed of dust of the earth, which chemists had divided into fifteen elements that could be found only in the Lord’s foods, the plants and fruits of the ground. Children should be fed with at least as much thought as farmers put into feeding their prizewinning livestock…a person’s health is largely a function of the food consumed.”
As some of you may be pondering health at this time I invite you to read the Widtsoe’s book as I think it will add value to your studies.
November 13, 2009
I think that the most amazing thing about this book is how much John Widstoe knew 50+ years ago! He talked about probiotics, omega 3 fatty acids, the sugar/diabetes connection, keeping our bodies alkaline ... all kinds of things that I thought were relatively modern discoveries.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn to more fully live the Word of Wisdom. Not because it's fun reading - it isn't. It is written sort of like a textbook with lots of scientific studies and statistics. However, the information is valuable and so important. He writes chapters on many different phrases from the actual Word of Wisdom. For example, there are chapters on alcohol, tobacco (those were the most difficult for me to get through because I didn't really need to hear them), wheat, barley drinks, meat sparingly, etc.
I love how Widstoe repeatedly points out that Joseph Smith must have been inspired because much of this information wasn't known when he received the Word of Wisdom.
Not light, easy reading, but fascinating and enlightening. Guess I'm changing my diet ...
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn to more fully live the Word of Wisdom. Not because it's fun reading - it isn't. It is written sort of like a textbook with lots of scientific studies and statistics. However, the information is valuable and so important. He writes chapters on many different phrases from the actual Word of Wisdom. For example, there are chapters on alcohol, tobacco (those were the most difficult for me to get through because I didn't really need to hear them), wheat, barley drinks, meat sparingly, etc.
I love how Widstoe repeatedly points out that Joseph Smith must have been inspired because much of this information wasn't known when he received the Word of Wisdom.
Not light, easy reading, but fascinating and enlightening. Guess I'm changing my diet ...
December 4, 2012
I read the 1937 edition.
Widstoe provides an in depth interpretation that both sheds light on the timeless nutritional wisdom revealed in the Word of Wisdom and an era when the Church earnestly began using contemporary science to validate it's doctrine.
Widstoe's approach is that of treating the spirit and body as the same organism: You need a healthy spirit to maintain a healthy body, you need a healthy body to maintain a healthy spirit. Daily doses of fine literature along with exercise, fruits, and grains are necessary to maintaining the soul. To avoid poisons is smart, to not waste time and resources on substances that are neither harmful or beneficial is wise.
The message of alcohol and drugs being anathema to civilized society is well established, but it is conspiring men who are to be guarded against with wisdom. That warning is more relevant today than ever.
Widstoe provides an in depth interpretation that both sheds light on the timeless nutritional wisdom revealed in the Word of Wisdom and an era when the Church earnestly began using contemporary science to validate it's doctrine.
Widstoe's approach is that of treating the spirit and body as the same organism: You need a healthy spirit to maintain a healthy body, you need a healthy body to maintain a healthy spirit. Daily doses of fine literature along with exercise, fruits, and grains are necessary to maintaining the soul. To avoid poisons is smart, to not waste time and resources on substances that are neither harmful or beneficial is wise.
The message of alcohol and drugs being anathema to civilized society is well established, but it is conspiring men who are to be guarded against with wisdom. That warning is more relevant today than ever.
February 14, 2023
For having been written 100 years ago, there is still so much pertinent information! It was surprising to me how much science already knew a century ago. However, there are several things that are now outdated, or are silly, such as, “drinks that are icy cold are as injurious as those taken too hot…ice water is equally undesirable.”
September 11, 2018
Entertaining and surprisingly insightful, full of simple scientific experiments and their results on animals.
In a world of significant fiction on what is and is not healthy, this was an excellent read.
In a world of significant fiction on what is and is not healthy, this was an excellent read.
