In the Latter-day Saint culture, members learn at an early age about the Word of Wisdom and are encouraged to listen to prophets’ counsel regarding being healthy and physically fit.
With the rise in levels of obesity around the U.S., there is a greater concern about eating healthy and in right amounts.
But being obese does not mean a person is not living the Word of Wisdom.
“Obesity is not necessarily breaking the Word of Wisdom any more than stupidity is sin,” said Brent Top, the department chair of Church History and Doctrine. “There may be a person who does stupid things that brings sometimes negative consequences on themselves but are faithful, righteous people.”
Several factors other than overeating go into obesity, including genetics and medical conditions.
Kristi Frederickson, professor for Church History and Doctrine, said fast food restaurants are coming up with new and clever ways in retaining customers.
“You’ll go in and you’ll see you could get double the fries, you get double the size of the drink,” she said. “Let’s say you pay 59 cents more after you’ve already spent $4. Who’s not going to do that?”
Several professors said observing the Word of Wisdom not only has spiritual blessings, but temporal benefits as well.
“We concentrate more on the don’ts more than the dos,” said Mary Jane Woodger, a colleague of Frederickson. “We haven’t heard much about it recently because people are keeping it.”
Heber J. Grant, a past president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke many times about the Word of Wisdom and made the counsel closer to commandment, but over the years apostles and leaders have spoken more of other serious issues.
“When the Word of Wisdom was first given, it was a commandment, but it was not enforced,” said Jerome Perkins, a professor in Religious Education. “A lot of individuals had a hard time.
During the tenure of Brigham Young, he said the Word of Wisdom is now a part of the Church. During the transition to Heber J. Grant, there were still generations of people who were adjusting to that commandment.”
When Perkins was a young man it was culturally accepted to drink and smoke, habits which affect a person’s health and body shape. He said many of the early television shows had all the stars constantly holding a cigarette and it was glamorous to be seen drinking and smoking.
It should be easier, Perkins said, for the current generation to keep the Word of Wisdom because “now we have the words of the prophets, scientific research” and government programs to support living healthily.
According to Doctrine and Covenants 89:20, a promise from obeying the Word of Wisdom is to run and not be weary and to walk and not faint.
“As you get older, you slow down,” Frederickson said. “The purpose of a body is to give us a vehicle. The more healthy we are, the more fit we are, the more we are able to serve our Lord.”
Being fit and healthy does not exclude those who may be 50 pounds overweight. It is a matter of righteous judgments.
“We have to judge people on their intents and their hearts, not just their body shape,” Brent Top said.
Feeds 
Your comments are tantalizing. When we die, we are cremated or eventually disintegrate into dust. In the Spirit World, we don't have a body. We are resurrected with a perfect body. Will that perfect body be obese? My grandfather is morbidly obese and is fearful none of his children or grandchildren would recognize him with his perfect body.
What is it that gives members enough money to eat themselves into obesity and then not have enough money to buy clothes big enough to properly cover themselves -- male and female alike. I have to agree with the many posts that say the reasoning from Bro. Top is silly. Tell us another -- so we can laugh some more. Who is he protecting, anyhow? Who is he making excuses for about health problems that may be inherited or medical???? Please tell me........
Our bodies are a Temple and we should not defile it. I disagree you Brent's opinion. Is his opinion Church Doctrine? I have family members & friends who are obese and suffer many heath problems. Obesity is addition to food for the most part. I understand some people have genetic problems which cause them to be over weight, but the majority of cases are by choices of individuals. Not buying it John in Oregon.
There are a couple of comments in this article that challenge basic reasoning. "Being obese does not mean a person is not living the Word of Wisdom". And "Being fit and healthy does not exclude those who may be 50 pounds overweight" Maybe these comments could hold some 'weight' in an alternate universe but those of us who work hard to be fit and maintain a healthy weight (at 58 years old) would find these comments silly at best.
Weight is mentioned nowhere in the Word of Wisdom. Even gluttony is mentioned nowhere in the Word of Wisdom. Anyone who thinks gaining weight violates the Word of Wisdom is reading something into it that simply isn't there.
