Joseph Smith and the Word of Wisdom - Revision history

SpencerMarsh at 19:33, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T19:33:00Z

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	<small>[[Word of Wisdom]] \| <span style="color:#7BB375">Joseph Smith</span></small>		<small>[[Word of Wisdom]] \| <span style="color:#7BB375">Joseph Smith</span></small>
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	Several questions have arisen regarding Joseph Smith's practice of the Word of Wisdom during his lifetime. The articles below address these questions.		Several questions have arisen regarding Joseph Smith's practice of the Word of Wisdom during his lifetime. The articles below address these questions.
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SpencerMarsh at 19:32, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T19:32:49Z

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	Several questions have arisen regarding Joseph Smith's practice of the Word of Wisdom during his lifetime. The articles below address these questions.		Several questions have arisen regarding Joseph Smith's practice of the Word of Wisdom during his lifetime. The articles below address these questions.
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	{{Critical sources box:Joseph Smith/Alleged false prophecies/Joseph and Orson Hyde to drink of wine in Palestine/CriticalSources}}{{blankline}}		{{Critical sources box:Joseph Smith/Alleged false prophecies/Joseph and Orson Hyde to drink of wine in Palestine/CriticalSources}}{{blankline}}
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SpencerMarsh at 19:32, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T19:32:20Z

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SpencerMarsh at 19:32, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T19:32:07Z

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SpencerMarsh at 19:30, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T19:30:03Z

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SpencerMarsh at 14:29, 27 March 2026

2026-03-27T14:29:56Z

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	{{Main Page}}		{{Main Page}}
	{{Navigation:Joseph Smith}}{{blankline}}		{{Navigation:Joseph Smith}}{{blankline}}
			Several questions have arisen regarding Joseph Smith's practice of the Word of Wisdom during his lifetime. The articles below address these questions.
	=In what way did Joseph Smith implement the Word of Wisdom during his lifetime?=		----
	==Joseph Smith never interpreted the Word of Wisdom revelation as demanding total abstinence==		{{CollapseHeaders
			\| title = ===In what way did Joseph Smith implement the Word of Wisdom during his lifetime?===
			\| state = closed
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			====Joseph Smith never interpreted the Word of Wisdom revelation as demanding total abstinence====

	The Word of Wisdom was enforced differently in the 19th century than today. Observance of the Word of Wisdom has changed over time, due to on-going revelation from modern-day prophets, who put greater emphasis on certain elements of the revelation originally given to Joseph Smith. Early Latter-day Saints were not under the same requirements as today's Saints are.		The Word of Wisdom was enforced differently in the 19th century than today. Observance of the Word of Wisdom has changed over time, due to on-going revelation from modern-day prophets, who put greater emphasis on certain elements of the revelation originally given to Joseph Smith. Early Latter-day Saints were not under the same requirements as today's Saints are.
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	==Beer, unfermented or lightly fermented wine, and cider were considered "mild drinks" by some and therefore acceptable under at least some circumstances==		====Beer, unfermented or lightly fermented wine, and cider were considered "mild drinks" by some and therefore acceptable under at least some circumstances====