December 17, 2017
80 years old yet "modern"
December 31, 2016
There are some good reminders in this book and I did learn a couple new things. However, there is a reason this book is out of print, and probably should have remained so. In the decades since this book was written many problems of that time have been eradicated and some conclusions that were drawn have since been de-bunked due to continuing study in the field of health. Some of the writing is written in a manner that was perhaps more acceptable when it was written, but which reads as a guilt-inducing lecture now. The intention of the writer was clearly good and this would have been a very enlightening read when it was published in 1950, but I would strongly caution anyone reading this book today to recognize the context in which it was written. In the words of the author, "Scientific knowledge concerning man's diet is yet in its infancy. Many new angles to old truths are being discovered constantly....The advice in the Word of Wisdom to use prudence in all these things implies that one should be ready to accept and apply new truth." Many new angles and new truths are missing in this book. It would require heavy revision to be fully applicable today. Still, the reminder to eat less meat and more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, is always a good reminder.
February 19, 2008
Wow... I can't even begin to describe what a great book this is. I recommend it to anyone who thinks they've been following the LDS code of health (the Word of Wisdom). Elder Widstoe is points out that just living the 'don'ts' (refraining from smoking and drinking coffee, tea and alcohol) is NOT sufficiently living the Word of Wisdom. He show that while deaths from infectious diseases are on the decline (tuberculosis, polio, smallpox, etc), diseases such as diabetes and cancer are on the rise. If you're saying, "Yeah, so what, we all know that," then I ought to make you aware of the fact that John A. Widstoe died in 1952. He was aware of this 60 years ago - long before the American masses were buying processed foods in the millions of tons (fast food, ready made, convenience foods) each year!
This truly is a great book to teach not only the basics of good nutrition, but also the consequences of not eating foods in the way they were intended to be eaten.
This truly is a great book to teach not only the basics of good nutrition, but also the consequences of not eating foods in the way they were intended to be eaten.
April 15, 2014
I was a little skeptical of reading this book being that it is almost 80 years old. I gave it 5 stars even though there's needs to be some updating about new research. However the best part of this book is that it explains in simple language what and why one should avoid and eat. I especially like how the author broke down specifics such as what comprises a grain of wheat, what parts of it are good/bad, and why one should eat the whole of it. Elder Witsoe's views and interpretation of the Word of Wisdom are spot on with modern scientific research and dietary lifestyle prescribed by doctors like Drs. John McDougal, T. Colin Campbell, Caldwell Esselstyn, Joel Furhman and others. I only wish someone would update this book and leaders of the LDS church urged their members to follow it better as the 7th day Adventists do.
March 21, 2011
Kind of interesting to read a commentary on the Word of Wisdom. Some of the science is outdated, but it's interesting how much was known in 1950 when this was published. You also learn the probable origins of some of the ideas among the LDS community about how to apply the Word of Wisdom in our day. The Widtsoes even eschew eating chocolate (more so for its fat and sugar content than caffeine) and hot chocolate.
March 29, 2016
Considering how old this book is (1950 publication), I was amazed by it's modern day applicability. Many of the issues of his day remain the same today (processed food, too much sugar, acid forming foods, etc). He does a very thorough analysis of the Word of Wisdom and includes a lot of information on specific nutrients and their roles in our health. Much of his information is out-dated, especially regarding dairy, but I found the book very informative.
November 18, 2011
Excellent information. Dated, since it was written in 1950, but a must read for people who are responsible for feeding their household, and for people who care about the quality of what they put in their mouths. Should be read in tandem with Nutrition and Physical Degeneration., the messages go together.
April 1, 2014
This was a very detailed book written in 1938. It was very interesting to me as I have delved into the health and nutrition industry. Some of the simple paragraphs in this book seem to have whole research studies and individual books written about them, independent of the knowledge of this the former book. This book was very interesting! Everyone would do well to follow the word of wisdom!
August 27, 2010
I loved how John A. Widstoe knew so much about the science behind food. Even though this book was written in the 1930's, so much of it applies to our day. The book gave me a lot of the info I was looking for on the "do's" of the word of wisdom. A definate reference book to keep around!
January 19, 2013
For a 50 year old book it was remarkably up to date though I can't say it was much of a page turner. I think I understand the word of wisdom a lot better. It wanted to make me eat better and feed my family better.
November 22, 2009
This book changed my eating habits.
June 10, 2012
Fascinating history of food, according to Word of Wisdom principles.
March 6, 2015
This was full of great information, especially having been published in 1950.
May 17, 2015
Data and research are old but overall a great book on the Word of Wisdom.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews