Book Review: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

 I felt that the heart of the book teaches message very similar to those taught in the scriptures, in the temple, and by modern revelation.  Kingsolver was celebrating the variety and goodness of plant and animal life....what she didn't come right out and say but was very clear, is how she celebrates the wonder of God's creation.  If you can get beyond Kingsolver's obsessions with reducing carbon footprints and turkey reproduction, Animal Vegetable Miracle teaches what we Latter-day Saints should know, which is that all creation is sacred because it was created by God. I'm of the opinion that Heavenly Father wants us to appreciate its beauty and that He cares how we treat his handiwork.

 Before you write me off as a fanatic crazy women, think about how many times we are told the detailed story of the creation. The book of Genesis, Moses, and Abraham to name a few.

Next, there are a bunch of scriptures in the Doctrine and Covenants that back up this idea of respecting creation.

-"all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. 
And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used,with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion"  D&C 59:18-20

"all wholesome herbs (ie. plants) God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man--Every herb (ie. plant) in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving."  D&C 89

Do we sit back and appreciate the source of all the food, clothing, and natural beauty that we enjoy?  It's hard to, like Kingsolver writes so compellingly, when we are so removed from the source of all we consume.  Compared to her personal experience with creating food, I felt like I was seriously missing out on a part of life that can be so beautiful and enriching, not to mention healthy.

The last idea, which I shared with Cindy, is I think the Lord foresaw the downward trend of the food industry that makes junk food artificially cheap and very available (which especially hurts America's poorest and uneducated). 

The Word of Wisdom "[shows] forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days...In consequence of the evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days"

Is it just me, or does that eerily sound like what's going on today with the big food companies that sacrifice health and nutrition for shelf life and profit?  I think there are many more blessings available in keeping God's law of health than we realize. It makes me want to really study what other prophets have said on the subject.