No Good Comes From Consuming Alcohol

Classmates constantly informed me in high school that my religion was too restrictive and that it prevented me from having fun. Even an adult in a position of trust tried to persuade me that I was missing out on all the “high school fun” by not drinking and partying. Believe me, I had plenty of fun in high school and, even better, I can remember all of it. I didn’t spend time barfing my guts out in the bathroom or passing out cold in a back room. I was conscious for my high school events and not only do I remember them, I enjoyed them. I can’t say the same for my classmates who barely remembered attending school because they were often drunk.

In Doctrine and Covenants 89, we learn the basis of healthy eating. We also learn that the Word of Wisdom is, “Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints” (D&D 89:3). When we obey the Word of Wisdom, we receive blessings. In fact, we’re promised that we, “shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures. (D&C 89:19). I know I need all the wisdom I can get and I have a testimony that obeying the Word of Wisdom will bless our lives.

We are counseled to not partake of alcohol, coffee, tea, or tobacco. These substances can be addictive as well as destructive to our bodies. Medical science has proven that alcohol is dangerous to our health because it can cause disease and illness. Those who regularly partake of alcohol damage body organs. Even partaking of alcohol one time can be fatal. College students die every year from alcohol poisoning.

Some become addicted to alcohol and that addiction leads to inappropriate behaviors. Alcoholics often abuse family members verbally and physically. Alcohol can magnify emotions, especially anger, and, more often than not, causes broken marriages and homes. Many lives have been destroyed due to the use of alcohol.

Another serious problem with alcohol use is the inability to make appropriate decisions. Often, young women who consume alcohol also end up breaking the Law of Chastity leading to even more problems. Those who drink and drive are impaired and cause accidents that kill and maim not only the driver, but also innocent people. One such accident happened a few years ago on the highway not far from my home. Two college students had been drinking and collided with a young man who was driving home from work. The young man was killed instantly. The driver survived, but the impact caused his passenger to be ejected from the vehicle and semi-truck ran over him. The driver received minimal punishment. Both families have suffered tremendously simply because someone decided to drink and drive.

I do not understand why it’s legal to consume alcohol. Is it big business? Is it our society’s inability to see the damage alcohol causes? Is it one more of Satan’s weapons in his ever-growing arsenal? Medical science has proven the physical and mental damage alcohol causes and we can easily see the other damage caused by consuming alcohol, yet we continue to allow its use. What will it take to make us realize that no good comes from drinking alcohol?

Stay tuned as I examine more of the Word of Wisdom in subsequent posts.

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