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The Spirit of Prophecy and Vitamin B12

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This is a Spirit of Prophecy based discussion of the possibility of vitamin B12 deficiency when all animal products are left out of the diet.Though the majority of individuals doing so will not have any problem, it is important to know the Lord's counsels regarding "some whose blood making organs are feeble."This is an interactive PDF designed primarily for download and use in Adobe Reader (free software on the internet)—highlighting, underlining, word and phrase search, sticky notes, select, copy, paste, print, and hyperlink navigation to chapters and subheads.
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The Spirit of Prophecy and Vitamin B 12 by Vernon Sparks, MD
Transcript
Page 1: The Spirit of Prophecy and Vitamin B12

The Spiritof

Prophecyand

Vitamin B12

byVernon Sparks, MD

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2 The Spirit of Prophecy

Copyright © 1995, 2002

byVernon Sparks

Publishedby

Vernon C. Sparks, M.D.1481 Reagan Valley RoadTellico Plains, TN 37385

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3and Vitamin B12

3

ContentsThe Spirit of Prophecy and Vitamin B12 ...................................... 5

God’s Lists for a Proper Diet ........................................................ 5

The “Original” Diet ....................................................................... 7

“All” the Elements of Nutrition ..................................................... 9

The Largest List .......................................................................... 10

Running Ahead of the Lord ......................................................... 12

Future Increase of Disease in Animals ....................................... 13

A Time of Trouble Beforehand ................................................... 14

Misrepresenting Health Reform .................................................. 16

Provision Will Be Made ............................................................... 17

Not Yet Time ............................................................................... 17

All the Nutritive Properties Necessary ....................................... 18

Progressive Diet Reform ............................................................ 18

When Circumstances Demand It ................................................ 19

The Issue of Vitamin B12 ........................................................... 20

Two Positions .............................................................................. 20

The Lord Preparing the Way? ..................................................... 21

Vitamin B12 Supplementation ...................................................... 23

If There Is Error .......................................................................... 24

Cheese in the Diet ...................................................... 27

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4 The Spirit of Prophecy

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5and Vitamin B12

The Spirit of Prophecyand

Vitamin B12

FOR A NUMBER of health-related reasons, an increasing num-ber of persons are leaving not only all meat but also all animalproducts out of their diets. This paper presents Spirit of Proph-

ecy evidence that at least some of these total vegetarians may run intosome health problems, and that the Lord’s counsel to such persons is toadd “something” back into their diets. This book proposes that someform of vitamin B12 supplementation will probably avert or correct thevast majority of any such problems.

God’s Lists for a Proper DietAccording to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, the word

“proper” means: “marked by suitability, righteousness, or appropriate-ness.” Repeatedly the Spirit of Prophecy says our diet is to be “proper.”See The Ministry of Healing, 127; Counsels on Diet and Foods, 301,305. Many of us are frustrated by such a vague description of what ourdiet and the diet of others is to be. We would be much more satisfied ifGod would just give us a diet sheet with all of the individual foods speci-fied by name with daily amounts and frequency. It would certainly savea large amount of time and discussion regarding our personal prefer-ences and choices.

In our search for such a diet sheet, we have been disappointed bythe lack of clear details in God’s counsels. It is true that there are instruc-tions regarding a few specific food items, but much of the instruction islimited to food types and groups. This search for a diet sheet in God’scounsels is reflected by the differences in our various opinions as to whatis the best, the ideal, the most healthful, the most nutritious—“the mostproper”—diet for today. As we have searched for God’s diet sheet, we

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6 The Spirit of Prophecyfind ourselves in disagreement over what is meant by the words “origi-nal” or “natural” with reference to our food. Not finding a detailed dietsheet, we have tended to adopt one list or another of types of food asfound in the Spirit of Prophecy and the Bible as being an exclusive list ofwhat God ordains for our diet. If a certain food is not included in ourchosen Spirit of Prophecy list of foods, we tend to exclude that food fromthe “proper diet.” We accept one list of recommended food types, whileignoring other differing lists. It would be well for us to look at as many ofthe Spirit of Prophecy food lists as possible to see whether their differ-ences can be harmonized, and thus perhaps help us to be better unified inour dietary practices and instructions.

Accepting the book Counsels on Diet and Foods, for what the com-pilers claim it to be—“An effort was made to include the full range ofinstruction on the subject from Mrs. White’s pen. . . . While the limita-tions of space and the effort to avoid repetition have made it inadvisableto include every statement on the more general phases of the diet ques-tion, a complete and comprehensive presentation of the E. G. White teach-ings has been given.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 3–4—we will use itas our primary source of reference. It offers the advantage of providingthe date of writing, or first publication, for each reference quoted. Thisdating may prove of help to us in arriving at the best definition of aproper diet for our day.

As we look through the above-mentioned book, we find a number offood groups recommended as being part of a proper diet for these lastdays:

“Let us teach the people to eat freely of the fresh grapes, apples,peaches, pears, berries, and all other kinds of fruit that can be obtained.”Counsels on Diet and Foods, 309, 1902.

“The Lord has been working, and is still working, to lead men toprepare from fruits and grains, foods more simple and less expensivethan many of those that can now be obtained.” Ibid., 268, 1905.

“For those who can use them, good vegetables, prepared in a healthfulmanner, are better than soft mushes or porridge.” Ibid., 322, 1897.

“Nuts and nut foods are coming largely into use to take the place offlesh meats. With nuts may be combined grains, fruits, and some roots,to make foods that are healthful and nourishing.” Ibid., 363, 1905.

“While I would discard flesh meat as injurious, something less ob-jectionable may be used, and this is found in eggs. Do not remove milk

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from the table or forbid its being used in the cooking of food. The milkused should be procured from healthy cows, and should be sterilized.”Ibid., 367, 1901.

