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The complete prohibition of alcoholic drinks of any kind, and a strict enforcement of the Word of Wisdom's other prohibitions, only became part of the Word of Wisdom following the temperance movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries; Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J. Grant supported the movement and Grant made complete abstention from alcohol in any form a requirement for a temple recommend in the early 1920s.</onlyinclude> | The complete prohibition of alcoholic drinks of any kind, and a strict enforcement of the Word of Wisdom's other prohibitions, only became part of the Word of Wisdom following the temperance movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries; Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J. Grant supported the movement and Grant made complete abstention from alcohol in any form a requirement for a temple recommend in the early 1920s.</onlyinclude> | ||
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Revision as of 22:22, 10 June 2014
- REDIRECTTemplate:Test3
Contents
- 1 Early implementation of the Word of Wisdom and Joseph Smith
- 1.1
- 1.2 Questions
- 1.3
- 1.4 Answer
- 1.5
- 1.6 Revelations in Context, "The Word of Wisdom: D&C 89"
- 1.7
- 1.8 For further information related to this topic
- 1.9 Joseph Smith and the Word of Wisdom
- 1.9.1 History and implementation of the Word of Wisdom
- 1.9.2 Joseph Smith and the early implementation of the Word of Wisdom
- 1.9.3 Joseph Smith drank wine in Carthage jail?
- 1.9.4 Joseph Smith used tea?
- 1.9.5 Joseph Smith procured tobacco prior to the martyrdom
- 1.9.6 Did Joseph disregard the Word of Wisdom when he prophesied that Orson Hyde would drink wine with him in Palestine?
- 1.10
Early implementation of the Word of Wisdom and Joseph Smith
Questions
In what way did Joseph Smith implement the Word of Wisdom during his lifetime?
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
Answer
The Word of Wisdom was enforced differently in the 19th century than today. Observance of the Word of Wisdom has changed over time, due to on-going revelation from modern-day prophets, who put greater emphasis on certain elements of the revelation originally given to Joseph Smith. Early Latter-day Saints were not under the same requirements as today's Saints are.
Latter-Day Saints believe that the Lord reveals his will to men "line upon line, precept upon precept," (Isaiah 28:10,13 and others) and that revelation continues as circumstances change.
As one historian noted:
- it appears clear that Joseph Smith never interpreted the [Word of Wisdom] revelation as demanding total abstinence, but stressed moderation and self-control....He had no objections to using tobacco for medicinal purposes. With regard to wine and "strong drink" possibly the most accurate index to the Prophet's position was expressed by Benjamin F. Johnson, who personally knew Joseph: "As a companion, socailly, he was highly endowed; was kind, generous, mirth loving, and a times even convivial. He was partial to a well supplied table and he did not always refuse the wine that maketh the heart glad."[1]
Revelations in Context, "The Word of Wisdom: D&C 89"
Revelations in Context, (11 June 2013)Nevertheless, it required time to wind down practices that were so deeply ingrained in family tradition and culture, especially when fermented beverages of all kinds were frequently used for medicinal purposes. The term “strong drink” certainly included distilled spirits like whiskey, which hereafter the Latter-day Saints generally shunned. They took a more moderate approach to milder alcoholic beverages like beer and “pure wine of the grape of the vine of your own make” (see D&C 89꞉6). For the next two generations, Latter-day Saint leaders taught the Word of Wisdom as a command from God, but they tolerated a variety of viewpoints on how strictly the commandment should be observed. This incubation period gave the Saints time to develop their own tradition of abstinence from habit-forming substances. By the early twentieth century, when scientific medicines were more widely available and temple attendance had become a more regular feature of Latter-day Saint worship, the Church was ready to accept a more exacting standard of observance that would eliminate problems like alcoholism from among the obedient. In 1921, the Lord inspired Church president Heber J. Grant to call on all Saints to live the Word of Wisdom to the letter by completely abstaining from all alcohol, coffee, tea, and tobacco. Today Church members are expected to live this higher standard.
