Clean & Unclean

Choice 1: Leviticus 11-14. Clean versus Unclean
 

a.       Study Leviticus 11:1-30 and make two lists—one list consisting of clean animals that Israel could eat and a second list consisting of unclean animals that Israel could not eat.

Clean	Unclean
Clovenfooted beasts cheweth cud	Only clovenfooted or only cheweth  cud
Those with fins and scales in the sea	Camel, coney, hare, swine
Locust, bald locust, beetle, grasshopper	Those in the sea without fins or scales
	Eagle, ossifrage, ospray, vulture, kite
	Raven, owl, nite hawk,cuckow, hawk
	Little owl, cormorant, great owl, swan
	Pelican, grier eagle, stork, heron
	Lapwing, bat, fowls on all fours
	Weasek, mouse, tortoise, ferret, chameleon
	Lizard, snail, mole

b.      Read the Institute Student Manual introduction to Leviticus 11-18 (pgs. 173-74) and the commentary for Leviticus 11, “Clean and Unclean Food” (pg. 173). From your reading, write three or four sentences detailing the purposes of the Lord’s ancient dietary laws.

                The Lord had several reasons for His dietary laws. One was to keep them in remembrance of their God and their duty towards them.  The strict laws and subsequent observances were a continual reminder of God and his love towards them.  Another reason is mere sanitation.  We know even in our day that many of the animals that the Lord deemed unclean are actually unsanitary to eat.  Disease would be widespread and difficult to cure in those days without modern medicine.  The Lord gave strict rules to keep them clean.

c.       Read Doctrine and Covenants 89:5-17. Make another list of what the Lord ordained for the use of man and a list of what He has restricted.

For use of man	Restricted
Strong drinks for washing the body	Strong drinks for the belly
Tobacco as herb for sick cattle	Tobacco not for body or belly
Wholesome herbs	Hot drinks
Fruit
Flesh of beasts and fowl- sparingly
Grain
wheat

d.      Read Leviticus 11:43-47; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Doctrine and Covenants 89:1-4, 18-21 and  write an explanation of why you think the Lord has declared some things “clean” and others “unclean.” Explain how the Word of Wisdom is part of the sanctification process. Then list one way you could be more clean in your life.

                I think the Lord has declared some things clean and others unclean for spiritual and temporal reasons.  This is done in part for obedience reasons.  The Lord is testing us, but also with those test he wants to bless us.  I think the Lord also has foresight.  D&C 89:4 speaks about “evil designs” and “conspiring men” in the last days.  Again, the Lord is also concerned with our health.  He knows that in order to perform his will, we need to take care of the tabernacles he has given us.  The Lord is teaching cleanliness and holiness and wants us to be like him.