If you had to estimate, how much of the LDS community would you say is vegetarian? Also, why did people stop paying attention to that teaching?
Hi, Hank. I'd say virtually none of the LDS community is vegetarian. I'm sure there are a few LDS people who are, but they are likely so not because of what the Word of Wisdom has to say. The LDS Church definitely does not encourage people to be vegetarians, but it doesn't discourage it either. The Word of Wisdom is a health code which, if followed, generally does lead to a healthier life. It has been scientifically proven that practicing LDS people live longer than the average population (at least here in the USA) and it really can't be attributed to much else.
When God first revealed the Word of Wisdom to Joseph Smith, it was given -- as are most revelations -- in direct response to a prayer. It specifically states that it is not a commandment, but "a word of wisdom." Whether fortunately or unfortunately, it seems to have evolved into a commandment in the minds of most LDS people. They clearly do, however, put much, much more emphasis on the "hot drinks" (tea and coffee), "strong drinks" (anything alcoholic) and "tobacco" parts of it than they do on eating a lot of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and just a minimal amount of meat. I think that's too bad, myself. Obviously, I think the things we are told to stay away from are, for the most part, bad for our health. But we shouldn't just be avoiding what's bad for us; we should be eating what's good for us. Whenever a member of the Church who is morbidly obese says something like, "Never has a drop of alcohol touched my lips!" I want to remind him that far too many other things not only touched his lips, but got right past them and that his health is probably worse for it.
I personally eat very little red meat. I had a hamburger on Father's Day. It was, I believe, the second hamburger I'd had in three or four years. My husband and I eat mostly fish, and some poultry. I really admire people who are vegetarians, but that's because I'm such an animal lover. I just don't seem to have the self-discipline to avoid meat entirely. But to answer your question directly: I don't think there has ever been a time when the emphasis of the Word of Wisdom in Mormons' lives has focused on not eating meat.
Here's
The Word of Wisdom in its entirety.