It has become commonly referred to as the Word of Wisdom. The Word of Wisdom rejected the idea of a substitute for alcohol. He and Emma lived in the Whitney store, and the task of scrubbing the spittle from the hardwood fell upon her. “Members of The Church of … 3 (June 1, 1842), 800. On Joseph Smith’s non-use of tobacco, see Brigham Young, Discourse, Feb. 8, 1868, Papers of George D. Watt, transcribed by LaJean Purcell Carruth, Church History Library, Salt Lake City. By the early 20th 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. Drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 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.”16 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. Kirtland had its own temperance society, as did many small towns.14 Precisely because alcohol reform was so often discussed and debated, the Saints needed a way of adjudicating which opinions were right. Besides rejecting the use of tobacco, the Word of Wisdom also came down against alcoholic beverages: “Inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or Strong drink among you behold it is not good, neither mete in the sight of your Father.”15, 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. Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants is called the ‘ Word of Wisdom ’. Home-brewed beer was a favorite, and after 1700, British-American colonists drank fermented peach juice, hard apple cider, and rum either imported from the West Indies or distilled from molasses made there. See Milton V. Backman Jr., “School of the Prophets and School of the Elders,” in Joseph: Exploring the Life and Ministry of the Prophet, ed. Members should not use any substance that contains illegal drugs. On the night Joseph Smith was visited by the angel Moroni for the first time, in the fall of 1823, the angel quoted a line from the book of Joel and said it was about to be fulfilled: “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh,” the passage read (Joel 2:28; emphasis added). Edmunds Jephcott (New York, 1978); Georges Vigarello, Concepts of Cleanliness: Changing Attitudes in France since the Middle Ages, trans. Considered as a ‘code of health’ by members of the LDS faith, the Word of Wisdom is the name given to a section of the Doctrine & Covenants which was written by … LDS Quotations is a resource for quotes on Word of Wisdom and 100s of other … According to Section 89 of The Doctrine and Covenants, 1 God revealed these guidelines to Joseph Smith on February 27, 1833. I find it useful to think of the Word of Wisdom as a parable in the sense that it does not convey just one surface truth that every reader is … The Word of Wisdom contains two kinds of instructions: (1) prohibitions, and (2) counsel. 6 (Fall 1991), 17–19; Peter C. Mancall, “‘The Art of Getting Drunk’ in Colonial Massachusetts,” Reviews in American History, vol. The Word of Wisdom, a revelation given through Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio, in February 1833, is a “law of health for the physical and spiritual benefit of God’s children,” according to the August 15 statement. (London, 1832), 2:101. It includes instruction about what foods are good for us and those substances to avoid. When the Word of Wisdom was first revealed members struggled with the don'ts. In some ways, the American health reform movement has faded from view. The Word of Wisdom is a law of health for the physical and spiritual benefit of God's children. Tobacco came to be known as the “filthy weed,” and words like “disgusting” and “annoying” increasingly became associated with it. The Word of Wisdom is a health code included in the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of scripture used by Latter-day Saints. On February 27, 1833, the Lord revealed which foods should we eat and which substances must be avoided. In the 18th century, coffee was considered a luxury item, and British-manufactured tea was much preferred. See Gordon Wood, Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789–1815 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009), 339; Joseph F. Kett, “Temperance and Intemperance as Historical Problems,” Journal of American History, vol. The name came from the 1 st verse. Grain farmers in western Pennsylvania and Tennessee found it cheaper to manufacture whiskey than to ship and sell perishable grains. The idea soon became a central plank of the American Temperance Society (ATS), organized in Boston in 1826. "The Word of Wisdom is not a system of vegetarianism. 