David Stewart, Jr.
Introduction
Faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints adhere to a code of health known as the Word of Wisdom. Observance of this law of health brings both
physical and spiritual blessings. The
Lord gave a revelation to the prophet Joseph Smith on February 27, 1833, that
states:
"Thus saith the Lord
unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the
hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you,
by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation -- That inasmuch as any
man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither
meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to
offer up your sacraments before him...And, again, strong drinks are not for the
belly, but for the washing of your bodies. And again, tobacco is not for the
body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for
bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill. And again, hot
drinks are not for the body or belly...And all saints who remember to keep and
do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive
health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and
great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be
weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise,
that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of
The Word of Wisdom also gives valuable instructions
for healthy living, including the regular consumption of grain as the “staff of
life,” herbs, and fruits, and a caution to use meat sparingly. The Word of
Wisdom gave warning about the danger of tobacco, alcohol, and “hot drinks”
(interpreted as meaning coffee and tea) long before the danger of these
addictive substances had been fully recognized by medical science. The counsel and promises of the Word of
Wisdom have been richly vindicated with time.
Tobacco
Tobacco use is the main cause of lung cancer, the
leading cause of cancer death in the
Medical research calculates that approximately eleven
minutes of life are lost for each cigarette smoked, and that smokers lose an
average of 6.5-14 years of life expectancy compared to non-smokers.1,2
Studies have found that the average smoker in North America and the United
Kingdom consume over 300,000 cigarettes in a lifetime.[1],[2] That is over 3.4 million minutes of lost life
per smoker! One can only imagine what societal good could be accomplished if
this time were spent on service to others rather than being lost to tobacco
addiction.
Alcohol
While the dangers of drunkenness have long been
recognized, large-scale industrial distillation of alcohol today results in
wider availability of concentrated alcoholic beverages than ever before. Heavy alcohol accelerates heart disease, may
result in liver cirrhosis, and can lead to cancer of the throat, mouth,
esophagus, stomach, and liver. Alcohol use can cause memory loss, loss of
coordination, and emotional disturbances, and other problems. Any amount of alcohol use damages brain
cells, and even mild alcohol users may experience some disturbance of cognitive
function.[3]
Alcohol is involved in 40-50% of all fatal motor vehicle accidents in the
Recent research demonstrates that the impairment of
perception and judgment by alcohol lasts much longer than most are aware.[5] Researcher Robert Pihl states: "People
who think they've waited their two hours before driving home may need to
actually wait six hours…The drinker in the process of re-attaining sobriety is
likely to be more dangerous, for example, than the drinker who is still
imbibing."
Some medical research has claimed that consumption of
small amounts of red wine may have a protective effect against heart
disease. More recent research
demonstrates that it is flavonoids from grapes, rather than the alcohol, which
leads to the health benefits.[6]
Those who drink dark grape juice have the same heart benefits seen in those who
drink small amounts of red wine, but without the negative health effects
alcohol. Flavonoid compounds that protect the heart occur in high
concentrations in the juice and peel of most citrus fruits, and are also found
in onions, broccoli, grains, greens, and soy products. Eating healthy foods as counseled in the Word
of Wisdom is a much better choice than drinking alcoholic beverages for alleged
health claims. LDS Apostle Ezra Taft Benson taught: "We encourage earthly
knowledge in many areas, but remember, if there is ever a conflict between
earthly knowledge and the words of the prophet, you stand with the prophet, and
you'll be blessed and time will vindicate you."[7]
Hot Drinks
The Word of Wisdom warns against hot drinks,
interpreted as meaning tea and coffee.
