In section 89 of the doctrine of covenants, the Lord gave Joseph Smith the word of wisdom,

which we often take to be a list of do's and don'ts about how to care for our bodies.

But there is more deep doctrine there than we often see, and we will share some of those

ahas and surprises with you today, two of which you may have never considered before.

Hello, we're Scott and Maureen Proctor, and this is Meridian Magazine's Come Follow Me

Podcast.

This week we are studying Doctrine and Covenants sections 89 through 92, in a lesson called

A Principle with a Promise.

If ever there was a revelation of kindness, this is certainly one, because the Lord who

knows every minute detail about how our bodies are created and what makes them bloom and vitality

is sharing some crucial insight.

While we are given some specific prohibitions in the word of wisdom, much of the council

is given in broader principles that don't spell out every detail.

Instead, the Lord reminds us that we are stewards of a sacred trust, our bodies, and he will

help us by telling us things that no one else entirely knew at the time this revelation

was given.

If the peoples of the world who lived throughout the eons of time had understood and been

able to live these principles, the entire history of the world would have been different.

Think how many wars have been cruelly waged by soldiers fired up on drunkenness.

Consider how many hearts have been broken, relationships crushed, and families demolished

from alcoholism.

How many rash words have been said, how many duels fought, how many women raped, how much

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