The Word of Wisdom (Doctrine & Covenants 89) is often cited as a strict health law that prohibits the consumption of coffee, tea, alcohol, and tobacco. However, this interpretation is a modern imposition rather than a historical truth. Joseph Smith never enforced the Word of Wisdom as a commandment, nor did he consider it a requirement for temple worthiness.
1. The Original Intent of the Word of Wisdom
Doctrine & Covenants 89:2 explicitly states that the Word of Wisdom is “not by commandment or constraint” but was meant as wise counsel for health and well-being. The revelation was given as a recommendation rather than a strict commandment, allowing members to exercise personal agency in their health choices.
Historical records indicate that Joseph Smith himself occasionally drank wine and beer. For example, Todd Compton, in In Sacred Loneliness (1997), provides evidence that Smith consumed alcohol in social settings and during the sacrament. Additionally, Brigham Young and early LDS leaders did not enforce total abstinence from alcohol, coffee, or tea. Leonard J. Arrington, in Brigham Young: American Moses (1985), notes that some leaders even owned distilleries and engaged in the production of alcoholic beverages.
2. The Shift Toward Compulsion
It was not until the early 20th century, under President Heber J. Grant, that the Word of Wisdom became a strict requirement for temple entry. James E. Talmage, in The House of the Lord (1912), documents this shift, which was influenced more by social pressures of the Prohibition era than by divine revelation. During this period, the Church increasingly aligned with temperance movements in the United States, and adherence to the Word of Wisdom became a test of faithfulness rather than a personal health guideline.
3. The Need for Reform
Since the original intent of the Word of Wisdom was as a suggestion rather than a commandment, the Church should return to its roots and make adherence optional. Members should be allowed to govern their own health choices without being denied access to the temple over a cup of coffee or tea. The principle of agency, which is foundational to LDS theology, supports the idea that individuals should make informed decisions regarding their health without unnecessary institutional constraints.
Restoring the Word of Wisdom to its intended purpose as wise counsel rather than a rigid rule would honor the early teachings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young while allowing modern members greater freedom in their spiritual journey.
References
Compton, Todd. In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1997.
Arrington, Leonard J. Brigham Young: American Moses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1985.
Talmage, James E. The House of the Lord. Salt Lake City: The Deseret News, 1912.
Doctrine & Covenants 89.
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