“Lesson 104—Doctrine and Covenants 89:1–17: A Word of Wisdom from the Lord,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)
“Doctrine and Covenants 89:1–17,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 104: Doctrine and Covenants 89–92
Doctrine and Covenants 89:1–17
A Word of Wisdom from the Lord
As was common in 1833, many members of the Church used tobacco and drank alcohol, tea, and coffee. In answer to Joseph Smith’s prayers about the matter, the Lord mercifully revealed the Word of Wisdom. This lesson can help students feel gratitude for the Lord’s loving instruction known as the Word of Wisdom.
Possible Learning Activities
Note: The promised spiritual blessings in Doctrine and Covenants 89:18–21 for keeping the Word of Wisdom will be the focus of the next lesson. It may be best to teach both of these lessons to help students see that the blessings of the Word of Wisdom are far more spiritual in nature than physical.
Satan’s tactics
Consider inviting students to discuss lures that Satan uses to entrap God’s children. You could bring in or show a picture of fishing lures. You could also ask students with fishing experience to describe the best lures to use in your area. Another option is to show the first part of the video “You Will Be Freed,” available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 0:00 to 1:29.
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How could fishing lures be compared to Satan’s tactics?
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What counsel has the Savior given to help us detect and avoid Satan’s lures?
There are many correct answers to the second question, including prayer (see Doctrine and Covenants 10:5), daily scripture study (see Helaman 3:29–30), seeking the spirit of revelation (see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–4), and following counsel from prophets and Church leaders (see Doctrine and Covenants 21:5).
To help students see why we can trust the Savior’s counsel, you could invite them to read 2 Nephi 26:24 and Jacob 4:10 and to share what they learn about Him.
You might also ask students to ponder or share with the class their answers to the following question:
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How have specific counsels or warnings from the Savior and His authorized servants blessed and protected your life?
The Word of Wisdom
Consider displaying the following picture of a small room above Newel K. Whitney’s store in Kirtland, Ohio. Invite your students to imagine the room filled with men, many of whom were smoking and chewing tobacco, as you explain the information in the following paragraph.
In the winter of 1833, about 20 priesthood holders met frequently in this room to attend the School of the Prophets (see Doctrine and Covenants 88:127). As was common in those days, many of them smoked and chewed tobacco during the meetings. Brigham Young recalled that “often when the Prophet entered the room to give the school instructions he would find himself in a cloud of tobacco smoke” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 263). These circumstances, along with the feelings of Emma Smith, who cleaned the chewing tobacco spit from the floor, prompted Joseph Smith to pray about the use of such substances. In answer, the Lord revealed Doctrine and Covenants 89 (see Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846 [2018], 167–68).
Read Doctrine and Covenants 89:1–4, looking for reasons why the Savior gave this revelation.
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What do you learn about Jesus Christ’s motives for revealing this section?
As students share answers to the previous question, be sure they understand that the Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom to protect us from the evils of our day.
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How could understanding why the Savior revealed the Word of Wisdom affect how we feel about it?
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What are some of the evil designs of our day from which we need His protection?
As students answer the previous question, you might help them recognize how some of the evils they share are designed or calculated to deceive us.
It may be helpful for students to think about or share questions they have about the Word of Wisdom. The following section may help them find answers.
A user manual from the Creator
To introduce the following activity, you may want to bring in or talk about an owner’s manual for a product that students are familiar with. Briefly point out the value of knowing how to maintain the product and some warnings about improper use. Help students understand that God, as the Creator (see Genesis 1:27), perfectly understands our bodies and has given instructions and warnings about their use and care.
If students have questions about details of the Word of Wisdom that have not been clearly taught by the Church, encourage them to counsel with their parents, bishop, or branch president.
Create a manual for the proper use of our bodies. Be creative and personalize it however you choose. The following steps are only one of many ways this could be done:
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Fold a paper in half so that it resembles a short pamphlet. Create a cover page with a title such as “The Word of Wisdom: An Owner’s Manual from the Creator.” You could add drawings or pictures to the cover page.
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Inside the pamphlet, title the left page something like “The Creator’s Counsel on What We Should Do.” Title the right page something like “The Creator’s Counsel on What We Should Avoid.” Feel free to add pictures or designs to the inside pages as well.
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Study Doctrine and Covenants 89:5–17 and fill out your pamphlet by writing or adding pictures of what you learn.
In addition to the following suggestions, consider providing students with helpful materials from the “Additional Resources” section of this lesson.
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Search additional divinely appointed sources such as For the Strength of Youth (booklet, 2022), Guide to the Scriptures, and statements by Church leaders. Add what you learn to your pamphlet.
Give students an opportunity to share or display what they created.
Note: In the “Supplemental Learning Activities” section of the next lesson, there is a suggestion for students to add a back page to their pamphlets. The back page will outline blessings God offers in Doctrine and Covenants 18-21 for keeping the Word of Wisdom. If that would be a good experience for your students, you might encourage them to hand in their pamphlets today or to be sure to bring them to class again for the next lesson.
Our merciful and patient Savior
To help students see how the Savior was patient with His Saints after revealing this commandment, you may want to share some of the following content in your own words with students:
Jesus revealed the Word of Wisdom in 1833, but it was not given as a commandment at that time (see verse 2). After it was received, many Saints began striving to overcome culturally accepted traditions and for some, addictions they had developed. Over time, the Lord led Church leaders, including Brigham Young and John Taylor, to expect more from the Saints as to their observance of the principles taught in Doctrine and Covenants 89. After the turn of the twentieth century, President Heber J. Grant “challenged them to keep the Word of Wisdom with exactness, abstaining from alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco, and other harmful substances earlier generations of Saints had sometimes used,” making “the Word of Wisdom mandatory for temple attendance and missionary service” (Saints, 3:291–92). “In 1921, the Lord inspired President Heber J. Grant to require all Saints to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea in order to obtain a temple recommend” (Church History Topics, “Word of Wisdom [D&C 89],” Gospel Library).
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What helps has the Savior provided in our day for those who struggle with addiction?
The conclusion of the video suggested at the beginning of the lesson could give hope through Christ for those struggling with addiction. You might consider showing “You Will Be Freed” from time code 1:29 to 2:55.
Students who would like more resources for help with addiction could be directed to their ward leaders and to the “Life Help” page on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Before asking the following question, consider helping students recognize the goodness of Jesus Christ in giving us the Word of Wisdom. It may be helpful to invite them to imagine how the world would be different if there were no substance abuse. You could also give them time to write how the Word of Wisdom has blessed and protected them and their loved ones.
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How does revealing the Word of Wisdom show the mercy and love of Jesus Christ?
Consider concluding the lesson by sharing how the Word of Wisdom has blessed your life and expressing gratitude for the Savior giving us this revelation.