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This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Critics charge that Joseph Smith violated the Word of Wisdom, and that another member (Almon W. Babbitt) followed his example.
Critics count on "presentism"—they hope readers will judge historical figures by the standards of our day, instead of their day.
The Word of Wisdom was enforced differently in the 19th century than today. It was not the strict test of fellowships that it is for the modern member. Members and leaders struggled with its application
Babitt was tried by the high council for much more than Word of Wisdom violations:
The more serious charges against Babbitt were:
It seems likely that Babbitt would not have been charged if his sole difficulty was the Word of Wisdom. Given the serious variety of charges against him, however, this was likely seen as one more sign of his unreliability and dangerous lack of orthodoxy.
It is also not clear what action of Joseph's Babbitt took liberty from—there were cases in which Joseph used substances normally forbidden by the Word of Wisdom, but under conditions in which use was probably appropriate. In any case, Babbitt readily admitted that this was no excuse, and no one seems to have been too shocked by the charge that Joseph's observance wasn't perfect. If the members at the time were not dismayed, this should be a good hint that the critics are hoping we over-react without the perspective of those "on the scene" at the time.
In any case, leaders of the Church were clear that while the Lord expected perfect adherence to the Word of Wisdom as an ideal, he was also patient and understanding of everyone—leader and member—who struggled to alter their habits.
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