Podcasts about Word of wisdom

In this episode of Church History Matters, we trace the fascinating and sometimes surprising history of the Word of Wisdom throughout the 1900s. How did a revelation originally framed as “not by commandment or constraint” become one of the defining markers of Latter-day Saint identity? Along the way, we explore the influence of Elder John A. Widtsoe and Leah Widtsoe's influential book The Word of Wisdom, the leadership of President David O. McKay, and the growing cultural debates surrounding caffeine, chocolate, meat consumption, and other “gray areas” that shaped Mormon life in the twentieth century. We'll examine how Saints and leaders wrestled with questions the revelation itself does not explicitly answer: Is caffeine against the Word of Wisdom? What about cola drinks? Why did some members avoid chocolate or hot soup while others focused only on coffee, tea, alcohol, and tobacco? And how did cultural traditions, personal opinions, and local teachings sometimes become confused with doctrine?

Join hosts Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths for a fascinating deep dive into the evolution of the Word of Wisdom from the era of Brigham Young to Heber J. Grant. Discover how early Church leaders viewed the revelation as inspired counsel rather than a strict commandment, why enforcement varied across generations, and how attitudes toward tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco gradually changed over time. The episode also explores John Taylor and the intriguing “lost revelation” theory connected to the Word of Wisdom during his administration. Finally, Scott and Casey examine the pivotal moment under Heber J. Grant when full adherence to the Word of Wisdom became a requirement for temple attendance, forever shaping modern Latter-day Saint culture and identity.

What did the Word of Wisdom actually look like in the days of Brigham Young? In this fascinating episode of Church History Matters, Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths explore how early Latter-day Saints understood, practiced, and sometimes struggled to live the Word of Wisdom during the pioneer era. From frontier medicine and tobacco use to coffee, tea, and homemade alcohol, Brigham Young's generation approached the revelation in ways that may surprise modern members of the Church. Scott and Casey examine Brigham Young's teachings, personal example, and efforts to gradually encourage the Saints toward greater obedience while building Zion in the American West. Along the way, they uncover stories about pioneer culture, the economic push to produce local goods instead of importing “Gentile” products, and the slow evolution of the Word of Wisdom from inspired counsel into a temple worthiness standard. This episode provides important historical context for one of the most recognizable practices in Latter-day Saint life today.

Word of wisdom is to understand and rightly apply biblical truth, to speak it in a clear way that it brings clarity to the hearer and dispels confusion. King Solomon operated in the word of wisdom. 1 Kings 3:16-28 Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding." Word of knowledge is understanding truth by supernatural revelation, or insight from God. It is also knowing facts about people or situations; a knowing by divine revelation. The prophet Nathan operated in both the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom. 2 Samuel12:1-14 Gain insights into how these gifts can be used in counseling and everyday life, fostering clarity and dispelling confusion.

Word of wisdom is to understand and rightly apply biblical truth, to speak it in a clear way that it brings clarity to the hearer and dispels confusion. King Solomon operated in the word of wisdom. 1 Kings 3:16-28 Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding." Word of knowledge is understanding truth by supernatural revelation, or insight from God. It is also knowing facts about people or situations; a knowing by divine revelation. The prophet Nathan operated in both the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom. 2 Samuel12:1-14 Gain insights into how these gifts can be used in counseling and everyday life, fostering clarity and dispelling confusion.

In this episode, we explore how Joseph Smith personally kept the Word of Wisdom as a divine principle of health, spiritual strength, and wise living—not just a list of restrictions. Revealed in 1833 and recorded in Doctrine and Covenants Section 89, the Word of Wisdom was originally given as “a principle with promise,” offering guidance on caring for the body and drawing closer to God. Join us as we trace the history of the Word of Wisdom in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from its early introduction during Joseph Smith's lifetime to its development as a defining standard of faith and discipleship. Discover how this revelation shaped Latter-day Saint identity and why it remains one of the most discussed and important teachings in the Church today.

