Abstract
The Mormon church has long been seen as an unusual group in relation to its health practices. But its health traditions and practices go much further than the ban on tobacco, coffee, and alcohol for which it is so well known. Church teachings and influences pervade the entire Mormon existence. This paper briefly discusses these traditions, first by examining their roots in the teachings of its first two prophet/presidents, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. Then, how these ideas have evolved into the church's current thought is examined; and finally, the church's responses to many modern-day health care issues are presented.
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References
Deseret News Church Almanac, Salt Lake City, Utah, Deseret News, 1990, p. 6.
Ibid., p. 329.
Marty, M. E., and Vaux, K. L., eds.,Health/Medicine and the Faith Traditions. Philadelphia, Fortress Press, 1982.
Enstrom, J. E., “Health Practices and Cancer Mortality Among Active California Mormons,”J. National Cancer Institute, 1989,81, 23, 1809–1810.
TheDoctrine and Covenants is a collection of revelations received by the church's prophets. Each “section” comprises one revelation, and all but three sections were revelations of Joseph Smith. 6. At the time, this area was a territory of Mexico. It was a common feeling that the only way to escape the persecution was to actually leave the territory of the United States.
Smith, J.,History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Roberts, B. H., ed. (6 vols.) Salt Lake City, Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1902–1912, 5:357.
op. cit.. p. 154.
Alma 46:40 Designations within theBook of Mormon are very similar to the book, chapter, and verse used inHoly Bible references. Alma is one of the major books of theBook of Mormon.
Doctrine and Covenants 42:43, paraphrased. Designations within theDoctrine and Covenants are also very similar to the familiar chapter and verse, except that there are no “books” and chapters are referred to as sections.
Barney, G. O.,Mormons, Indians, and the Ghost Dance Religion of 1890. Lanham, Maryland, University Press of America, 1973. This religion seemed to have been a combination of traditional American Indian beliefs mingled with many tenets of the Mormon religion. Its followers believed that a Messiah would come in 1890 to rescue them from the white man. This was also a common belief in the Mormon church at this time, and it seems that many Indians may have been “converted” to the Mormon church because of misunderstandings on this score. Apparently, these new converts also had a desire to get one of these protective Mormon garments, as recommended by their prophet of the ghost dance religion who lived in western Nevada.
Barney,op. cit., pp. 204–227.
op. cit., p. 10.
Widtsoe, J. A., ed.,Discourses of Brigham Young. Salt Lake City, Utah, Deseret Book, 1954.
Ibid., p. 185.
Ibid., p. 190.
Ibid., p. 191.
Bush, L. E. Jr. In Numbers, R. L., and Amundsen, D. W., eds.,Caring and Curing, Health and Medicine in the Western Religious Traditions. New York, Macmillan, 1986, pp. 397–420.
Barrett, I. J.,Joseph Smith and the Restoration Provo, Utah, Brigham Young University Press, 1973.
McCloud, S. E.,Not in Vain. Salt Lake City, Utah, Bookcraft, 1984.
Ibid., p. 101.
Ibid., p. 107.
Ibid., p. 102.
Ibid., p. 139.
Ibid., p. 138.
Cholera was often referred to as the scourge of God until its connection to poor sources of water was made.
Smith, J. F., ed.,Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Salt Lake City, Utah, Deseret Book, 1976.
Doctrine and Covenants 122:7.
op. cit.. p. 99.
op. cit., 2:114.
Brown, H. B.,You and Your Marriage. Salt Lake City, Utah, Bookcraft, 1960.
McConkie, B. R.,Mormon Doctrine. Salt Lake City, Utah, Bookcraft, 1966.
Ibid., p. 573.
op. cit., p. 135.
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The author wishes to thank Dr. John King at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, for his assistance and encouragement.
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Simmerman, S.R. The mormon health traditions: An evolving view of modern medicine. J Relig Health 32, 189–196 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00995652
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00995652