“Have the Saints always given as much emphasis to the Word of Wisdom as they do today?” Ensign, Apr. 1977, 32–33
Have the Saints always given as much emphasis to the Word of Wisdom as they do today?
Leonard J. Arrington, Church Historian Many present-day members of the Church, in reading the diaries, letters, and histories of their grandparents and great-grandparents, have discovered that even those who were staunch members of the Church occasionally mention use of tea, coffee, tobacco, and intoxicating drinks. Even after the publication of the revelation called the Word of Wisdom in 1835, a number of loyal members continued to indulge in some of these habits despite the Lord’s counsel against it.
We should not be surprised at their doing so, because at that time some of them apparently felt that the revelation meant simply a word of advice and counsel—“not by commandment or constraint” (D&C 89:2)—somewhat on the order of “get plenty of sleep” and “don’t eat too much.”1
From time to time Church leaders laid special stress on the importance of the revelation, and in the October general conference in 1851 the Saints agreed by uplifted hand that they would observe it.2 Obedience to the Word of Wisdom was listed as a requirement to belong to the School of the Prophets, to the United Order, and to fully participate in many of the important activities of the Church.3
President Brigham Young strongly urged obedience to the principle in the mid-1860s, President John Taylor and others in the 1880s, and President Joseph F. Smith and others in the early years of this century. President Joseph F. Smith, in a sermon, said, “The reason undoubtedly why the Word of Wisdom was given—as not by ‘commandment’ or ‘restraint’ was that at that time, at least, if it had been given as a commandment it would have brought every man [and woman] addicted to the use of these noxious things under condemnation; so the Lord was merciful and gave them a chance to overcome, before He brought them under the law.”4 President Smith stated in 1908, “I believe that we are coming nearer to the point where we shall be able to observe that great and glorious law of temperance which the Lord Almighty has given unto us.”5
It was in the 1920s, under the inspiration of President Heber J. Grant, that the Church as a whole began to consistently regard the revelation not only as “the order and will of God” but also as a binding principle. From that time forward Church leaders have uniformly and consistently insisted on obedience to the revelation—refraining from the use of tea, coffee, tobacco, and intoxicating beverages—as a condition of holding local leadership positions. And from that time forward, compliance with the ban on coffee, tea, alcohol, and tobacco has been considered essential to ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood, obtaining recommends to the temple, and participating in other ordinances and responsibilities.6
We should not be impatient with the Word of Wisdom lapses of early Church members. Certainly there is no reason for us to be ashamed of them. They lived before the revelation was considered binding, and they acted upon the light and understanding which they had. Some of them observed the Word of Wisdom very carefully; others were less scrupulous in this one area but demonstrated their loyalty and goodness in countless other ways. And the Saints as a whole were much more temperate than nineteenth-century persons generally. Travelers to Latter-day Saint communities in the last century praised the temperance and moderation of the Saints. Extreme abuses, particularly drunkenness, were never at any time tolerated among the Saints.
The Lord adds to the Saints’ understanding constantly through the prophet and other leaders he calls. The early Saints struggled through terrible adversities and laid the great foundation of faith that is our heritage. They should be honored and appreciated for their faithfulness to the laws that God revealed to them. At the same time we should be grateful for any additional understanding that adds to our happiness and spiritual growth.