Echoes in the Forest:

A Personal Pilgrimage to France’s WWI Front Lines

By John Fisher (assisted by AI)

There is a profound difference between studying history from a distance and standing precisely where it unfolded. In April 2017, Melanie and I had the opportunity to travel into the heart of northeastern France, journeying deep into the Forest of Retz near Puiseux-en-Retz.

Our destination was a striking landmark from the Great War: General Mangin’s Observation Tower (La Tour d'observation du général Mangin). As you can see in th picture, the massive, open-stair larch-wood structure towers above the trees. But for us, this wasn’t just a sightseeing stop. It was a deeply personal pilgrimage.

Melanie walking down the observation tower

A Connection Across Generations

Every family carries its own quiet echoes of the First World War. For my family, that echo belongs to my great-uncle, Arnold, pictured here in his Canadian Army uniform.

Arnold was just one of many brave young men who left Canada to fight on the muddy, perilous battlefields of France. During his service, he survived one of the most horrific realities of modern warfare when he was gassed on the Western Front. Though he survived the war, the physical toll of that chemical attack lingered for the rest of his life.

Walking through the quiet French countryside, it was impossible not to think of Arnold and the unimaginable hardships his generation endured.

The View That Changed the War

The ridge where the tower stands—known historically as Hill 200—holds an immense strategic legacy. During the final year of the war, the French Army constructed an intricate, 30-meter wooden watchtower on this high point to peer over the dense forest canopy and monitor enemy movements.

It was from the top of that original platform that French General Charles Mangin surveyed the landscape and launched the decisive Allied counter-offensive of the Second Battle of the Marne on July 18, 1918. Supported by hundreds of Allied tanks and aircraft, this sudden, massive assault caught the enemy by surprise and marked a critical turning point on the Western Front.

The original tower was destroyed by a severe storm in 1924, but this exact replica was meticulously rebuilt and opened just as we arrived in 2017 to commemorate the centenary of the war.

Great Uncle Arnold Toole 

The reconstructed tower was built primarily using massive beams of larch wood (known in French as mélèze). Larch was selected because it is a highly durable, rot-resistant softwood that naturally withstands harsh outdoor elements without requiring heavy chemical treatments. This allowed the 2017 reconstruction to safely replicate the appearance and architectural style of the historic 1918 timber watchtower while ensuring it could endure as a long-lasting monument.

Where History Meets the Present

As Melanie and I walked the damp forest floor beneath the tower, the remnants of the conflict felt entirely tangible. The earth here is still scarred by old frontline trenches, communication lines, and weathered craters—now covered in quiet moss and spring growth.

Climbing those heavy timber steps gives you more than just a sprawling view of the Aisne department; it gives you perspective. Looking out over the quiet treetops where my Great-Uncle Arnold and so many others fought, the immense weight of their sacrifice truly hits home.

History isn't just found in archives or museums. Sometimes, it is found standing at the edge of an old trench, looking up at the sky, and remembering the individuals who stood there before us.

America's Health Problem

We’re getting the Word of Wisdom wrong 

The episode features Greg Matson interviewing Dr. Ben Bikman, a BYU scientist who studies metabolism and insulin resistance. Bikman argues that mainstream dietary guidance has been shaped by weak or misleading science, especially the long-standing claim that saturated fat is a primary cause of heart disease. He says this led to decades of low-fat advice, increased carbohydrate consumption, and worsening metabolic health. In his view, refined carbohydrates are the main dietary driver of insulin resistance, which he describes as the most common metabolic disorder worldwide and a root cause of many chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, infertility, fatty liver disease, and cognitive decline.

A major theme of the interview is Bikman’s distinction between glucose and insulin. He argues that blood glucose is often measured too late in the disease process, while elevated insulin can signal metabolic dysfunction many years earlier. He contends that insulin resistance develops silently over time, with the body producing more and more insulin to keep glucose in the normal range. For that reason, he believes clinicians should pay more attention to insulin levels rather than relying so heavily on glucose and LDL cholesterol.