“Vegetables should be made palatable with a little milk or cream, orsomething equivalent.” Ibid, 355, 1909.

All food types recommended by the Spirit of Prophecy are namedor included in the above lists. Thus by searching here a little and there alittle, one can discern what the ingredients are for a proper diet, or atleast what they were at the time the counsels were written.

This book will not attempt to settle differences of understandingregarding the place of refined products such as sugar, salt, white flour,vegetable and grain oils, or multiple vitamins and minerals, which are allderivatives of the above recommended foods. Neither will it enter intodiscussion regarding the use of flesh food, which is usually eliminatedfrom a proper diet. See Counsels on Diet and Foods, 368–370; 373–416. See Appendix A for a discussion of cheese in the diet. The remain-der of this book will attempt to clarify some of the inconsistencies andpotential problems created when our diet sheet does not agree with thediet sheet as outlined by the Spirit of Prophecy above.

The “Original” DietSome of us might end up with an abbreviated diet sheet because

we have difficulty understanding the Spirit of Prophecy’s use of theword “original.”

“In order to know what are the best foods, we must study God’soriginal plan for man’s diet.” Ibid., 81, 1905.

The concept of the “original” diet is reaffirmed in speaking of theplan for ancient Israel as they left Egypt:

“The perverted appetite was to be brought into a more healthy state,that they might enjoy the food originally provided for man—the fruits ofthe earth, which God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden.” Ibid., 378, 1890.

Several quotations list only fruits, grains, and nuts—identified inGenesis as the “original” diet of Adam and Eve—and might be inter-preted that indeed our present “proper diet” is to be limited to these “origi-nal” three groups:

“The Lord will give His people wisdom to prepare from that whichthe earth yields, foods that will take the place of flesh meat. Simple com-binations of nuts and grains and fruits, manufactured with taste and skill,

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8 The Spirit of Prophecywill commend themselves to unbelievers.” Ibid., 269, 1901.

“Now no tea, coffee, or flesh meat is served in the institution. Weare determined to live out the principles of health reform, to walk in theway of truth and righteousness. We shall not, for fear of losing patron-age, be half-and-half reformers. We have taken our position, and by God’shelp we shall stand by it. The food provided for the patients is whole-some and palatable. The diet is composed of fruits and grains and nuts.”Ibid., 414–415, 1903.

“We do not mark out any precise line to be followed in diet; but wedo say that in countries where there are fruits, grains, and nuts in abun-dance, flesh food is not the right food for God’s people.” Ibid., 95–96,1909.

One can make a fairly strong argument for this “original” diet if heor she were to look no further. However, one must take into consider-ation the fact that the original diet of fruits, grains and nuts given toAdam and Eve in the garden also included fruit from the tree of life,which presently is safely guarded in heaven from the sinner’s grasp. Wemust study further in order to know what is the “proper diet” for ustoday:

“He is bringing them back to the diet originally given to man. Theirdiet is to consist of the foods made from the materials He has provided.The materials principally used in these foods will be fruits and grainsand nuts, but various roots will also be used.” Ibid., 81–82, 1902.

“Vegetables, fruits, and grains should compose our diet. Not anounce of flesh meat should enter our stomachs. The eating of flesh isunnatural. We are to return to God’s original purpose in the creation ofman.” Ibid., 380, 1903.

Here we have vegetables inserted into this “original” plan for man.The next two references help to clarify the use of the word “original.”

“Again and again I have been shown that God is trying to lead usback, step by step, to His original design—that man should subsist uponthe natural products of the earth.” Counsels on Health, 450, 1890.

“Again and again I have been shown that God is bringing His peopleback to His original design, that is, not to subsist upon the flesh of deadanimals.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 82, 1884.

Thus the word “original” is being used to define a proper diet that isoriginal (like Adam and Eve’s diet before they sinned) in the sense that itincludes no flesh food. Rather than fully defining what a proper diet

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includes, the quotations referring to “original” are primarily defining whatit does not include—meat.

There is another quotation in which the concept of original appliesto a diet without meat, tea or coffee, and is not intended to spell out thedetails of what the proper diet is to include:

“There is a great work to be done in bringing the principles of healthreform to the notice of the people. Public meetings should be held tointroduce the subject, and schools should be held in which those who areinterested can be told more particularly about our health foods and howa wholesome, nourishing, appetizing diet can be provided without theuse of meat, tea, or coffee.

“Thus we did in the early history of our work. We taught the peopleby demonstration that we can safely depend for the sustenance of lifeupon the productions which God gave our first parents in Eden.” ThePaulson Collection, 4, 1904.

“All” the Elements of NutritionAnother key word that can lead us to an abbreviated proper diet

sheet is “all.” In reviewing the lists of appropriate foods, we find theword “all” or its equivalent in many places: “All the elements of nutri-tion.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 395, 1883. “All the nutritive proper-ties necessary.” Ibid., 322, 1896. “All that the system requires.” Ibid.,319, 1897. “All the system required.” Ibid., 413, 1898. “A dietary that iscomplete.” The Ministry of Healing, 299. These quotations are speakingof the three food groups of fruits, vegetables and grains. This seems to beconclusive evidence that no other types of food are required in order toget all of the nutritive elements needed.

Another two references, however, use the word “all” and are speak-ing of the four food groups of fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts: “All thenutritive properties necessary.” Ibid., 316, 1905. “All the food elementswe need.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 92, 1906.

How do we harmonize these two groups of statements? One solu-tion is to say that indeed all of the needed nutritive elements are found infruits, vegetables and grains, and that nuts are not really needed. It wouldseem however, that nuts, included in Eden’s original diet, surely mustcontribute something to the proper diet.

