meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Y Religion

Episode 13: Wildlife & The Word of Wisdom (Andrew Hedges)

Y Religion

BYU Religious Education

Whyreligion, Religiouseducation, Religion & Spirituality, Brighamyoung, Lds, Education, Mormon, Yreligion, Byu, Religion, Yreligionpodcast, Christianity, Churchofjesuschrist

4.81.7K Ratings

🗓️ 1 August 2020

⏱️ 39 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Latter-day Saint dietary revelation known as the Word of Wisdom is a well-known tenant of our faith. It teaches to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea. There is also, however, counsel on animal wildlife. We may think we understand what the Word of Wisdom is teaching here, but perhaps it’s worth a closer look. In this episode, Dr. Andrew Hedges shares his fascinating research contextualizing and applying the terms “fowls of the air” and “wild animals” in the revelatory text.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

The Latter-day Saint dietary revelation known as the Word of Wisdom is a very well-established tenant of the faith.

0:06.5

The revelation discusses things that we should refrain from, such as consuming alcohol, tobacco,

0:11.6

and hot drinks which prophets have interpreted as coffee and tea.

0:16.0

But also in there, there is a part about counsel on eating meat sparingly, and specifically only in times of winter and famine.

0:25.0

All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts to be the staff of life,

0:31.0

not only for man, but for the beasts of the field and the fowls of heaven, and all

0:36.4

wild animals that run or creep on the earth.

0:39.7

And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

0:47.7

We may be tempted to think that we understand what the word of wisdom is saying here, but

0:51.7

perhaps it's worth a closer look. The

0:54.6

revelation makes a subtle distinction about wild animals that we may have missed.

1:00.1

In today's episode, Dr Andrew Hedges from BYU's Department of Church History and Doctrine

1:05.1

is going to share some fascinating research, contextualizing the word of wisdom's

1:09.7

teachings on this subtle but important use of the terms

1:14.0

fowls of the air and beasts of the field

1:17.0

in the revelatory text

1:18.0

to help us understand

1:20.0

some of this council regarding eating meat.

1:22.0

And on all these revolutionary theological... some of this council regarding eating meat.

1:22.8

And all these revolutionary theological things

1:25.5

that we bring up that Joseph revealed

1:28.2

and that were new on the theological scene.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BYU Religious Education, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BYU Religious Education and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.