

A Fresh Look at the Word of Wisdom—a conversation with Ali Essig and Bill Turnbull
31 snips Aug 10, 2025
Alli Essig, a nutritionist and founder of PlantWhys, shares her profound journey into the Word of Wisdom after her husband's stroke, advocating for a holistic view of health. Bill Turnbull, co-founder of Faith Matters, highlights the need to evolve our understanding of this historical health code. They discuss how rigid interpretations have shaped church culture and explore the transformative benefits of a plant-based diet. The conversation also touches on cultural perceptions of hot drinks and the importance of rest in modern productivity.
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Stroke Prompted A Word-Of-Wisdom Deep Dive
- Ali Essig's husband's 2019 stroke launched her study of D&C 89 and diet.
- She changed to plant-focused meals and saw weight, cholesterol, and vision improvements.
Make Plants The Plate's Foundation
- Ali Essig advises forming meals around plants and using meat sparingly, reversing the typical American plate.
- She reports clinical gains when her husband prioritized plant foods.
Word Of Wisdom Is Invitational, Not Mandatory
- D&C 89 begins 'not by commandment or constraint' and reads as an invitation.
- Bill Turnbull argues it was meant as guidance rather than a legalistic rule.