There is a better way to harmonize these two apparently contradic-tory sets of statements. We are given a clue in a statement found in. The

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10 The Spirit of ProphecyKress Collection, 21, 1898. “Flesh meat is not necessary for the healthand strength of mind or body. If the Lord had not furnished all that isessential in the vegetable world, there would be an excuse for meat eat-ing, but animals are now so diseased that it is now really dangerous; it isunclean to eat meat.” This quotation is not saying that vegetables haveall of the needed elements, but it is clearly stating that flesh meat is notnecessary in order to have a proper diet which has all of the neededelements.

As we look at the other previous references using the concept of“all,” they are also in reference to meat eating. They are not dietary listsgiven for the purpose of listing all food types that make up a proper diet.They are given to emphasize the message that flesh meat is not needed inorder to have a proper diet with “all” of the necessary elements. Theirpurpose is not to provide a dietary list which eliminates all other foodsfrom a proper dietary. This becomes clearer as we continue in our study.

The Largest ListAs we look for God’s diet list for the end-time generation, the fol-

lowing quotation might lead some to adopt an overly restrictive diet. “Aplain, simple, but liberal supply of fruit is the best food that can beplaced before those who are preparing for the work of God.” Counselson Diet and Foods, 310, 1896. Or perhaps this quotation, “Grains andfruits prepared free from grease, and in as natural a condition as pos-sible, should be the food for the tables of all who claim to be preparingfor translation to heaven.” Ibid., 314, 1869. We can now recognize thatthese two diet lists are given to emphasize the importance of grains andfruits, and are not given to instruct us that we should eat nothing else.

Someone might say, “Well, then, let us search for the list that men-tions in one place the greatest number of types of foods, then that shouldbe the proper diet for us.”

The highest number of food types I found listed together is four. Letus look at them. I found fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables listed togetherin nine places. (See Counsels on Diet and Foods, 470, 81–82, 92, 363[twice], 443, and The Ministry of Healing, 316 [twice]. Two of these(Counsels on Diet and Foods, 81–82) are associated with the word “origi-nal” (see previous discussion). Two of these nine quotations are associ-ated with the word or concept of “all” (see previous discussion), and arequoted below:

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“In grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts are to be found all the foodelements that we need. If we will come to the Lord in simplicity of mind,He will teach us how to prepare wholesome food free from the taint offlesh meat.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 92, 1906.

“The grains, with fruits, nuts, and vegetables contain all the nutri-tive properties necessary to make good blood. These elements are not sowell or so fully supplied by a flesh diet.” The Ministry of Healing, 316,1905.

The nine listings of the four food groups of fruits, grains, nuts andvegetables were written during a seven-year period from 1900 through1906. With these late dates, and the association with “all the food ele-ments that we need,” and “all the nutritive properties necessary to makegood blood,” it is very tempting to accept these as the list for a properdiet. If this statement is true, then all other foods can be left out of ourdiet without fear of any health problems.

It must be noted that four of the nine lists giving four food groupsare in the context of eliminating flesh foods. However, there is one moredietary list that must first be harmonized with all the others before con-clusions can be drawn. It lists four types of foods, but a different fourfrom the fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables.

“Fruits, grains, and vegetables, prepared in a simple way, free fromspice and grease of all kinds, make, with milk or cream, the most health-ful diet. They impart nourishment to the body, and give a power of en-durance and a vigor of intellect that are not produced by a stimulatingdiet.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 92, 1890.

Here we have nuts replaced by animal products. It too is written inthe context of condemning a diet containing meat. The primary purposeof these lists of four food types is to emphasize that flesh meats and otherstimulating foods are not essential for good health. These lists again arenot an attempt to place in one place all of the acceptable or preferredfoods for a proper diet.

Thus, just as in studying the Bible, one must study “here a little,and there a little” (Isaiah 28:13) and then harmonize all of the informa-tion in order to arrive at what is truth. We must also do the same with theSpirit of Prophecy in the areas of health. Around the turn of the centurywhen these latter references were penned, it seems that the five foodtypes—fruits, grains, nuts, vegetables and certain animal products—made,and under certain conditions may still make, “the most healthful diet.” It

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12 The Spirit of Prophecyis neither wise nor safe to eliminate one of these five food types fromour diet based only on the references studied thus far. We need morestudy of the subject matter before routinely eliminating animal productsfrom our diet and the diet of others. There is not one single list in theSpirit of Prophecy that contains all of the foods of a proper diet—“themost healthful diet”—for the general population. In order to know whetheror when to eliminate all animal products, one must study deeper into thecounsels of the Lord.

This tendency not to list in one place all of the information regard-ing a given subject is found also in the area of the “simple remedies” thatGod has given to us as the backbone of our health program. The mostcomplete list is found in The Ministry of Healing, 127:

“Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, theuse of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies.” Werefer to the remedies in this list as “the eight natural remedies.” We findabbreviated lists of these eight remedies in a number of references. SeeTestimonies, vol. 5, 443; Medical Ministry, 223–224, 233; Counsels onHealth, 261; Testimonies, vol. 7, 85. We are also instructed to use othermethods in addition to these eight, such as charcoal (see Selected Mes-sages, book 2, 287, 294– 295, 298, 300) and simple herbs. See MedicalMinistry, 230–231; Selected Messages, book 2, 279, 288–289, 291, 294–295, 297–298. Thus one must search here a little and there a little toknow all of God’s will. God frequently does not put a complete list in anyone location.

