From the Millennial Star, June 1944 —

Recipe for Health and Longevity

by Edith Russell

One hundred and eleven years ago, when Louis Pasteur was only eleven years old, and eight years after the first scientific experiments upon digestion of foods were begun by Beaumont, the Prophet Joseph Smith, announced a code of health which we know as the Word of Wisdom. In it he claimed that alcohol and tobacco were not good for the body, and that tea, coffee and other stimulants were injurious to health. Cautioning against the consumption of refined foods, he advised the eating of meat sparingly and the generous use of fruit, grains and vegetables with regularity. Great stress was laid upon abstinence from the four narcotics – alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee.

The Latter-day Saints believed before Scientific information was available, and put his teachings into practice. After a century of practical test the results Obtained are startling.

The health averages of six nations – Germany, France. Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain and U.S A. – may, be compared with the corresponding data of the Latter-day Saints.

Deaths per 100,000 (1936-1940)

Tuberculosis, Six Nations: 79.5; Latter-day Saints: 7.4
Cancer, Six Nations: 137.5; Latter-day Saints: 48.3
Diseases of the Nervous System, Six Nations: 117.6; Latter-day Saints: 49.2
Kidney and Kindred Diseases (Nephritis), Six Nations: 56.9; Latter-day Saints: 29.9
Maternity (per 1,000 births), Six Nations: 55.0; Latter-day Saints, 31.1

The Word of Wisdom has produced a people eminent in health and longevity, and apparently with increased immunity from the diseases that scourge the earth.

Adherence to the Word of Wisdom reduces the cost of living – the main economic problem of our day – by the larger use of the less expensive foods, such as grains and vegetables, and by saving huge sums expended elsewhere for harmful alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea and coffee.

There are few very wealthy people among the Latter-day Saints. There is also little poverty among them. Their average prosperity is high. Such a prosperous economic condition has resulted from industry and thrift (77 per cent, of the people are engaged in productive occupations) coupled with the power and savings incident to obeying the Word of Wisdom.

This simple effective method of maintaining the good health and prolonging life has been tested for nearly one hundred years by a group of people now numbering approximately three-quarters of a million.

The death rate of this Wisdom group is less than one half that of the countries previously mentioned: the immunity from the ravaging diseases of mankind is astonishingly great, and the mental, moral and economic conditions are far above the average.

Such a convincing demonstration of the value of a health system is unique among the many suggested guides to better health and longer life.