In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin counseled, “See that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength” (Mosiah 4:27). This counsel from King Benjamin is also very applicable in these latter days.

Many people get tied up in a knot of commitments, responsibilities, relationships, and extra curricular activities. They seem to want to be a part of everything all the time. Twenty-four hours never seems to be enough to accomplish everything. But is it really not enough? Or are the twenty-four hours filled with many hurried moments, and fulfilling the expectations of others that we forget to choose the “good part” of things in life?

Choosing the “good part”

In the Book of Luke, Jesus counsels a woman named Martha, to choose the things that are “needful”—the “good part[s]” that cannot be taken away. There are many noteworthy activities that people can do in their daily lives, but how many among these are the good parts Jesus counseled not only Martha, but also all mankind to choose?

The good parts of life are family relationships, genuine friendships, service to the widows and the poor, scripture study, Sunday and temple worship, family and individual prayers, seeking education, earning a living without overworking, and taking time to slow down, be still and rejuvenate from the stresses and fatigue of life. These are just some of the many “good parts” that we can choose from. The bottom-line is that our physical capabilities have a limit. Weariness, physical and mental fatigue, stress, and spiritual drought are real and our bodies and spirit can only do so much to recover. But we know that when we give heed to the Lord’s counsel to choose the “good part”, we will find strength in Him.

Principles over Preferences

A man can get so busy working for a bigger home for his family, but in doing so he must make sure that when he finally gets his dream home, he still has a happy family to live in it. A working mom can get so tied up in her career, but can still put piano recitals, school plays, and football games on top of her list. A young adult can actively build a career but make time to find someone to build a family with. A couple can waste their money on trips around the world, but never forget to do charity work and service.

If people don’t confuse principles and preferences, life will be filled with less hurried moments. God gave mankind twenty-four hours because He knows it is enough time for them to do the “good parts” and choose the items on their to-do list that will speak of principles and not preferences.

We are all created and given the same twenty-four-hour timeframe everyday and under the same nature—subject to weariness and fatigue. May we all choose our activities wisely that we may not run more than we have strength.

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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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