Quit Weaponizing the Word of Wisdom

Tyler Perry

I recently read an article that stated, “I can’t support an administration or party who would support the decriminalization of marijuana… unless I distance myself from the Word of Wisdom – especially in the context of the Church’s recent push against legalization” [1].  In other words, God gave a teaching that people should not consume certain substances, because the consumption of them could be harmful, therefore the use of those substances should be illegal.

I’ll be honest, I am trying really hard to steelman this argument, but this is about the best that I can come up with.

There are about four reasons why I think this is a bad argument.

1. The Word of Wisdom is NOT a commandment

The Word of Wisdom was a purported revelation of Joseph Smith, given in February 1833 in Kirtland, Ohio.  The teaching is canonized in the 89^th section of the Doctrine and Covenants.  The word of wisdom was explicitly given “not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom” (D&C 89:2).  In other words, the canonized version of the Word of Wisdom explicitly states that the teaching is not a commandment.  In fact, just before his death, Joseph Smith bibbed a bit of that sweet vine nectar [2].  It would not be until 1902 that the Word of Wisdom would be added to the temple recommend interview [3], though no canonized revelation supports that change.

2. The Word of Wisdom is NOT meant for everyone

The next verse of the Word of Wisdom revelation states that the revelation was “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” (D&C 89:3).  Clearly, this revelation is solely intended for the saints.  It would be ridiculous for us to impose this restriction on Catholics when they participate in the eucharist, on cancer patients seeking treatment, or on responsible adults looking to enjoy themselves on the weekend.  This amounts to “this is against my religion, therefore you cannot do this”. 

3. The Word of Wisdom is NOT consistent

What does the Word of Wisdom prohibit?  We all know the answer to this, right?  Alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, and illicit drugs.  Simple.

I will grant tobacco.  Good call Joe.  Put one point in the win column for the man who has done more for the salvation of man than any other person who has ever lived, save Jesus only (D&C 135:3, yeah, that’s canonized).

We gotta talk about this whole coffee and tea thing for a moment here.  Why?  I served a mission.  I did the whole song and dance number with investigators.  This makes no sense.  Sure, if you don’t consume them in moderation, they can be bad.  If you drink them while they’re too hot they can burn you.  But honestly, a lot of things can harm you if you don’t balance it out or try to drink it while it’s too hot.  Like soup.  Or water.  Or spaghetti.

Never drink spaghetti!

I do not understand this.  Yeah, tea is bitter leaf water and coffee is bitter bean water, but the most long-lived people in the developed world drink tea like nobody’s business (Japan has a serious tea addiction, or tea-diction as the local cool kids call it).  But God, Master of the Universe, He Who Created the World and All Things Which in it Are, has decided that bitter leaf water and bitter bean water are bad.  But then, hot cocoa, and don’t get me wrong, I love me some cocoa, is chill.  He’s cool with hot, sweet bean water (it’s better with milk)?

The mind of God is truly a mystery.  First, he sets out a fossil record that perfectly matches what we would expect if evolution by natural selection is the correct explanation for the variety of life we observe on the planet.  Then he goes and makes one type of bean water bad and another type of bean water good on some sort of whim.  But here’s the thing, good bean water is way worse for you (though more delicious) than bad bean water is (if you take it black).

But let’s dive back into the canon.

So, we know some things about Jesus.  For instance, we know that he was the Son of God.  We know that in the premortal state he was Jehovah.  We know that when he had an opportunity to make wine, he made super weak grape juice that would totally not get anybody drunk, right?  Oh, wait.  No, he made the good stuff.

This is a matter of doctrine.  When Jesus made wine, in his perfect example for us, he made the good stuff.  He made the wine that was so good that it had the people at the wedding saying, “Daaaaaaamn, Jehoshua, why were you hold thing in reserve?”  (John 2:1-11).

But then, because Emma got mad about tobacco, which, I get it, tobacco is terrible, Jesus is now just like, “Nah, do as I say, not as I, the one who set the perfect example for you, do.”

See, when it comes to the “don’t’s” of the Word of Wisdom, Mormons are as consistent as BYU football.  It only works out when you ignore everybody else.

And don’t even get me started on the “do’s” of the Word of Wisdom!

4. You are NOT keeping the Word of Wisdom, Diet Coke Drinker!

When it comes the “do’s” of the Word of Wisdom, you know, eat meat sparingly, only eat fruit that’s in season, grain is the staff of life, a mild beer is okay (D&C 89:17, also look at what FAIR has to say on this), Mormons are pretty much the worst.  Obesity rates are pretty high in Utah, even if they get outpaced by the Bible Belt [4].  How many Mormon events have you been to where there wasn’t meat, or ice cream, or cake, or some weird jello abomination that is certainly more against the Levitical law than anything my gay self has done?

By the logic of the comment that inspired this essay, all sorts of church meetings should be canceled because going to them would force you to distance yourself from the Word of Wisdom.  Maybe you are not snorting cocaine, slamming a kegger every day, or abusing prescription opiates (oh wait [5]), but you are almost certainly party to another public health crisis in the form of obesity and adult-onset diabetes.

Or do we just have double standards for things that make us uncomfortable?

Look, marijuana is a low threat drug that was made illegal because politicians in the early 20^th century hated Mexicans [6].  In other words, supporting the criminalization of marijuana is supporting a racist institution.

I feel like I just heard a talk somewhere about racism and Mormonism… [7]

References

[1] https://www.thuswesee.com/2020/10/straining-at-political-gnats-swallowing-doctrinal-camels/

[2] https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Word_of_Wisdom/Joseph_Smith_drank_alcohol_prior_to_the_martyrdom

[3] https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Word_of_Wisdom/History_and_implementation

[4] https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html

[5] https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/utah-opioid-involved-deaths-related-harms

[6] https://www.britannica.com/story/why-is-marijuana-illegal-in-the-us

[7] https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/dallin-h-oaks/racism-other-challenges/