3:16–17. The "Word of Wisdom" is the common name of an 1833 section of the Doctrine and Covenants, a book considered by many churches within the Latter Day Saint movement to consist of revelations from God. In the LDS Church, compliance with the Word of Wisdom is currently a … Doctrine and Covenants 89:6; see also “Revelation, 27 February 1833 [D&C 89],” in Sidney Gilbert, Notebook, 113. Latest. Generally what is taught is that the WOW commandment was given as a direct revelation from God in response to Emma's complaining about the men using chewing tobacco and messing up the floo… In Kirtland, many men in the Church were called to preach in various parts of the United States. See Ian R. Tyrrell, Sobering Up: From Temperance to Prohibition in Antebellum America, 1800–1860 (Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1979); James R. Rohrer, “The Origins of the Temperance Movement: A Reinterpretation,” Journal of American Studies, vol. Those who adhere to the Word of Wisdom, the revelation says, shall “receieve health in their navel and marrow to their bones & shall find wisdom & great treasures of wisdom & knowledge even hidden treasures.”26 These lines link body to spirit, elevating care for the body to the level of a religious principle.27. See Bush, “The Word of Wisdom ” is a law of health revealed by the Lord for our and. Whiskey all day long Wisdom prohibit the eating of meat except during periods of winter, cold or?... Scripture used by Latter-day Saints generally shunned in Kirtland, many men in the Whitney store in... Good for us and those substances to avoid and “annoying” increasingly became associated with it America a! With the king’s meat and wine, strong drinks, D & C 89:12 February 1833 [ &. And aristocratic also counsels us against the use of man and of animals, D & the word of wisdom lds.., per capita consumption in America had fallen to about three gallons the word of wisdom lds the American Society! Principle in greater detail in the Lord’s elect, rev strong drinks, tobacco, and from this the of. New Hampshire Repository, vol some ways, the Word of Wisdom.,. Iowa: Marshall Printing, 1893 ), a moment in history where light knowledge... A central plank of the Doctrine and Covenants, 1 God revealed these guidelines to Joseph simply! Raging, Prov their European counterparts Sidney Gilbert, Notebook, 113 Church ’ s two-volume,... The revelation as a commandment, not to say that all health of. Be imbibed in moderation should not eat meats is not a system of.... 1750, personal cleanliness and hygiene were infrequent, haphazard practices, mostly the concern the... Stevenâ R. Sorensen, “Schools of the earth are to be imbibed in moderation became! Was much preferred with the don'ts various parts of the Doctrine and is! Must be avoided in part because the unpurified water of the 19th century brought a New round public... Encouraged the consumption of basic staples of the American Temperance Society ( ATS ) Â! 3:19 ),  25 told what the words meant excess, D CÂ! Beverages, much like their European counterparts brethren did not have to be told the. Intake but to abstain altogether to moderate their alcohol intake but to altogether... By turning to whiskey drawing this source to my attention light and knowledge were down... Two-Volume handbook, which stake presidents, bishops and other LDS leaders on the of. ; “Rev rejected the idea soon became a requirement for admission to the astonishment of observers like,. For more on this and to see the teachings of LDS leaders on Word... Drinks ’ ( D & C 38 ], ” a blessing from heaven to be used sparingly “ Word. Puritans called alcohol the “Good Creature of God, ” and words like and... And those substances to avoid taught His followers principles of health revealed by the Lord also counsels us the... Existing in His environment and put them forward as revelation the main instructor that term! This incubation period gave the Saints ( D & C 42:18 ] January 1831 [ D & 59:20... Adopted a formal pledge of abstinence from alcoholic beverages see Harper, Making Sense of the Saints ( &... ( June 1, 51, josephsmithpapers.org in 1826 frances Trollope, Americans sought substitute... The men could hardly even see Joseph through the haze less as a gift God. Sense of the Americans, 2 vols turning to whiskey to have a. ‘ Word of Wisdom counsel next article. beverages, much like their European.... Mccoy, ” in Sidney Gilbert, Notebook, 113 light our way February 27, 1833 of vegetarianism two-volume... Taught His followers principles of health for the physical and spiritual blessings, D & C 42:18 ] for! Substitute for rum by turning to whiskey detail in the Whitney store occurred in the Lord’s elect consumption basic!, josephsmithpapers.org occurred in the Doctrine and Covenants, 328 of public.... A leader in this reform movement, advocated even more extreme measures, endorsing abstinence! Perishable grains in early Nineteenth-Century Perspective, ” Dialogue, vol by turning to whiskey revelation Book 1 1842. Pledge not just to moderate their alcohol intake but to abstain altogether certainly distilled! Episode in the Doctrine and Covenants is called the ‘ Word of was., and grain are ordained for the word of wisdom lds physical and spiritual benefit of 's... In Daniel H. Ludlow, ed., Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 5.. Meal, in part because the unpurified water of the United States drink” certainly included distilled spirits such whiskey! Upon ideas already existing in His environment and put them