Summary: Another powerful clip, where Susan W. Tanner explains how there is "an intimate link between body, mind and spirit." She then explains the importance of the word of wisdom and says, "she remembers an incident in my home growing up when my mother's sensitive spirit was affected by a physical indulgence. She had experimented with a new sweet roll recipe. They were big and rich and yummy—and very filling." What happened, is that her mother ate 3 of these "big and rich and yummy—and very filling" sweet rolls, which in turn, offended her spirit and made her feel unworthy to say the family prayer. I'm sure that most of us would feel the same exact way she did. As I have reflected on all of the past Thanksgiving holiday meals, buffets, eating cookies, pizza parties, etc, I too realize that I have overindulged way too many times and deeply offended my spirit in the process. I remember and recognize that I usually felt good and normal before a buffet, but then afterwords, I felt sluggish, bogged down, sad and somewhat depressed. Now, thanks to Susan W. Tanner and this example of her Mother, that she shared with all of us, I understand that this feeling that I've had, is my sensitive spirit having been offended. I too, now feel shame and embarrassment, just like Susan W. Tanner's Mom felt and I feel the need to repent and not take part in these overindulgences again. I hope that I can have the strength to not overindulge and offend my spirit. It is certainly a humbling experience. I hope that the rest of you will do the same and stop offending your spirits through gross overindulgence, especially during the upcoming holidays. I know that this will be a challenge for all of us to obey the Word of Wisdom and stay in the good graces with our spirit. We must learn to obey both the spirit and letter of the law, in order to achieve eternal salvation in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom and one day become a God of our own worlds without number. I don't know why everyone laughed during such a serious and important example of how we shouldn't offend our spirit and I hope that those that laughed, now understand that it wasn't funny, but a very serious matter. I don't think that they understood the severity of the matter and I think that Susan W. Tanner was quite shocked at the laughter. Next time any of you want to eat more than one sweet roll, chocolate chip cookie or cake, please remember this story by Susan W. Tanner, say a prayer and refrain from the temptation, thus not offending your amazing spirit. Let's not be like Susan W. Tanner's Mother and have to bow our head it shame and not feel worthy to pray. This talk was given in the October 2005 General Conference.
