A household picture of President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on a swing. Nelson household
Over a decade in the past, Thomas F. Rogers, a pal of mine and a former professor at Brigham Younger College, wrote an essay about the advantages of being a Latter-day Saint.
“A nonbelieving former member tells me he nonetheless considers the church to have the ‘most complete social profit program’ he has ever encountered. I agree,” Rogers wrote in an essay revealed within the e-book “Why I Keep.”
“For example,” he continued, “what contribution hasn’t the Phrase of Knowledge alone made to my private well-being?”
This passage returned to my thoughts just lately with the information that President Russell M. Nelson, the chief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is now the oldest prophet the church has ever had in its 192-year historical past.
He’ll be 98 in September.
I’ve by no means been one for hagiography, irrespective of the topic, however I can’t assist pausing to admire President Nelson’s lengthy life and good well being. He’s not simply 97 after which some. By all accounts, he’s within the workplace frequently. He’s delivering sermons. He’s lively and filled with enthusiasm for all times.
Perhaps it is going to change into commonplace sooner or later to see nonagenarians who usually are not solely wholesome and loving their ultimate years however who additionally appear to age in reverse. However, thus far, that is nonetheless a uncommon phenomenon. And one price studying from.
To what can we ascribe such longevity? Definitely, genetics should play a job. However, as I perceive from President Nelson’s biographies and from anecdotal tales of fellow church workers (disclosure: I write for the church), wholesome consuming and common train have been constant components of President Nelson’s life. The guts surgeon usually tells church members to take “your vitamin tablets. Get some relaxation,” as a result of the longer term “goes to be thrilling.”
President Nelson’s habits had been little question influenced by the various sufferers (my maternal grandpa included) whose, let's assume, lower than optimum well being practices usually introduced them to his regular surgical palms. I can’t additionally assist however see a spot for revelation in aiding the prophet’s wholesome way of life.
It’s well-known that Latter-day Saints have a well being code often known as the Phrase of Knowledge, which derives from scripture revealed to Joseph Smith in 1833. That is the muse for why practising Latter-day Saints say no to alcohol, caffeinated tea, espresso, tobacco or some other addictive substance. And, when embraced correctly, the Phrase of Knowledge can be why many Latter-day Saints say sure to the nice issues — fruits, greens and grains. And meat, the revelation states, ought to be consumed “sparingly.”
That’s to not say all and even most of us stay as much as this lofty customary (see, for instance, the lengthy traces exterior Utah’s plentiful “soiled soda” drive-thru retailers).
With regard to train, the church’s well being code was revealed in 1833 when the idea of “treadmills” or “ellipticals” may need elicited puzzled amusement. However the scripture nonetheless states that those that adhere to those rules “shall run and never be weary, and shall stroll and never faint.” The Church of Jesus Christ can be constructed on the idea of ongoing revelation. Maybe sometime some assertion will likely be canonized that features particulars on the perfect weightlifting routine, however, within the meantime, frequent sense and the perfect science give us loads of perception into the advantages of an lively life.
Midway into my missionary service in jap Ukraine in 2004, the Church of Jesus Christ applied a brand new program for missionaries that strongly inspired every day morning train.
I used to be pathetic at following the steerage.
However this system planted a seed that started bearing actual fruit 4 years in the past. I used to be approaching my mid-30s, my metabolism was slowing, and I had begun “outgrowing” all of my pants. Because of the surprising present of a easy stair stepper from a colleague at work, I began exercising. This progressed to reasonable jogging and lifting weights. I additionally adjusted my food regimen. I felt higher.
Inside six months I misplaced 25 kilos. I’ve saved up this routine and have discovered a lot about the opportunity of persistence and the refreshing rush of a accomplished exercise.
There may be additionally the apply of month-to-month fasting, throughout which era Latter-day Saints chorus from meals for twenty-four hours, or two meals. Quite a few research have discovered that fasting helps cut back numerous dangers related to coronary heart illness, however I’ve discovered that fasting additionally tends to construct capability for correctly managing bodily appetites past simply the 24 hour interval throughout which fasting happens.
From a secular perspective, it’s simple to level to the two-decade-long UCLA research of Latter-day Saints which discovered practising church-attending adherents had longer life spans (5 years longer for girls and a full decade for males) in comparison with different inhabitants teams studied. There are additionally findings concerning the advantages to coronary heart well being for 24-hour fasting practices from medical doctors at Intermountain Well being.
However for believers the scriptural guarantees for caring for one’s physique are breathtaking.
“And all saints who keep in mind to maintain and do these sayings, strolling in obedience to the commandments, shall obtain well being of their navel and marrow to their bones; and shall discover knowledge and nice treasures of information, even hidden treasures.” And, the scripture continues, “they shall run and never be weary, and shall stroll and never faint; and I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall go by them.”
Granted, life doesn’t all the time afford a lifespan of 90 years. Everyone knows somebody who has lived properly however grew to become severely unwell or died “too quickly.” Genetics and illness finally catch us all. We’ve additionally seen cigarette people who smoke who by some means evade the percentages and live longer than anticipated.
I used to be struck some years in the past when a 109-year-old girl in Texas stated her secret to an extended life was consuming bacon each day.
Typically uncommon exceptions stick in our thoughts since they're so uncommon. However the normal rule is actually the “rule” for a cause: God expects us to take accountability for our our bodies, and there are advantages for doing so.
At 97, because the oldest church president in historical past, President Nelson has come to embody the Phrase of Knowledge. And with every passing yr, he appears increasingly more like a reasonably good instance to comply with.
Samuel B. Hislop is a author in Utah.