Why the Word of Wisdom Is About More Than Physical Health
Daniel 1; Doctrine and Covenants 89 | Come Follow Me for Teens
Have you ever been somewhere when your phone suddenly lost its connection?
Maybe you were trying to send an important message.
Perhaps you were using directions to get somewhere unfamiliar.
Or maybe you were trying to call someone when you really needed to talk.
You might have a perfectly good phone. The battery could be fully charged. Every feature might be working exactly as it should.
But without a connection, there are certain things your phone simply cannot do.
It can't receive the information you're looking for. It can't connect you to the person you're trying to reach. And it can't provide the guidance you were counting on.
I've thought about that illustration in connection with something Heavenly Father wants us to understand.
Our spiritual connection with Him is one of the most valuable things we possess.
And when we study the experiences of a young man named Daniel, we discover just how important protecting that connection can be.
A Young Man Living in Babylon
Imagine what Daniel's life must have been like.
He was far from home, living in a foreign country, surrounded by people who worshipped different gods and followed very different customs.
Daniel and several other young men from Judah had been taken into Babylon, where they were selected to receive special training and prepare to serve in the king's court (Daniel 1:3–7).
Think about what that opportunity might have meant.
They would receive an education, learn the language and customs of Babylon, and potentially enjoy privileges and opportunities that most people in the kingdom would never experience.
But there was a problem.
Some of the expectations placed upon them conflicted with their commitment to God.
The king had appointed food and wine for these young men to receive during their training (Daniel 1:5).
And Daniel faced a decision.
He could simply follow what everyone around him was doing, avoid drawing attention to himself, and enjoy the privileges being offered.
Or he could remain faithful to the commandments and religious commitments he had brought with him from home.
I love the way Daniel 1:8 describes his response:
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself."
Think about those words.
Daniel purposed in his heart.
He had already decided what kind of person he wanted to be.
He knew whom he worshipped.
And he wasn't going to allow a change in his surroundings to change his commitment to God.
I find that especially meaningful because Daniel didn't approach the situation with arrogance or disrespect. He respectfully requested permission to follow a different pattern of eating.
He even proposed a ten-day test so those responsible for his care could see the results (Daniel 1:8–14).
And the scriptures tell us that Daniel and his friends were blessed.
But I want you to notice something about those blessings.
The most extraordinary ones weren't simply physical.
The Blessings Daniel Received
In Daniel 1:17, we read:
"God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom."
And Daniel was given understanding in visions and dreams.
Later, in Daniel 2, we discover just how important that blessing would become.
When King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his wise men reveal and interpret a troubling dream, Daniel turned to Heavenly Father in prayer.
And God revealed what the king wanted to know (Daniel 2:17–23).
Think about that connection.
Daniel had chosen to be faithful to God when doing so was inconvenient.
And God blessed him with wisdom, understanding, and revelation that no amount of worldly education could have given him by itself.
I love that.
Because it reminds me of another revelation Heavenly Father has given us.
One that includes some remarkably similar promises.
It's found in Doctrine and Covenants 89.
We call it the Word of Wisdom.
More Than a Law of Physical Health
When someone mentions the Word of Wisdom, what comes to your mind?
You might immediately think about avoiding alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, and harmful or addictive substances.
Those commandments are important.
But I think sometimes we can become so focused on what the Word of Wisdom tells us not to consume that we overlook why Heavenly Father gave us the revelation in the first place.
I want you to consider something.
In Doctrine and Covenants 29:34, the Lord teaches that all things are spiritual unto Him.
I love that declaration because it changes the way we can look at His commandments.
Heavenly Father doesn't separate our lives into things He cares about spiritually and things He cares about physically.
He created us as physical and spiritual beings.
He understands how our choices affect our bodies, our minds, our desires, and our ability to recognize His influence.
So it shouldn't surprise us that a commandment involving our physical bodies can carry extraordinary spiritual blessings.
Listen to the promises the Lord gives in Doctrine and Covenants 89:18–19.
Those who remember and keep His counsel are promised:
"Health in their navel and marrow to their bones."
And then He promises something remarkable:
"Wisdom and great treasures of knowledge."