Bikman also rejects the idea that weight control is simply “calories in, calories out.” He says calories matter, but hormones, especially insulin, strongly influence whether the body stores or burns energy. In the interview, he argues that high-carbohydrate meals raise insulin, promote fat storage, lower metabolic rate, and increase hunger later, whereas meals centered on protein and fat tend to produce better satiety and metabolic outcomes. He recommends three broad nutrition principles: control carbohydrates, prioritize high-quality protein, and do not fear natural fats. He also emphasizes resistance training and muscle mass as important because muscle helps clear glucose from the bloodstream and improves insulin sensitivity.

The final part of the discussion turns to Latter-day Saint theology, especially Doctrine and Covenants sections 89 and 49. Bikman argues that many church members misread the Word of Wisdom as prescribing a vegetarian or plant-based diet. He says no prophet has officially defined a specific “Word of Wisdom diet,” and he interprets the revelation more broadly as a warning against addiction rather than a command to avoid meat. He appeals to D&C 49 and 1 Timothy 4 to argue that teachings forbidding meat are spiritually and scientifically mistaken. This religious section is one of the central features of the episode and is presented as a challenge to common dietary assumptions in LDS culture.

APA reference

Matson, G. (2026, January 30). We’re getting the Word of Wisdom wrong [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq_TOMum5lo

Keywords

insulin resistance, nutrition, Word of Wisdom, saturated fat, metabolic health

Control Glucose Spikes

The Science of Eating: 10 Hacks from "Glucose Revolution" That Actually Work

By John Fisher (assisted by AI)

If you’ve ever felt the mid-afternoon slump or the sudden craving for something sweet after a meal, you’ve experienced a glucose spike. Recently, I’ve been listening to Glucose Revolution by biochemist Jessie Inchauspé, and it offers a fascinating look at how our blood sugar affects everything from our mood to our long-term health.

What I appreciate most about Inchauspé’s approach is that it isn’t a restrictive diet. It’s not about what you eat, but how you eat it. As someone who enjoys good food and cooking, I found these "hacks" to be practical tools rather than rigid rules.

Here are the 10 core hacks from the book that can help you flatten your glucose curves without giving up the foods you love.

1. Eat Your Food in the Right Order

This is perhaps the most powerful takeaway. When you sit down to a meal, try to eat the components in this specific sequence:

1. Fiber (Vegetables)

2. Protein and Fats

3. Starches and Sugars

By eating fiber first, you create a mesh in your intestine that slows down the absorption of glucose from the rest of the meal.

2. Add a Green Starter

Building on the first hack, always start your lunch or dinner with a "veggie starter." It doesn’t have to be complicated—a simple green salad, some roasted broccoli, or even a few stalks of celery. This flattens the glucose spike of the entire meal.

3. Stop Counting Calories

Inchauspé argues that calories don’t tell the whole story. A slightly higher-calorie meal that keeps your blood sugar stable is often better for your metabolic health than a low-calorie sugary snack that sends your insulin soaring. Focus on the quality and timing of food, not just the number.

4. Flatten Your Breakfast Curve

Breakfast is the most critical meal for blood sugar control. If you start the day with a sugar spike (cereal, juice, toast and jam), you are setting yourself up for a rollercoaster of cravings all day.

• The Fix: Switch to a savory breakfast. Think eggs, avocado, leftovers, or Greek yogurt with nuts. Keep the starches low and the protein high.

5. All Sugars Are the Same

From a molecular standpoint, your body doesn’t distinguish much between "natural" agave syrup, honey, and white table sugar. They all cause glucose spikes. If you’re going to eat sugar, pick the one you enjoy the most and eat it mindfully, rather than fooling yourself that one is "healthier."

