“This whole experience has been guided by an angel”

By: Ellen Bench

I was born on the island of Mauritius, surrounded by the Indian Ocean (1,200 miles east of Africa). Our diet there was mainly grains, fruits, and vegetables. We ate meat or fish on the weekends only.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not in Mauritius when I lived there, so none of my family were members. I went to England when I was 18 years old to study nursing. I met the missionaries there and joined the Church. Three and a half years later I was called on a mission to Tahiti. After serving in Tahiti, I moved to America. I married at age 28 and had my first child at age 29.

I started having serious health challenges in my late thirties, some of which included hay fever, insomnia, pre-diabetes and a tumor in my uterus! Those health challenges were not fun. I just did not feel good most of the time.

I prayed to know how to get healed, and it was given to me slowly and surely. I first felt impressed to give up carbonated drinks. Then God guided me to be vegetarian. My diet changed even more when I met Tom Rodgers. He was a vegan who gave lectures weekly at the Bountiful, Utah library. I prayed to know if it was true and right for me. I decided to be totally vegan too. Fortunately, it was not hard for me to eat this way. Slowly and gradually, my health challenges dissipated.

As I continued to live this way, my relationship with God, friends, and family got so special. This whole experience has been guided by an angel. I felt that special presence when I finally made the decision to be plant-based. I knew I was guided all along.

When I became vegan, I was the only one in the family doing this, until my daughter Natalie went plant-based in high school. She is still plant-based to this day!

As the years went by I adopted 60 – 70% of my diet with raw foods for better nutrients. I have been plant-based now for over 20 years! Eating this way is a testimony to me that when I choose plant-based with making sure to get all my nutrients and a good amount of raw and a small amount of cooked, I feel happy, strong and healthy. I also never desire to eat vegan junk. In fact it would make me sick! I never crave it!

I truly believe that D&C 89 is telling us to be plant-based. I felt that even stronger when I read it one time in the temple. It is the Word of Wisdom. I feel so blessed to eat this way because it makes me healthy, happy, and peaceful. Eating this way, I feel so much joy and am able to draw closer to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and love God and others. I am so grateful for this amazing experience and great blessing. We are truly what we eat!

Ellen Bench is 69 years old. She lives in Centerville, Utah with her husband, Russell. They have four daughters and nine grandchildren. Ellen is a Registered Nurse and got that training in England. She enjoys being in nature, doing tai chi, yoga, and brain gym exercises. She also loves to do art and read books. As a family they have travelled a lot throughout the world.