Running Ahead of the LordThe matter of eliminating all animal products from our diet is not a

new concept among Seventh-day Adventists. Around 1870 it was beingpromoted by articles and editorials in the church’s health magazine—The Health Reformer. Even prominent non-Adventist physicians werewriting articles for The Health Reformer, advocating the total elimina-tion of all animal products, along with such items as salt and sugar.Several Adventists adopted an abbreviated diet. However, Ellen Whitedid not adopt these extreme views, but continued the moderate use ofmilk, cream, eggs, salt and sugar. 1

“We place no butter upon our table. Our vegetables are generallycooked with milk or cream and made very palatable. . . . We think amoderate amount of milk from a healthy cow not objectionable. We sel-

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dom prepare our food with butter. When we cannot obtain milk, we usea very trifle in some articles of vegetables. . . .

“We have but one cow. She gives but a very little milk. We havemade this little do the cooking and table use for a company of fromtwelve to twenty. . . . We cannot obtain cream to use, but we should usemore of it could we get it to use. I greatly object to an impoverished diet.. . .

“If you have eggs, use them as your judgment shall dictate. Yet Iwould say for children of strong animal passions, they are positivelyinjurious. The same may be said of adults. . . .

“I would not advise you to set aside milk or a moderate use of eggs[or a] moderate use of sugar.” E.G. White Letter 5, 1870.2

In the same year James White, in the Review and Herald, clarifiedthe position of Mrs. White. Apparently the Lord had impressed her thatthe animals should be as healthy as possible, but she had not been led tobelieve that they were not an important part of a proper diet. The animalproducts were not to be eliminated merely because of their origin.

“It may be well here to state, however, that while she does not re-gard milk, taken in large quantities, as customarily eaten with bread, thebest article of food, her mind, as yet, has only been called to the impor-tance of the best and most healthy condition possible of the cow, whosemilk is used as an article of food. She cannot unite in circulating publica-tions broadcast which take an extreme position on the important ques-tion of milk, with her present light upon the subject.” Counsels on Dietand Foods, 497, 1870.

Thus leaving animal products out of one’s diet was not an advancein health reform in the 1870s.

Future Increase of Disease in AnimalsIn 1873 Ellen White stated that, in the future, disease in animals

would increase to the point that these items would need to be eliminatedfrom the “proper diet.”

“We have always used a little milk and some sugar. This we havenever denounced, either in our writings or in our preaching. We believecattle will become so much diseased that these things will yet be dis-carded, but the time has not yet come for sugar and milk to be whollyabolished from our tables.” Ibid., 356, 1873.

Seventeen years later she was inspired to include certain animal

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14 The Spirit of Prophecyproducts as part of “the most healthful diet.” “Fruits, grains, and veg-etables, prepared in a simple way, free from spice and grease of all kinds,make, with milk or cream, the most healthful diet.” Ibid., 92, 1890.

Even four years later she defined a consecrated table as being freefrom flesh meats, but having milk as part of the dietary. “We have plentyof good milk, fruit, and bread. I have already consecrated my table. Ihave freed it from all flesh meats.” Ibid., 488, 1894.

The following year she pointed out that the animal products placedon her table were from known sources and apparently from healthy ani-mals. “We have a large family, and besides have many guests, but neithermeat nor butter is placed upon our table. We use the cream from the milkof the cows which we feed ourselves. We purchased butter for cookingpurposes from dairies where the cows are in healthy condition, and havegood pasture.” Ibid., 1895.

In approaching 1900, Mrs. White was led to emphasize again thefuture need to leave animal products out of the diet because of the in-crease in disease among the animals. “There is no safety in the eating ofthe flesh of dead animals, and in a short time the milk of the cows willalso be excluded from the diet of God’s commandment-keeping people.In a short time it will not be safe to use anything that comes from theanimal creation.” Ibid., 411, 1898. “The light given me is that it will notbe very long before we shall have to give up any animal food. Even milkwill have to be discarded. Disease is accumulating rapidly. The curse ofGod is upon the earth, because man has cursed it.” Ibid., 357, 1899.

The health food industry was to prepare foods to take the place offoods from animal sources. “The health food business is in need of meansand of the active cooperation of our people, that it may accomplish thework it ought to do. Its purpose is to supply the people with food whichwill take the place of flesh meat, and also milk and butter, which, onaccount of the diseases of cattle, are becoming more and more objection-able.” Ibid., 350, 1900.

A Time of Trouble BeforehandWith such counsels from the Lord’s servant it is not surprising that

many zealous, well-meaning, health reformers around the turn of thecentury felt that it was then time to eliminate not only meat but also allanimal products from the proper diet. The health work in Battle Creekserved as a center from which these concepts began to spread around

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the world. Dr. D. H. Kress went as a worker to Europe and there beganto vigorously promote and to eat a diet without animal products. Over aperiod of time he became very ill, and his situation in 1901 brought forthextensive instruction from the Lord’s servant. 3

“While I would discard flesh meat as injurious, something less ob-jectionable may be used, and this is found in eggs. Do not remove milkfrom the table or forbid its being used in the cooking of food. The milkused should be procured from healthy cows, and should be sterilized. . .. You must not deprive yourself of that class of food which makes goodblood. Your devotion to true principles is leading you to submit yourselfto a diet which is giving you an experience that will not recommendhealth reform. This is your danger. When you see that you are becomingweak physically, it is essential for you to make changes, and at once. Putinto your diet something you have left out. It is your duty to do this. Geteggs of healthy fowls. Use these eggs cooked or raw. Drop them un-cooked into the best unfermented wine [grape juice] you can find. Thiswill supply that which is necessary to your system. Do not for a momentsuppose that it will not be right to do this. . . .

“We appreciate your experience as a physician, and yet I say thatmilk and eggs should be included in your diet. These things cannot atpresent be dispensed with, and the doctrine of dispensing with them shouldnot be taught. . . .

