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“[extremely thick italian accent] Vincenzo . . . they tell me you have a book . . .”
I wan to start by saying that I love the podcast. I live in Canada and have been listening from the beginning. I find the topics very interesting and love the insight into Utah mormon culture and how it compares to what I experience out here in “the field”.
You asked us to weigh in on whether or not an obese person should hold a temple recommend and so, I’m weighing in.
Obesity is right now defined as having a BMI > 30.
BMI is a measure of body fat based on your height and weight. There is some controversy surrounding this method of determining obesity because it does not take into account muscle mass and other factors that affect weight (ie. bone density, breast size, etc). It also places way more people in the obese range than might otherwise be considered obese.
Obesity is something completely different from smoking. While it can be argued that they are both something we do to ourselves that destroy our health and that both are an addiction, there is more to be said about their differences.
1, People HAVE to eat to live, no one has to smoke to live
2. There is a definite bias towards the very skinny in our western culture today. The fact is healthy bodies come in different shapes and sizes. Not all who are thin are healthy and not all who are large are unhealthy. It used to be (even in Utah) that a larger, more substantial woman was considered to be more desirable. Today, the thinner, the better.
3. As far as I am aware, no prophet has yet said that being fat is a sin. People are heavy for many reasons not all of which are due to diet alone.
I could go on. It bothers me that in the church there seems to be a general underlying agreement that those who are large must be sinners and need to be corrected. They often are and not kindly either. People should take into consideration that those who struggle with weight, wear it for all to see everyday. They know that they are fat. They look in the mirror every morning just like you. Their struggles are visibly obvious to the world and our culture is cruelly unkind to them on a basis.
There are many things in society that affect the weight that you are including education, socio-economic status, cultural heritage, etc. If the church were to make a certain number on the scale or on a measuring tape a temple recommend requirement, they would be passing a judgement on all those factors.
Obesity is a different kettle of fish than smoking. All of us struggle with something, for some of our brothers and sisters, it is weight. I just don’t see size being tied to worthiness before the Lord.
A to the MEN.
The major issue with comparing obesity to smoking is that one is a state of being and one is an action. They are not comparable.
A better comparison to obesity would be cancer. Studies have proven that smoking promotes all kinds of deseases, cancer being one. However, nobody in their right mind would prohibit somebody with cancer from holding a temple recommend. That is because somebody could have gotten that cancer any number of ways, many having nothing to do with smoking. Or, perhaps they did smoke, but quit. Does that still make them unworthy of temple blessings?
The fact of the matter is that there are so many factors which may contribute to obesity that it’s impossible to pin them down on word of wisdom factors. As you can tell from my profile picture, I’m a fat guy. I know that I eat healthier than 90% of my thin friends who mostly put no effort into their health. That’s not to say I have a defeatist attitude; I know there are improvements I can make that will help me be healthier. What I am saying, though, is that weight is a poor indicator of obedience to the Word of Wisdom.
The articles were great this week! Love listening to the banter, but I have to say… I’m hard pressed to find any attractive picture from the 1800s (man or woman)… Pioneer or not pioneer
I agree with Aimee and Gdub 100% especially in regards to likening obesity to smoking. Two completely different things. That being said, I’m going to play devil’s advocate (no pun intended) for a moment.
While the Bishop and Stake President do act as “judges” during temple recommend interviews, most will recall that the questions themselves are very introspective. YOU are the one answering based on YOUR assessment of your spirituality, worthiness, adherence to the commandments, etc. Ultimately, it comes down to if YOU feel as if you’re keeping the word of wisdom through abstinence (coffee, alcohol, tobacco, etc.) AND adherence (herbs, fruits, grains, etc.). This does not only relate to obese people, though.
I am a practicing physician in Utah and often see people addicted (yes… addicted) to substances otherwise deemed relatively harmless by the general public. Things like soda, fast food, processed and/or “convenient foods” (Hot Pockets, I’m looking at you!), energy drinks, etc., etc. The consumption of these foods in the past has not had bearing on one’s adherence to the WOW and did not necessarily deny one’s temple worthiness. But with recent research and modern laboratory and diagnostic techniques we’ve come to realize the devastating effects some of these ingredients are having on people. Including causing bona fide addictions in people. The WOW doesn’t come right out and say that cocaine is bad, but it’s generally agreed that because (in part) of the addictive nature of cocaine that it falls within the abstinence portion of the WOW.
Therefore, those people who HAVE to have their 64 oz diet coke in the morning to be able to wake up and function… are they keeping the word of wisdom? Maybe… I’m leaning closer to no…
Why? Well I always come back to verse 4 in D&C 89. It’s often skipped right over, even though it is the actual first verse of the revelation (vs. 1-3 are kind of intro). It states:
“Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—”
What did the Lord mean by “evil designs… in the hearts of conspiring men”? Perhaps it was the “bad guys” in Joseph Smith’s time that tried to force him to drink alcohol or harmful substances, but I kind of doubt it. If there’s one thing I appreciate about the scriptures is that there is no expiration date to the applicability. Meaning that there are conspiring men out there with evil designs in relation to the WOW. My personal belief is that this is in reference to the substances I’ve discussed above.
Well, with that all said, again, the answer to that temple worthiness question is a personal one. One, that, in my opinion, needs a lot more introspective thought and prayer. This is an age of “raising the bar”, right? Well, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, FOR THE MOST PART are not too tempting for the temple worthy. However, that daily coke… you’re lunch at McD’s… you’re TV dinner for breakfast, lunch, and dinner…
Certainly something to think about.
(Sorry for the rant).