Vol. 7, No. 4, 1990

Articles on Mormonism

by Rick Branch

According to recent independent studies, people who are either Mormons or are practitioners of Transcendental Meditation live longer.

James E. Enstrom, epidemiologist at UCLA explained his study, "of almost 10,000 non-smoking, non-drinking, moderately active Mormons was a testament to the power of clean living: Middle-aged Mormon men had only 34 percent of the normal cancer death rate and only 14 percent of the normal cardiovascular-disease death rate.

"These results demonstrate substantial progress in prevention of cancer and other diseases in one well-defined population, and they suggest a lifestyle that could result in a major reduction in cancer mortality, as well as mortality in general..." (Dallas Morning News, Dec. 17, 1989 p. 7-A; emphasis mine).

When asked to explain this good report, Joel Barlow, a High Priest in the LDS Church and one of Enstrom's subjects, exclaimed, "the Word of Wisdom."

This Word of Wisdom is believed by Mormons to be a divinely inspired health code given to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism.

It is interesting to note that the article continued by explaining Enstrom wished to know if "his findings could be replicated in the general population, [so he] analyzed a comparable group of white, non-smoking churchgoing men and women of all religions in Alameda County, California. He found similar health gains," (Ibid, emphasis mine).

It should be remembered, Enstrom analyzed moderately active LDS people in his study, and found them to be less susceptible to cancer.

However, Dr. Joseph Lyon, an epidemiologist from the University of Utah Medical Center, arrived at a different conclusion.

"Utah LDS are 85 percent less likely to suffer from lung cancer than the national average, while non-LDS are 26 percent less likely and the less-active (LDS are only 17 percent less likely).

"The most startling difference is in kidney cancer, where Utah LDS are 29 percent less likely to contract the disease and non-LDS are 30 percent less likely, but less-active LDS are 64 percent more likely," (Latter-day Sentinel, May 3, 1989 p. 11; emphasis mine).

There would appear to be a discrepancy in whether or not it is healthier to be a moderately active LDS.

Now concerning the recent studies on Transcendental Meditation, similar results seem to be found.

"Elderly people who were taught Transcendental Meditation live longer than their peers, according to a new study that experts called the first direct scientific evidence that meditation can prolong life," (Dallas Morning News Feb. 4, 1990 p. 8-A).

The report continues by explaining, "The study included 73 volunteers, with an average age of 81, from eight homes for the elderly. They were assigned randomly to learn TM, another technique called mindfulness training, a simple relaxation program, or no training at all.

"Three years later, all 20 of those taught Transcendental Meditation were still alive. Survival rates in the other groups were 88 percent, 65 percent and 77 percent, respectively," (Ibid).

There are two points that must be mentioned in regard to this supposed scientific proof of TM's benefits.

First, in a study completed by the Stanford Research Institute, a questionnaire was sent to every twentieth person on their TM mailing list. The results were most enlightening.

"The responses indicate that advanced TM practitioners have more behavioral problems than TM dropouts and that the longer a person meditates, the more pronounced the adverse effects are likely to be," (The New Age Journal, March/April 1989, p. 21).

Thus, one may live longer but will have more problems.

Second, while studying the same data as that mentioned above, taken from the 73 volunteers in the homes for the elderly, "Two other psychologists who study meditation said they suspect the outcome was caused by factors other than TM.

"They also suggested that other techniques might do as well or better," (Dallas Morning News Feb. 4, 1990 p. 8-A).