USE OF HERBS AS GOD INTENDED

I am saddened by the reaction of people within the Church to people who use herbs to strengthen the body as instructed in the Doctrine and Covenants and rely more on the arm of flesh than on the natural things God has provided.  Really, many times, it comes down to the battle between science and the things of God.  I love how willow bark is now called "acetominophen" - as if to divorce itself from the true source of the genius that it is.  These people refuse to give God credit - they will do almost anything to dissociate any link to His great creative works.

My previous posts by Melvin Morse show the utter contempt of the scientific community for those who have experienced things of a spiritual nature from the other side.  They think NDEs are constructs of a deranged mind.  Sadly, they will find out the folly of their ways in the not-so-distant future.  I really pity them - I do.

Even in the Church, there is much derision from those in the great and spacious over those who have chosen to heed counsel and knowledge given in the D&C and the Book of Mormon.  Here is one account of an herbalist who has fought the battle against ignorance in Utah:

PREFACE



 It is very refreshing to have a book such as this one come out so the

public can know what the original teachings of the Mormon Church were in

regards to healing of the sick.  The admonition in the 42nd section, 43rd

verse of the Doctrine and Covenants of our Church was quite plain when it

states:



      And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed,

     but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild

     foods.



 This revelation was given through Joseph Smith, the Prophet, in 1831 in

the presence of twelve Elders and is considered counsel to the saints.  I was

happy to return to Salt Lake City, the center stake of Zion, with the 

knowledge of herbs.  I had graduated from an herbal college in Vancouver, B.C.

(the Dominion Herbal College) and knew I would be welcomed home with open arms

by all the Church members, now that I had this knowledge of herbs as an aid

for healing the sick.  The Prophet Joseph Smith and President Brigham Young

had both studied and used herbs, but the knowledge of these principles was

pushed into the background and practically forgotten by many, because orthodox

medicine was now being so broadly taught and accepted by "most" of the saints.



 Instead of being accepted, as I had hoped, I was generally ridiculed,

laughed at, and, at times, arrested and imprisoned for my teachings and

practice as an herbalist.  Many of my patients were converts to the Mormon

Church from foreign lands, where the practice I was teaching was well

accepted.



 Even though the people from other countries came to me, "certain" members

who had grown up in the Church ridiculed me.  It was hard to take.



 Though nearly forty years have passed by since starting an herbal

practice in Utah, and although I have been accepted as a teacher and lecturer

worldwide, at home in my own Church, many people feel that I should still be

classified with witch doctors.  Still, there are many people of my Church who

agree with me.

Here is a link to her book for the rest of the story:  JOSEPH SMITH AND HERBAL MEDICINE

Hope you enjoy it.