The Pharisees were big on reading stuff into the Law that wasn't there. Christ denounced them for it.
Kinda hard to say that caffeine is against the Word of Wisdom, using that logic.
Way to completely shade over the whole issue of health and the intent of the Word of Wisdom. The 'Pharisee' comment is quite a leap in logic.
I am a person who is overweight. Being overweight, my health suffers. My back hurts; my blood pressure is high; I am at risk for developing adult onset diabetes. My life will be shorter because of my choices.
A person who drinks alcohol or takes drugs takes the same risks. Yet, a person who admits to drinking or doing drugs won't be allowed in the temple.
Why is this when essentially, the choices and consequences are the same? I'm glad things are as they are. Or, would I be better off if the bishop held my spiritual well-being hostage unless I changed? Would that provide me with the incentive to change? It might!
I don't know about this. It isn't as if information about good nutrition and exercise is hidden to the public. If you are knowingly doing things to your body that cause weight gain and increase your chances of degenerative diseases and thereby shortening your life or the quality thereof, is that not a sin?
I also think that genetics and medical conditions account for a very small minority of those who are obese. Perhaps we as Latter-Day-Saints ought to take this a little more seriously than this article suggests. After all, aren't the body, mind and spirit inseparably connected.
I disagree with this article. I think people will just use this article as an excuse. Many church members say "At least i'm not drinking Alcohol." As they pound down a gallon of ice cream or a dozen donuts. To me, there is no difference between drinking alcohol or other specifically prohibited items or eating extremely unhealthy.
Don't be so biased. There are many professions where getting exercise is very difficult, and due to the fact that I have a family, I cannot spend the time exercising that others can spend. Plus, there are actual medical conditions that lead people to gain weight. I had a friend in high school who, for lunch, would have 2 - 3 full sandwiches, several apples or oranges, some pop and milk, among other things. He ate enough as our entire group of friends but his metabolism was such that he was still only about 100 lbs. Some people just have a high metabolism, and some have a slow metabolism. There isn't much that one can do to change your metabolism.
Are you saying that having a slow metabolism is a sin now?
I felt the article was a great cop out. The scriptures say our bodies are the temple of God. The WofW advises moderation in all things. There's no reason 99.9% of us can't have a healthy weight/lifestyle. It's all about agency. Another way of Satan getting us to abuse the only thing he can't have and the reason we came to earth. The article should have stayed positive, We know what to do...it's up to us to do it. And it is virtually free - sleep 7 hrs, drink 8+ glasses of water, stay away from sugar, ban soda pop like the plague, minimize wheat (use substitutes), eat lots of veggies and fruits, get some exercise daily, + 20 minutes of sunshine, breathe good air. These are the words of wisdom for today. The designs of evil men do not want us to know these....it will save our lives, and save us money. It will thwart Satan and we'll be healthier, happier and more productive longer...able to serve the kingdom. That's all you needed to say. -Ken-
Ken,
Minimize wheat? (I beleive D&C 89 states the exact opposite of this.) 20 minutes of sunshine? Breath good air? 8+ glasses of water? Soda the plague? Stay away from sugar? Sleep 7hrs? Are these your modern interpretations of the Word of Wisdom?
The Word of Wisdom is a powerful example of the Lord blessing his children through revelation from prophets in this dispensation. Spend some time in Doctrine and Covenants Section 89 and read and understand the principles and promises contained in that revelation and it truly may be "all you needed to say." Living prophets have spoken much about the benefits of observing the Word of Wisdom. They have even commented at length on the revelation. Please read and study it.
When we propagate our opinions, share personal beliefs concerning what we think the Word of Wisdom means, or make claims about unsubstantiated interpretations to the Word of Wisdom, we complicate matters for those seeking to truly come in line with the Lord's will when they try and better understand the Word of Wisdom so they might better observe it.
Ken, may the Lord bless you with wisdom and great treasures of knowledge as you seek to understand the Word of Wisdom, seek to live the Word of Wisdom and as you seek to share its truths with others!
RBJ