Salt Lake City, Utah (October 6, 2014) -- Diet and exercise was not the advice the more than 15 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) expected to hear at the conference of the Church broadcast to congregations throughout the world.
Mormons believe in a revelation from God, received by founding Prophet Joseph Smith in 1833 known as the "Word of Wisdom" which is a health code that many Latter-day Saints follow.
A 25-year-study of practicing California Mormons was completed in 2004 by James Enstrom and Lester Breslow of UCLA (http://www.belnapfamily.org/brentjbelnap/institute/Preventive_Medicine_2008_Lifestyle_and_Mormon_Mortality_Enstrom.pdf). That study concluded that both Mormon men and women have a much longer life expectancy than the general public.
"Take responsibility for your own physical well-being. Your soul consists of your body and spirit. Feeding the soul while neglecting the body, which is a temple, usually leads to spiritual dissonance and lowered self-esteem," advised Elder Jorg Klebingat, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
He was speaking in a conference that was broadcast live to local congregations in over 100 countries and translated into 94 languages.
The counsel given by Elder Klebingat added to the Word of Wisdom may very well bring even greater health to a group that already has the lowest, or close to the lowest rates of heart disease, cancer and other life-shortening illnesses (https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V12N03_88.pdf).
"If you are out of shape, if you are uncomfortable in your own body and can do something about it, then do it," Elder Klebingat advised.
Weightloss alone can bring many health benefits and extend life expectancy according to many studies (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004993). Obesity is a rapidly growing health problem and Mormons are not immune. Diet and exercise, sustained as a life-time activity, have proven to be the best way to lose weight and keep it off.
Klebingat is from Germany, and previous served as a mission president in Kyiv, Ukraine. He was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Seventy in April 2014. This was the first time he addressed the entire membership of the Church.
"Please use good judgment in what and especially how much you eat and regularly give your body the exercise it needs and deserves. If you are physically able, decide today to be the master of your own house and begin a regular, long-term exercise program, suited to your abilities, combined with a healthier diet. Spiritual confidence increases when your spirit, with the help of the Savior, is truly in charge of your natural man or woman," he concluded.
The "Word of Wisdom" is not followed by all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many, perhaps a majority, follow the counsel to not drink coffee or tea, alcohol, or use illegal drugs. However, fewer are as faithful in some of the dietary counsel or the advice to get the right amount of sleep. How many will now begin a diet and exercise program is uncertain, but all seem to agree that it is good advice to follow.
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