|
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
[which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians
6:19)
|
|
| Attitudes
Toward Health |
| "In light of modern revelation, Latter-day
Saints believe that the physical body and its health and well-being are
an essential part of the gospel of Jesus Christ." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism |
|
| Abortion |
| The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints considers
the elective termination of pregnancy "one of the most…sinful practices
of this day" (General Handbook of Instructions, 11-4), although not necessarily
murder. The Lord has said, "Thou shalt not…kill, nor do anything like unto
it" (D&C 59:6; emphasis added in Packer, p. 85). |
|
| Abuse
of Drugs |
| "The abuse of drugs is contrary to the teachings of the
Church." Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| AIDS |
| "In January 1989 a special bulletin on AIDS was sent to
Church leaders throughout the world to provide (1) scientific and medical
information about AIDS; (2) counsel reaffirming the blessings and protection
that come from living God's commandments; and (3) guidelines and policies
dealing with interviewing and assisting those infected with the AIDS virus."
Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Alcoholic
Beverages and Alcoholism |
| "Active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism |
|
| Artificial
Insemination |
| "The Church does not approve of artificial insemination
of single women. It also discourages artificial insemination of married
women using semen from anyone but the husband. However,' [we believe] this
is a personal matter that ultimately must be left to the husband and wife,
with the responsibility for the decision resting solely upon them" Encyclopedia
of Mormonism |
|
| Autopsy |
| "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds
that an autopsy may be performed if the family of the deceased gives consent
and if the autopsy complies with the law of the community." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism |
|
| Birth
Control |
| "In the beginning the Lord commanded man to be fruitful
and multiply and fill the earth with posterity, thus providing bodies for
the hosts of pre-existent
spirits. (Gen. 1:28.)" Mormon Doctrine |
|
| Blood
Transfusions |
| "the Church leaves all decisions about the use or nonuse
of blood to the member or family concerned in consultation with their physician."
Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Burial |
| "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints counsels
its members to bury their dead in the earth to return dust to dust, unless
the law of the country requires cremation."
Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Circumcision |
| "In modern times, Joseph Smith affirmed the perpetuity
of the Abrahamic
Covenant and defended the integrity of Judaism. Today, however, if
Latter-day Saint males are circumcised, it is for cleanliness and health,
not religious, reasons." Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Coffee |
| "Active Latter-day Saints abstain from drinking coffee.
This practice derives from an 1833 revelation known as the Word
of Wisdom, which states that "hot drinks are not for the body or the
belly" (D&C 89:9)." Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Cola Drinks |
| "Certainly the partaking of cola drinks,
though not included within the measuring standard here set out, is in violation
of the spirit of the Word of Wisdom." Elder Bruce R. McConkie |
|
| Cremation |
| "Since the organization of the Church in 1830, Latter-day
Saints have been encouraged by their leaders to avoid cremation, unless
it is required by law, and, wherever possible, to consign the body to burial
in the earth and leave the dissolution of the body to nature, "for dust
thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Gen. 3:19)."
Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Deseret
Hospital |
| "With increasing evidence that home care of the sick and
injured was no longer adequate, the women of the Relief
Society, with the support of the First
Presidency, opened Deseret Hospital in Salt Lake City on July 17, 1882.
Though Roman Catholics and Episcopalians already sponsored hospitals in
Utah, this was the first official endorsement of allopathic medicine by
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see Medical
Practices). |
|
| Hospitals |
| "Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints have historically felt a responsibility to care for the
physical well-being of fellow Church members and their neighbors."
Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Organ
Transplants and Donations |
| "Whether an individual chooses to will his own bodily organs
or authorizes the transplant of organs from a deceased family member is
a decision for the individual or the deceased member's family. The decision
to receive a donated organ should be made with competent medical counsel
and confirmation through prayer" Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Materials
for the Blind and Deaf |
| "During his earthly ministry, Jesus was always sensitive
to individuals and their personal needs. He paid particular attention to
those with handicaps and healed many of their infirmities (e.g., Matt.
11:5). Today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches similar
sensitivity to people with special needs." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism |
|
| Maternity
and Child Health Care |
| "Before professional doctors and nurses assumed primary
responsibility for delivering health care, LDS women played a major role
in providing maternity and child health care in their communities...Today,
Relief Society women are encouraged to seek appropriate professional medical
care and to participate in nursing and first-aid classes."
Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Medical
Practices |
| "Today, many LDS women and men are involved in health care
practice and research. Church members, who are advised to seek medical
assistance from competent licensed physicians, generally believe that advances
in medical science and health care have come though the inspiration of
the Lord." Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Mental Health |
| " The Church endorses the work of licensed mental health
practitioners provided that the suggestions and treatment offered are consistent
with Church moral and lifestyle expectations." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism |
|
| Physical
Fitness and Recreation |
| "The Church has always endorsed recreation and fitness
as desirable and worthy of promotion." Encyclopedia of
Mormonism |
|
| Prolonging
Life |
| "When severe illness strikes, Church members should exercise
faith in the Lord and seek competent medical assistance. However, when
dying becomes inevitable, death should be looked upon as a blessing and
a purposeful part of an eternal existence." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism |
|
| Sports |
| "The LDS Church was a pioneer among religious faiths in
promoting physical activity, sports, and recreation for members."
Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Sterilization |
| The First Presidency has declared, "We seriously deplore
the fact that members of the Church would voluntarily take measures to
render themselves incapable of further procreation." |
|
| Tattoos and
Body Piercing |
| "The practice is a desecration of
the human body and should not be permitted, unless all that is involved
is the placing of a blood type or an identification number in an obscure
place." Elder Bruce R. McConkie |
|
| Tea |
| "Devout Latter-day Saints do not drink teas containing
caffeine." Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Tobacco |
| "Devout Latter-day Saints do not use tobacco in any of
its forms." Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Word
of Wisdom |
| "The practice of abstaining from all forms
of alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea, which may outwardly distinguish active
Latter-day Saints more than any other practice." Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
|
| Does the Word
of Wisdom Require Latter-day Saints to be Vegetarians? |
| "...[God] gave us the flesh of beasts and of fowl for food,
but that they were to be used sparingly." Elder Mark E. Peterson |
|
| Why
Are Certain Things Forbidden In the Word of Wisdom? |
| "While some Church members
have speculated why these things are forbidden, the Lord has never given
any definitive reasons and Latter-day Saints simply obey as a matter of
faith." W. John Walsh |
|
| Wine
or Welch's? Grape Juice Provides Health Benefits Without Alcohol |
| New
scientific findings reinforce the Word of Wisdom. |
|
| (See Daily Living home page) |
|