Our post today is actually the intro for a new page we’ve published. If you’d like to read the page in full there’s a link at the end of this post, and for future
reference check out the side-bar over on the right where w’e’ll be adding it to our list of resources.
Be sure to mark it as a handy-dandy reference for when you want/need a specific quote on all things to do with the Word of Wisdom.
Here we go!
The title of this page is self-explanatory, and on a personal note, a bit cathartic. I’m an organization freak, and the disarray of the blog and site right now is driving me nuts! Forgive my neurotic behavior (please!), and just bookmark this page as a go-to portal for all things pertaining to the LDS Word of Wisdom.
Our questions and concern about this subject stem from comments church leaders have made, their mandates, and the hypocrisy we see in the very public behavior of top-notch leaders of the Church. Over all, this isn’t a matter of whether or not someone cooks with wine, or even if they have a so-called ‘forbidden’ cup of tea (Matthew 15:17-20). Our questions and concern for the Mormons are as follows:
1.Those who encumber themselves with the church’s edicts without being free in Christ.
Romans 6:16 ‘Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?’
2.Those who wag their fingers at members while turning a blind eye at their own sin.
Romans 1:32 ‘Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.’
3.Those who’ve become too trusting of their leaders’ designs instead of checking it out for themselves.
2 Timothy 3:7 ‘Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth’.
The first thing we’re going to look at is an official statement on the Word of Wisdom.
Encyclopedia of Mormonism, pg 1584; “Word of Wisdom is the common title for a revelation that counsels Latter-day Saints on maintaining good health and is published as Doctrine and Covenants: section 89. The practice of abstaining from all forms of alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea, which may outwardly distinguish active Latter-day Saints more than any other practice, derives from this revelation.” – Bruce R. McConkie
The next thing to consider is timing. What was going on at the time Joe Smith came up with this revelation?
Without being redundant, I’m providing a link to our article on Brigham Young’s distilleries where we explored the birth of the 1826 Temperance Movement in New England, which is where Smith lived at the time.
The other item of note comes from remarks Brigham Young made when he wrote about the birth of the Wow during the time Smith was holding classes for the ‘School of the Prophets’.
Looking at historical facts, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Smith incorporated the latest fad into his shiny new gospel of Mormonism to come up with another way to control people.
While the Mormons today may not be intimately acquainted with all the references listed here, the issue is that at one time, they have been. These ordinances and mandates that have been passed down over time became part of the Mormon psyche, and this is the issue.
Leave a Reply