Issues an LDS person would have to consider

At first I had this posted on the Utah messageboard and noone reacted. I meant to post it here. I must have been real tired last night. So I'll try again, this time I've got it on the right board. Here goes... I was wondering if anyone has ever had a negative reaction from ward members to their WLS. Has anyone ever said anything to the effect of "You're not following the Word of Wisdom," or, "You body is a temple and you are desecrating it." When I was doing the Atkins diet I got the Word of Wisdom speech thrown at me a lot. Also, given the fact that the church believes in preparedness and given the fact that we are obviously in the Last Days, what happens if I find myself in a position where the only food I have to eat is the fourteen hundred pounds of wheat I have stored in my basement? I think non LDS assume that things will go on the same as they always will but I think we who are LDS know better. We have to take the whole preparedness issue into the equation when deciding to go ahead with WLS. We know there will be wars and rumors of wars. We know there will be natural disasters. We know there will be plaques. Is it wise to alter my body knowing these things can and will happen and I must be prepared. This is one of the struggles I'm having. I'm not so worried about the opinions of my fellow ward members but I am worried about what should happen if I have to eat nothing but rice, oats, and wheat for a year. One other thing, did anyone pray about the decision the have WLS? and did you get an answer? I've done lots of praying but the heavens are silent on this one. I don't know what that means. It may mean "no" or it may mean "whatever, do as you like, makes no difference to me." Oh, what a connundrum! Lynda D.

Hello Lynda from Provo So good to have you on the board. I had my surgery 4/23/04 so I'm sneaking up on my one year mark. I've lost 85 pounds and feel better than I have in way too many years. Still have about 45 pounds to lose to get to my goal. In answer to your questions let me give you my views. As far as negative remarks from Church members..I have never had any just lots of support and compliments. When I started getting serious about this surgery I prayed and also received a Priesthood blessing. My journey took me to a surgeons office that he just happened to be LDS..wow. In Texas thats a big WOW...there are a lot of LDS here but to just happen on a Priesthood holder that just happens to be an awesome surgeon that was a personal miracle to me. When I made the decision to have the surgery the night before the surgery my hubby and step son gave me a Priesthood blessing with annointing and everything that was promised has come to pass. I haven't had any problems...I healed quickly and I'm feeling great. My personal belief when it comes to answers to pray is that there are three answers we can receive.. Yes...No... and not right now. Be patient and do lots of research so that you feel confident in your knowledge of what all is involved in this journey and it definetly is a journey. With regards to food storage..we should have foods in our storage that our families will use. The rice, oats, and wheat are great but there's so much we can do with drying foods and canning that rice and wheat does not have to be our main source of food storage. They are important but so are all the other things we will need. I feel very strongly that the fact that this surgery is available to us and has come so far over the years that it is another gift from Heavenly Father to this earth. Medicine is incredible. You wouldn't hesitate to have a heart, liver, kidney or any other body part transplanted if it meant saving your life. This gastric bypass was a life saver for me. I didn't have any major problems such as diabetes, heart problems or blood preasure problems but they were looking very hard at me in the very near future and I had to do something that would work for me. Believe you me I've tried every diet in the world and just was not successful with it. This surgery is a tool and without the same work and effort you put into any diet it will not work the way it should if you don't do your part. The Word of Wisdom...when I was eating the way I was before surgery..thats not following the Word of Wisdom either. I believe that when we learn how to grow gardens...do canning and food storage we will be blessed when the time comes and we may need to be able to teach others how to do this as well. I believe we will be able to provide our families the foods they need to be healthy...and if and when the time comes that we need to use our food storage weather its because we've lost our job and need to rely on our storage.. or had an unexpected appliance die on us and have to make a large purchase and money is tight and we need to rely on our food storage...or when the time comes for the 2nd coming and all that may be involved with this..Heavenly Father is going to be there to guide us and we'll be able to eat in a way that our body needs. Be patient and continue searching for answers. Heavenly Father will answer your prayers...sometimes we just don't see the answer at first. I know I've been very long winded..haha sorry. Remember too... this is all just "Alfie's Opinion"...I wish you well and keep coming back to this board there are wonderful people that post here. Have a great rest of the week!! Alfie 280-195 hope to be 150 some day

