DiscussMormonism.com

Over on the "other" board there is a Doritos thread, and they are discussing the Word of Wisdom. A couple different opinions caught my attention because this conflict over the purpose of the WofW has existed ever since health and medical science has contradicted parts of the WofW. Is the word of Wisdom about health or obedience? Here are a couple points of view from the MADB thread:

TBM 1.

This is where the word "wisdom" comes into play, IMHO. We need to understand that the purpose of the Word of Wisdom was a health guideline and was not initially a commandment. It states that conspiring men in the last days would try to trap us in addictions. The trace amounts in Doritos would not addict us. I think that alcohol that is in medications, cooking wine, flavorings, etc. shouldn't be a problem because it is not an addiction, is not a strong drink, and does not trap us in addiction. The Word of Wisdom gives us an important clue as to how it is to be applied in verse 4. Certain things on the market are blatant traps from conspiring men in the last days, like beer ads with hot girls in bikinis that have probably never had a beer in their life, cigarette ads and nicotine added to cigarettes to keep you hooked, drinks with addictive stimulants and other ingredients added to keep you hooked, etc.

TBM 2, not replying directly to TBM 1.

I've always believed that the word of wisdom has more to do with obedience than health. Actually that goes for any commandment. I think God would expect a Muslim to adhere to the no pork thing as much as he would expect a Mormon to obey the WoW. It comes down to commitment to ones values. But that's me.

Now, both these TBMs admit that these are their opinions, but that's part of where the confusion lies. What is the doctrinal purpose of the WofW? It is so serious that failing to adhere to it will keep you out of the temple, and thus prevent exaltation, yet nobody knows exactly why they are following it. If it is truly a health guideline, as TBM 1 believes above, Mormons should be allowed to drink coffee, tea, and alcohol in moderation, while consumption of heavy fatty foods and sugary sweets would cost you your temple recommend (that's assuming the church agrees with Medical Science about what's healthy and what's not). If it is simply a commandment that must be obeyed, as TBM 2 suggests, then why are parts of it ignored, such as the eating meat sparingly. For example, if a TBM is spotted by their bishop at the grocery store with a case of budweiser, they'll probably lose their TR unless they can come up with a good story. If the same TBM is spotted by the bishop with a cart filled to the top with meat, the bishop wouldn't think twice about it.

This is maybe one area that Monson could clear up. What is the deal with the WofW? And if it's not a big deal, and up to the TBM to decide, take it out of the list of TR questions.

I'm not a TBM, but I'll weigh in on this one.

I think that the WoW now has been simplified to mean no coffee, tea, alcohol or tobacco. Period. Of course, there is still discussion on whether decaf coffee or green tea is prohibited, but let's ignore that for now. The WoW as found in the D&C is a separate beast from what the leaders expect today. The broader advice in Section 89 has instead been converted into a commandment related to just a few things.

While many members tout the health benefits of the "modern" WoW, I do not believe that this is the basis for the expectation of adherence among members. It's obedience. There are too many indications of the demonstrated health benefits of moderate intake of alcohol or coffee to believe otherwise. Something that was borne from the temperance movement of the time has now become simply another check box on a temple recommend form.

But this need to rationalize the modern WoW as being grounded in health is likely what leads to the pharisaical expansion by some members to include caffeinated sodas or herbal teas, or to look instead to the "habit forming" or addictive qualities of the banned substances.

I think leadership has been very clear in delineating what adherence to the WoW means today. The rest of Section 89 is blithely ignored.

This thread sent me back to the word of wisdom--I needed to read it again when I saw that someone thinks that:

It states that conspiring men in the last days would try to trap us in addictions.

While the phrase "conspiring men" is used (in full it reads: "In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days"), there is no statement about addictions and trapping thereof. I always love how interpretations are asserted as factual statements; this sentence could just as easily be interpreted as refering to advertising and public relations...

But you're right SWSU, the text itself is confusing. For example, on the one hand the WoW is described as only, "to be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint," but a few clauses later it's representative of "the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days."

Further not only is the meat verse followed with the only in times famine provision, so is the grain verse:

12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;

13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

Of course, the "these" of verse 15 could refer to the aforementioned beasts of field, fowls of heaven and wild animals that run and creep, but that would violate the rhetorical phrasing established by verse 12 being followed prescriptively by the content of verse 13. And given that Smith was such a literary genius, I can't believe that.

And then there's the matter of wine being the sacrament beverage of choice:

5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

But I don't expect Monson to address this. The WoW slimmed down to "no coffee, tea or alcohol" has become to embedded in Mormon culture and things like temple recommends are geared to that more than to historical scripture exegesis. In this light, your TBM #2 has the "correct" position.

Is the WoW about health or obedience?

Both.

As for health, I consider it a model to remind us to think about what we ingest.