All About Mormons

Hi friend. A search of lds.org for "vegetarian" was not productive, which leads me to believe that the Church does not have an official position regarding vegetarianism or veganism.

The Word of Wisdom (D&C 89) does state that meat should be used sparingly (D&C 89:12). On the other hand, scriptures like D&C 49:18–19 and 1 Tim. 4:1–3 suggest that those who command to abstain from meat or forbid others from eating meat are not ordained of God. Does that include people who merely suggest that vegetarianism might be a healthly lifestyle, especially when those suggestions are backed up by scientific studies? To what extent were these scriptures tied to the era in which they were given? Might they be less relevant in our modern era of vitamin supplements and year-round fruit/grain availability? Each Mormon will have to decide that for themselves. My own personal opinion is that a good Mormon can be a vegetarian or a vegan. Hope this answer helps.

The church has no official policy or doctrine on vegetarianism or veganism. In fact, the church owns several beef operations and apparently a hunting facility as well. However, some LDS, myself included, are vegetarians of one sort or another. Here's some reasons why:

1. The Word of Wisdom says that we are to use flesh sparingly (see D&C 89: 12-13).
2. The ten commandments states that we should not kill. Most religious denominations take this to mean "Thou shalt not kill *people*". But "people" is not there.
3. We know that in the millennium carnivores will not eat herbivores (Isaiah). Therefore, in one sense, being a vegetarian is one way of living a millennial lifestyle now.
4. Personally, I feel that if I am not willing to kill it, I shouldn't be willing to eat it.
5. Genesis says that animals are for our 'use'. That doesn't necessarily mean we have to kill them for food - eggs, milk and cheese are all animal 'uses' that do not require killing. Similarly, animals can be used for clothing (wool) without killng them (leather).
6. A previous prophet of the church (Jospeh F. Smith? ) was, for all intents and purposes, a vegetarian. As well, president Lorenzo Snow related in his journal the change of heart he had concerning hunting shortly after his baptism: "While moving slowly forward in pursuit of something to kill, my mind was arrested with the reflection on the nature of my pursuit—that of amusing myself by giving pain and death to harmless, innocent creatures that perhaps had as much right to life and enjoyment as myself. I realized that such indulgence was without any justification, and feeling condemned, I laid my gun on my shoulder, returned home, and from that time to this have felt no inclination for that murderous amusement."
7. We know from journals of the early saints that they ate very little meat. There is even a church produced movie short that shows an old grandmother with her grandchildren gathered around her as she related to them that when she was their age Joseph was still alive and the saints ate grains, fruits and vegetables. Meat is not mentioned.
8. There are two excellent chapters on vegetarianism in the book "Joseph Smith and natural foods" by John Heinerman: "Milk is a natural" and "better than meat".
9. We are admonished to eat flesh only in times of winter or famine. Since most of us can easily access available produce at any time of year and few of us live in famine, there is no need to eat flesh.

Ultimately, being a vegetarian is up to the dictates of one's own heart. For example, I personally don't feel that veganism is scripturally sound. But again, that's just me.

If you are not a vegetarian of any sort, there are still things you can do to honour God's creation and demonstrate righteous dominion over all the creatures of the earth:

1. Be thoughtful about the meat you are eating. Does it come from factory farms where there is tremendous overcrowding and the animals have little quality of life? Or does it come from free-range animals that have plenty of space?
2. If you are hunting or fishing, make the kills quick and clean so that the animal doesn't suffer any more than it has to.
3. Eat all parts of the animal that is edible. Do you regularly eat chicken centres, thighs, legs wings and backs, or do you only eat chicken breasts? Do you eat all parts of the cow including the organs, or do you only eat top sirloin?
4. Don't kill things needlessly. If you are not going to eat it, wear it, sell it or study it, and if you are not in mortal peril because of it, you probably don't need to kill it. Use humane traps. Put the bug outside instead of squishing it.

Just my two cents. :)

As far as I am aware, there is no particular view. Vegetarian and vegan diets fit perfectly in with the Word of Wisdom. I am certain that our Heavenly Father would be pleased with people taking a cruelty free stance.

In a scripture that we refer to as the "Word of Wisdom" we are encouraged to use mostly herbs, fruits, and vegetables. As for animals, they are for our use, but should be used sparingly. I'm an animal lover, myself, and I find it disturbing when I see people killing animals without good reason (i.e. Sport). But, we do believe that animals can and should be used as food (though I think many LDS members often forget about the "sparingly" part).

Vegetarianism and/or veganism is discouraged.

Actually, the Church's position is that "Even carefully chosen vegetarian diets that include dairy products or eggs can be quite sufficient." See http://providentliving.org/self-reliance/health/nutrition-and-diet

And that verse in Timothy actually means that it is the person who is forbidding others to abstain from meats who is not ordained of God, not the people who abstain. :)