On an email list I'm on a post came through written by a mother about how her children were singing, "I'm a Vegetarian Now" from the latest Liken video, "Daniel and the Lion's Den." She was delighted that her children were learning a scripture story and singing. Someone else posted in reply that Daniel wasn't eaten because he didn't eat any meat and therefore the Lions didn't smell the rotting meat inside of him.
A couple things are wrong with this statement. 1. Lions eat grazing animals theat don't have any rotting meat either and yet those animals are number one on the menu. 2. If you know anything about the digestion system, you know that what you eat doesn't stay that long in your system to become "rotten" before it is all broken down, nutrients pulled out and eliminated from the system. And 3. God does work miracles and to say that the Lions didn't eat him because of no "rotting smell" takes away from a miracle.
As much as the 89th section of the Doctrine and Covenants says that, "…flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained from the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;" and then in the 49th section he says, "And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, it not ordained of God; For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth is ordained for the use of man for food and raiment, and that he might have in abundance." This second (but first in chronological order) revelation was given because of a group of people, the Shakers, were inquiring as to the Second Coming.
The Lord is very clear that meat isn't on the "no" list, but on the "ok" list with due diligence and prudence. We need to understand our stewardship over those things that the Lord has given us, all things, including beast and fowls. It is only with complete understanding and wisdom that we are part of the Lord's plan.
So to that poster, no the lions did not eat Daniel because he was a vegetarian. The lions didn't each him because the Lord had plans for Daniel. The Lord needed to perform a miracle and Daniel, a faithful servant, was the one the Lord chose to perform that miracle with. I can only hope to be a faithful servant like Daniel.
A couple things are wrong with this statement. 1. Lions eat grazing animals theat don't have any rotting meat either and yet those animals are number one on the menu. 2. If you know anything about the digestion system, you know that what you eat doesn't stay that long in your system to become "rotten" before it is all broken down, nutrients pulled out and eliminated from the system. And 3. God does work miracles and to say that the Lions didn't eat him because of no "rotting smell" takes away from a miracle.
As much as the 89th section of the Doctrine and Covenants says that, "…flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained from the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;" and then in the 49th section he says, "And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, it not ordained of God; For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth is ordained for the use of man for food and raiment, and that he might have in abundance." This second (but first in chronological order) revelation was given because of a group of people, the Shakers, were inquiring as to the Second Coming.
The Lord is very clear that meat isn't on the "no" list, but on the "ok" list with due diligence and prudence. We need to understand our stewardship over those things that the Lord has given us, all things, including beast and fowls. It is only with complete understanding and wisdom that we are part of the Lord's plan.
So to that poster, no the lions did not eat Daniel because he was a vegetarian. The lions didn't each him because the Lord had plans for Daniel. The Lord needed to perform a miracle and Daniel, a faithful servant, was the one the Lord chose to perform that miracle with. I can only hope to be a faithful servant like Daniel.