In this exciting new series, hosts Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths dive into one of the most talked-about and most requested topics from listeners of the show: the Word of Wisdom. First revealed to Joseph Smith in 1833 as a revelation from the Lord (Doctrine and Covenants Section 89), the Word of Wisdom began as loving counsel for the Saints and has grown into a vital commandment and covenant marker for Church members around the world. Scott and Casey explore the origins of the revelation in Kirtland, the cultural context of health reform in early America, and the Lord's counsel regarding strong drinks, tobacco, hot drinks, wholesome herbs, grains, and meat. They also trace how the Word of Wisdom gradually evolved from inspired advice into a standard for temple worthiness and full fellowship in the Church. Why do some things seem emphasized more today than others? How did early Church leaders and members understand and live this law? And what does the Word of Wisdom teach us about obedience, revelation, and caring for both body and spirit? Join Scott and Casey for a fascinating historical and doctrinal journey through one of the most recognizable and sometimes misunderstood principles of the restored gospel. Whether you've wondered about coffee, tea, health practices, or the deeper spiritual purpose behind this commandment, this episode offers context, clarity, and powerful insight.

In 2019, the LDS Church released a new video on the Word of Wisdom, also known as the Lord's Law of Health. With over 200,000 views, the video attempts to explain why Latter-day Saints abstain from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, and drugs—but it glosses over the messy historical reality.From its origins in 1833, the Word of Wisdom was shaped by the temperance movement, early 19th-century cultural habits, and practical concerns—like Emma Smith confronting Joseph Smith about tobacco in the School of the Prophets. Yet early church members, including Joseph Smith himself, continued to drink alcohol and smoke for decades.This Mormon News Roundup episode highlights how the 2019 video uses simplified imagery and cartoony narration to:Portray early leaders as polished and scholarlyPortray outsiders as bumbling or immoralAvoid explaining that the Word of Wisdom was not a commandment until the 1920sSkip over real historical issues, like cholera outbreaks, boiling water, and inconsistencies in “hot drinks” definitionsWe break down the historical context, the real social influences behind the Word of Wisdom, and why the Church continues to present a sanitized version of history—even in 2019.

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 5:1-14Sermon Text: Proverbs 5:1-14I. The Temptation of the Immoral Woman A. Where She Is B. What She DoesII. The End of the Immoral Woman A. A Life of Destruction B. A Road to DeathIII. The Avoidance of the Immoral Woman A. By Theological Truth B. By Practical StepsRev Greg Lubbers

In this week's message at The Mountain Church, Samuel Goulet walks us through what the Bible says about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and why they matter for our church family. He reminds us that gifts are a grace from God—not something we earn—and they're given “for the common good,” to build others up, not to elevate ourselves. From wisdom and faith to healing, prophecy, discernment, and tongues, Samuel encourages us to stay rooted in Scripture, let love guide every gift, and keep our identity grounded in Jesus. The invitation is simple: let's step off the sidelines, use what God has given us, and grow into a healthy, united church that strengthens one another and brings Jesus to our city.

"Gifts of the Holy Spirit Part 1 – Word of Wisdom and Knowledge" Pastor Barry Whitehead 4.12.26

"Gifts Of The Spirit - Word of Wisdom and Word of Knowledge" Pastor Daniel Kraft 4.12.26

In this episode of Mormonism Live, we walk through the full evolution of the Word of Wisdom—from its origin in 1833 to how it functions today as a requirement for temple worthiness. We start in Kirtland, where the School of the Prophets was filled with tobacco smoke, chewing, and spitting—and where Emma Smith's frustration becomes… Read More »History of Mormonism’s “Word of Wisdom” Health Code