During roasting, the composition of the coffee bean is dramatically
altered, and over 700 "volatile substances…are formed.[8]
Compounds linked to cancer and heart disease are present in addition to central
nervous system stimulants.[9] Harmful chemicals including acetaldehyde,
ammonia, carbon disulphide, acetic acid, nitrosamines, and others are present
in brewed coffee.[10]
One study by Swiss
researchers reported that chlorogenic acid, which is present in coffee,
destroys much of the body’s thiamine when one quart of coffee was consumed in
three hours.[11]
Studies report that consumption of a daily cup of
coffee – whether decaffeinated or not -- increases the risk of bladder cancer
by a factor of three,[12],[13]
while another study found that drinking over two cups of caffeinated coffee a
day doubles the risk of fatal bladder cancer.[14]
A metaanalysis in the International Journal of Cancer of five studies
with nearly three thousand participants found that the consumption of very hot
beverages appears to increase the risk of esophageal cancer by as much as four
times.[15] Brown drink users have an increased risk of
stomach, kidney, lung, pancreatic, ovarian and colon cancer.[16],[17]
Some studies have linked the
consumption of various teas to esophageal cancer, tooth decay, and other
ailments.[18],[19]
Latter-day Saints have also been warned against
caffeinated drinks.[20],[21],[22]
Consumption of large amounts of caffeine can cause anxiety, palpitations,
irritability, difficulty sleeping, and stomach complaints. Why, then, have Latter-day Saints not been
warned to avoid chocolate, which contains small amounts of caffeine? LDS Author Cooper Johnson writes: “According
to one study, the average American consumes 280 mg of caffeine per day, which
is a harmful level according to the same study). This is the equivalent to 2-3
cups of coffee per day.” He notes that
an individual who abstains from coffee and tea “would have to consume 7 or 8
cans of cola to reach this level…or 18 Cadbury chocolate bars…or 56 cups of hot
chocolate (which equates to about 3 buckets full) per day…or some combination
of the above. The point is clear…moderation and avoiding unhealthy substances
and/or unhealthy levels of other substances.”[23]
Addiction
All of the substances forbidden by the Word of Wisdom
have addictive properties. When we
consume addictive substances, we develop dependencies that can shackle our
physical and spiritual freedom. These
substances can also impair our ability to feel and respond to the Holy Spirit.
Modern medical research has demonstrated the highly addictive
nature of tobacco. According to one
survey, over 80% of adult smokers in the
In 1833, the Lord "warned...and forewarned"
us "in consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the
hearts of conspiring men in the last days." Today, this is a more
appropriate description than ever of industries that inflict suffering and loss
upon mankind in order to earn a profit.
LDS author Lance Star wote: “One need not look very far in modern times
to discern some of the evil designs that men have conspired to perpetrate in
regards to the health of man.” [25] He continued: “For example, on March
18, 1996 a former Philip Morris scientist told federal regulators that the
company controlled nicotine levels in cigarettes to assure continued sales.[26] Tobacco makers were "spiking" their
products with increased doses of nicotine in order to ensure addiction and thus
assure continued consumption of what was known to be a dangerous product. These
‘conspiring men’ conspired to market these dangerously addictive products to
children.”[27] At the same time, tobacco company executives
testified before the U.S. Congress that they were not aware that nicotine was
addictive.
In the
Regular alcohol users also develop a physical dependency,
and precipitous cessation of heavy alcohol consumption produces a withdrawal
syndrome that can be fatal. Caffeine is
an addictive stimulant. "Caffeinism" is a drug addiction, and
caffeine withdrawal syndrome is a known psychiatric condition. In spite of soft
drink industry claims that caffeine “enhances flavor,” one study found that
only 8% of adults were able to taste a difference between caffeinated and
non-caffeinated sodas.[29] Researchers concluded that “high consumption
of caffeinated soft drinks more likely reflects caffeine's addictive
properties, not its flavor-enhancing qualities.
Researcher Roland Griffith notes: “We know adults and children can
become physiologically and psychologically dependent on caffeinated soft
drinks, experiencing a withdrawal syndrome if they stop."
