Image: from Jiri Zraly via flikr
A few days ago I was struck by lightening.
Well, not literal lightening, the figurative kind.
I’ll explain in a bit, but first.
About six years ago, I wrote this post.
Since then, the google machine has brought many, many visitors to bring joy who were searching for anyone & anything related to being Mormon (ie. LDS or belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) AND vegan, because apparently, the two labels rarely coincide.
And because of said visitors over the years, I’ve received lots of emails & messages from fellow Mormons–
“Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone!”
“I’m glad I’m not the only one.”
“How do you handle church functions that involve food?”
And so on.
The other day I received one of the most surprising, I-can’t-believe-it-happened, “is this for real?” type emails I’ve ever received, from a fellow Mormon or otherwise.
Before I share it, I must say that I have only had a few times that I’ve run into people out in public where they recognize me from my blog (& it all happened when I was living in Utah).
I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’m not a celebrity, people!
I have a small-ish, nichey readership, so the fact that the following incident actually occurred only underscores the serendipitous-ness of it all.
The email
Hi Janae,
I think I saw you at the library yesterday…I found your blog (I think it had a different name then–Vegan Momma, maybe?*…I don’t remember for sure.) a few years ago, when I googled “vegan Mormon”.
For years I’ve been trying to figure out if eating vegan is okay, and lots of people have given me the message that it’s not okay, or not wise, including the church website nutritional guidelines, church leaders, etc.
But it just keeps coming back to me to look into that vegan eating way, and I’ve even tried it more diligently lately, and I’ve been visiting Jane Birch’s Discovering the Word of Wisdom site frequently, but I feel like I keep going in circles, and I don’t know how many times I had a conversation with my husband where I tell him I’ve thinking about it or trying it again, and he tells me it’s not in line with the prophets and scriptures, he’s not convinced animals suffer all that much, and I’m scared of not eating animals, for my health and my family’s, and even for my spiritual well-being (rejecting his blessings of animal sacrifices, which even reminds me of the atonement, and how death is necessary).
But then, like I say, I change my mind, get sad about the baby boy chicks being killed just because they’re boys, and think that maybe we’re getting past the “death” requirement, kind of like how sacrifices were done away, and now we just take bread and water (but then, Jesus ate fish after that even, so ?), and I think that maybe my body would understand eating in the right balance better if I ate just plants…
So yesterday I was at the library with my three little kids, picking up some books we had on hold for them, and one for me–The Forks Over Knives Plan–that I’ve hesitated to request, and hesitated to check out even when I found it there on the shelf for me yesterday.
When I was at the checkout about to check out my book I saw you at a checkout with your kids, and thought I recognized you. When I saw you in the parking lot I counted only four kids, so I thought maybe I was wrong, since I saw five kids in the picture** you had on Jane Birch’s site. Then I got on your site to find out where you live–Texas, so I guessed it wasn’t you, but then I found somewhere else where you said you’re going to Washington state, so…maybe it was you?
I thought that was really amazing!
I confess, it makes me feel like I have a chance to have a vegan friend, to help me feel like I’m not crazy for wanting to eat this way. I’ve wanted to go to Jane Birch’s get-togethers, to be around other people who have these ideas, and see what that feels like…cause I feel kind of nuts sometimes for agreeing with the ideas, and I’m not sure I’ve got it right…maybe that’s weird.
If that wasn’t you, thanks for “listening”, anyway! and thanks for your blog!
A veg-curious reader in Washington
*Yes, this lil’ blog began under the name Whole Foods Vegan Momma. Some of you veteran readers remember that!
**This is the picture she is talking about.
I write this dear reader back & tell her that yes, that WAS me!
I only had four of my kids with me at the time, but yes, that was me with my tandem stroller, checking out 100 books at the self-checkout while trying to keep my one & four year olds from running away.
I only happened to be at that library because the library in the town where I’m staying is being renovated & is closed, so I borrowed a card from a family member & was at the library (45 minutes from where I’m actually living) where saw me.
My response
Hi dear reader,
I could go through & answer your concerns/questions point by point but I’m not going to do that (although Joseph will, as you can see if you scroll a bit further down).
Basically, I will say this.
It’s not complicated.
I know that I’m a child of God. I have faith that He wants me, & all of His children to be happy. There are many things that we need to do daily to help us to be happy. Our food choices are just one of those things, but those choices are particularly important, because those choices ripple out & affect our neighbors, our environment, & of course the animals.
Eating vegetarian is a very simple choice for me. I don’t need to eat meat, so I don’t.
Eating vegan is also rather easy (though I admit I’m not one of those who is 100% vegan in all that I eat, wear, & use, though I try my best)–dairy doesn’t agree with me (even eggs, though less so than milk or yogurt). The few times that I have had dairy foods in the nearly decade that I’ve been vegan, I always, always regret it (see this post as an example). I get bloated, have MAJOR gastrointestinal pain accompanied by diarrhea. Let’s just say my body makes it pretty easy to avoid these foods.
I strongly believe in free will, choice, or as we Mormons call it, FREE AGENCY.
