Nephi's observation we will "take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this" (2 Nephi 28: 8) condemns our aggressive, argumentative culture. We prize debate. We always want to hear a "balanced" treatment of every issue, which is code for wanting endless arguments. We live in a contentious and unsatisfied Western society. It infects us as Saints, as well. Nephi is cautioning us about this.
America has led the world in an epidemic of obesity and weight related illnesses. Recent headlines show this epidemic has spread throughout the Western World. We have a revelation on this, but have selectively confined the dietary restrictions of the Word of Wisdom to its "smoking" and "drinking" and "hot drinks" compartments and feel at ease avoiding the majority of the rest of Section 89. We may feel comfortable being selective about the "wisdom" contained in the Word of Wisdom, but when was the last time you read it? Read it again and ask yourself if you eat fruits and vegetables in "their season" (as the Japanese do)? And do you eat meat "sparingly" (or are you doing a lowcarb diet filled with meat)? Those things are in Section 89, too. But, like many other things in the scriptures, we pass over them blithely, and think ourselves more than justified. In writing this, however, I do not intend to endorse the notion that the Word of Wisdom should be inflated into something beyond what it is. There is a good deal of weirdness among some people on this subject, and turning the Word of Wisdom into a "hobby-horse" cause is not what Nephi is commending to us nor what I intend by mentioning it here. Nephi mentions this issue, and so I do, as well. However, there is a balance to the Word of Wisdom. Ignoring it, or turning it into a cultish diversion, is out of balance. Nephi is suggesting we get back into balance on this score and not be crippled by excesses.
Nephi is not suggesting asceticism and self-abuse. Nor is he suggesting worship of the body, either. Extremes are not being taught here. He is saying we cannot be engaged in drug abuse, indulging in methamphetamine or cocaine abuse, and be justified. We have our addicts. The Church has an active twelve-step program to help Saints with many addictive disorders. All the Saints who are in those programs are doing as Nephi would recommend, and seeking to return from the abyss of imprisonment. But, beyond that, we should all seek spiritual and physical independence from the corruptions and temptations which enslave. Every person ought to decide for themselves whether they have adopted an "eat, drink and be merry" approach. Then, if they conclude they have, they should decide to act consistent with Nephi's recommendation to bring it to an end. President Hinckley also said: "Do you wish your children to have the peace of which Isaiah spoke? They will not know peace if they get involved with drugs." (Great Shall be the Peace of Thy Children; Ensign, Nov. 2000; beginning at p. 50.)
I do not believe Nephi is telling us this to make us judgmental about each other. Rather I think it is entirely internal in its application. He is not justifying any of us in looking down at others. He is confronting us, individually, and internally. How others choose to live, or what private struggles they must endure, ought to be covered with a cloak of charity as we deal with each other. We should leave them to the Lord. But for yourself, you should hold yourself to the kind of standard Nephi shows us is a paradigm.