“The time will come when milk cannot be used as freely as it isnow used; but the present time is not the time to discard it. And eggscontain properties which are remedial agencies in counteracting poi-sons. And while warnings have been given against the use of thesearticles of diet in families where the children were addicted to, yes,steeped in, habits of self-abuse; yet we should not consider it a denialof principle to use eggs of hens which are well cared for and suitablyfed. . . .

“All flesh food should be discarded, but vegetables should be madepalatable with a little milk or cream or something equivalent. The poorsay, when health reform is presented to them: ‘What shall we eat? Wecannot afford to buy the nut foods.’ As I preach the gospel to the poor,I am instructed to tell them to eat that food which is most nourishing.I cannot say to them: You must not eat eggs, or milk, or cream; youmust use no butter in the preparation of food. The gospel must bepreached to the poor, and the time has not yet come to prescribe the

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16 The Spirit of Prophecystrictest diet.

“The time will come when we may have to discard some of thearticles of diet we now use, such as milk and cream and eggs; but mymessage is that you must not bring yourself to a time of trouble be-forehand, and thus afflict yourself with death. Wait till the Lord pre-pares the way before you. . . .

“But I wish to say that when the time comes that it is no longersafe to use milk, cream, butter, and eggs, God will reveal this. Noextremes in health reform are to be advocated. The question of usingmilk and butter and eggs will work out its own problem. At presentwe have no burden on this line. Let your moderation be known untoall men.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 203–206, 1901.

Key phrases in these counsels reaffirm that animal productsare not to be classed with flesh meat. When from healthy sourcesand used in moderation, they were included as an essential part of“the most healthful diet.” Disease in animals would be increasingand because of this fact, at some future time which God wouldreveal, it would no longer be safe to use them. The Lord wouldprepare the way for the people to safely eliminate all animal prod-ucts. To run ahead of the Lord would be to create a premature“time of trouble.” This caution was re-emphasized in a later letterof the same year. “The time may come when it will not be safe touse milk. But if the cows are healthy and the milk thoroughly cooked,there is no necessity of creating a time of trouble beforehand.”Ibid., 357, 1901.

Misrepresenting Health ReformSuch radical teaching as discontinuing all animal products ahead of

God’s leading would result in a misrepresentation of health reform:“There is danger that in presenting the principles of health reform

some will be in favor of bringing in changes that would be for the worseinstead of for the better. Health reform must not be urged in a radicalmanner. As the situation now is, we cannot say that milk and eggs andbutter should be entirely discarded. We must be careful to make no inno-vations, because under the influence of extreme teaching there are con-scientious souls who will surely go to extremes. Their physical appear-ance will injure the cause of health reform; for few know how to properlysupply the place of that which they discard.” Ibid., 352, 1901.

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Provision Will Be MadeLater in 1901 the servant of the Lord reconfirmed this message.

Even though cattle at that time were “becoming greatly diseased,” it wasstill neither the time nor safe to eliminate animal products. Some type ofworldwide provision, comparable to God setting “a table in the wilder-ness,” would make it possible in the future to safely take animal productsout of man’s diet. “We see that cattle are becoming greatly diseased, theearth itself is corrupted, and we know that the time will come when it willnot be best to use milk and eggs. But that time has not yet come. Weknow that when it does come, the Lord will provide. The question isasked, meaning much to all concerned, Will God set a table in the wilder-ness? I think the answer may be made, ‘Yea, God will provide food forHis people.’

“In all parts of the world provision will be made to supply the placeof milk and eggs. And the Lord will let us know when the time comes togive up these articles.” Ibid., 359, 1901.

Not Yet TimeThe following year the same counsel was repeated. Health re-

formers were to teach the people how to prepare food without animalproducts, but at the same time they were to be instructed that it was notyet necessary, nor desirable, to wholly eliminate these items from thediet:

“Milk, eggs, and butter should not be classed with flesh meat. Insome cases the use of eggs is beneficial. The time has not come to saythat the use of milk and eggs should be wholly discarded. There are poorfamilies whose diet consists largely of bread and milk. They have littlefruit, and cannot afford to purchase the nut foods. In teaching healthreform, as in all other gospel work, we are to meet the people where theyare. Until we can teach them how to prepare health reform foods that arepalatable, nourishing, and yet inexpensive, we are not at liberty to presentthe most advanced propositions regarding health reform diet.” Ibid., 351,1902.

“Let the diet reform be progressive. Let the people be taught how toprepare food without the use of milk or butter. Tell them that the timewill soon come when there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream,or butter, because disease in animals is increasing in proportion to theincrease of wickedness among men. The time is near when, because of

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18 The Spirit of Prophecythe iniquity of the fallen race, the whole animal creation will groan underthe diseases that curse our earth.” Ibid., 460, 1902.

All the Nutritive Properties NecessaryAs previously mentioned, the Lord’s servant in 1905 and 1906 penned

the two references listing the four food types—fruits, grains, nuts andvegetables as having “all” of the food nutrients:

“In grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts are to be found all the foodelements that we need. If we will come to the Lord in simplicity of mind,He will teach us how to prepare wholesome food free from the taint offlesh meat.” Ibid., 92, 1906.

“The grains, with fruits, nuts, and vegetables, contain all the nutri-tive properties necessary to make good blood. These elements are not sowell or so fully supplied by a flesh diet.” The Ministry of Healing, 316,1905.

