My History....
how this book came about
The Long Version
I hate to cook, plan or prepare food. I am lazy by nature. My family admits to being very picky about food. I kill plants just by looking at them. I am the last person you would guess would compile a cookbook. But, I love my family, the Lord and nutrition. I made a commitment to the Lord that I was going to come up with a way to prepare quick, easy, nutritious meals that my family would eat. He lead me to do this cookbook. Sorry, folks, but I wrote this cookbook for myself and my family! I pray, though, that it can bless others lives as much as it has blessed my own.
In July 2000, I completed this cookbook, spending 8 months of my precious free time (My girls were 3 and 1.5 then) reading, researching, compiling, experimenting, and typing. I printed a hard copy to send to publishers, and in the process of upgrading my computer, my well intentioned husband accidentally erased my cookbook, never to be seen again. I grieved and was angry, but now I am grateful. I have learned and matured so much more since then, and this book is better for it. I retyped everything from my one hard copy, backed up everything on my computer, raised money to self publish, and 5 years and 2 babies later….voila! A cookbook.
I have memories of learning things about food growing up, and as I watched friends and family struggle with health issues, the Spirit was telling me that there were ways to prevent things like diabetes, cancers and the like. My fixation with nutrition began during my first pregnancy, though. Even though I am the youngest of 6 and had many neices and nephews by that time, I knew nothing about birth and breastfeeding, which turned out to be a blessing. Even though I had no good information to go on initally, I also had no myths to de-program myself from. I became obsessed with ensuring that my baby would be the smartest, healthiest baby on the planet and preparing myself for a joyous journey into motherhood. I soon realized that all those things were based on nutrition and lifestyle, in addition to avoiding unnecessary interventions during birth. After I had my first, my passion for the birth year and parenting continued, and I soon became a doula and childbirth educator, attending about a birth month (after a 14+ month break after I birth) and teaching once a week from my home.
In everything I learn, teach, and do for growing families, one theme is constantly repeated. Without your health and proper nutrition, do not plan for an easy or healthy stay on this earth, conception, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding experience, postpartum, and child. I am so grateful that I turned to the Lord first for nutrition guidance. He lead me straight to the Word of Wisdom. It has blessed our lives tremendously. We have never had any serious health problems and my children are strong, smart, and glowing. There is much supplementary material out there to complement the WOW, but one that reaffirmed it continuously was “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration” by Weston Price. Also, the one book that made me successful at organic gardening is “Lasagna Gardening” by Patricia Lanza.
The WOW states that it was “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&C 89:3). I testify that I know this verse to mean EVERYONE. Poor or rich, stupid or smart, lazy or motivated, healthy or sickly...no one that can call themselves LDS can get out of this one, and believe me, I’ve heard every excuse in the book why the Word of Wisdom is not right for them nutritionally, intellectually, socially, or financially. Do not fear the Word of Wisdom...embrace it! It is by far one of the more liberating principles we have been given. And for that reason, Satan will try to thwart your efforts, so beware. Your health is the gateway to your happiness and success, and both the adversary and the Lord know that. So, make this journey a spiritual, faith filled one, first and foremost. This will not become a lifelong change unless it is a spiritual change. You will see blessings untold, and the hidden treasures will overwhlem you.
I have had my share of falling of the Word of Wisdom wagon. It's an ongoing process I expect I'll be learning and perfecting the rest of my life. I believe that is the way the Lord intended it. I am by no means perfect at this, nor do I hope to put that standard upon anyone. Thank you to my friends that helped and lent an ear, and my husband and children for their patience and inspiration, and for trying my many "creations". I still hear occassionally..."What is in this?" To which I reply "Love...now eat it!"
In Love,
Amy Cox Jones
Cookbook
“There is no question that the health of the body affects the spirit, or the Lord would never have revealed the Word of Wisdom. God has never given any temporal commandments; that which affects our stature affects our soul.”
In His Steps, address given by President Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. Fourteen- Stake Fireside Address, Brigham Young University, March 4, 1979.
“We should do all we can for ourselves first: dieting, resting, taking simple herbs known to be effective, and apply common sense, especially to minor troubles. Then we could send for the elders...Frequently, this is all that is required, and numerous healings can be affected. In serious cases where the problems are not solved, we turn to our skilled and helpful men who can help us so wonderfully.”
"President Kimball Speaks Out on Administration to the Sick," New Era, October 1981, p. 50.
