THE SOUND BODY.
Consideration has been given, in the preceding chapters, to the
pre-existent life, the course of the Gospel on the earth, and man's
relationship to God, to the Church and to his fellowman. Man must,
also, give respectful consideration to himself, as an individual.
**The Importance of the Body.** Attention has already been called to
the fact that the condition of the body limits, largely, the
expression of the spirit. The spirit shines through the body only as
the body permits. The body is essentially of the earth; and, in the
earth career, the earthly envelope of the spirit would naturally
determine the expression of man's powers. If the body is in poor
condition from birth, man must strengthen it as the days increase; if
it is strong from the beginning, he must make it stronger.
**Food.** A first consideration for the proper maintenance of bodily
health, is the proper feeding of the body. Man should use food adapted
to the body and seasonable according to nature. In accordance with the
Word of Wisdom, meat should be used sparingly, and no food should be
used to excess.
**Exercise.** The elimination of unassimilated food from the human
body is quite as important as the taking in of food. For that purpose,
physical exercise must be taken regularly. Moreover, exercise develops
and strengthens all parts of the body. Manual labor, which usually is
looked upon as inferior to mental labor, is in reality a means of
improving the body, permitting hard mental labor and making possible a
fuller expression of man's spirit. Man's life should not be given
wholly to physical work, but it should constitute a vital part of it.
**Rest.** Just as necessary as is food or exercise, is the change
called rest. If the same muscles be exercised continuously they will
surely tire and good work can, then, no longer be done with them.
Regular rest should be given the body. Frequently, a change from one
kind of work to another is a sufficient rest; but in many cases,
cessation from effort is necessary to recuperate man's strength,
properly. The natural law requiring regular sleep should be obeyed,
though none should sleep too long. One day out of seven, the Sabbath,
should be devoted, particularly, to matters concerning God and the
spiritual life, which too often are submerged during the other days,
in the material affairs of life. An occasional fasting is very
desirable, since, for a few hours, it gives some organs of the body a
complete rest. At present, the Church practice is to fast twenty-four
consecutive hours once each month. The food thus saved, in conformity
with the fundamental spirit of brotherhood, is distributed among those
who have need of it, by ward officers specially appointed for that
purpose.
**Stimulants.** In normal health, food, exercise, rest, love of God
and fellowman and daily work, furnish a natural and sufficient
stimulation for all the duties of life. In fact, none other should be
allowed, if the best physical health is to be retained. Therefore,
alcohol in all its forms, tobacco, tea, coffee and the variety of
drugs should not be used. There is double danger in the use of
stimulants: first, they tend to undermine the strength of the man,
and, second, they take away from man his mastery of himself. Under the
influence of a drug, man is urged on by the drug itself, and not by
his own strength of will. This is most dangerous. A man who loses
control of himself, never knows just what he may do.
**Moral Purity.** The body is much concerned in the moral purity of
the man. Men and women must keep themselves pure or there will be a
loss of life and procreative power. Moreover, men must keep themselves
as pure as do women. No reasoning, based on natural law, justifies two
standards of morality, one for the man and the other for the woman.
**The Gospel and the Sound Body.** The sound body is a Gospel
requirement, for only with a sound body can man work out his mission
and have full joy. Working effectively and to make others happy, can
be done only in a healthy body. Every effort should be made to keep
our bodies as sound as possible. It is a part of a rational theology.