John and Mike discuss the origins and influences around Joseph Smith and the Creation of the Word of Wisdom.
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Show notes:
- LDS Discussions Essay
- Mormon Stories essay on the Word of Wisdom
- LDS Discussions on Anchor
- LDS Discussions on Spotify
- LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube
In the Temperance movement in 1833, Strong Drink referred to distilled alcohols while beer, wine, and cider were referred to as Ardent Spirits. The technology needed to make non-alcoholic drinks was invented in 1795 but it wasn’t until the 1850s that mass produced bottling technology made non-alcoholic drinks practical. Coffee and Tea were referred to as Hot Drinks in the Temperance movement. Everyone in the Temperance movement was against Strong Drink, but most accepted the use of either Ardent Spirits, like in the Word of Wisdom, or Hot Drinks. A few took the “cold water pledge” and abstained from everything except cold water.
Temperance was a big deal in 1833. The day before the Word of Wisdom was recorded, there were mass Temperance meetings in almost every town and village in the United States and many well publicized national events.
I believe what you’ve said about JS receiving convenient revelations based on temperance movement conversations, etc. I believe the same can be said about ancient prophets. E.g. Moses receiving 10 commandments. I believe if Moses really talked with God or listened to God, God would have given Moses the correct set of commandments the first time. I also, believe Moses created much of the mess himself because of crap he had preached prior to him making up the 10 commandments. I.e. Moses wrote and preached a lot of unhealthy crap in Leviticus, etc.
Also, Abraham puting Isaac on the alter was not a test from (my god). That was Abraham’s ego. My god does not need to play mind game tests. If I believed in a god, that God would not stoop to low levels described in bibles.
1) James E. Talmage experimented with cannabis.
2) Why was Emma forced to be their cleaning lady? Tell them to clean up their own damn messes.
My great great grandfather was called on a “mission” by Brigham Young to make whiskey for the church. When he asked Brigham why he wanted him to make whiskey Brigham explained it was to sell to the “gentiles” because the church needed money.
What’s nuts is they would have never had to “have” the word of wisdom if the men would have just cleaned up after themselves? Thank you for doing this. This is one of the many lessons I always had a hard time teaching to the kids so I watered it down to eating healthy. They want you to teach kids that if their parents aren’t keeping the W of W then they are sinners. So they go home and chastise their parents and pretty soon they stop coming to church. I saw that so many times. I always figured it was my business and it was up to me to know the best way to take care of my body and I never really cared what anyone else thought. Ive seen the dessert tables enough at ward gatherings and see the profit$$ on soft drinks to know that it is not about health, its about control. Its such a mind game and there is so much virtue signaling that goes on.