Alisia Essi's Story

By: Alisia Essig

Racing into the ER I was terrified. Earlier my husband called to tell me he was on his way to the hospital because something was terribly wrong, and he was having double vision. Not knowing what to expect, I opened the door to the ER and scanned the room to find my 37-year-old husband in a wheelchair, slumped over, one eye drooping unnaturally. He looked like he had aged 50 years. I could tell immediately that he was having a stroke.

How was this happening? He was a busy young patent lawyer working in Washington, DC, while serving as a bishop in our ward. We had six young kids, including twin 8-month-old baby boys. And yet, here my husband was in a wheelchair struggling to look at me because the stroke was affecting his vision.

As I stood there, I couldn’t help but think back to when my dad had a heart attack at the age of 55. It was sudden, unexpected, and fatal. I never even had the chance to say goodbye. That loss was one of the most painful experiences of my life, and now here I was, staring at my husband and wondering if history was about to repeat itself—this time with six young children caught in the middle.

Searching for Answers

In the coming days, while doctors ran multiple tests to understand why my young, seemingly healthy husband had suffered a stroke, I read my husband’s patriarchal blessing searching for answers. His blessing said that if he followed the Word of Wisdom he would be blessed with health. But that didn’t make sense; he had never touched alcohol, tobacco, drugs, coffee, or tea, yet he was having a stroke at just 37 years old. This apparent contradiction was the beginning of my discovery of how much more the Word of Wisdom has to offer us.

No Medical Answers

One question I had for the neurologist was if the stroke was caused by stress—as a father to six kids, a bishop, and a busy lawyer, my husband had a lot to be stressed about. But the neurologist said his stroke was not caused by stress and that he believed there was something more serious going on. The doctor ordered multiple tests, but everything came back negative: there was no hole in his heart, no genetic predisposition, no heart arrhythmia or anything else. They also didn’t have any answers for when or if his vision would return to normal.

The only direction we were given was a piece of paper that said from now on my husband should follow a heart-healthy diet by avoiding trans fat, saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol and by increasing his intake of fiber. At the time, I had no idea how to avoid trans fat or saturated fat. And the first thing that popped into my mind to add more fiber to our diet was Fiber One bars. The whole experience was confusing and overwhelming, but I could feel the Spirit nudging me to seek clarity in the Word of Wisdom.

The Lower Law vs. the Higher Law

As I prayed and studied, something struck me: for most of my life, I had been living what I now think of as the “lower law” of the Word of Wisdom. Similar to how ancient Israel was given a preparatory law of “thou shalt not,” many of us have focused only on the don’ts of the Word of Wisdom. Don’t drink alcohol. Don’t smoke. Don’t drink coffee or tea.

But my dad’s story—and now my husband’s—showed me that simply keeping the lower law was not enough to claim all the promised blessings of health. My dad lived the don’ts faithfully, yet he still died of heart disease at just 55. God had always offered more, but I had overlooked the invitation.

The higher law of the Word of Wisdom focuses on the do’s: eating meat sparingly, rejoicing in the abundance of grains, herbs, fruits, and vegetables, and filling our bodies with the nourishment God ordained for our use. God will never force us into the higher law—just as He has never forced His people in any dispensation to live higher covenants. Instead, He lovingly invites us, knowing the blessings of strength, clarity, and even protection that follow.

A New Way of Living

I began researching. I learned that seven of the ten leading causes of death are diet-related, with the number one killer being heart disease.¹ And unlike medication that treats diseases separately, the foods God ordained work holistically. A diet rich in whole plant foods reduces the risk not only of heart disease but of stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.²

When we came home from the hospital, my husband and I sought guidance from the Lord in the temple, through fasting, and in prayer. Our ward members joined us in fasting for my husband’s vision to return. But I also made a commitment: I would follow the higher law of the Word of Wisdom and do all in my power to care for his health.

We already kept the don’ts, but I turned my focus to the do’s: eating meat sparingly, centering our meals on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. I learned that fiber—abundant in plant foods—is one of the most protective nutrients God has given us.³

Modern science continues to confirm what God revealed long ago: the same dietary pattern that prevents heart disease also lowers cancer risk, reduces type 2 diabetes, and extends life expectancy.⁴ Truly the Word of Wisdom is “for the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days.”⁵

Treasures of Knowledge

We made changes immediately. Our family reduced meat and animal products, focused on whole plant foods, and began to see results quickly. My husband’s cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure improved dramatically. After five months of living this way, his vision returned—something we consider both a medical marvel and a spiritual miracle.

With those blessings came greater insight: the Lord had been inviting us to live the higher law of health all along, but we had been content with the lower law. God will never require us to move higher—He honors our agency—but He continually invites us. And when we accept, the blessings are far greater than we imagined.

I often wonder if my dad might have lived longer had he embraced the do’s of the Word of Wisdom. I wonder if my husband’s stroke could have been avoided. Those questions are painful, but they remind me of the urgency of God’s invitation.

The scriptures are layered with truth, and the Word of Wisdom is no exception. When we stop at the don’ts, we live the lower law. When we embrace the do’s, we step into the higher law—where hidden treasures of health, clarity, and peace are waiting.⁶

Alisia Essig lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and six children. She is a Pilates instructor and previously worked as a communications director on Capitol Hill. After her husband’s stroke, Alisia became a nutritionist and founded PlantWhys, where she helps individuals who have read the books and know the science but have struggled to consistently follow a plant-based diet. Through her YouTube channel and her podcast Eat Meat Sparingly, she loves to share free resources to make plant-based eating simple and sustainable. And through her coaching membership, she gives people the tools and support to build lasting habits so they can eat more plant-based foods, lose weight, feel better, and live longer.

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