Does that sound familiar?
Think about Daniel.
Knowledge.
Understanding.
Wisdom.
Revelation.
Perhaps some of the greatest blessings of the Word of Wisdom involve much more than the condition of our physical bodies.
Perhaps they also involve our ability to maintain a close, personal relationship with Heavenly Father and receive guidance from His Spirit.
And there's one part of this revelation I've thought about in a particularly interesting way.
It involves your belly button.
Yes, your belly button!
What's So Important About Your Belly Button?
Have you ever wondered why the Lord specifically mentions receiving health in our navel?
I mean, think about it.
Of all the different parts of our bodies He could have mentioned, why would He talk about our belly buttons?
How many times have you looked at your belly button and wondered whether it was healthy?
Haha!
Now, I don't claim to know every reason the Lord chose those particular words.
But there's a beautiful illustration I've come to appreciate when thinking about that promise.
Consider what your belly button represents.
Before you were born, while you were developing inside your mother's womb, your body was connected to hers through an umbilical cord.
That connection was extraordinary.
Through the placenta and umbilical cord, your developing body received the oxygen and nutrients necessary for growth.
You couldn't see the world outside.
You didn't understand everything your mother was doing to care for you.
You weren't capable of providing everything your body needed for yourself.
But there was a connection sustaining your life and helping you grow.
And then, when you were born, that umbilical cord was cut.
You began breathing and receiving nourishment in a different way.
But you still carry a reminder of that remarkable connection.
Your belly button.
Every time you see it, you're looking at evidence of a relationship that helped sustain your life before you could care for yourself.
Now consider how that image might help us think about our relationship with Heavenly Father.
We are His spirit children.
We've come to earth to receive physical bodies, learn, grow, make decisions, and become more like Jesus Christ.
But we haven't been sent here to do everything on our own.
Heavenly Father has provided a remarkable way for us to maintain a spiritual connection with Him.
Through the Holy Ghost, we can receive inspiration, comfort, warnings, understanding, strength, and guidance.
We can learn truths that we could never discover through our own limited understanding.
And just as our physical bodies needed nourishment to grow before birth, our spirits need the influence of God to continue growing throughout mortality.
I love thinking about that connection.
Because there are times when we cannot see what lies ahead.
We don't know every challenge we're going to face.
We don't always understand why certain things are happening.
And there are circumstances where our own knowledge and experience simply aren't enough.
But Heavenly Father sees what we cannot see.
He knows what we do not yet know.
And through His Spirit, He can help us find our way.
Now imagine how different our lives could become if we began looking at the Word of Wisdom as a commandment intended, in part, to help protect that precious spiritual connection.
Not simply as a list of things to avoid.
But as loving guidance from a Father who wants His children to receive the wisdom and revelation they need.
Why Would Heavenly Father Warn Us?
There's another part of Doctrine and Covenants 89 that I find fascinating.
In verse 4, the Lord explains that He is giving this revelation because of the:
"Evils and designs" of conspiring men in the last days.
Think about how remarkable that warning is.
Heavenly Father was revealing a commandment that would help protect His children from dangers many of them could not yet fully understand.
Now consider the world teenagers are growing up in today.
Think about how much money companies spend advertising products and experiences.
Advertisements are carefully designed to attract your attention.
Some use celebrities.
Some promise excitement or popularity.
Others suggest that a particular product will make you more attractive, more confident, more accepted, or more interesting.
And some businesses profit when people develop habits that become increasingly difficult to control.
Think about that.
There are industries that can make enormous amounts of money from people repeatedly purchasing substances that may eventually harm them.
And some of those messages are directed toward young people who are still developing their ability to recognize long-term consequences.
Isn't it remarkable that Heavenly Father would warn His children about dangers like these?
I've sometimes wondered how many challenges we could avoid if we developed greater confidence in the wisdom of God's commandments before we fully understood every reason for them.
Daniel didn't have to experience every consequence of following Babylon's customs before deciding to remain faithful.
He already knew the God he trusted.
And I think there's something important for us to learn from that example.
Sometimes Heavenly Father gives us commandments because He understands dangers we haven't yet recognized.
