President Monson Genuinely Cared for Widows

Many members of the church have heard about his remarkable calling as a bishop when only 22 years old, and the 84 widows that he cared for and served while in that capacity. Through his stories and the accounts of others, we were able to see how he listened to the spirit’s promptings to help him reach out and serve others: visiting dying friends in a moment of need, giving his pet rabbits to a boyhood friend so that his family could have Thanksgiving dinner, and visiting nursing homes frequently, even in the midst of his many heavy responsibilities. The late President Boyd K. Packer said of him, “He visits [nursing homes] anytime his busy schedule permits, and sometimes even when it doesn’t permit.”

His love and willingness to serve others, and his gift for knowing how to do so through the spirit, was his hallmark, and one that inspires others to do the same, even after his passing.

President Monson Had a Sense of Humor… and Wiggling Ears

The fact that he could wiggle his ears at will was just awesome. The fact that he did it while on the stand to challenge a little copycat who was watching, was even more so, not to mention his demonstrating it for the world at General Conference. His comedic story telling always seemed to be a high point of conference, reminding us that there is humor to be found in all stages of life, and to always strive to keep a smile as you walk along the path.

President Monson Used Life Parables to Teach the Gospel

Perhaps one of the greatest things President Monson will be remembered for, is his unique perspective and ability to see spiritual applications in every day events. In 2013, he told about how he had once accidentally started a forest fire up by their cabin, turning that very public mistake into a lesson about the dangers of disobedience. Another time, he recounted his first Sunday in Navy boot camp, and the courage it took for him to stand, so he thought, alone in his faith, and how we can do the same, standing for what’s right in an uncertain world. He routinely turned life experiences into beautifully told parables that touched hearts and inspired positive change all over the world, echoing in some ways the teaching style of the Savior.

As we remember the life and works of this great man, may we ever emulate his service, sense of humor, and ability to recognize life’s lessons as we each travel our own path back to the presence of the Lord.

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The counsel found in the Word of Wisdom, also known as the Lord’s Law of Health, encompasses all substances that are harmful for the body. Some people, even Mormons themselves, have debated what falls into the category of ‘hot drinks’. But would they still debate if they knew the World Health Organization has confirmed that ‘hot drinks’ are not good for the body?

A recent study by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that “drinking very hot beverages, which they defined as anything above 149F (65C)…is linked to higher risk of cancer of the esophagus” (Time Magazine). This is because high temperature drinks “scald delicate tissues in the esophagus; that damage may then trigger [a] more rapid turnover of the cells, which can in some cases lead to out-of-control malignant growth” (Time Magazine). It is important to note that drinking hot beverages does not increase the risk of all types of cancer. Dr. Otis Brawley, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society, says that the risk of cancer is increased where the hot beverages hit such as the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach.

While this 2016 study only accounts for hot drinks above 149F (65C), it is interesting to note that the warning against hot drinks being harmful was given in 1833 as part of the Word of Wisdom or the Lord’s Law of Health. This shows that the Lord sees things humans cannot and that He has knowledge of all things. Some Latter-day Saints in the 1800s might have wondered why ‘hot drinks’ were prohibited especially since there was no scientific support to it. Who would have thought that after 183 years, the WHO would conduct a study on the harmful effect of ‘hot drinks’.

The study did mention that coffee under 149F (65C) will not increase the risk of cancer but the Lord’s Law of Health still stands—that coffee and tea are not good for the body. The scientific evidence for this principle might take another century to breakthrough but Mormons are counseled to obey regardless of the existence of evidence.

So what can we learn from this? We learn that the Word of Wisdom was given to us as a guiding principle and not a restriction; and we must trust that the Lord knows what’s best for us, even if there is no human or scientific evidence available to support it. Evidence may surface many years in the future, or maybe not even in our lifetime. The Lord’s Law of Health will help us take care of our bodies and we will be blessed if we choose to obey that Law.

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The world is full of too much vile and ills. The world needs goodness and gentleness that we can all offer regardless of what doctrinal beliefs we want to follow. It does not require compromise of our beliefs. It only requires oneness in purpose and that is to be of service to our fellowmen. Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and leaders of other faiths have declared their unified purpose in serving humanity with love through Interfaith Relations Dialogue with other faiths.

Read the full article here.

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