In fact, it seems certain that were such obedience general, good health would also become general.

Instead of lives being blighted by disease of cut off in infancy, youth or prime, as so frequently happens now, men would live to a ripe old age, like sound fruits that mature and mellow ere they drop from the bough.
The Prophet as Physician We live in a world, however, where from time immemorial obedience to the commands of the Prophets has been the exception rather than the rule; where love of self has been a more prevalent motive than love of God; where limited and party interests have taken precedence of the interests of humanity as a whole; where material possessions and sensual pleasures have been preferred to the social and spiritual welfare of mankind.

Hence have arisen fierce competition and conflict, oppression and tyranny, extremes of wealth and poverty--all those conditions which breed disease, mental and physical.

As a consequence, the whole tree of humanity is sick, and every leaf on the tree shares in the general sickness.

Even the purest and holiest have to suffer for the sins of others.