Word of Wisdom (Pdf)

Hi Princess!!!!

Some time ago in Sunday School, we discussed the Word of Wisdom, found in the Doctrine & Covenants, Section 89. During the discussion I thought about a comment made by a friend who mentioned that part of her decision to become inactive was because of the church’s interpretation of the Word of Wisdom. She said current thought is that a little bit of wine can be healthy, but the church had disregarded that and gone to just water. In addition, wine had been used in the Sacrament throughout history, including many years in the church’s history.

From ChurchofJesusChrist.org: “Although the Word of Wisdom was received on 27 February 1833, its acceptance by individual members of the Church was gradual. On 9 September 1851, some eighteen years after it was given, the Patriarch to the Church, John Smith, delivered a talk in general conference on the Word of Wisdom. During his address, President Brigham Young arose and proposed that all Saints formally covenant to abstain from tea, coffee, tobacco, whiskey, and “all things mentioned in the Word of Wisdom” (“Minutes of the General Conference,” Millennial Star, 1 Feb. 1852, p. 35). The motion was accepted unanimously and became binding as a commandment for all Church members thereafter.”

Strict observance of the Word of Wisdom, took some time. One reference stated that the Church officially stopped using wine in the Sacrament in 1912, but I could not find a verifiable reference. I remember hearing that in the early 1900s, many members drank coffee, including my grandmother, Nola Rosenbaum Olsen.

We frequently consider the Word of Wisdom as a dietary law, but a comment made during Sunday School made me completely reconsider the Word of Wisdom. The comment was something like, “Maybe the Word of Wisdom is not a dietary law, but rather a spiritual law.”

This made sense to me. There are good things about not using tobacco, not risking alcohol addiction, eating fruits in their season, not eating too much meat, and so forth. But I believe the Word of Wisdom is really about setting ourselves apart from the world. In Deut 14:2, Jehovah states the following to the Israelites immediately before giving the dietary code:

“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.”

We also are to be a peculiar people, and not partaking of alcohol and tobacco definitely sets us apart from the world. I remember vividly being at a dinner where a toast was made. Ten glasses of deep red wine and one glass of water (San Pellegrino Sparkling) were raised to the toast. The glass of water stood out starkly. This same scenario has replayed itself many times since then.

May you be filled with the Holy Ghost to lead you and guide you in all things. I think of you and pray for you always.

I LOVE YOU!!!

Dad