Does the LDS Culture Promote Obesity?

[_Seven]

the members I speak about this with are VERY RESISTANT to following the entire revelation because church leaders have only focused on alchohol, smoking, coffee, etc. One woman in my class was angry with me when I mentioned the scriptures about meat! I was quoting right from the D & C but she refused to read it in context.

I agree that many good suggestion have already been made. And, I would add in connection with the "resistance" you mentioned, that I personally have found it far more effective to focus less on specific interpretation of and/or compliance with various health strategies (such as the WoW), and more on the features and benefits of employing those strategies in certain ways. In other words, I think there may be more resistance when people are told what they should or shouldn't do in terms of obedience to the WoW or other such health strategies, and less resistance to clear demonstrations of the benefits of you and other people having employed certain health strategies--not that you did otherwise.

Yes, there is resistance when another member points out any flaw with our current practice or belief, even when it's clear and supported by scripture. Should I have kept the scriptures to myself and only focus on the physical benefits of living the Word of Wisdom in it's entirety? These scriptures were part of the lesson! That's the funny part. I know that the same people who became angry and defensive about the scriptures in the lesson, would change their tune the minute President Hinckley came out and declared eating meat against the WoW. I would hear these same people declare "Isn't it wonderful to have a Prophet leading us!" "I am so grateful for modern day revelation.."

I believe many TBMs love to be told what to do, right down to what kind of soda they can drink. I had a discussion about this topic not so long ago with TBM family. One person didn't believe me when I quoted the scriptures on meat and told me I was interpreting it wrong. "it doesn't say that, you are reading it incorrectly", "you need to follow what the Prophets teach on it", " I have taught many lessons and never seen that......" etc.
I didn't have my lesson manual with me at the time, but there was a small part of the lesson that talked about meat and avoiding it, except in times of famine. The lesson used some biblical scriptures as well. She was so argumentative and rude to me in a kind of knee jerk reaction about the whole thing and I had been so careful how I approached the topic from past experience. This is the kind of resistance I have experienced from several members on this topic. Yet this same woman tells me it's against the Word of Wisdom to drink caffeinated soda because GBH said something about it in his Larry King interview.

I would bet money if GBH came out and commanded members to avoid meat and live the entire Word of Wisdom, she would never admit to being wrong in our discussion. She would embrace the new focus as divine continuing revelation without batting an eyelash.

[_The Nehor]

Yes, there is resistance when another member points out any flaw with our current practice or belief, even when it's clear and supported by scripture. Should I have kept the scriptures to myself and only focus on the physical benefits of living the Word of Wisdom in it's entirety? These scriptures were part of the lesson! That's the funny part. I know that the same people who became angry and defensive about the scriptures in the lesson, would change their tune the minute President Hinckley came out and declared eating meat against the WoW. I would hear these same people declare "Isn't it wonderful to have a Prophet leading us!" "I am so grateful for modern day revelation.."

I believe many TBMs love to be told what to do, right down to what kind of soda they can drink. I had a discussion about this topic not so long ago with TBM family. One person didn't believe me when I quoted the scriptures on meat and told me I was interpreting it wrong. "it doesn't say that, you are reading it incorrectly", "you need to follow what the Prophets teach on it", " I have taught many lessons and never seen that......" etc.
I didn't have my lesson manual with me at the time, but there was a small part of the lesson that talked about meat and avoiding it, except in times of famine. The lesson used some biblical scriptures as well. She was so argumentative and rude to me in a kind of knee jerk reaction about the whole thing and I had been so careful how I approached the topic from past experience. This is the kind of resistance I have experienced from several members on this topic. Yet this same woman tells me it's against the Word of Wisdom to drink caffeinated soda because GBH said something about it in his Larry King interview.

I would bet money if GBH came out and commanded members to avoid meat and live the entire Word of Wisdom, she would never admit to being wrong in our discussion. She would embrace the new focus as divine continuing revelation without batting an eyelash.

The irony is people like her can never inherit eternal glory that way:

"...Now those men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and pinning their faith upon another's sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods. They cannot rule themselves, to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to in every trifle, like a child. They cannot control themselves in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else must control them. They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. They never can hold sceptres of glory, majesty, and power in the celestial kingdom. Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true independence of heaven, who will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite course. Will this apply to any of you? Your own hearts can answer." -Brigham Young

If you're not able to make independent judgements about Scripture without extensive clarification from manuals and leaders why bother to read them at all?

[_asbestosman]

Certainly the food thing is not exclusive to LDS. I am outside Utah, but even here my company often has food at functions. Of course, they often provide beer too of which I do not partake, but I do help myself to the snacks they have.

My plan is simple:
Eat food when I'm not paying for it.
When free food is not available, only eat until sated. I pack my own lunch (hamd & cheese sandwich + apple).
Drink as much juice/soda/milk as I want (amazingly, I don't like soda as much as alternatives).
Bike to and from work (5 miles each way).
If my pants get tight, cut down on junk and fill up with healtier stuff.

I never use food as a source of comfort although I will eat just for pleasure--I just limit the occasions.