This latter reference specifies that these four food types contain “allthe nutritive properties necessary to make good blood.” Later in the samebook, The Ministry of Healing, some clear-cut counsel is given that onlythose who, because of poverty or location, cannot economically obtain“fruits and nuts” or whose “blood-making organs are feeble,” shouldstill be using milk and eggs. Moreover, that even these should use suchfood only from healthy cows and chickens:

“Those who live in new countries or in poverty-stricken districtswhere fruits and nuts are scarce, should not be urged to exclude milk andeggs from their dietary. It is true that persons in full flesh and in whomthe animal passions are strong need to avoid the use of stimulating foods.Especially in families of children who are given to sensual habits, eggsshould not be used. But in the case of persons whose blood-making or-gans are feeble—especially if other foods to supply the needed elementscannot be obtained—milk and eggs should not be wholly discarded. Greatcare should be taken, however, to obtain milk from healthy cows andeggs from healthy fowls, that are well fed and well cared for; and theeggs should be so cooked as to be most easily digested.

Progressive Diet Reform“The diet reform should be progressive. As disease in animals in-

creases, the use of milk and eggs will become more and more unsafe. Aneffort should be made to supply their place with other things that are

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19and Vitamin B12

healthful and inexpensive. The people everywhere should be taught howto cook without milk and eggs, so far as possible, and yet have their foodwholesome and palatable.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 365, 1905.

There are a number of health reformers today who accept thesecounsels as the final word for a proper diet. They point out that it hasbeen discovered that there are small amounts of vitamin B12 (essentialfor the prevention of pernicious anemia and other forms of B12 deficien-cies) in certain plants, and there are small amounts produced by bacteriain our mouths and in our colon. Also, some vitamin B12 is produced bybacteria in the soil, and can be on the leafy plants and the vegetables thatwe eat and even in the water we drink. These health reformers believethat we will indeed have no health problems from the complete elimina-tion of animal products from the “proper diet.” They feel that all who eatproperly of fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables will never suffer due to thelack of B12 (previously believed to be available only in animal products).They say that adoption of the “proper diet” consisting only of “fruits,grains, nuts and vegetables” demonstrates faith in a “thus saith the Lord,”and it is an advance step in healthful living.

When Circumstances Demand ItOther health reformers feel that a red flag needs to be raised. This

“advanced step” does not appear to harmonize all of the counsels inregards to a proper diet. A less stringent approach is again recommendedin the prophet’s final statement regarding a “proper diet.” In 1909 thefollowing was written:

“While warnings have been given regarding the dangers of diseasethrough butter, and the evil of the free use of eggs by small children, yetwe should not consider it a violation of principle to use eggs from hensthat are well cared for and suitably fed. Eggs contain properties that areremedial agencies in counteracting certain poisons.

“Some, in abstaining from milk, eggs, and butter, have failed tosupply the system with proper nourishment, and as a consequence, havebecome weak and unable to work. Thus health reform is brought intodisrepute. The work that we have tried to build up solidly is confusedwith strange things that God has not required, and the energies of thechurch are crippled. But God will interfere to prevent the results of thesetoo strenuous ideas. The gospel is to harmonize the sinful race. It is tobring the rich and poor together at the feet of Jesus.

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20 The Spirit of Prophecy“The time will come when we may have to discard some of the

articles of diet we now use, such as milk and cream and eggs; but it isnot necessary to bring upon ourselves perplexity by premature and ex-treme restrictions. Wait until the circumstances demand it, and the Lordprepares the way for it.” Ibid., 207–208, 1909.

This points out that “some” (perhaps those “whose blood-makingorgans are feeble”) upon eliminating all animal products (“strange thingsthat God has not required”) become “weak and unable to work” bringinghealth reform into “disrepute.” Such “premature, extreme restrictions”will bring perplexity. We are to “wait until the circumstances demand it,and the Lord prepares the way for it.”

Such clear counsel needs to be weighed very seriously before adopt-ing earlier given counsel as the final word. As we have already discussed,the quotations listing fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables were in the con-text of eliminating flesh meats, not in the context of eliminating animalproducts. To apply counsel for discarding flesh meats to the discardingof all animal products can only be done safely with great care.

The Issue of Vitamin B12

It has not been fully demonstrated that plants, or bacteria in ourmouth and colon, or drinking water are dependable sources for VitaminB12. Certainly it has not been shown true for everyone. We must be con-cerned that “some,” and especially those whose “blood-making organsare feeble,” may indeed not get adequate B12 from these sources. Onemust remember that vitamin B12 (first isolated in 1948) is stored by theliver, and a deficiency of that vitamin, with resultant health problemssuch as anemia, and permanent nerve damage, may not appear for aslong as ten to twenty years after eliminating an adequate dietary sourceof that vitamin. It has long been believed that a deficiency of vitamin B12will always show up as anemia, and therefore a deficiency can be de-tected by the relatively easy examination of the blood cells. However, ithas recently been discovered that some patients with serious degenera-tion of the nerves and nervous system, actually have an inadequate amountof B12, even though they do not have anemia.4

Two PositionsThere are presently two, well-defended opinions among Seventh-

day Adventist health reformers as to whether additional B12 should be

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taken when all animal products are removed from the diet. Both sidescan show many scientific studies and reports to support their stand.Whom are we to believe? Let us always turn to the Lord for guidance.“To the law and to the testimony” should be the deciding factor. Manyare concerned that good, sincere health reformers around 1870 prema-turely eliminated all animal products and brought discredit to the cause.See Testimonies, vol. 3, 19–20. Again, around the turn of the century,dedicated believers prematurely discarded all animal products and theyhad to retrace their steps. See Counsels on Diet and Foods, 203–206.