6. Pick Dessert Over a Sweet Snack

Timing is everything. If you eat a cookie on an empty stomach (a snack), it hits your system instantly. If you eat that same cookie immediately after a meal (dessert), the fiber, protein, and fat you just ate will slow down the sugar absorption. Always choose dessert over a standalone snack.

7. Reach for Vinegar

This sounds like an old wives' tale, but the science backs it up. Drinking one tablespoon of vinegar (apple cider vinegar is popular) diluted in a tall glass of water 20 minutes before a meal can reduce the glucose spike of that meal by up to 30%. The acetic acid in vinegar helps your muscles soak up glucose faster.

8. Move After You Eat

You don’t need to run a marathon. Just 10 minutes of movement within an hour of eating—a walk around the block, doing the dishes, or some light tidying—allows your muscles to use the extra glucose in your bloodstream immediately, preventing a large spike.

9. If You Must Snack, Go Savory

If you are hungry between meals, avoid the sweet treats. Go for a savory option like a handful of nuts, a piece of cheese, or a hard-boiled egg. These provide energy without the crash.

10. Put "Clothing" on Your Carbs

If you are going to eat carbohydrates (like a piece of bread or a bowl of pasta) or something sugary, never eat them "naked." Dress them up with protein, fat, or fiber.

• Example: Don’t just eat dry toast; add avocado and an egg. Don’t just eat an apple; pair it with some peanut butter or a slice of cheddar. The "clothing" slows down the breakdown of the "naked" carb.

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to implement all ten of these at once. I recommend starting with the Savory Breakfast and the Order of Eating. Even these small adjustments can lead to better energy, clearer focus, and better long-term health.

Have you tried any of these glucose hacks? Let me know in the comments which one you’re adding to your routine this week.

A Prophetic Warning and Global Depopulation

In her article "A Voice of Warning," Charolette Winder argues that the "calamities" mentioned in the Family Proclamation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not just natural disasters but the measurable social decay resulting from family disintegration. One of the most significant "macro" calamities is the current global crisis of population degrowth.

Key Principles and Social Calamities

The article argues that the "calamities" warned of in the Proclamation are manifesting through the disintegration of the family unit, which has measurable, generational impacts on society:

• The Weight of Divorce: Social data indicates that divorce diminishes a child's future competence in areas such as education, earning power, and emotional well-being.

• Irreparable Social Decay: The American College of Pediatrics and other studies suggest that the negative long-term consequences of family breakdown are harder to rebuild than physical homes lost to natural disasters.

• The Duty to Warn: Leaders emphasize that teaching unpopular truths about family and gender is an act of love and a fulfillment of their "stewardship" as watchmen.

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The Crisis of Depopulation 

A central focus of the article is the "macro" level threat of depopulation, which it links to the "disintegration of the family" mentioned in the Proclamation:

• Falling Fertility Rates: To sustain population replacement, a rate of 2.1 children per woman is required; however, most developed nations are now well below this threshold.

• Global Predictions: A 2024 study in The Lancet warns that by the year 2100, over 97% of countries will have fertility rates below the necessary replacement level.

• Failed Incentives: Nations like Russia, Hungary, and Denmark have attempted to "bribe" or incentivize citizens to have children through cash bonuses and tax breaks, but these efforts have yielded few results due to high "opportunity costs" and shifting social priorities.

• Economic Consequences: Shrinking populations lead to a smaller workforce, increased tax burdens, and potential societal upheaval as deaths begin to outnumber live births.

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Conclusion

Winder concludes that while the Proclamation's warnings are stark, they are intended to persuade individuals toward choices that lead to stability and happiness. Despite the "messiness" of modern family life, the article offers a message of hope, stating that through Jesus Christ, families can find healing and restoration even when they fall short of the ideal.

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Reference:

 Winder, C. (2025, May 27). A voice of warning: Prophets and proclamations. Public Square Magazine. https://publicsquaremag.org/faith/proclamation-on-the-family/the-family-proclamation-what-it-warned/