D&C 89:1-3

Section 89 is really interesting for me because I think that this is the only section that I’ve ever read in the D&C before now. Why is that? Because the topics here are all my addictions, and this is probably going to be a confessional section for me more so than anything else we’ve covered so far. I’ll probably divulge quite a bit going forward so I won’t cover any of that right now. The background to section 89 is given in the IM as quoted by President Brigham Young saying, “I think I am as well acquainted with the circumstances which lead to the giving of the Word of Wisdom as any man in the Church, although I was not present at the time to witness them. The first school of the Prophets was held in a small room situated over the Prophet Joseph’s kitchen, in a house which belonged to Bishop Whitney… The brethren came to that place for hundreds of mils to attend school in a little room probably no larger than eleven by fourteen. When they assembled together in this room after breakfast, the first they did was to light their pipes and, while smoking, talk about the great things of the kingdom and spit all over the room, and as soon as the pipe was out of their mouths a large chew of tobacco would then be taken. Often when the Prophet entered the room to give the school instructions he would find himself in a cloud of tobacco smoke. This, and the complains of his wife at having to clean so filthy a floor, made the Prophet think upon this matter, and he inquired of the Lord relating to the conduct of the Elders in using tobacco, and the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom was the result of his inquiry. You know what it is and can read it at your leisure.” DJR interestingly observes “that there are no ‘do’s’ than ‘don’ts’ contained in it. Also pay careful attention to the fact that it is not a system of vegetarianism…. As you can see by reading the heading to section 89 in your Doctrine and Covenants, the first three verses were written by the Prophet Joseph Smith as an introduction to the revelation.”

89:1-3 - The Word of Wisdom (WoW from now on), is not only “for the benefit of the council of high priests” for whom it was given, but also “the church.” This seems to be another example of “what I say unto one, I say unto all,” type of thing. Interestingly, this initially is given “not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation.” This was always surprising to me because here I was 150 years later and I didn’t understand why it was a commandment now, but not then. The IM answers my question saying, “Although the Word of Wisdom was received on 27 February 1833, its acceptance by individual members of the Church was gradual. On 9 September 1851, some eighteen years after it was given, the Patriarch to the Church, John Smith, delivered a talk in general conference on the Word of Wisdom. During his address, President Brigham Young arose and proposed that all Saints formally covenant to abstain from tea, coffee, tobacco, whiskey, and ‘all things mentioned in the Word of Wisdom.’ The motion was accepted unanimously and became binding as a commandment for all Church members thereafter. Bishops and stake presidents are responsible for determining whether members are worthy to receive Church ordinances such as baptism or those available in the temple or to enter the temple to receive ordinances for others. Keeping the Word of Wisdom is a part of that worthiness… The reason undoubtedly why the Word of Wisdom was given-as not by ‘commandment or restraint’ was that at that time, at least, if it had been given as a commandment it would have brought every man, addicted to the use of these noxious things, under condemnation; so the Lord was merciful and gave them a chance to overcome, before He brought them under the law. Later on, it was announced from this stand, by President Brigham Young that the Word of Wisdom was a revelation and a command of the Lord.’ President Heber J. Grant emphasized that the Word of Wisdom was a commandment and warned those who did not obey it that ‘the day is gone by when the Lord will trifle with the Latter-day Saints. He has said that His Spirit shall not always strive with men.’ Although the Lord allowed a time of adjustment for those who were already members of the Church when the Word of Wisdom was given, today it is expected that all Saints adhere to the commandment.” A guy that I work with, whose mom is actually a member of the church, told me a joke once, “why do you save money when you take two Mormons fishing instead of one? Because if you take two, they won’t drink all your beer.” It was funny at the time but I just talked to my brothers about this a few days ago and they were saying that how on business trips their coworkers drank the whole time and, satirically, “the word of wisdom only applies outside of Utah.” This is really terrible. Or the story about the stake presidents who all met at a diner and the waitress who asked them, “how come you guys only order coffee when you eat here alone?” There are so many missionary opportunities that come up when you say “No thanks, I don’t drink,” or “no coffee for me thanks.” Then comes the inevitable “why not?” And then that opens up a conversation about the gospel. Those responses draw attention to you, but that’s good because it gives you a chance to share your beliefs, how unfortunate it is that those who blatantly disregard the WoW miss out of those opportunities. Verse 2 ends with “showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days.” Of this the IM teaches, “In order to receive a fullness of joy, we must strive to be clean and pure, both in mind and in body. Some of the temporal benefits resulting from obedience to the Word of Wisdom are better health and vitality, strength, and endurance; greater strength to avoid such physical sins as unchastity; a savings in money not spent on harmful substances; and greater resistance to many of the diseases that attack the body. President Joseph Fielding Smith said: ‘The temporal salvation of the children of men is a most important thing, but sadly neglected by many religious teachers. The truth is that the spiritual salvation is dependent upon the temporal far more than most men realize. The line of demarcation between the temporal, or physical, and the spiritual, cannot be definitively seen. The Lord has said that he has not given a temporal commandment at any time. To men some of these commandments may be temporal, but they are spiritual to the Lord because they all have a bearing on the spiritual or eternal welfare on mankind.’ Obedience to the Word of Wisdom, keeping the ‘temple of God’ undefiled, invites the Holy Ghost to help us resist the temptations of the world. The Word of Wisdom is a commandment, and disobedience to any commandment results in the loss of the Spirit. The loss of spiritual health is far more serious than the loss of physical health. President Stephen L. Richards noted: ‘Every commandment of God is spiritual in nature. There are no carnal commandments. We have learned this from modern revelation. While the commandments have effect upon the body and temporal things they are all in essence spiritual. The Word of Wisdom is spiritual. It is true that it enjoins the use of deleterious substances and makes provision for the health of the body. But the largest measure of good derived from its observance is in increased faith and the development of more spiritual power and wisdom. Likewise, the most regrettable and damaging effects of its infractions are spiritual, also. Injury to the body may be comparatively trivial to the damage to the soul in the destruction of faith and the retardation of spiritual growth. So I say, every commandment involves a spiritual growth. So I say, every commandment involves a spiritual principle.” I was shocked the first time that I heard that there are no temporal commandments, only spiritual, there were so many implications with that, it was hard for me to get my head around. I was also floored the first time I heard that overeating drives away the Spirit. I never realized how much of an impact the physical had on the spiritual until recently, when I felt so bad that I could think about anything other than how bad I felt. I didn’t used to get this way, but recently it’s been there, an all-consuming physical suck, I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or because I’m trying to eat better, I’m not sure, but it’s new and it’s terrible. JS finishes up his introduction with verse 3 saying, “Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.” This is another interesting concept because weakness and addiction go hand in hand, so even the addict can abide this law, through God’s grace. The IM says, “Christ invites all to come unto Him and denies none. All who humble themselves and come to the Lord may become Saints, and in Doctrine and Covenants 89:3 the Lord assures us that all Saints can obey the Word of Wisdom. Youth who are tempted to smoke, drink, or take drugs should be aware, not only of the spiritual danger of disobedience to God’s commandments, but of how difficult it can be to stop taking harmful substances after one has become addicted to them. Individuals who struggle with addictions may not success in quitting all at once but can be helped by family, health professionals, medication, fasting, prayer, and priesthood blessings. As individuals overcome their addictions and keep the commandments, the Lord’s blessings of self-control and spiritual strength make it that much easier for them to continue to obey the Word of Wisdom.”