Inspiration of the Word of Wisdom
Some critics claim that the Word of Wisdom was
influenced by temperance movements of the early nineteenth century. Author Lance Starr writes: "other health
reform campaigns of Joseph's day did recommend abstinence from tobacco, coffee
and tea, but some of these same health reformers also recommended abstinence
from pepper, mustard,[30]
white bread, salt, ultimately all condiments, and even sex.[31] Many members of the medical community in that
day also believed in varying degrees of "stimulation associated with such
items … mustard, pepper, and other spices."[32]
In light of the many false and sensational claims which permeated nineteenth
century health movements of all kinds, it is remarkable that Word of Wisdom
does not contain any of the quackery of that age. For much of the nineteenth
century, tobacco was widely advertised as promoting good health. While some
individuals held views disapproving of tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful
substances, there was no clear medical consensus on the maladies linked to
these substances for many decades. Lance
Starr notes, “The association of cigarette smoking with lung cancer was
documented in the early 1950s, but official consensus statements by scientific
bodies accepting this relationship as causal did not occur until the
mid-1960s.”[33]
The allegation of critics that the Word of Wisdom arose from contemporary
health movements of the 1830s seems extremely improbable at best. Even with the benefit of over 170 years of
additional medical knowledge, it is difficult to identify any other faith with
a code of health as medically and scripturally sound, as relevant, or as
beneficial to mind and spirit as the Word of Wisdom.
By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them
Because of the Word of Wisdom, Latter-day Saints have
long known that which medical science is just catching up to. Dr. James Enstrom at the University of
California Los Angeles School of Medicine reported that active Latter-day Saint
men who have never smoked, get moderate exercise, and get adequate sleep have a
life expectancy of 85 years, 11 years more than the
A study by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation on
Utah, which is over 70% LDS, reports: “Its strengths include the lowest
prevalence of smoking in the country at 13.2 percent of the population, the
lowest risk for heart disease at 19 percent below the national average, the
lowest rate of heart disease at 197.9 deaths per 100,000 population and the
lowest cancer deaths at 167.8 deaths per 100,000 population. It is also among
the top 10 states for low violent crime, strong high school graduation rates,
few limited activity days, low total mortality, low infant mortality and a low
rate of premature death.”[36],[37] The President’s cancer panel listed Utah as
the lowest state for cancer deaths,[38]
and Utahns are reported to have the longest life expectancy in the nation.[39]
A World Health Organization study reports that about
40% of all deaths worldwide are due to preventable causes and warns that the
“cost of inaction is serious.”[40] The report predicts that “unless action is
taken, by the year 2020 there will be nine million deaths caused by tobacco,
compared to almost five million a year now, five million deaths attributable to
overweight and obesity, compared to three million now...If all of these
preventable risks could be addressed as WHO recommends (which WHO acknowledges
is a highly ambitious goal), healthy life spans could increase as much as 16
plus years in parts of Africa, where healthy life expectancy now falls as low
as just 37 years (in Malawi). Even in the richer developing countries, such as
Europe, the
Spiritual Benefits of the Dietary Law
In addition to the known -- and yet unknown – medical
reasons, there are also spiritual reasons to observe the principles of the Word
of Wisdom. Like the dietary law of the
Old Testament, the modern Word of Wisdom has both temporal and spiritual
aspects.
Joseph Fielding McConkie wrote: “The Hebrew word for
clean used in the dietary law of the Old Testament reached far beyond that of
physical cleanliness. Synonyms include pure, unadulterated, uncontaminated,
innocent, and holy. A Jewish writer
explaining these dietary laws observed:”[42]
A hog could be raised in an
incubator on antibiotics, bathed daily, slaughtered in a hospital operating
room, and its carcass sterilized by ultra-violet rays, without rendering kosher
the pork chops that it yields. "Unclean" in Leviticus is a ceremonial
word. That is why the Torah says of camels and rabbits, "They are unclean
for you,” limiting the definition and the discipline to
Along with the health benefits obtained by living the
Word of Wisdom, Latter-day Saints enjoy spiritual benefits from living God's
law. The Apostle Paul taught, "know ye not that your body is the temple of
the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own?"(1 Corinthians 6:19). He also wrote, "If any man defile the
[1] Shaw, M. Mitchell R, Dorling D. Time for a smoke? One cigarette reduces your life by 11 minutes. British Medical Journal 2000; 320:53.
[2] Picard, Andre. Cigarette smokers costly to economy, data show. Globe and Mail. 13 April 2002.
[3] “Moderate alcohol consumption linked to brain shrinkage.”
Johns
[4] Alcohol and Trauma. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism No. 3 January 1989. http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa03.htm .
