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.
Something I wanted to bring up that doesn't deal directly with the WoW, Linda mention the verse "we are saved by grace, after all we can do." I don't know if this has been brought up before, but Dr. Dan Mcclellan, who spent years working with the church helping translate the BoM, pointed out on his YouTube channel that in the 1820's, this phrase was not uncommon, and was understood to mean "we are saved by grace, despite all we can do."
I am a huge fan of the Word of Wisdom. And I'm actually going to defend the advice not to drink tea and coffee. Kate Holbrook once mentioned that the Word of Wisdom is a law of community health. That insight changed how I think about it: these principles are not just about me but about the wellbeing of all of the Lord's children. At the time this revelation was given, the US still had slavery. Coffee and tea (and tobacco) are tied up in the history of slavery. In many parts of the world, the workers producing these goods are still being treated poorly and are living in the aftermath of colonization. I think there's a strong argument that part of the reason for avoiding these products is that the conditions of their production were hurting the Lord's children. While some of these circumstances have changed, the main reason for caffeine today seems to be so that we can work longer for our employers. I think we should pause about whether this is a good thing.
I think that's an interesting point, that there could and should have been a convo to be had about the exploitation of human beings AND ALSO that's not what section 89 says about the reason for the prohibition of hot drinks and tobacco. Interesting stuff!
Loved the episode and the insight.
Something I wanted to bring up that doesn't deal directly with the WoW, Linda mention the verse "we are saved by grace, after all we can do." I don't know if this has been brought up before, but Dr. Dan Mcclellan, who spent years working with the church helping translate the BoM, pointed out on his YouTube channel that in the 1820's, this phrase was not uncommon, and was understood to mean "we are saved by grace, despite all we can do."
Anyway, thanks for all y'all do!
yes we knew that but dang it when will our leaders actually teach that? So frustrating!
I am a huge fan of the Word of Wisdom. And I'm actually going to defend the advice not to drink tea and coffee. Kate Holbrook once mentioned that the Word of Wisdom is a law of community health. That insight changed how I think about it: these principles are not just about me but about the wellbeing of all of the Lord's children. At the time this revelation was given, the US still had slavery. Coffee and tea (and tobacco) are tied up in the history of slavery. In many parts of the world, the workers producing these goods are still being treated poorly and are living in the aftermath of colonization. I think there's a strong argument that part of the reason for avoiding these products is that the conditions of their production were hurting the Lord's children. While some of these circumstances have changed, the main reason for caffeine today seems to be so that we can work longer for our employers. I think we should pause about whether this is a good thing.
I think that's an interesting point, that there could and should have been a convo to be had about the exploitation of human beings AND ALSO that's not what section 89 says about the reason for the prohibition of hot drinks and tobacco. Interesting stuff!