In 1896 Mrs. White wrote from Australia to a physician and hiswife at St. Helena, California. “In California there is an abundance forthe table in the shape of fresh fruit, vegetables, and grains, and there isno necessity that meat be used.” The Maxson Letters, 63, 1896. An abun-dance of other foods made it possible to eliminate animal flesh, but ofitself was not reason enough to discard the other animal products. Theeliminating of milk, eggs and cream was not just a matter of havingsufficient fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables to eat. We must take notethat when Ellen White gave her final counsel regarding eliminating allanimal products (Testimonies, vol. 9, 162, 1909), she was herself livingin California where there was a relative abundance of fruits, grains, nutsand vegetables, and yet by her example and words it was not yet time toleave off milk, cream and eggs. In speaking of the future need to discardall animal foods, we should be cautious in interpreting the words “shorttime” (Counsels on Diet and Foods, 411, 1898), “not be very long,”(Ibid., 357, 1899), and “will soon come” (Ibid., 460, 1902) in light ofChrist’s words, “Behold I come quickly.” Revelation 22:17. We mustkeep in mind “that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years.” 2 Peter3:8.

The Lord Preparing the Way?We must seek earnestly to interpret aright the following phrases—

“The Lord will provide,” “set a table in the wilderness,” “in all parts ofthe world provision will be made,” and “the Lord will let us know when.”(Counsels on Diet and Foods, 359, 1901); “time of trouble beforehand,”“the Lord prepares the way,” “God will reveal this,” and “work out itsown problem” (Ibid., 206, 1901); and “too strenous ideas,” “perplexityby premature and extreme restrictions,” “wait until the circumstancesdemand it, and the Lord prepares the way for it.” Ibid., 208, 1909. Could

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22 The Spirit of Prophecyit be that the wide availability of economical B12 supplementation fulfillsthe above criteria? Could it be that with the worldwide availability ofextra B12 “the question of using milk, and butter and eggs” has indeed“work[ed] out its own problem”? Certainly there will be those who dis-agree. Some might feel that only future plagues or atomic radiation con-tamination of food sources will fulfill certain of the above criteria. How-ever, it is quite widely agreed that with supplemental B12 one can pres-ently, and safely eliminate all animal products out of the present dietwithout much difficulty in most developed countries.

A recent article in the Ministry magazine presented convincing evi-dence that the quality of commercially available milk in Mrs. White’stime was in some ways inferior to our present pasteurized, refrigeratedmilk and milk products. Twenty-five percent of all disease outbreaks,resulting from contaminated water and infected food in the United Statesas late as 1938, was due to infected milk. In contrast, less than one per-cent of food-born disease outbreaks in 1984 was apparently due to thesame cause.

The same article, however, presented some information that shouldgive us concern. Apparently, a number of viruses are not destroyed bythe pasteurization process, and several of them are known to cause can-cer in animals.5

It is possible that these and all viruses would be killed if the milkwere actually “sterilized.” “If milk is used, it should be thoroughly ster-ilized; with this precaution, there is less danger of contracting diseasefrom its use.” The Ministry of Healing, 302. However, all of us undoubt-edly already have viruses lying dormant in our tissues just waiting forour immune system to be weakened enough to let them develop cancer orsome other disease. There is some evidence that animal fat and/or pro-tein can depress to some degree our immune system. Thus even sterilizedanimal products may not be the ideal food, if we have access to a goodvariety of vegetarian food. Others have definite concerns regarding hor-mones, antibiotics and other chemicals which may find their way intocommercially produced animal products.

Admittedly, it has become more and more inconvenient and difficultto obtain products from animals that we personally know to be cared forin a healthy manner. For these and perhaps other reasons many today areeliminating all animal products out of their diets. The majority can appar-ently do so safely. Some who discard all animal products from their food

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preparation will avoid trouble by obtaining B12 when eating out, or atchurch potlucks, or perhaps from the bacteria in their mouth or colon.Others “whose blood-making organs are feeble” are in danger of devel-oping symptoms and illness due to B12 deficiency. Those developing anysymptoms of illness should heed the counsel of 1901, “When you seethat you are becoming weak physically, it is essential for you to makechanges, and at once. Put into your diet something you have left out. Itis your duty to do this.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 204, 1901.

In November 1907, in referring to this counsel, Ellen White clari-fied that it was not necessary for Dr. Kress to again add meat to his diet,but only some animal products in order to have a healthful diet. “Whenin Australia, Brother Kress, you lay trembling between life and death.Was the message given me for you, ̀ Return to a diet of flesh meats?’ No,no. God gave you directions regarding a healthful diet, which if dili-gently followed, would, mingled with the exercise of faith and prayer,save your life.” Spalding-Magan’s Unpublished Testimonies, 418.

Vitamin B12 SupplementationEven better than taking the risk of having to retrace one’s steps, it

would probably be best to prevent any possible problems by taking andpromoting adequate B12 supplementation. The easiest way to prevent prob-lems is to take a B12 tablet of 50 to 100 micrograms weekly. Most tabletsare stronger than this, and one may have to request that the pharmacistor food-store operator special order this strength of tablet. Stronger dosesshould be avoided unless prescribed by a physician. There is some evi-dence that excess amounts are associated with an increased risk of can-cer. It must be noted that if someone developed a deficiency of intrinsicfactor (a substance normally produced by the stomach and essential forB12 absorption), he would be unable to absorb B12 and would suffersooner or later from B12 deficiency regardless of what source they aregetting it in their diet. Such persons would need B12 injections for the restof their lifetime, or possibly would have to take an oral supplement of thedeficient intrinsic factor to enable them to absorb the B12 in their diet.

