In the School of the Prophets, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught the elders of Israel about building God’s kingdom on earth. They discussed spiritual truths, prayed together, fasted, and prepared to preach the gospel. But there was something about the atmosphere that might seem odd to us today, and it didn’t seem right to Emma Smith either. During the meetings, the men smoked and chewed tobacco, which wasn’t unusual for the time, but it stained the wood floors black and left a strong odor in the air. Emma shared her concerns with Joseph, and Joseph asked the Lord. His response was a revelation that went far beyond smoke and tobacco stains. It gave the Saints, for generations to come, “a principle with promise”—promises of physical health, “wisdom,” and “great treasures of knowledge” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:3, 19).
The Lord gave me the Word of Wisdom to help me be healthy in body and spirit.
When the elders in the School of the Prophets first heard Joseph Smith read the Word of Wisdom, they immediately “tossed their pipes and plugs of chewing tobacco into the fire” (Saints, 1:168). They wanted to show their willingness to obey the Lord. Perhaps you have already “tossed” from your life the substances the Word of Wisdom warns against, but what else can you learn from this revelation? Consider these ideas:
Think of the revelation as “a principle with promise” (verse 3)—enduring truths that guide decision-making. What principles do you find that can guide your decisions? What blessings does the Lord promise? (see verses 18–21). How has He fulfilled those promises in your life?
What examples have you seen of “evils and designs … in the hearts of conspiring men” related to the Word of Wisdom? (verse 4). In addition to this revelation, what has the Lord given to help you avoid or overcome these evils?
What are you prompted to do to better care for your body?
You may have had opportunities to explain to others why you live the Word of Wisdom—and you may have more opportunities in the future. Consider how you might use these opportunities to testify of the Savior, the sacredness of our bodies, and other spiritual truths. For ideas, see “Your body is sacred,” For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, 22–29.
Learn and teach through principles. Rather than creating lists of dos and don’ts, we can live by principles to exercise our agency and faith in Christ. For example, consider principle-based questions like these regarding the Word of Wisdom: Which principles can give encouragement to someone who struggles to obey the Word of Wisdom? Which principles can comfort me when I have health problems despite living the Word of Wisdom?
The First Presidency holds the “keys of the kingdom.”
In section 90, the Lord gave instructions about “the ministry and presidency” (verse 12) of Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams—members of what we now call the First Presidency. What do you learn about the First Presidency from verses 1–17? Consider reviewing recent messages from members of the First Presidency. What do they do to “set in order all the affairs of this church and kingdom”? (verse 16). How can you show that they are not “a light thing” to you? (verse 5).
Consider singing or reading the words to “Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice” (Hymns, no. 21) or another song about prophets that relates to teachings in these verses. How has the service of the First Presidency helped you know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
Ponder any experiences you have had that testify of the Lord’s promise in Doctrine and Covenants 90:24. Consider recording your experiences and sharing them with a family member or loved one—maybe someone who needs reassurance or encouragement. If you are still waiting for certain blessings, ponder what you can do to remain faithful as you wait to see how “all things shall work together for your good.”
Vienna Jaques was born on June 10, 1787, in Massachusetts. A woman of faith who had considerable financial means, Vienna first met missionaries in 1831. After obtaining a spiritual witness that their message was true, she traveled to meet the Prophet in Kirtland, Ohio, where she was baptized.
Vienna obeyed the Lord’s counsel to her in Doctrine and Covenants 90:28–31. Her consecration to the Lord, which included donations she had made earlier in Kirtland, came at a crucial time for the Church, when leaders were trying to purchase the land where the Kirtland Temple would be built. Vienna was “faithful, and not … idle” throughout her life and was eventually able to “settle down in peace” (verse 31) in the Salt Lake Valley, where she died at age 96.
We all encounter messages that contain “many things … that are true” and “many things … that are not true” (Doctrine and Covenants 91:1–2). What counsel do you find in section 91 that can help you discern truth in the messages you encounter? How has the Spirit helped you discern truth from error?
For more ideas, see this month’s issues of the Liahona and For the Strength of Youth magazines.
The Word of Wisdom helps me be healthy in body and spirit.
To introduce section 89, perhaps you and your children could look at a picture of a temple or sing a song about physical health, such as “The Lord Gave Me a Temple” (Children’s Songbook, 153), to teach that our bodies are like temples for our spirits. Help your children act out ways they can care for their bodies.
To learn about the Lord’s commandments in Doctrine and Covenants 89:10–17, you and your children could draw or look at pictures of good things we can eat or do to keep our bodies healthy (see the picture and activity page at the end of this outline). What has the Lord warned us not to use? Why does He want us to care for our bodies?
Elder Gary E. Stevenson counseled young people to plan in advance what they will do when tempted with alcohol or drugs. He taught: “You will find that temptation has less control over you. You will have already made the decision of how you will react and what you will do. You won’t need to decide every time” (“Your Priesthood Playbook,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 48). After reading together Doctrine and Covenants 89:4 and Elder Stevenson’s statement, counsel with your children about how they can decide now—for the rest of their lives—to live the Word of Wisdom. You could even role-play how they might respond if someone, even a friend, offers them something that is against the Word of Wisdom. How does the Lord bless us as we obey the Word of Wisdom? (see verses 18–21).
You could look at pictures of ancient prophets or sing a song like “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, 110–11). How has God blessed His children through His prophets? Why should we listen to God’s prophets? (see Doctrine and Covenants 90:5). Then you and your children could look at a picture of the living prophet and share some things the Lord has taught or warned us about through him. How can we follow the prophet?
You could summarize the section heading for Doctrine and Covenants 91 to help your children understand why this revelation was given. They could then think of places, such as in the media, where we find “many things … that are true” and “many things … that are not true” (verses 1–2). What do verses 4–6 teach us about the Holy Ghost? How does the Holy Ghost help us know what is right?
For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.
