The Home Missionary, vol. 6
September 1894
“What Is Not Good Food” The Home Missionary, 6, 9, pp. 204-206.
Our previous lesson closed with the statement of the fact that the stimulating properties in flesh meats cause them to be not the best food; and that these stimulating properties are greatly increased by impurities being multiplied in them. The fewer impurities, therefore, the less of stimulant. HOMI September 1894, page 204.1
There was a time when some flesh meats were eatable without special harm. At the same time there were, and are yet, certain flesh meats which were not to be eaten at all because they were no and are not fit to be eaten. HOMI September 1894, page 204.2
This distinction between flesh meats which might be eaten, and those which must not be eaten, is laid down in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. The distinction is made so clear and by tests so easy to be applied, that every one who can get hold of a Bible is without excuse in not understanding the subject. Among beasts the rule is: Whatever is cloven-footed and chews the cud; these might be eaten. But the must have both of these requirements. Anything that chews the cud only, or is cloven-footed only, or that goes on its paws, is not to be eaten, and never was fit to eat. HOMI September 1894, page 204.3
Among things that are in the sea, the rule is: Whatever has both fins and scales, might be eaten. If it has not both fins and scales, it is not and never was good for food. HOMI September 1894, page 204.4
Of winged creatures those that are not good are named, and all others might be eaten. HOMI September 1894, page 204.5
Yet the fact that these things were once eatable, does not prove that in all times and in all circumstances these same things are good for food. The truth is that the time will come when not a single earthly thing will be good to eat. When the plagues of the wrath of God are poured out upon the earth; when the curse is devouring the earth; then death will be in everything that is of the earth, and to eat of any earthly thing then will be only to partake of the elements of death. At that time the Lord himself will supply his people with bread and water as he did Elijah when he was persecuted and had to flee for his life. HOMI September 1894, page 204.6
As we come nearer to that time, the people of God, under his guidance and instruction, will draw nearer to the original diet of man. And before probation closes, we will exclude from our dietary everything that has come into the dietary of ma since sin entered. And under the influence of this way of living, this people will reach the point before probation closes, at which, when every earthly thing becomes tainted with death, all can be dropped and the change made without inconvenience, to that which the Lord himself will supply. HOMI September 1894, page 204.7
God now gives us instruction and opportunity by which we can fully prepare for this time which we all profess is coming soon, and which is coming soon whether we profess it or not. Many at least of the children of Israel were not prepared for the change from their regular diet in Egypt to that which God supplied in the wilderness. They therefore lusted for the flesh-pots of Egypt, grew impatient with what they decided was a hard way, murmured against the Lord, and were destroyed of the destroyer. And this was written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come. Any one now who will disregard, all through this time of preparation, the careful instructions that the Lord has so long and so patiently set before us to fit us for this all-important time that is now so near,—those who will disregard all this, and live on just what they please, expecting to continue so through the plagues, or to suddenly drop it all and change to the other in a day or an hour, will, as surely as did the children of Israel, long for the flesh-pots of the former time, will grow impatient with “the hard way,” will murmur against the way the Lord is leading and what he is giving, and will as certainly as were they be destroyed of the destroyer, and that irrecoverably. HOMI September 1894, page 204.8
If beef were as nearly perfectly pure as it was in old time when it could be taken quietly and fresh from the herd, as by Abraham, in Genesis 18:7, 8, it would now, in itself, be no more objectionable than it was then. But this cannot be so now with one person in a hundred of those who eat it. On the contrary, the beef that is used, except in very few instances, is put through the market in the way and with the results described in the previous lesson. The Testimony says even as much. Here are the words:— HOMI September 1894, page 205.1
“Could we know that animals were in perfect health, I would recommend that people eat flesh-meats sooner than large quantities of milk and sugar. It would not do the injury that milk and sugar do.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:369. 1 HOMI September 1894, page 205.2
Instead of meat being of this character, however, it is the opposite. The animal creation is diseased. Flesh meat is diseased. And even though it was now diseased when it was in the herd in the field, by the time it has been put through the course of the market, it is laden with impurities. And the nearer we come to the end, the nearer we come to the time when none of it will be eatable because of the impure and injurious properties that will abound in it. For this reason, and for the further reason that a change will have to be made and that suddenly, at the beginning of the plagues, it is now time to take up the instruction that the Lord has given in this matter and apply it faithfully—that is, in a way full of faith. HOMI September 1894, page 205.3
When the Lord tells us that a thing is not good now, and that he does not want us to eat it now, it is not a sufficient answer to say, as many do, “It was eatable once and was allowed in the Bible, and why not now?” This is no answer at all, and for the simple reason that what was eatable and allowable once may not be so now, and what is now good will not be eatable in the time of the plagues—in fact cannot be eaten then at all. HOMI September 1894, page 205.4
Whether we can see why these things are not good, or whether the Lord ever tells us why, this can have no proper bearing in the case. The Lord says that such and such things are not good food in this time, and if we are willing to allow that he knows more than we do, we shall be willing to take his word for it, and drop the use of that which he says is not good, and take that which he says is not only good, but the best. HOMI September 1894, page 205.5
Now I am going to cite passages from the Testimonies that name some more things that are not good to be eaten now. With respect to some, perhaps the most, of these things, the reason is given why they should not be used, the injurious effects being named. In some points perhaps the reason may not be given. But whether the reason is given or not, shall we not consent that the Lord knows more on this subject than we do, and take his counsel and act accordingly? Where the reason is not given, please do not require me to supply it, for it is altogether likely that I cannot do it. And where the reason is given, do not attempt to offset it by saying, “If that is so, why does such and such a person use it?” Just leave out all that part of it, and accept it or reject it for yourself alone. Do not try to regulate what the Lord would have you to do, by citing what somebody else does. Do not forget that the health reform is an individual work, and each one is to apply it in his own case for himself alone. This is what we are to do, and whether other people do it or not is for them and not us to decide. HOMI September 1894, page 205.6
