By Shannon Speirs
A new billboard created by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals uses LDS scripture to encourage people to practice vegetarianism.
The billboard, located on 279 W. and 3900 South in Salt Lake County, refers to Doctrine and Covenants 89:15: 'And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.'
The message, which concludes, 'Go vegetarian,' is directed to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who believe strongly in health and compassion, said Sean Diener, a spokesman for PETA and a member of the LDS church.
'If most people of faith, particularly Mormons, saw what chickens, cows and pigs endure on factory farms to become a lunch or dinner, they would be outraged,' Diener said.
By discovering the cruel nature of the meat industry, many would no longer want to support it, he said.
The billboard, which shows a white-haired, bearded man wearing white robes and holding a staff in one hand and carrots in the other, targets the LDS audience by focusing on one the health aspects of the Word of Wisdom. Diener and PETA said this scripture directly addresses the fact that members should refrain from eating any meat.
The LDS Church, however, does not necessarily agree with PETA''s interpretation of the scripture.
'Latter-day Saints do not interpret Section 89 as a call to vegetarianism,' said Kim Farah, a spokeswoman for the church.
PETA wants the billboard message to encourage people to adopt a vegetarian diet and save themselves from several health risks that can come along with eating meat, including heart disease and obesity.
'A vegetarian diet, not only is it easy, but it''s also good for animals and good for the environment and especially good for your health,' Diener said.
The difficulty in getting the message across in America is the meat-based diet that so many have been raised on, he said.
In contrast to statements given about the risks of eating meat, many Americans gladly accept health benefits from eating meat.
'Meat is a good source of high-quality protein,' said Susan Fullmer of the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science. 'I think a person can have a healthy diet with meat in their diet.'
Meat is also a good source of zinc and B-vitamins, she said.
PETA''s push for vegetarianism exists to make people aware of the conditions that animals are in and to encourage a halt of such conditions.
'If the things that are being done to pigs, cows and chickens were done to cats and dogs, people would be outraged and the people doing that abuse would be sent to jail, sometimes on felony charges, for cruelty to animals,' Diener said.