	The text of the Word of Wisdom forbids "strong drink" ({{s\|\|D&C\|89\|5,7}}), which some (including Joseph) seem to have interpreted as distilled beverages (hard liquor). Beer, unfermented or lightly fermented wine, and cider were considered "mild drinks" by some ({{s\|\|D&C\|89\|17}}) and therefore acceptable under at least some circumstances (note that verse 17 specifically permits "barley...for mild drinks"). One historian notes that the degree of rigor with which early Saints observed the Word of Wisdom varied:		The text of the Word of Wisdom forbids "strong drink" ({{s\|\|D&C\|89\|5,7}}), which some (including Joseph) seem to have interpreted as distilled beverages (hard liquor). Beer, unfermented or lightly fermented wine, and cider were considered "mild drinks" by some ({{s\|\|D&C\|89\|17}}) and therefore acceptable under at least some circumstances (note that verse 17 specifically permits "barley...for mild drinks"). One historian notes that the degree of rigor with which early Saints observed the Word of Wisdom varied:
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	Evidence suggests that the drinking of tea, coffee, and liquor was [in the 1830s] in general violation of the principle [of the Word of Wisdom], though exceptions can be found. All of these items were used by the Saints for medicinal purposes. Moderate wine-drinking was evidently acceptable to most Church leaders....[27] In short, it would seem that adherence to the revelation to at least 1839 required Church members to be moderately temperate but certainly [did] not [require] total abstinence....<ref name="peterson">{{Book:Peterson:Historical Analysis of Word of Wisdom}} Page numbers cited within text.</ref>		Evidence suggests that the drinking of tea, coffee, and liquor was [in the 1830s] in general violation of the principle [of the Word of Wisdom], though exceptions can be found. All of these items were used by the Saints for medicinal purposes. Moderate wine-drinking was evidently acceptable to most Church leaders....[27] In short, it would seem that adherence to the revelation to at least 1839 required Church members to be moderately temperate but certainly [did] not [require] total abstinence....<ref name="peterson">{{Book:Peterson:Historical Analysis of Word of Wisdom}} Page numbers cited within text.</ref>
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	=Did Joseph Smith give some of the brethren money to purchase whiskey in violation of the Word of Wisdom?=		=Did Joseph Smith give some of the brethren money to purchase whiskey in violation of the Word of Wisdom?=
	==The use of whiskey as a stimulant while traveling was allowed, but abusing it by getting drunk was not==		==The use of whiskey as a stimulant while traveling was allowed, but abusing it by getting drunk was not==

GregSmith at 05:31, 27 May 2024

2024-05-27T05:31:17Z

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GregSmith: /* Tobacco for Willard Richards */

2024-05-21T00:48:31Z

Tobacco for Willard Richards

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	Since neither the wine nor the tobacco was, for members at the time, seen as a violation of the Word of Wisdom. Leaders would not include this information if it made Joseph look bad. This should be our first clue that something else is going on.<ref>{{HoC\|vol=6\|pages=616}}</ref> Some critics, however, have not sought to understand, but merely to condemn by trusting that their audience will not understand the fine points of early nineteenth century frontier medicine.		Since neither the wine nor the tobacco was, for members at the time, seen as a violation of the Word of Wisdom. Leaders would not include this information if it made Joseph look bad. This should be our first clue that something else is going on.<ref>{{HoC\|vol=6\|pages=616}}</ref> Some critics, however, have not sought to understand, but merely to condemn by trusting that their audience will not understand the fine points of early nineteenth century frontier medicine.

			{{SummaryItem
			\|link=Events surrounding the death of Joseph Smith
			\|subject=Events surrounding the death of Joseph Smith
			\|summary=To learn more about the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum in Carthage jail, follow this link.
			}}
	{{Critical sources box:Word of Wisdom/Joseph Smith procured tobacco prior to the martyrdom/CriticalSources}}{{blankline}}		{{Critical sources box:Word of Wisdom/Joseph Smith procured tobacco prior to the martyrdom/CriticalSources}}{{blankline}}

GregSmith: /* Kate Holbrook: The Word of Wisdom: Development and Practice */

2024-05-20T05:39:00Z

Kate Holbrook: The Word of Wisdom: Development and Practice

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:39, 20 May 2024
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	==Kate Holbrook: The Word of Wisdom: Development and Practice==		==Kate Holbrook: The Word of Wisdom: Development and Practice==
	<embedvideo service="youtube">_OrvOkNU0NI</embedvideo>		<embedvideo service="youtube">_OrvOkNU0NI</embedvideo>{{blankline}}

	=In what way did Joseph Smith implement the Word of Wisdom during his lifetime?=		=In what way did Joseph Smith implement the Word of Wisdom during his lifetime?=

GregSmith at 05:38, 20 May 2024

2024-05-20T05:38:49Z

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	=''Revelations in Context'': "Nevertheless, it required time to wind down practices that were so deeply ingrained in family tradition and culture"=		=''Revelations in Context'': "Nevertheless, it required time to wind down practices that were so deeply ingrained in family tradition and culture"=
	[http://history.lds.org/article/doctrine-and-covenants-word-of-wisdom?lang=eng "The Word of Wisdom: D&C 89,"] ''Revelations in Context'' on history.lds.org (11 June 2013):		[http://history.lds.org/article/doctrine-and-covenants-word-of-wisdom?lang=eng "The Word of Wisdom: D&C 89,"] ''Revelations in Context'' on history.lds.org (11 June 2013):