Messenger
Pork & Latter-day Saints
Posted on 11/28/2007 at 8:58:43 AM
Jessica: “I shall be saved by my husband; he hath made me a Christian.”
Shylock’s servant: “This making of Christians will raise the price of hogs: if we all become pork-eaters, in no time we’ll not be able to afford to cook bacon.” (The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare)
From the days of Noah there was a distinction between clean and unclean animals. It was only the unclean animals that went in two by two.(1) It does not say, however, exactly which animals were deemed unclean.
It wasn’t until the law of Moses that an exact list was given to Israel of which animals were forbidden under that those laws:
“This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:
To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.”(2)
Although pigs are the animal most widely associated with such dietary restrictions, there were many other animals forbidden, as can be seen from the following list:
Animals
Lev.
Deut.
Camel, Coney, Hare
11:4,5,6
14:7
Swine (Pigs)
11:7-8
14:8
Shrimp, Lobster, Eel }
Crab, Octopus, Clam }
11:9-10
14:9-10
Eagle, Ossifrage, Osprey
11:13
14:12
Vulture (Glede, Kite)
11:14
14:13
Raven
11:15
14:14
Owl, Nighthawk, Cuckoo
11:16
14:15
Little Owl, Great Owl
11:17
14:16
Cormorant
11:17
14:17
Swan, Pelican, Gier Eagle
11:18
14:16-17
Stork, Lapwing, Bat
11:19
14:18
Weasel, Mouse, Tortoise
11:29
Ferret, Chameleon }
Lizard, Snail, Mole }
11:30
Many of these animals do not make up our common diet either because they are too small or unpalatable to be easily edible. However, Shrimp, Lobster, Crab, Octopus, and Clam are all popular seafood items, and Eel, Rabbit and even Snails are eaten in some Western countries.
Why did the Lord instill such a distinction? It undoubtedly separated them from their pagan neighbors, but did it have any other benefits? The fact that those ‘forbidden’ animals were called “unclean” certainly suggests that they were probably considered unhealthy to eat. In fact modern science has discovered dangers associated with eating pork and shellfish that the ancient Israelites may have been unaware of, but which God certainly knew. As one commentator notes:
“The flesh of swine is highly susceptible to trichinosis, a malady easily transmitted to man. Shellfish can develop a deadly poison if it is not killed and handled properly. … Birds forbidden were generally birds of prey that lived on carrion (dead animals), or, in the case of the stork and the heron, those that may have eaten other unclean creatures.”(3)
Is this relevant to our day and conditions though? Joseph Smith rarely mentions Pork, except to record it as something he or someone else had eaten. Neither was it mentioned directly in the Word of Wisdom, although it speaks of eating all meats “sparingly.”(4) Brigham Young recalled that Hyrum Smith seemed to have a special liking for Pork(5), and that it was the primary diet of most of the American Saints between 1845-46.(6)
In 1868, However, Brother Brigham and others began to make public statements against eating Pork. He told the Saints that it was “susceptible to disease”(7) (probably speaking about Trichinosis), and that “if the people were willing to receive the true knowledge from heaven in regard to their diet they would cease eating swine’s flesh.” Nevertheless he told them he did not wish to put “it in a code of commandments”(8) and seems not to have received any written revelation on the subject.
Many have taken his advice seriously and exclude Pork from their diets, and believe they have been healthier as a result. Mormon Fundamentalist leader, Rulon Allred, believed that “Pork was not good meat” and that if we ate it “then we must pay the penalty of the violation of nature’s law.”(9) Like Brigham, though, he did not elevate it to being required for salvation, or designate eating Pork as a sin.
President Young’s other counsel on what food we shouldn’t eat are often forgotten. In another sermon he instructs mothers to “keep the children from eating meat,”(10) but few Saints follow that advice, and, interestingly, some of those who reject Pork out of seeming respect for the Law of Moses still eat Clam Chowder soup, Lobster, Shrimps, or Crab, which were equally discouraged anciently.
In ancient times there were practical reasons for avoiding such foods. However, few of those dangers still exist in our world in which animals are inoculated, food is kept in sanitized conditions and cooked thoroughly. For example: Trichinosis, the germ that affects Pork is killed by even moderate cooking, and is even eliminated when the meat is frozen. On the other hand, with all the hormones and modern diseases (such as so called mad-cow disease) are any meats particularly healthy?
A few Saints believe that the dietary restrictions of the law of Moses are just as binding on us today. This was an issue that came up in the early Christian church, as Gentile converts became members. Jewish members wondered if Gentile converts should be required to give up eating Pork and other meats that they had traditionally considered unclean. In the midst of this situation the Lord gave Peter, the Apostle a vision:
“I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.”(11)
Thus the Lord can sanctify what he his people once considered unclean. It is interesting that some orthodox Jews would consider it a greater sin of ingratitude to refuse Pork accidentally cooked for them, than eating the meat they consider unclean.
Jesus put into perspective the relevance of what we eat compared with what we say when the Pharisees criticized the Apostles for not washing their hands prior to eating:
“And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? …
And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man:”(12)
Thus we need to be more careful with our spiritual diet than our physical one. Yet there are certainly benefits to our health in avoiding certain foods where reasonable and possible, as well as in eating plenty of others. For this reason the Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom, many aspects of which most of us fail to keep.
There is a temptation among some to try and turn dietary advice into commandments or requirements. Paul foresaw that this would happen and warned strongly against it:
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; … commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:”(13)
After the flood God gave all animals for the food of man(14), and in these last days the choice is up to us to use wisdom and discernment about what we will eat, and to allow others the same choice, realizing that their diet doesn’t necessarily determine their or our spirituality, especially if we look down upon others because of what they eat.
“For one believeth that he may eat all things:
another, who is weak, eateth herbs.”
(Romans 14:2)
Disclaimer: This article was not intended to encourage anyone to eat Pork, or to criticize those who don’t. It is to consider whether we are commanded to avoid Pork in our day.
Footnotes
1. Genesis 2:7.
2. Leviticus 11:45-47.
3. LDS Institute Old Testament Manual 1:173.
4. Doctrine and Covenants 89:12.
5. Brigham Young Office Journal, February 24, 1860.
6. Journal of Discourses 13:82.
7. 19 July 1877, Journal of Discourses 19:67-68.
8. 6 April 1868, Journal of Discourses 12:192-193.
9. 30 December 1973, Treasures of Knowledge 1:261,4.
10. 19 July 1877, Journal of Discourses 19:67-68.
11. Acts 11:5-10.
12. Matthew 15:10-18.
13. 1 Timothy 4:1,3-4.
14. Genesis 9:3.