[5] “Alcohol has lingering effect on brain.” BBC News. 14 May 2003.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3023495.stm. Original article in
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
[6] “Benefits of the French Paradox Without The Wine.” AlzheimerSupport.com newsletter. January 1, 1999.
[7] Benson, Ezra Taft. “Fourteen Fundamentals of Following the Prophet.” 26 February 1980.
[8] Garattini, Silvio. Caffeine, Coffee and Health, Raven Press, New York, 1993, pp. 17-41 and H. Maarse, Volatile Compounds in Food, Vol. 2, 6th Ed., Zeist, 1989
[9] Journal of the National Cancer Institute 54:587, 1975). 10. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 54:587, 1975).
[10] Garattini, Silvio. Caffeine, Coffee and Health, Raven Press, New York, 1993, pp. 17-41 and H. Maarse, Volatile Compounds in Food, Vol. 2, 6th Ed., Zeist, 1989.
[11] Caffeols and thiamine. International Journal of Vitamin and Nutritional Research, 46 (1976).
[12] American Journal of Epidemiology 117: 113-127, 1983.
[13] Journal of the National Cancer Institute 547, 1975.
[14] American Journal of Public Health 74(8)820-23, 1984.
[15] International Journal of Cancer, 88 (15 November 2000): 658-664.
[16] George Hodgkin, M.S., R.D., et. al., Caffeine: Bad to the
Last Drop,
[17] International Journal of Cancer 28(6): 691-693, 1981.
[18] Green tea and the risk of gastric cancer in
[19] “Herbal tea 'damages teeth.'” BBC News. 3 May 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2995209.stm
[20] Kimball, Spencer W. The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.202
[21] H. Burke Peterson. New Era, Oct. 1975, p. 34.
[22] Widtsoe, John A. The Word of Wisdom: A Modern Interpretation, p.97.
[23] Johnson, Cooper. “Silly Premises Lead to Silly Conclusions.” Foundation for Apologetics Information and Research. 2003. http://www.fairlds.org/apol/misc/misc22c.html
[24] “Children's Future at Risk from Epidemic of Tobacco Use.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services facts sheet. 23 August 1996. http://www.os.dhhs.gov/news/press/1996pres/960823d.html
[25] Starr, Lance. “Chapter 14: The Word of Wisdom.” In Mormonism 201, ed. Allen
L. Wyatt.
[26] . Tobacco trials’
timeline. Cnn.com.
http://www.cnn.com/US/9704/25/tobacco.timeline/index.html
[27] “Secret memos show
cigarette-maker targeted teens.”
Cnn.com. 15 January 1998.
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9801/15/tobacco.kid.settlement/index.html
[28] Annual
Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Economic
Costs ---
[29] ”Study disputes soft drink manufacturers on caffeine.” Cnn.com. 14 August 2000. http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/08/14/health.caffeine.02/index.html
[30] Peterson, Paul H. "An Historical Analysis of the Word
of Wisdom," M.A. Thesis,
[31] Bush, Lester E. "Brigham Young in Life and Death: A Medical Overview," Journal of Mormon History (May, 1978), 97–98; Bush (1981), 58, as quoted in Michael Ash, "Up in Smoke.”
[32] Bush, 49; Nissenbaum, 86–104.
[33] Starr, Lance.
“Chapter 14: The Word of Wisdom.”
In
Mormonism 201, ed. Allen L. Wyatt.
[34] Enstrom, James E., "Health Practices and Mortality
among Active
[35] Daniel H. Ludlow
(editor), Encyclopedia of Mormonism (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company,
1992), 1585.
[36] United
[37] Schantzen, Sean. “
[38] Salt
[39] James M. Citrin in business2.0, business2.com - May 16, 2002, http://proutah.com/viewdocument.php?docDocId=362
[40] “Years of healthy life can be increased 5-10 years, WHO says.” World
Health Organization press release. 30 October 2002. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/pr84/en/
[41] “Years of healthy life can be increased 5-10 years, WHO says.” World
Health Organization press release. 30 October 2002. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/pr84/en/
[42] Joseph Fielding McConkie, Gospel Symbolism (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft,
1985), 91-92.
43.
[43] Wouk, Herman. This Is
My God: Jewish Way of Life. pp. 100-101.