In our searching of the Testimonies let us follow the Biblical princi-pal of “line upon line, here a little and there a little” in order to harmonizeall of the counsels given. When there are controversial issues, let usendeavor to base our decisions on an “It is written.” “Those who wouldbe successful in proclaiming the principles of health reform must make

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24 The Spirit of Prophecythe Word of God their Guide and Counselor. Only as the teachers ofhealth reform principles do this can they stand on vantage ground.” Tes-timonies, vol. 9, 162–163. In our personal practices, and when present-ing this topic to fellow believers, let us not base our actions and words onone or two choice Spirit of Prophecy statements. Let us acknowledgeand share all of the counsel given, and “leave room for the Holy Spirit towork” in persons making their own decisions.

If There Is ErrorIn our example and in our instruction regarding the proper diet, let

us give heed to the following admonitions. “If we should allow the peopleas much time as we have required to come up to the present advancedstate in reform, we would be very patient with them, and allow them toadvance step by step, as we have done, until their feet are firmly estab-lished upon the health reform platform. But we should be very cautiousnot to advance too fast, lest we be obliged to retrace our steps. In reformswe would better come one step short of the mark than to go one stepbeyond it. And if there is error at all, let it be on the side next to thepeople.” Ibid., vol. 3, 20–21.

“If you take extremely radical positions, you will be obliged to backdown, and then however conscientious you may have been, you have lostconfidence in your own sound judgment, and our brethren and unbeliev-ers will lose confidence in you. Be sure to go no faster than you havepositive light from God. Take no man’s ideas, but move intelligently inthe fear of the Lord.

“If you err, let it not be in getting as far from the people as possible,for then you cut the thread of your influence and can do them no good.Better err on the side of the people than altogether away from them, forthere is hope in that case that you can carry the people with you, butthere is no need of error on either side.

“You need not go into the water, or into the fire, but take the middlepath, avoiding all extremes. Do not let it appear that you are one-sided,ill-balanced managers.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 211, 1886.

Let us keep in mind that anytime we are practicing or promoting themost extreme form of any health belief or practice, we are probably notin the middle of the path. The matter of a “proper diet” always has lentitself to all forms of extremes.

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”Philippians 4:5.

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1 The Spirit of Prophecy Regarding the Discontinuance of the Use of Dairy Prod-ucts. Document available from the E.G.W. Estate, 6840 Eastern Ave. NW, Wash-ington, D.C. 20012.2 Ibid.3 Ibid.4 “Vitamin B12 Around the World” The Journal of Health and Healing, vol. 12,No. 3; New England Journal of Medicine, 318: 1720, 1738, 1752, 1988.5 “Milk: Has the Time Come?” Galen C. Bosley, Ministry, February 1989.

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26 The Spirit of Prophecy

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Cheese in the Diet

ALL OF THE direct statements by Ellen White regarding theeating of cheese are condemnatory, and it seems reasonable toconclude that all types of cheese were included. However, there

is evidence that this is not true.In 1905, Ellen White wrote the following in The Ministry of Heal-

ing, 302:“Butter is less harmful when eaten on cold bread than when used in

cooking; but, as a rule, it is better to dispense with it altogether. Cheeseis still more objectionable; it is wholly unfit for food.”

When this was translated into the German language, Ellen Whiteapproved the wording to read as “Strong, sharp cheese is still more ob-jectionable; it is wholly unfit for food.” Counsels on Diet and Foods,368, 1905 (CD-Rom version).

We conclude that Ellen White’s statements condemning cheese arein reference to cured or aged cheese. This is in harmony with the reportof Ellen White’s grandaughter that “Cottage cheese was served [at EllenWhite’s home], but not cured cheeses.” Ellen G. White Biography, vol.6, 395, 1913.

“In regard to cheese, I am now quite sure we have not purchasedor placed on our table cheese for years. We never think of makingcheese an article of diet, much less of buying it. I tell you, Lucretia,how your buying the cheese at our house looks to us—that you did it totempt us just as _______ tempted my husband in his feebleness. Yousaid you heard Brother White ask Mr. Walling for a taste of cheese. Hehad none. You bought a few pounds. You asked him one day if hewanted some cheese. He said ̀ No.’ You asked me. I said I did not eat it.The cheese lay in the cupboard untouched until Mr. Lasley and Wall-ing came to dinner. It was then placed before them. We took a small bitof cheese, as we do sometimes when it is passed to us. But we do not,

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28 The Spirit of Prophecyunderstand, buy cheese, or make a practice of eating it. My husbandfelt when he saw the bit of cheese that was in Walling’s wagon that hewould like merely a taste of it.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 15, 246,1873.

The above reference seems to clearly refer to aged or cured cheesefor only that type could have lain on the cupboard for any length of timewithout spoiling.

“Some brought cheese to the meeting, and ate it; although new, itwas altogether too strong for the stomach, and should never be intro-duced into it.” Review and Herald, July 19, 1870.

One can understand the above statement to condemn the cured typesof cheese regardless of how aged they are. “Although new,” the initialprocess of curing has already rendered them “too strong for the stom-ach.”

Thus, the counsel is to not eat the cured or aged types of cheese.The eating of any fresh, unaged-type cheese such as cottage cheese de-pends upon how one understands the Lord’s counsels regarding the elimi-nating of animal products in general.

The general condemnation of the cured types of cheese seems rea-sonable when we understand that curing is a fermentation, a decompos-ing, or “putrefactive” process. Each type of cured cheese is the productof a certain fungus and or bacteria growing in the milk producing newsubstances giving the characteristic flavor, odor, and texture of the fin-ished product. In this process, the protein of the milk, and perhaps alsothe fat and sugar, are decomposed into new chemicals. As cured cheeseages there are increased amounts present of a wide variety of these newchemicals, many of which are abnormal to our tissues and very likelyharmful. In the unaged cheeses, there is very little if any change in theoriginal protein, fat, and sugar to produce new chemicals.


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