We have the principles set forth in the WOW (Word of Wisdom), let us govern ourselves. For some in the church, they will eat meat. Okay. As for me & my house, we’ll stick to the plants for now.
I’m used to going to ward barbecues & bringing along my stack of veggie burgers or veggie dogs. I’m used to being different. I’m not just okay with it, I expect it.
I could write more, but I passed your email along to Joseph (my very supportive, NON-vegetarian husband), who responded (his response is directed to me, not directly to you). I think his response is much more interesting than mine.
Joseph writes:
I actually looked around the internet a bit this morning, and found this from Jane Birch:
It is clear that “whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats” is not ordained of God since God ordained both plants and the flesh of animals for our use. But He does ask us to use them sparingly. He also tells us that is it pleasing to Him if we do not use the flesh of animals except in times of need (winter, cold, famine, excess of hunger; see D&C 89:13, 15). This counsel comes to us “not by commandment or constraint” (D&C 89:2). We are left to our own judgment as to how we will follow the Lord’s counsel. So, there is no prohibition against being vegetarian. In fact, it is “pleasing” to God. But we should not preach this as a commandment that others must obey.
One can only wonder who these crazy “church leaders” are, and what the heck is she referring to with this “church website nutritional guidelines” nonsense?
The only language I could find in church publications states:
Meat, poultry, eggs, and fish are good sources of the protein that our bodies need to grow strong. Milk, yogurt, and cheese are also good sources of protein. Protein builds muscle tissue and aids us in recovering from illness. Pregnant women and small children especially need protein to develop properly. These types of foods also contain minerals, such as iron and calcium, that help our bodies develop and function properly,” and “Some people think it does not matter what they eat as long as the stomach is filled. This is not true. No one kind of food can take the place of another. Each kind has its own value. We need the vitamins in fruits and vegetables to protect us from some diseases. We need the protein in meats and other foods for growth. (If family members choose not to eat meat or animal products, good sources of protein are beans, peas, and lentils.) Also, we need the carbohydrates in grains for energy. Planning our meals around five basic food groups can help ensure we eat a balanced diet.” — Lesson 22 of “The Latter-day Saint Woman”
So clearly, the church contemplates the possibility that some folks will choose not to eat meat, and acknowledges that hey, that’s cool, these other foods will get you the same benefits.
To address some other concerns:
– Animals don’t suffer all that much?
Yeah, possibly. I suppose free-range cattle (if that is what you are eating) sort of enjoy their lives, and are killed in an instant so their suffering is minimized.
However, (1) that is a best case scenario, and (2) that fact that an animal can be eaten without causing that animal very much suffering hardly compels us to eat it.
– Animal sacrifices (???)
Way back, 2000+ years ago, when people were less righteous and needed to “be commanded in all things,” God instituted a practice for the purpose of making His son’s sacrifice more real for the Israelites.
Unfortunately, over time, the metaphor was lost and it become little more than an industry (for most), causing Christ to get about as angry as he ever did (this is a house of God, but ye have made it a den of thieves – tossing the money-changers out of the temple). Christ explicitly declared this practice over.
There is NOTHING about our current practice of the gospel that still includes anything like this, and NO CHURCH LEADER IN MODERN TIMES has ever stated that we have a doctrinal responsibility to kill animals. Yes, it was supposed to remind them of the atonement.
However, we have a better way to do that now. It is called the SACRAMENT. Okay, I’m going to stop yelling. And death being necessary? I guess. But death being necessary doesn’t mean that killing is necessary. Why can’t animals just die a natural death, same as we’d all like to?
– What does Jesus eating fish have to do with anything?
Our saying that people can be vegetarian/vegan, and that being as doctrinally valid as not being vegetarian/vegan, doesn’t mean that people MUST be vegetarian/vegan.
It is a CHOICE. That is the whole point.
Maybe that morning Christ was just feeling a little low on his Omega-3s, and didn’t have some greens, or chia seeds available. I don’t mean to make a joke out of Christ’s food choices, but he also fasted for 40 days, so maybe we shouldn’t feel compelled to do EVERYTHING that he did.
end of Joseph’s response….back to mine.
In regards to needing meat & animal products for you or your family’s health, I’d direct you to The China Study (affiliate link). It’s certainly not the only piece of science related evidence towards a whole foods, plant-based diet being not only healthy, but ideal, but it’s the best place to start.
Last thing I’m going to say.
I know it seems like a HUGE thing right now. But give it a try. A real, sincere try. Focus on sustainable choices, focus on abundance, focus on how good you feel when you eat this way. And in time, you will see positive results & the worry/anxiety/wondering what people will think of you, will fade away.
Thanks for your email (again, it totally made my day!), & I look forward to meeting you in real time sometime soon.
♥
Other bring joy posts you might want to check out:
- orange glazed baked tofu {RECIPE}
- project downsize: is a big house better?
- 9 myths about plant-based diets
Are you Mormon & vegan/plant-based/vegetarian/flexitarian? Please give Caroline some support in the comments below!
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