LDSVeg.org    Scriptures - DC49:18-21
Supportive Scriptures:
What about DC49:18-21 and 1Timothy4:1-6
(Compare to 1 Timothy 4:1-5)
Dear Reader:

    Two writings on DC 49 are available on this web site. The following on this is page below is the form which came from my efforts to provide a softer public discussion available on the internet of the challenges of our varied perceived interpretations of DC 49 held among most of us LDS members. Read through it to see if you understand our seasoned perception after passing several years of living pure Vegetarian.

    Then if you wish, read the original, unrestrained, much bolder and more direct personal understanding, written and shared originally with my select family, close and understanding friends and priesthood leadership, when I first courageously put my health and healing experience-adjusted thoughts on DC 49:18-21 and Paul's 1st Timothy 4:1-6 into print for them 9 years ago, back on April 12 1995. It is linked at bottom.


What about DC49:18-21 and 1 Timothy 4:1-6

    DC49:18-21 is the scripture that is least understood in our current English language syntax and grammar.  So commonly misinterpreted, it becomes a favorite "club" for beating vegetarian saints, as I am now, as it is grappled and swung vigorously by defensive -- meat loving, meat consuming or meat producing members as I used to be.  However once understood in its reality, this scripture is the strongest scriptural support and encouragement for moving to a harmless-to-the-creatures "vegetarian" millennial lifestyle, while it straight out condemns those who would chose to deny you your right (as I used to do) to make that choice.

    The following is my personal interpretation of this scripture.  You will notice my opinion is strong and far from conventional; certainly not that which is held by most members generally; so I do not anticipate that you will happily agree with me (though I would take it as a comforting compliment and an assurance to the existence of some intelligence in me, if by some slim chance you did!).  I really only hope you might first consider it, then make your own decision. And though I speak as if I have authority, my only authority is the truth perceived and understood inside me, as yours is within you.  So I can only assume responsibility for me and my attitudes; not for you, your attitudes, your path to understanding, nor even your final understanding or consequences.  You and the Greatest Teacher of Heaven and Earth only is responsible for you.  So please check ultimately with Him and trust only finally in His promptings!  Certainly not in mine!

    But with my personal health experience, backed in what I now see as real-life science enjoined to my old cowboy knowledge, logic, experience -- and empirical books-and-lab science, and in my desperate worry for my brothers and sisters of my same faith and of the whole human family, I make no apology for the vigor in my speaking, my observations, and my very expensive and hard learned attitudes and opinions.  I only hope my expression -- no matter how imperfect it may be -- will stimulate, maybe even provoke, you to serious thought and will somehow benefit you and all others we both love and care about.
Sincerely,
Thomas Rodgers


First reveiw DC 49:18-21. Please pay attention to every word and carefully print into your mind "every jot and tittle" and petition the spirit for clarity!  Do it as if your blessings of health depend upon it -- because they do!
DC 49:18-21:
18.  And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God;
19. For, behold the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance.
20. But behold it is not given that one man should posses that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.
21. And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.

Then footnote 21a:
TG Life, Sanctity of.
JST Gen 9:11 And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands.

Now lets look carefully at DC49:18-21 (then follow with footnote 21a):

   In Verse 18, "And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God".  Our challenge in English is with "our" double-negative rule!  But in essentially all other languages world wide, especially in ancient languages like old Hebrew or Aramaic, the use of a double-negative is comfortable and normal.  So the original scriptures abound in double-negatives. So what language structure would be natural in that of the Lord and the angels speaking to Joseph?  And would not Joseph put it down as close to that spoken form as he could?  So is this is not why the Brethren forbid us to abstain from reading the scriptures?  (Notice my pushy use of double, even triple, negatives often used to set stronger feeling!)  The plea of the Prophet is for persistent study!  Is it not to help us become familiar with the language forms of heaven - in hope that some day we will finally "get it?"  So you will have to think beyond current English.  For me that's also hard; but I know enough of other current languages to help me stretch and easily understand this common use of the double-negative in the ancient language grammar of the scriptures.
 

    In Verse 19,"For, behold the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for* food and for* raiment, and that he might have in abundance".  You will have to think beyond accepted conventional thought and also seek some root definitions of the words used by Joseph Smith.  You have to reach to some older thought forms and meanings to see what God meant when He said he put the animals here for our use and benefit. (see DC59:15-20)

    If you do not comprehend the value of a living cow, that it for thousands of years has been the farmer's hard pulling, challenge-loving friend; or serving as his organically-powered smoke free engine, miller, motor, truck and tractor, for the righteous ancients, for the Israelites, or for the pioneers (as was "Ben" for Joseph F Smiths and his "ox-consecrating" mother, Mary Feilding Smith) and for most of all our ancestors; if you do not know of the food, clothing and clean water production made possible through living fish, living fowl and/or all other live creatures, when permitted to fill the measure of their natural existence! -- do not apologize!  Even most modern farmer's have forgotten their true timeless value!  But as with most modern farmers and humanity, you need some serious, but now truly beneficial re-training within nature's real live living and life sustaining program; you need to extend your perceptions to natures much broader and more timeless sustainable plan.