Hi Lynda, you've come to the right board. Come back often with any questions or concerns. We'll try and give you any help or advice we can. I was one year post op on March 8th. I've lost 120 lbs and am at my doctors goal (my goal is to get rid of this excess skin). I've been very open about my surgery with my ward members. I have received nothing but positive feedback and support from them. I have since learned that there are two other members of our ward who have had this surgery a few years ago. They don't talk about it at all, not even to me. It's a personal decision I guess. I prayed about having this surgery for months before I finally had the surgery. In reading D&C 9:8-9 it reads 8. "But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right." 9. "But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; . . ." Listen to your feelings. Live the gospel to it's fullness so you will be entitled to the answer that is correct for you. I also had a priesthood blessing (my husband is a non-member) from our home teacher. I had a small complication but it was easy and required a second surgery within 24 hours of the first but it didn't prolong my hospital stay of 3 days nor did it prolong my recouperation. I was back teaching within a week of having the surgery. (I taught pre-school as well as a class of EMT'S). The priesthood is there for us to use and as a blessing for us. In regards to living off rice, wheat etc... alone. The church also has a program where we can our own food. One of the things that we can can is dehydrated refried beans (great protein source). These beans are wonderful! I have at least one bowl of these beans every day. There are things we can use in our food storage that we can eat and are good for us. Good luck Lynda Melody 260-120-140 (at doctor's goal)

Lynda, I have had a lot of positive feedback from the members of my ward. It had be nice. I am walking more and doing more that I ever did. Like most women on this board, I prayed long and hard about being a candidate for this and I don't have any regrets...well one maybe,that is that I didn't do it earlier in my life. But I have lost 100 lbs. so far and I feel just fine. Just do what you can to boost your own self esteem and the ward will come around. I have scars from a lot of different surgeries and injuries, I have not had that "body as a temple"speech given to me. I don't think that I will anytime soon. I encourage you to stay positive and come back here often...we are here to help. Donna

Lynda, I have had a lot of positive feedback from the members of my ward. It had be nice. I am walking more and doing more that I ever did. Like most women on this board, I prayed long and hard about being a candidate for this and I don't have any regrets...well one maybe,that is that I didn't do it earlier in my life. But I have lost 100 lbs. so far and I feel just fine. Just do what you can to boost your own self esteem and the ward will come around. I have scars from a lot of different surgeries and injuries, I have not had that "body as a temple"speech given to me. I don't think that I will anytime soon. I encourage you to stay positive and come back here often...we are here to help. Donna

Hello, Lynda. I am glad you brought this up. It is something that I have gone over and over for many years. First of all, there was only one person who was negative about my surgery. It was actually after the fact and she said, "Please be careful my husband is a nurse and he says it is a terrible choice and people who do it aren't educated." Whoooaaa, I was not happy. I asked her if he had studied the surgery and ALL the research that has been done on it. Pros and cons. She told me that he hadn't actually done research but had had 2 patients that had had the surgery years ago. I told him I had researched and researched. Studied everything I could find. So since we both have college educations who was it that was educated in the surgery! I was ticked! Back when I was more obese, I have heard many people make the comment that obesity was against the Word of Wisdom. I would raise my hand and state that I am a proud holder of a Temple Recommend and were they saying the Bishop and Stake President don't know what they are doing? I went on to say that since I personally know that many of them eat far worse and far more junk than I did and not be overweight they can not JUDGE me as they don't live in my body. Still burns me. Can you tell? Heavenly father gave us the surgery to help us get healthy. Should someone not have chemo or a transplant. Both change the "temple" he gave us but the end result is a healthier body. I will get down off my soap box now. Sorry I got carried away. Grins, Kaye

Yeah!! You go girl! Lynda D.

I would not worry about what other people say. I not it is hard not to. I know I usually do. I only told 3 people in my ward, the bishop (during some marital counseling), the first counselor in the bisho*****he is very overweight and wanted to know my secret), and my ward mission leader (I'm a ward missionary). Their response was all very supportive. My Bishop, though supportive, was very concerned that the surgery would turn out ok. He was very loving about the situation. The issue is not with you, it is with them. They may try to point out what they think is a 'fault' in you and they ignore their own sins and faults. That is a big problem with people in the church, we often forget we are not perfect. You are making this choice based upon your knowledge and confidence in your doctor. Like the scripture says study it out in your mind and then ask for confirmation. Once you know in your heart and mind you will find this easier. Regarding food storage and having WLS, think of the flipside. The 1 year supply you have for yourself is now worth 2 or 3 years. The period of high protein dieting doesn't have to last forever. Get the grains and dried fruits, but also get the dried beans, freeze dried eggs, and so forth. Plus the grains in storage are the good kind of carbs!