And sometimes those commandments preserve blessings we don't yet know how desperately we'll need.
Protecting Your Freedom to Choose
There's something else I want you to consider.
We often think about commandments as restrictions on what we're allowed to do.
But what if some commandments are designed to protect our freedom?
Think about addiction.
One of the heartbreaking things about addictive substances is that people can begin using them believing they are completely in control.
They may tell themselves they can stop whenever they want.
But over time, an addictive substance can begin influencing their desires, decisions, priorities, and behavior.
Something they originally chose can become something they struggle to stop choosing.
Now think about what Heavenly Father wants for you.
He wants you to grow.
He wants you to learn.
He wants you to make meaningful decisions.
And He wants you to become increasingly capable of choosing the things that will bring lasting happiness.
What a beautiful way of looking at the Word of Wisdom.
God's commandments can protect the freedom we need to become the people He knows we can become.
They can help protect our ability to think clearly, make wise decisions, and recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost.
And for anyone already struggling with an unhealthy habit or addiction, remember that Jesus Christ offers real help through repentance, healing, support, and the power of His Atonement.
The purpose of Heavenly Father's commandments is to bring His children closer to Him.
The Wisdom We Need
Now return to Daniel.
Imagine all the different decisions he would face throughout his life.
He would serve powerful rulers.
He would navigate complicated political situations.
He would face people who resented his influence.
And eventually, he would face enemies determined to destroy him because of his faithfulness to God.
Daniel needed much more than physical strength.
He needed spiritual understanding.
He needed wisdom.
He needed courage.
And he needed the ability to recognize the guidance of Heavenly Father.
The scriptures show us that God blessed him with those gifts.
And I believe Heavenly Father wants to bless us with the same kind of spiritual help.
Perhaps you won't be asked to interpret the dreams of a king.
But you may need inspiration about a friendship.
Wisdom about a difficult decision.
Strength to resist temptation.
Understanding when you're feeling confused.
Or the quiet reassurance of the Holy Ghost when you feel alone.
Those are treasures worth protecting.
And perhaps that's why the Lord included such extraordinary promises in a revelation we often think of primarily as a law of physical health.
The Word of Wisdom helps us care for the body God has given us while inviting us to receive the spiritual blessings He wants to give.
Scripture
Daniel 1:8 — Daniel purposes in his heart that he will remain faithful to God.
Daniel 1:12–17 — Daniel and his friends respectfully follow their convictions and receive blessings of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.
Daniel 2:17–23 — Heavenly Father reveals the king's dream and its meaning to Daniel.
Doctrine and Covenants 29:34 — The Lord teaches that all things are spiritual unto Him.
Doctrine and Covenants 89:4 — The Lord warns His children about harmful designs in the last days.
Doctrine and Covenants 89:18–21 — The Lord promises physical and spiritual blessings to those who faithfully follow His counsel.
John 15:1–5 — Jesus Christ teaches that He is the true vine and His disciples are branches.
Reflection
What impresses you most about Daniel's decision to remain faithful while living in Babylon?
Why do you think Daniel made his decision before knowing exactly what consequences he might face?
What spiritual blessings did Daniel receive in addition to the physical blessings described in Daniel 1?
How does thinking of the Word of Wisdom as a spiritual law change the way you understand it?
What might the Lord's promise of wisdom and hidden treasures of knowledge mean in your own life?
What can the illustration of the umbilical cord teach you about receiving spiritual nourishment from Heavenly Father?
Why might protecting your freedom to choose be one of the great blessings of God's commandments?
Is there an area of your life where you'd especially like greater wisdom, understanding, or guidance from the Holy Ghost?
Today's Challenge
Protect your connection with Heavenly Father.
Daniel didn't wait until his beliefs were challenged to decide whom he would follow.
He had already purposed in his heart.
This week, I want you to consider three things.
1. Identify something you want to protect.
Think about your spiritual relationship with Heavenly Father.
Perhaps you want to feel the Holy Ghost more frequently.
Maybe you want to become more confident recognizing personal revelation.
You might want greater wisdom when making decisions.
Or perhaps you want more strength to resist a temptation you're facing.
Write down one spiritual blessing you'd especially like to receive.