Click here to view the complete article
"Strong drinks" versus "mild drinks"
The text of the Word of Wisdom forbids "strong drink" (D&C 89꞉5,7), which some (including Joseph) seem to have interpreted as distilled beverages (hard liquor). Beer, unfermented or lightly fermented wine, and cider were considered "mild drinks" by some (D&C 89꞉17) and therefore acceptable under at least some circumstances (note that verse 17 specifically permits "barley...for mild drinks"). One historian notes that the degree of rigor with which early Saints observed the Word of Wisdom varied:
[23] While the Saints opposed the common use of tea [24] and coffee, it would appear that they had little objection to its occasional use for medicinal purposes. In an age when these items were frequently used as a relief for a wide variety of ailments, it would have been imprudent to have entirely forbidden their use....[25] The journal of Joseph Smith reveals many instances where Joseph and other Church leaders drank wine and a tolerant attitude towards the consumption of this beverage is particularly noticeable....
[26] Despite the injunction contained in the revelation discouraging the drinking of wine, (except for sacramental purposes) the casual nature of the allusions to this beverage suggest that many Church Authorities did not consider moderate wine drinking in the same category as the use of strong drinks....
Evidence suggests that the drinking of tea, coffee, and liquor was [in the 1830s] in general violation of the principle [of the Word of Wisdom], though exceptions can be found. All of these items were used by the Saints for medicinal purposes. Moderate wine-drinking was evidently acceptable to most Church leaders....[27] In short, it would seem that adherence to the revelation to at least 1839 required Church members to be moderately temperate but certainly [did] not [require] total abstinence....[2]{{
Church discipline?
Some have used the fact that early Church disciplinary councils would include the charge of failure to keep the Word of Wisdom as evidence against Joseph or other Saints. As Paul Peterson notes:
In all cases where membership or fellowship was taken away [partly on the grounds that the member did not observe the Word of Wisdom], there were other accusations that were directed at the offender. In many cases the Word of Wisdom violation appeared to have been considered less important tha the other infractions. In fact, the evidence strongly suggests that Mormonss were not expelled solely for violations of the Word of Wisdom except in the case of extreme drunkenness....In addition to this, the Word of Wisdom was somewhat unique in that it was a revelation that was given "not by way of commandment," [D&C 89꞉2] allowing a good deal of subjectivity for individual interpretation.[2]:30
The complete prohibition of alcoholic drinks of any kind, and a strict enforcement of the Word of Wisdom's other prohibitions, only became part of the Word of Wisdom following the temperance movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries; Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J. Grant supported the movement and Grant made complete abstention from alcohol in any form a requirement for a temple recommend in the early 1920s.
Joseph Smith and the Word of Wisdom
- History and implementation of the Word of Wisdom
- Joseph Smith and the early implementation of the Word of Wisdom
- Joseph Smith drank wine in Carthage jail?
- Joseph Smith used tea?
- Joseph Smith procured tobacco prior to the martyrdom
- Did Joseph disregard the Word of Wisdom when he prophesied that Orson Hyde would drink wine with him in Palestine?
History and implementation of the Word of Wisdom
Summary: Observance of the Word of Wisdom has changed over time, due to on-going revelation from modern-day prophets, who put greater emphasis on certain elements of the revelation originally given to Joseph Smith. Early Latter-day Saints were not under the same requirements as today's Saints are.Joseph Smith and the early implementation of the Word of Wisdom
Summary: Joseph Smith implemented a moderate implementation of the Word of Wisdom, and not the more strict standard known to members today.Joseph Smith drank wine in Carthage jail?
Summary: Joseph Smith and those who were with him drank wine in Carthage Jail prior to his martyrdom. Did Joseph violate the Word of Wisdom?Joseph Smith used tea?
Summary: Joseph Smith drank tea, and it is claimed that he encouraged others to do so. Did Joseph violate the Word of Wisdom?Joseph Smith procured tobacco prior to the martyrdom
Summary: It is claimed Joseph arranged for some tobacco to be brought to Willard Richards in Carthage Jail just prior to his murder. Did Joseph violate the Word of Wisdom?Did Joseph disregard the Word of Wisdom when he prophesied that Orson Hyde would drink wine with him in Palestine?
Summary: This criticism relies on readers not knowing the history of the Word of Wisdom's implementation.Notes
- ↑ Paul H. Peterson, "An Historical Analysis of the Word of Wisdom," Master's thesis, Brigham Young University, 1972, 38. The cited material is [Letter from BF Johnson to George F. Gibbs, 1903.]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Paul H. Peterson, "An Historical Analysis of the Word of Wisdom," Master's thesis, Brigham Young University, 1972. Page numbers cited within text.