[_A Light in the Darkness]

According to Newsweek Magazine, this is a nationwide phenomena. Also nationwide, folks are giving up smoking

Funnily enough, one of the major factors in the increased incidence in obesity in America is the decreased incidence of smoking. In fact, all things being equal, you would expect a population of non-smokers (like Mormons) to have higher obesity rates than population that contains smokers. This is because nicotine is both an appetite suppressant and raises metabolism.

[_Gazelam]

that's a great quote from Brigham Young Nehor, where did you find it?

[_The Nehor]

that's a great quote from Brigham Young Nehor, where did you find it?

Journal of Discorses. Here is the reference: (JD 1:312)

[_Mercury]

Depression, sedentary lifestyles and comfort eating go hand in hand. We know that there is a disproportionate use of psych drugs in Utah for depression, anxiety, etc.

I think the white trash Mormons have a higher chance of being obese than the patrician Mormons.

[_Some Schmo]

Those are some good points. However, since the leaders of the Church don't typically participate on discussion boards such as this, I am not sure what advantage may be derived from our discussing what THEY could do. Rather, my hope was was to look more for suggestions about what WE, ourselves, may do.

Makes you wonder why people need to listen to church leaders at all when really, they should just learn to live right on their own.

Ahhhh.... the advantages of personal responsibility.

I suppose the same could be said about parents, or school teachers and administrators, or doctors and other trained professionals, etc.. Personal responsibility may be great as long as one's personal development (spiritual and otherwise) is sufficient to competently handle the responsibility (I believe the Church is designed to move people from spiritual childhood to spiritual adulthood, and to become more personally responsible). And, personal responsibility is not incompatible with inter-dependancy, and may even be enhance by reasonable and rational levels of reliance on others. I have found that while to some degree self-reliance is a virtue, so is the economic notion of trade and specialization, if not also the synergy derived from following certain leaders and participating in certain organizations.

But, that may just be me.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

I would say that it isn't just you, and that's unfortunate.

It's a stretch (to say the least) to put church leaders in the same league with important role models like parents and school teachers; people that children necessarily do rely on for development and guidance while growing up. It's a sad fact that adults would actually look to untrained and often highly fallible church leaders for guidance on any issue in their lives, any more than they should look to movie stars or professional athletes for the same thing. Once an adult, a person should look to real professionals for advice where needed, not to people placed in certain positions of "authority" for dubious reasons.

[_The Nehor]

It's a stretch (to say the least) to put church leaders in the same league with important role models like parents and school teachers; people that children necessarily do rely on for development and guidance while growing up. It's a sad fact that adults would actually look to untrained and often highly fallible church leaders for guidance on any issue in their lives, any more than they should look to movie stars or professional athletes for the same thing. Once an adult, a person should look to real professionals for advice where needed, not to people placed in certain positions of "authority" for dubious reasons.

While I disagree with the level to which Schmo said it I think he's right. Instead I think we should understand where the skillset of LDS leaders lies. They are given ability to help us spiritually and to sometimes give inspired counsel. They are not (at least most of them) child development experts, dieticians, therapists, economics experts, or job training specialists.

In the best counseling sessions I've had the Bishop has been a sounding board. Rarely did he tell me what to do. Together we explored options, evaluated them, and sometimes made suggestions but avoided telling me what to do. There have also been rare exceptions. When facing the possible break-up of an engagement my Bishop made several prophecies to help me see me way through. Those instances are rare though. Anyone who needs Church Leaders to make decisions for them is NOT going to be exalted.....see Brigham Young quote above.

Back to the OP, one of the best suggestions for staying healthy: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/a ... d_for_your

[_wenglund]

It's a stretch (to say the least) to put church leaders in the same league with important role models like parents and school teachers; people that children necessarily do rely on for development and guidance while growing up. It's a sad fact that adults would actually look to untrained and often highly fallible church leaders for guidance on any issue in their lives, any more than they should look to movie stars or professional athletes for the same thing. Once an adult, a person should look to real professionals for advice where needed, not to people placed in certain positions of "authority" for dubious reasons.

I recognize that there are multiple ways in which Church leaders may not be comparable to parent and school teachers. After all, the sheer number of members of the Church disallow Church leaders, particlularly at the GA level, from having the kind of personal interactions as do parents with their children and teachers with their students. So there is a clear quantitative and qualitative difference there. And, while the Church leaders may be specialized in some areas, I do not view them as specialist in all the areas that I mentioned (just as I would not expect parents to be specialist in teaching public education or medicine, etc.), nor would I advocate that they be appealed to in all cases over specialist in certain areas--though I wouldn't think it reasonable to think they shouldn't be appealed to at all outside their area of specialization (just as I wouldn't think it reasonable to suggest that parents not be appealed to in any way regarding public education or medical issues, etc.). Nothing I said could reasonably be interpreted as suggesting otherwise.

Rather, I was speaking in terms of general principles (specifically, personal responsibility as it relates to growth and developmet of all kinds--including spiritual) in the context of the relationship between Church leaders and Church members. I don't see that as a "stretch", though certainly what I said may be mistakenly "stretched" way out of proportion, as the case may be. ;-)

Thanks, -Wade Englund-