June 12, 1996
Dear Editor,
To brush off a vegetarian's invitation whether by word or example to abstain
from meat, one of the most "cute" comebacks usually has to do with imploring sympathy
for the poor plants who undergo such agony to provide our sustenance. Recently, I replied as
follows.
Mr. Barton made a good point in reply to my letter regarding the portion of the
Word of Wisdom that instructs us to eat meat sparingly at most, and not at all if we wish to
please the Lord, except in the dire circumstances of winter, cold, or famine -- to save our
lives.
Mr. Barton suggested that we ought to take stock of how we treat plants too. He
is right.
When we reverence life on all levels, expressing gratitude both for the beauty
and variety imparted as well as for those things which provide our sustenance, we will not be far
from the kingdom of heaven.
Three times a day, generally, we partake of food. Three times a day we have the
opportunity to reverence life by expressing gratitude and honoring the agency of all beings by our
contemplative selection of what we put on our plates.
The Indian's approach impresses me deeply. When they take life for sustenance,
whether it be animal or plant, they express gratitude not only to God, but to the things
themselves, recognizing their agency and their sacrifice.
I am not sure why God has encouraged us to avoid meat, but I would imagine it
has to do with the fact that meat comes from living creatures which have a central nervous system,
therefore possessing thought processes and a heightened sense of satisfaction in fulfilling the
measure of their creation.
Those who choose not to smoke or drink because of the Word of Wisdom (or for
other reasons) can testify to how their life is blessed as promised. Likewise, I can personally
witness as to the added blessings of health but even more so of the "hidden treasures of
knowledge" that have come in increased abundance as I have chosen in the spirit of the Word
of Wisdom not take into my body any animal products. It has actually astounded me what this one
thing has done for me. I realize that this goes the extra mile beyond what is specified in the
Word of Wisdom; but it feels good to me. The Word of Wisdom was given for the capacity of the
"weakest of the Saints," and I want to go all the way.
When we reverence life on all levels, then the most important level, namely
being able to respond to our fellowmen in love, comes much more easily. This includes giving women
far more respect and honor, for it seems that the exploitation of animals (and even plants) is a
corollary of our male-dominant society's exploitation of women, in which, supposedly, "might
is right." I believe that "harm not" is a far more elevated slogan.
The less we dominate one another and the more we reverence life, the more the
powers of heaven will be accessible to us; and isn't that what we want? It think it is.
Sincerely,