In this episode of Mormonism Live, we walk through the full evolution of the Word of Wisdom—from its origin in 1833 to how it functions today as a requirement for temple worthiness. We start in Kirtland, where the School of the Prophets was filled with tobacco smoke, chewing, and spitting—and where Emma Smith's frustration becomes… Read More »History of Mormonism’s “Word of Wisdom” Health Code The post History of Mormonism’s “Word of Wisdom” Health Code appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this episode of Mormonism Live, we walk through the full evolution of the Word of Wisdom—from its origin in 1833 to how it functions today as a requirement for temple worthiness. We start in Kirtland, where the School of the Prophets was filled with tobacco smoke, chewing, and spitting—and where Emma Smith's frustration becomes part of the story behind the revelation. From there, we zoom out and examine the broader 19th-century health movements already shaping ideas about diet, stimulants, and self-control. Figures like Sylvester Graham and the growing temperance movement weren't fringe—they were mainstream. And their fingerprints are all over the Word of Wisdom. We then track how the revelation was originally given “not by commandment,” how early leaders—including Joseph Smith and Wilford Woodruff—continued to drink alcohol, and how enforcement slowly tightened over time. What began as counsel eventually became a defining boundary marker of Mormon worthiness. Along the way, we tackle the contradictions and gray areas:Why coffee and tea are prohibited while caffeine is notHow “mild drinks of barley” disappeared from the conversationThe shifting stance on medical marijuanaCultural gray zones like kavaAnd how modern application often depends more on tradition than a consistent principle By the end, the question isn't just what the Word of Wisdom says—but how it became what it is today. Donate to Mormonism Live: https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live Get Bill Reel's book “The Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism”: https://www.amazon.com/Logical-Deconstruction-Mormonism-One-Book/dp/B0GQQ4CJ2S

Acclaimed Scientist, Ben Bikman, Takes on the Word of Wisdom "Diet" Myth No prophet defined a WoW diet—so what DOES D&C 89 actually mean for Latter-day Saints? Obesity Explained! Meat, D&C 89, and the Addiction Principle Obedience isn't vegetarianism—it's freedom from addiction. D&C 49 vs Modern Food Religion Ben Bikman connects scripture, health, and the ideology behind "abstain from meat." Faith, Health, and a Culture War Over Food Ben Bikman on dietary dogma inside LDS culture—and what scripture actually says.  Cwic Media Website: http://www.cwicmedia.com

Here is a great message from 1 Corinthians!  Happy New Year!  We wish you a blessed and prosperous 2026!

Though Section 89 of the Doctrine & Covenants describes itself as a "principle with promise," "to be sent by greeting, not by commandment or constraint," contemporary Church leadership has elevated some of its prohibitions to the level of requirement for temple worship. Other suggestions this section contains seem to be completely ignored. To complicate things, current medical research hasn't always supported the specific tenets that have been designated "commandments." No wonder lots of Latter-day Saints have lots of feelings about the Word of Wisdom and its application in our daily lives and choices! In Episode 244, Cynthia and Susan are joined by historian Linda Hamilton for a conversation unpacking it all. What do you think about the Word of Wisdom? What aspects of it feel relevant to your faith life? What are the narratives of women we find in its history and practice? And what parts of Word of Wisdom lore actually hold up to historical scrutiny?

Nearly 200 years ago, Joseph Smith gave us a holistic code of health called the Word of Wisdom. But over the next century, we largely reduced that revelation to a list of don'ts—one that came to define us as a church and serve as a kind of status marker within the Church. As we look ahead to the next hundred years, we're asking: is it time to rethink how we see this revelation? Today, we face an overwhelming number of choices about what we put into our bodies—some deeply harmful, others profoundly nourishing—and we now understand far more about health, nutrition, and the body itself. Are there principles in section 89 that transcend the context in which it was given? What did we miss when we transformed it from a principle with promise to a set list of prohibitions that defined worthiness? Is our current approach a stumbling block as we take the gospel to people in other cultures? And what about that curious issue of hot drinks? That's the conversation we're having today with Bill Turnbull, one of the founders of Faith Matters, and Ali Essig, a nutritionist and founder of PlantWhys. Ali's journey with the Word of Wisdom began after her husband suffered a stroke at age 37—a moment that launched her into a deep study of Section 89 and a reimagining of what it really means to nourish the body. We'll also be studying this section in Come Follow Me in just a couple of weeks, and so we hope this conversation adds some depth and energy into your personal study and that you see not a list of rules, but a radical invitation into a path of wisdom and wholeness. In an era in which technology and media seem determined to disconnect us from embodied experience and presence, maybe it's time to take a fresh look at a 200 year old revelation that challenges us to do exactly the opposite.*The Word of Wisdom in Its First DecadeThe Word of Wisdom: From Principle to RequirementAssociation Between Dietary Fiber and Lower Risk of All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort StudiesHigher-fiber diet linked to lower risk of death