Will the Word of Wisdom ever change?

[Anonymous]

Bruce,

Quote:

This whole obedience to ecclesiastical authority thing has gotten a bit out of hand IMHO. In Mormonism’s history, it’s actually rather new…the last 40-50 years or so.

I agree that obedience is a bit out of hand. However, it appears to have been around longer than 50 years. I thought you would enjoy this quote from Juanita Brooks. She is actually describing the MMM, but I think it’s interesting.

Quote:

Higbee’s account closes with a plea that the truth of this should be told, so that men who had been deceived into going to the Meadows in the first place and forced to participate in the butchery after they got there might be cleared of responsibility. These men, he insisted, had been done a grave injustice.

That some of the Mormons in the ranks did not approve of what was done is generally admitted. A legend is gold of young Tom Pierce, who refused to have anything to do with the affair and turned and walked away. When his own father, who was an officer, ordered him into the ranks and he still did not return, the father shot at him. The bullet grazed the side of Tom’s head, leaving a permanent scar just above his ear.

The Mormon teaching of unquestioning obedience to authority, added to the strict military law then in force in the territory, would, in the eyes of their neighbors, relieve the men in the ranks of responsibility. For this reason, only a few went later into permanent hiding, and they were the men who had been in positions of command.

[Anonymous]

I think the WoW will always be a part of the church. It has far more to do with politics and and Sydney Rigdeon than anything. Up until prohibition many LDS members still broke the WoW and it was kind of like drinking a caffiented Coke at church. It wasn’t until later that it was a deal-breaker. My Gramps told stories of wine and beer at stake dances as a child in St. George and other places. Jesus drank wine for that matter. Wisdom and moderation in all things should be the motto of the church.

I laugh at the child like disdain for WoW prohibited beverages and tobacco that TBM’s have. It’s like a five year old child talking about how yucky kissing a girl is. Yet they will eat sheet cake and drink orange soda by the gallon. I don’t drink or use tobacco now that I am active again, but it seems to me that the WoW is like a crutch. It’s like TBM’s would go ape-crap if they announced at conference that the WoW now simply council not commandment.

This commandment is yet again an impediment to getting people to join or become active again in so many cases. If alchohol is a problem for someone the last thing you want to do is take away God’s blessing from them. If it’s not a problem for someone, than it’s not a problem.

BTW all you people that whine about them smell of coffee grow up, you’re just mad cause you never tried it and wish you could’ve JK.

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