I read:— HOMI September 1894, page 205.7
“How drinks are debilitating to the stomach. Cheese should never be introduced into the stomach. Fine-flour bread cannot impart to the system the nourishment that you will find in the unbolted wheat bread.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:68. HOMI September 1894, page 205.8
“If ever there was a time when the diet should be of the most simple kind, it is now. Meat should not be placed before our children. Its influence is to excite and strengthen the lower passions, and has a tendency to deaden the moral powers.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:352”. HOMI September 1894, page 205.9
“You place upon your tables butter, eggs, and meat, and your children partake of them. They are fed with the very things that will excite their animal passions, and then you come to meeting and ask God to bless and save your children.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:362. HOMI September 1894, page 205.10
“Flesh-meats and rich cakes and pies prepared with spices of any kind, are not the most healthful and nourishing diet. Eggs should not be placed upon your table. They are an injury to your children.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:400. HOMI September 1894, page 205.11
“The butter and meat stimulate.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:486. HOMI September 1894, page 205.12
“Saleratus in any form should not be introduced into the stomach; for the effect is fearful. It eats the coatings of the stomach, causes inflammation, and frequently poisons the entire system.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:537. HOMI September 1894, page 205.13
“We bear positive testimony against tobacco, spirituous liquors, suuff [sic.], tea, coffee, flesh-meats, butter, spices, rich cakes, mince pies, a large amount of salt, and all exciting substances used as articles of food.”—Testimonies for the Church 3:21. HOMI September 1894, page 205.14
“I frequently sit down to the tables of the brethren and sisters, and see that they use a great amount of milk and sugar. These clog the system, irritate the digestive organs, and affect the brain. Anything that hinders the active motion of the living machinery, affects the brain very directly. And from the light given me, sugar, when largely used, is more injurious than meat.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:370. HOMI September 1894, page 206.1
“The mince pies and the pickles, which should never find a place in any human stomach, will give a miserable quality of blood.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:368. HOMI September 1894, page 206.2
Now if you find yourself using some of the things that are here named as injurious, don’t fly to the other extreme and go to starving yourself by dropping everything at once without putting that which is better in its place. To do that is only to perpetuate the evil; for an impoverished diet will produce the same results as flesh-meats and rich food,—it creates a poor quality of blood.—Testimonies for the Church 2:368. HOMI September 1894, page 206.3
“We should not recommend an impoverished diet. I have been shown that many take a wrong view of health reform, and adopt too poor a diet. They subsist upon a cheap, poor quality of good, prepared without care or reference to the nourishment of the system. It is important that the food should be prepared with care, that the appetite, when not perverted, can relish it. Because we from principle discard the use of meat, butter, mince pies, spices, lard, and that which irritates the stomach and destroys health, the idea should never be given that it is of little consequence what we eat. There are some who go to extremes. They must eat just such an amount and just such a quality, and confine themselves to two or three things. They allow only a few things to be placed before them or their families to eat. In eating a small amount of food, and that not of the best quality, they do not take into the stomach that which will suitably nourish the system. Poor food cannot be converted into good blood. An impoverished diet will impoverish the blood.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:367. “These changes should be made cautiously, and the subject should be treated in a manner not calculated to disgust and prejudice those whom we would teach and help.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:370. HOMI September 1894, page 206.4
Let us turn then to the consideration of HOMI September 1894, page 206.5
WHAT IS GOOD FOOD
Yes, let us find what is the best food, and then enjoy ourselves to the full on that, in order that we may have the best of health and enjoy ourselves in every other right way. What then is good? What shall we find to put in the place of all these things that are not good to eat in this time? Here it is:— HOMI September 1894, page 206.6
“Grains and fruits prepared free from grease, and in as natural a condition as possible, should be the food for the tables of all who claim to be preparing for translation to heaven.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:352. HOMI September 1894, page 206.7
“Fruits and grains, prepared in the most simple form, are the most healthful, and will impart the greatest amount of nourishment to the body, and, at the same time, not impair the intellect.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:400. HOMI September 1894, page 206.8
Those who discard meat “need to supply its place with the best fruits and vegetables, prepared in the most natural state, free from grease and spices. If they would only skillfully arrange the bounties with which the Creator has surrounded them, parents and children with a clear conscience unitedly engaging in the work, they would enjoy simple food, and would then be able to speak understandingly of health reform.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:486. HOMI September 1894, page 206.9
“God has furnish man with abundant means for the gratification of natural appetite. He has spread before him, in the products of the earth, a bountiful variety of food that is palatable to the taste and nutritious to the system. Of these our benevolent heavenly Father says that we may ‘freely eat.’ We may enjoy the fruits, the vegetables, the grains, without doing violence to the laws of our being. These articles, prepared in the most simple and natural manner, will nourish the body, and preserve its natural vigor without the use of flesh-meats.”—Testimonies for the Church 3:50. HOMI September 1894, page 206.10
Adopt the free use of these things, and you will find that all those other things will drop away and never be missed. Then health such as the Lord desires that you shall have, enjoyment of life, and prosperity in all the things of God, will be yours. For “I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” HOMI September 1894, page 206.11
ALONZO T. JONES.