    As an old farmer and as an independent researcher, not trapped or surrounded by asphalt, glass, steel (or a finance-worried administration); or by sterile urban chemical-treated-lawns and nets of sidewalks, streets, telephone connections, TV cables and power lines; and now, not tied by directing grants or any industry dependent paychecks (anymore); I have the advantaged to know (and can voice) those creature's values in natures reality.  The animal's living value far exceeds that of the once presumed economic and appetite driven gain that their infectious  extortions of life-fluid and ova in my (past) dairy and egg production or their butchered dead bodies (sold as your food) brought to and profited me.

    A living animal helps provide pleasing balance and abundance from the earth all its life! -- A short lived dead one, only a few greasy meals for a temporary moment! -- then fat clogged arteries, a plethora of infections, the triggering of antigenic-autoimmune responses -- and the transfer of the neurological horror of their slaughterhouse violation, infusing into your tissues -- for the rest of your consuming life!

    Verse 20, "But behold it is not given that one man should posses that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin", is an easy one to understand - but the hardest to live. But the compassion required for living fairly and equally with our fellow human beings, is only learned by living with kindness and reverence for the diminutive creature beings that we are asked (in our preparatory training for Celestial stewardships) to preserve in the preceeding verses of 18, 19 and warned of the consequences, in 21, if we do not.

    Verse 21, "And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need".  As closure and warning, this must be received, understood, embraced and conformed to, to release us from the destroyers blood and horror power of enmity!  Enmity locks man into discompassionate, destructive, even murderous, behavior and thoughts; -- and so, as is Isaiah's warning (Isaiah 66:3&4) into a clouding and veiling his mind from knowing the mind of the Creator and Savior of life.  As destroyers of innocent life, and consequently (usually ignorantly) including his own, man cannot be trusted with higher dominions, blessings or responsibilities.  So, so far, we have not been given them.

    So if we presumably look forward to the millennium, when the lamb and lion are not harming each other, then our habit, belief or presumed acceptance "as some acceptable, or sparingly principle" in killing and consuming blood and flesh -- as is read by too many of us into this scripture and others -- is in hard conflict with Millennial and Celestial principles and with this scripture's own closer in verse 21 (and especially its JST 9:11 footnote).

    So we must face it, if our understanding is true, no killing is allowed in the millennium, and you know the lamb and lion will live together in peace; one will be hard pressed to find any righteous quorum gathering or a picnicking celestial family having parts of a creature in a streak, chicken or fish barbecue in the millennium! In fact, those are meals that will be impossible or expressly forbidden!
    So! Why impossible or forbidden?

    Number one: Interference with agency!
    The agency (that privilege) spoken of in God's own words (in His own house) in behalf of all creatures (as with -- and like you) was -- and still is! -- to live out the measure of its creation, and find joy therein! -- whatever measure and whatever that joy that that animal chooses, for itself, for it to be!

    I testify to you: That there is no agency! There is no joy in a slaughterhouse! There is only slaughter's obligate inhumanity presented in dark and hate-filled enmity, blood and horror-mayhem! Horror so ungodly, so demoralizing and so brutal, so suffocating to any goodly feelings or spirit; simply for a portion, potential pathogenic piece of an animal's body to package, sell and put into you! -- I personally now repent, labor and pray to one day receive forgiveness because of the helpless beasts, that I, in ignorant appetite and profit, needlessly destroyed! -- certainly not ever within any qualifying famine, untenable cold or starvation!

    My ears were deafened with innocent's cries, my heart hardened against those innocent's pain and my hands filled with their innocent blood! It is a soul blinding insanity that is supported in animal assassinry so both the killer and the consumer pay!  It appears that any unrepentant agency-abating and life-stopping accomplices will not be invitees to the millennium.  No single piece of flesh, for me any more, is worth my health or to be denied  eternal peace!

    So follows, Number two: Your righteous compassion!
    To not participate in harm! How can we elevate ourselves celestial candidate as human beings if we are not elevated as humane beings!

    Number three: Your calling to walk in the footsteps of the Savior!
    To follow His call to act as saviors ourselves and fill that order of God to act as protecting and preserving stewards over the earth and all she holds! We are to multiply and replenish, not destroy, deplete and diminish!

    Number four: Good health! (This is an easy one for selfish old me, now that my science and understanding has been harshly corrected and collaborated!)
    I want now! -- No! I need now! -- and will want forever! -- especially to help prepare my family for the millennium -- the blessings of health and function, and the happiness that only that good health brings!  I do not want, do not need, nor will I ever again accept, the viruses, bacteria, parasites, prions, hormones, fats, genetic adultery, antigenic, autoimmune disease producing proteins, fats, and second-hand adulterating chemistry that the animal's violated tissues brought when I, in my past, put them into my own or my children's bodies (and yours)!

    -- So if you desire to prepare for, or enter the millennium, or want it for you with your children, or if you need any of its promised blessings, including its promised acceptable health, then wouldn't it be to your advantage to begin to live for it now? -- Joseph Smith, Brigham Young (and Pres. Hinckley) clearly suggested you should!
 

