The Word of Wisdom is a code of health given to Latter-day Saints for their temporal and spiritual benefit. The Word of Wisdom originates from a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith on February 27, 1833. This revelation has been canonized as Section 89 of the Doctrine & Covenants.

The Word of Wisdom was originally given as just that, a Word of Wisdom. This rather than a commandment. The second verse of the revelation states that the Word of Wisdom was to “be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraints, but by revelation and the Word of Wisdom, showing forth order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days.”

The revelation gives three separate purposes for the Word of Wisdom. First, it was given “in consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days.” This seems to indicate that at least some of the prohibitions given in the revelation are given because of what can be added to different products to cause injury to at least some of God’s children. Another verse talks about what is good for “the constitution, nature, and use of man.” This indicates that some of the encouragement to consume certain foods are because of how we are built as human beings and what will be healthy for us. The last verse of the revelation states that those that follow the Word of Wisdom will have “the destroying angel pass by them, as the children of Israel, and [the Lord will not] slay them.” This indicates that, for at least some of the prohibitions or encouragements, they are given as social identifiers to identify the Lord’s covenant people. The Lord has given these types of counsels in sacred writ as a means of making his people peculiar and thus help move forward missionary work.

The original revelation prohibits the use of hard alcohol as well as wine except as needed for the administration of the Sacrament. That wine should be “pure wine of the grape of the vine, of [the Saints’] own make.” Alcohol could be used “for the washing of [the Saints’] bodies.” The revelation later states that “mild drinks” of barley or wheat can be consumed. This probably has reference to things like near beer.

Tobacco is also prohibited except to treat bruises and sick cattle. Coffee and tea are prohibited. The prohibitions on coffee and tea are clearly the most questioned portion of the Word of Wisdom. Historical research shows that Joseph Smith saw the definition of “hot drinks” to encompass just tea and coffee.²³¹ The prohibition on these substances likely falls into the category of “social identifier” as described above.

There has been debate over whether the original revelation prohibits the consumption of meat. The debate centers on verses 12–13:

‍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.

Prior to 1921, the comma after “used” in verse 13 did not exist in any text of the revelation. Some have argued that the addition of the comma reverses the meaning of the revelation–the previous version encouraging the use of meat and the subsequent version discouraging it.²³² However, the confusion is resolved in just the next two verses where the Lord says that “[a]ll 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; And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.” ‘These’ clearly refers to ‘the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth. The original revelation thus would have made the Saints functionally vegetarian.²³³ This aligns with the accounts of Creation where it is said “every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for [food]” (Genesis 1:29; Moses 2:29; Abraham 4:29). It also aligns with other revelations in the Doctrine & Covenants that tell us to consume meat only when we have need for it (Doctrine & Covenants 49:21; 59:16–20). 

There are other substances whose consumption is encouraged. The revelation encourages the consumption of “all wholesome herbs…in the season thereof” as well as “every fruit in the season thereof.” The revelation further informs us that all “grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life.”

The revelation promises us that those that follow the revelation “shall receive marrow to their bones; [a]nd shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; [a]nd shall walk and not faint.”

Today, the Church has made adherence to the Word of Wisdom required for entry into the temple. Some critics argue that this was a result of the movement for, ratification of, and subsequent repeal of Prohibition in the early 1900s, but historical evidence clearly shows that Church leaders were moving towards making the Word of Wisdom, including the all-encompassing interdiction of alcohol Church members know today, requisite for temple attendance before the Prohibition Movement started to even gain traction.²³⁴

It is clear from the revelation and other historical evidence that interpretation of and correlative adherence to the Word of Wisdom has shifted over time. But it is also clear that adherence to the Word of Wisdom still promises the same unique and exclusive blessings to those covenant-keeping Latter-day Saints that follow it in faith.