2. Make a decision before the decision.
Think about a situation where you might feel pressure to compromise one of your standards.
What would you want to remember in that moment?
How could deciding now make it easier to choose wisely later?
Take a few minutes to write a simple commitment to yourself.
It could begin with these words:
I have decided that when ______ happens, I will ______ because ______.
3. Ask for a spiritual blessing.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 89:18–19.
Then pray specifically for one of the spiritual blessings the Lord promises.
Perhaps wisdom.
Understanding.
Greater spiritual sensitivity.
Or help recognizing the influence of His Spirit.
Pay attention to the thoughts, impressions, and opportunities that follow.
At the end of the week, ask yourself:
How did following Heavenly Father's counsel help me feel more connected to Him?
Christ-Centered Thought
There's another passage of scripture that I love connecting with this principle.
It's found in John 15.
Jesus Christ is speaking to His disciples shortly before His suffering in Gethsemane.
He knows that difficult experiences are ahead of them.
They will face confusion.
Opposition.
Persecution.
And moments when their faith will be tested in ways they cannot yet imagine.
And He teaches them something beautiful about the relationship He wants to have with them.
He compares Himself to a vine.
And His disciples to the branches growing from it.
Think about that image.
A branch connected to a living vine receives what it needs to grow.
The vine supplies water and nutrients.
The branch can develop leaves, blossoms, and fruit.
But imagine what happens if that branch becomes disconnected.
It no longer receives the nourishment that had sustained it.
And eventually, it begins to wither.
That's why the Savior tells His disciples:
"Abide in me, and I in you."
—John 15:4
I love that invitation.
He wants us to abide in Him.
To remain connected to Him.
To allow His influence to become part of our everyday lives.
Now think about the illustration we explored earlier.
Before you were born, your body depended upon a connection that supplied what you needed for life and growth.
And now, as a child of God living in mortality, your spirit needs the life-giving influence of Jesus Christ.
There will be moments when your own strength isn't enough.
Times when you don't know what to do.
Experiences that leave you discouraged.
Temptations that seem difficult to resist.
And decisions where you desperately need wisdom beyond your own experience.
Heavenly Father knows those moments will come.
And He hasn't left you without help.
Through Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Ghost, He provides a way for you to receive divine strength and guidance.
I think that's part of what makes the Lord's promises in Doctrine and Covenants 89 so beautiful.
He doesn't simply tell us what to avoid.
He promises wisdom.
Knowledge.
Strength.
And blessings that can help us move forward with greater confidence in Him.
When Daniel refused to abandon his commitment to God, he was doing more than following a rule.
He was choosing to remain faithful to the One who could provide the spiritual blessings he would need throughout his life.
And that relationship sustained him through challenges he couldn't possibly have anticipated as a young man.
Now consider what Jesus Christ wants for you.
He knows your future.
He knows your weaknesses.
He knows the temptations you will face.
And He knows the person you can become.
He invites you to follow Him because He loves you and wants to help you grow.
His commandments aren't simply obstacles between you and the experiences the world offers.
They are part of His loving invitation to come closer to Him.
And as you seek to live faithfully, the influence of the Holy Ghost can become a greater source of guidance, understanding, and strength in your life.
Think about your future.
There may be decisions ahead of you that will change the direction of your life.
People you haven't met yet.
Opportunities you cannot anticipate.
Challenges you aren't prepared to face on your own.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to know that throughout those experiences you can turn to a Heavenly Father who knows you perfectly and a Savior who has promised to help you?
That is the relationship worth protecting.
So the next time you hear someone talk about the Word of Wisdom, I hope you'll remember more than a list of substances to avoid.
Remember Daniel.
Remember the wisdom God gave him.
Remember the Lord's promise of hidden treasures of knowledge.
And maybe, every once in a while, when you see your belly button, remember that remarkable connection that once helped sustain your physical life.
Then consider the spiritual connection Heavenly Father wants you to maintain with Him.
A connection through which He can help you learn, grow, and receive the influence of His Spirit.
Because one of the greatest blessings of following Jesus Christ is coming to know Him well enough to recognize His voice and trust His guidance.
And that is a connection worth protecting.
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