    Here is a suggestion for easier understanding of DC49:18-21 -- if at all possible -- if you speak another language besides English -- translate it directly yourself, you will have an advantage on it's "old Hebrew" understanding. If you don't speak another language, find a (unbiased open) friend who does and have him do it; then ask him to explain it back to you in english from his "second language" translation -- word by word.

    But before you read again DC: 49:18-21or try the translation technique, read first the footnote 21a, then make it all fit!

21aTG* Life, Sanctity of.
        JST Gen 9:11 And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands.
(Wow, that's pretty clear!)


Another Scripture supporting this harmless stewardship and God's call to protect of all life is in the Book of Mormon:

Ether 8:19
19.  For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man.
(Notice word "all", then consider the safest moral position you can take, to live completely free of all bloodshed, free of all violence or violation of any life!)


Now again read DC 49:18-21:

18.  And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God;
19. For, behold the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for* food and for* raiment, and that he might have in abundance.
for*: Notice that it says for; it does not say as! There is a big difference between the word for and the word as!
For means: to facilitate, to make possible...
As means: is, it is, to serve specifically (or precisely) as...
Check any old unabridged dictionary - preferable the 1828 Noel Webster Dictionary - the one Joseph would have used!
20. But behold it is not given that one man should posses that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.
21. And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.**
(**compare verse 21 above, to verses 13 and 15 in DC 89. Also pretty clear!)
    As an unindentured, independent, research specialist of zoonotic epidemiology (including hormone, antigenic crossover and autoimmune response) I know full well the hormonal over-doping folly, disease organisms transfer, and "anti-genetic" antigenic protein, fat and alien glucose danger of the human-animal (us) eating another (dirtier) animal's tissues! So I abstain from all meats, all animal tissues, all animals fluids, all animal ova, all animal byproducts and I teach all my students "that all man should not eat the same!"

    This scripture specifically warns anyone who attempts to forbid, interfere, remove or impede me or anyone else who choses to abstain, act in our agency, to live, and to teach or promote with all man, this health blessing and Millennium opening wisdom, to do the same!

    Sharply and clearly stated here is: any man who thinks or even believes he is supposed to stand in the way of, forbiding anyone, me, my or anyone else's students, his own family members, children, friends or fellow saints in making this their wise personal choice -- is out of order! --He is not ordained of God! -- Even if he thinks so! -- period!
(Compare to DC121:39-42; esp. pure knowledge - NOT ignorant presumption! - without guile!)

    So if I, my family or my students choose to not risk contracting "Mad Cow", E-coli, Influenza, RSV, Epstein Barr, Herpes (cold sores), Staph, Strep, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Chicken Pox, Diphtheria, Pertusis (mumps), Tetanus, Polio, and all the other endless animal hosted and consumed tissue-transmitted, antigenic (autoimmune), hormone and neural-interrupting diseases, NO man had better attempt to coerce me, my children, my students or my loved ones to touch or incur the tissues of, or eat (ingest) any diseased and mad cow, or any diseased and "mad" anything!

-- This Earth's most important heavenly educated man, and those honorable men gathered with him (that I know and reverence) -- have never interfered with this rightful individual agency and choice!
-- and never will!
-- so as is clearly set forth to all, in this scripture! -- neither should you!  tlr

1 Timothy 4:1-5
Integrally connected to DC 49 above is 1 Timothy 4:1-5.  Click here to see it in original Greek, with direct English and the King James translation at sides.
See it, -- then go to the core scripture of this principle:  Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89: "The Word of Wisdom"

*Note: TG = Topical Guide; is a reference guide inclusively published, at the rear of the Bible as part of LDS Standard Works of The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. It cross- references scores of associated scriptures for each of its hundreds of indicated words and topics.
TG Life, Sanctity of.
 

Final caution!  Do not pass off any disease to just chance or fate! -- that is never the case! Though you may not have been the one making initial choices that brought some disease, you do have the agency and responsibility to improve or heal it as much as is possible, and to prevent added damage.  That is done only by understanding the root* source, causes and conditions of disease, then acting to avoid it. *root; see: Times and Seasons, Hyrum Smith, 'Engine of Health'

DC130:20-21
20. There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessing are predicated—

21. And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

In this scripture (and in real science), clearly the responsibility for the health of our bodies and our body-chemistry-dependent minds is here placed upon us as individuals—
and the law truly is:
Health: is gained by understanding and obedience!
Disease: on the other hand, only comes and increases in the lack of knowledge or within our choices to act against it!
Our body was created within, so was best adapted to the garden! — never the slaughterhouse!
We ourselves only have made that deadly blood and horror, paradise lost choice! — God and our divinely created bodies did not!

So in our own (humanity based) ignorance, or disobedient choices, we pay the price!
But in God's promise, if we return to his plan, ask, search, learn, understand and comply—
we will receive the blessings!

To original: "What about DC 49:18-21 and 1Timothy 4:1-6" written April 12, 1995...tlr

Page created 8 Mar 2001. Last edited 12 Mar 2004 Visitors since counter reset.
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