As many of you know, I was an active Mormon for 11 years, possessing a temple recommend for nearly a decade. Throughout my full-time two-year mission and other teaching positions within the LDS church, the Word of Wisdom was a hot topic. Essentially, it says God has forbidden people to ingest alcohol, tobacco (no smoking or chewing), coffee and tea (Doctrine and Covenants 89:5–9). In verses 18–21 of Section 89, adherents are promised special physical and spiritual blessings.divine painkiller?
“Is observance of the Word of Wisdom necessary?” asked the late Gordon B. Hinckley, 15th president of the Mormon church. “The Brethren [Mormonism’s General Authorities] have long felt that it certainly must be . . . [If the Word of Wisdom were] more widely observed, [it] would save untold pain and suffering and lead not only to increased physical well-being but also to great and satisfying ‘treasures of knowledge’ of the things of God” (“Words of the Prophet: The Body is Sacred,” New Era, November 2006).
Hinckley’s feelings appear deeply devout, but are they from God? Does the Lord, who bought believers with his blood on the cross at Calvary, want his followers to avoid alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea? Mormons claim that “modern-day revelation” says yes. They allege the Word of Wisdom is clearer and more relevant than the Bible regarding how food and drink affect one’s standing with God.
eating, drinking and righteousness
What does the New Testament say about the concept behind the Word of Wisdom? Paul maintained that “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men” (Romans 14:17 , 18). The celebrated apostle similarly explained, “ . . . Food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat” (1 Corinthians 8:8).
He warned the Colossians that “no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink . . . things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:16, 17). Several verses later, Paul appropriately added, “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as ‘Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!’” (verses 20 and 21).
biblical PROS AND CONS OF ALCOHOL
Oh, but what about alcohol? Surely, it’s the devil’s brew. No doubt, it’s potentially disastrous. Therefore, the Bible condemns drunkenness (Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:18). But scripture also sets parameters for proper use of alcohol. For instance, scripture advises, “Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to him whose life is bitter. Let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his trouble no more” (Proverbs 31:6, 7). Likewise, the psalmist noted, God created wine to make men’s hearts glad and to make their faces glisten with oil (Psalm 104:14, 15). And Paul urged the use of wine to comfort an ailing stomach (1 Timothy 5:23). So, yes, drunkenness is forbidden, but judicious use of alcohol can be a blessing.
MISSING THE MARK
Admittedly, in certain circumstances, the Word of Wisdom has health benefits. For example, tobacco is clearly harmful for human consumption. Many realized this during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. But alcohol, such as red wine, can actually benefit your health when ingested wisely. And the caffeine in moderate amounts of tea and coffee—the “hot drinks” of the Word of Wisdom—offers performance and mental-health benefits.
To be sure, Mormons should reconsider their Word of Wisdom as “the Lord’s Law of Health.” Many Mormons eat a lion’s share of saturated fat, refined sugar and sodium. Plus Mormons consume monumental amounts of prescription drugs that contain harmful side effects, including addiction. And many Mormons are sedentary and obese. The Word of Wisdom fails to address all these issues. The LDS people drink unfathomable amounts of Coca Cola, Dr Pepper, hot chocolate, Mountain Dew, Pepsi and other caffeinated drinks. But the Word of Wisdom, which could supposedly be updated by Mormonism’s living “prophet,” is silent regarding 21st century caffeinated drinks.
TRUE WORDS OF WISDOM
The consummate sermon regarding abstinence from certain food and beverages comes from the Savior. Essentially, he said, what goes into the body does not influence your salvation. “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man,” Jesus emphasized. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man” (Mark 7:20 –23).
Clearly, then, alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea don’t make anyone unclean before God. On the flipside, only biblically based faith in Christ can cleanse us. From the lips of the Savior, that’s the true word of wisdom.
Comments or questions? Write loren@gco4lds.org.
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Global Christian Outreach is an IRS-approved 501c)(3) Christian ministry. We need your prayerful financial support. Donations are completely tax deductible under applicable law and help us proclaim and defend the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the earth. To be an important part of this exciting work, please visit www.gco4lds.org/donate.
