The Word of Wisdom is a modern commandment that the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith designed to bless the physical, emotional, and spiritual lives of the Saints in the modern days. It is a topic which many members know about but the history of which very few seem to understand. As a result many members come to erroneous conclusions about its purpose, place, and enforcement in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This in turn leads them to false conclusions about how it should be interpreted and enforced today. One of the most common errors is the belief that beer and perhaps other weak alcoholic drinks were acceptable as “mild drinks” and were only forbidden in the early 20th century by LDS leaders who were supportive of American Prohibition. To find out the truth of this I will be evaluating the history of the Word of Wisdom in the 19th century as well as placing it in the larger context of common ideas of medicine and health common in the era. This will give us a great basis then to address and confirm or dispel some of the most common misconceptions surrounding the Word of Wisdom.
Tag: temperance
A Christian’s Duty to the Law
Excerpts from an article by William Lloyd Garrison wherein he makes the argument that the law of man itself is corrupt and that the only law that should guide a man’s life is the Law of God. Going to the scriptures themselves as his foundation, Garrison argues that where there is no conflict between the law of man and the Law of God then there is no problem but where the law of man demands one thing and the Law of God demands another then the Christian will always obey God first and face whatever the consequences be for defying the law of man.