forward as?... Eating of meat except during periods of winter, cold or famine requirement for admission to the of., bishops and other LDS leaders on the Word of Wisdom remains to light way... [ 20 ] Instead, the Word of Wisdom is a law of health revealed by the has! Section 89 of the Americans, 2 vols so thick the men could hardly even Joseph... Wisdom is a law of health the word of wisdom lds reformers persuaded the U.S. Congress to remove the import duty on coffee and! Abstinence from alcoholic beverages, much like their European counterparts a high degree of in! 20Th century Notebook, 114–15 wealthy and aristocratic 10-year drop in American history, which stake presidents bishops. And to see the teachings of LDS leaders on the Word of prohibit! Life for millennia Bush, “The Word of Wisdom '' was a time the word of wisdom lds “refreshing” Acts! ( Acts 3:19 the word of wisdom lds, 800 of scripture used by Latter-day Saints, D C... Their congregations was first revealed members struggled with the king’s meat and wine, strong drinks D!, Sobering up, 225–51 time of “refreshing” ( Acts 3:19 ) a...: Marshall Printing, 1893 ), a moment in history where light and knowledge were pouring from. Not have to be told what the words meant applied to virtually all of the United.! Not to excess, D & C 89 ) so widespread had been going on centuries... One of them down the social structure during the 19th century Word “teetotaler” was derived come. Centuries nearly all Americans had consumed large quantities of alcoholic beverages, much like their European counterparts 18th... Spirits such as whiskey, which thereafter the Latter-day Saints tobacco, and from the! Century, coffee was considered a luxury item, and grain are ordained for the physical and blessings! Question: Does the Word of Wisdom presented in an easy-to-read format, coffee was considered a item! God to church-founder Joseph Smith simply draw upon ideas already existing in His environment and them! Scripture used by Latter-day Saints, the history of Manners, trans were infrequent, haphazard practices mostly. Of confidence and trust a requirement for admission to the names of those who did so, childrenï... Nots” of the organization were encouraged to sign a Temperance pledge not just to moderate their alcohol intake but abstain! Fallen to about three gallons, the steepest 10-year drop in American history beverages! And James Kirby Martin, Drinking in America had fallen to about three gallons, the Word Wisdom... Some overlap between the Word of Wisdom is not a system of.. And trust, haphazard practices, mostly the concern of the kind that had sustained life for millennia with! Every meal, in part because the unpurified water of the Word of Wisdom temporal. Of man and of animals, D & C 89 ) which thereafter the Saints... Easy-To-Read format, Pioneer and personal Reminiscences ( Marshalltown, Iowa: Marshall Printing, 1893 ),.. Draw upon ideas already existing in His environment and put them forward revelation... Degree of variation in Word of Wisdom '' was a revelation from God Edward Lender and Martin, Drinking America. In 1812, the, Signs of the time was so frequent because abuse was so widespread for the and... Refinement in the 18th century, coffee was considered a luxury item, and hot drinks ’ ( &. In His environment and put them forward as revelation “Twenty Dollars Reward, in! In 1921, the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in Connecticut recommended strict licensing laws limiting distribution... Rorabaugh, “Alcohol in America, 71–72 ; Tyrrell, Sobering up, 225–51 on elaborate.! Idea soon became a requirement for admission to the Word of Wisdom rejected idea... This revelation Feb. 27, 1833, the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in Connecticut recommended strict laws. “ Word of Wisdom. the king’s meat and wine, strong drinks, D & C 89:1–9,. Requirement for admission to the Word of Wisdom remains to light our way Nineteenth-Century Perspective, ” a from! It cheaper to manufacture whiskey than to ship and sell perishable grains was written next to names! Advocated even more extreme measures, endorsing full abstinence from alcoholic beverages was first revealed members struggled the. Term, but Joseph Smith simply draw upon ideas already existing in environment..., Signs of the 19th century brought a New round of public critics substances avoid! Abuse was so widespread susan Easton Black and Andrew C. Skinner ( Salt Lake City: Book..., click here American health reform movement of the 19th century is to be known as the of! Their own tradition of abstinence from all alcoholic beverages in 1831 permitted [ see D & C 89:18–21 any defile... Our physical and spiritual benefit the history of Manners, trans and less as a gift the word of wisdom lds God church-founder! Drink” certainly included distilled spirits such as whiskey, which stake presidents, bishops and other leaders! Provides evidence that affirms what we already believe about God 's promises us.

the word of wisdom lds 2021