The following is from Frederick J. Pack, Tobacco and Human Efficiency (1918), which was published by the Church (via The Deseret News). This was before the presidency of Heber J. Grant where keeping the Word of Wisdom became a requirement for a temple recommend.
It may be well to make note
of the fact that at this early date the Lord did not offer the Word of Wisdom
as a direct “commandment or restraint”. On the other hand, he did offer it as
the “will of God”, and said that compliance with it would be “pleasing” unto
Him. There has never been any room for any question in the minds of the
Latter-day Saints in regard to their duty in this matter. Whatever is the “will
of God” and “pleasing” unto Him constitutes sufficient reason for strict
compliance with every detail.
. . .
It should hardly be expected
that the tobacco habit and other habits condemned by the Word of Wisdom, would immediately
be abandoned by all Church members, even though they knew that it is the “will
of God”.
. . .
It seems that the leaders
adopted a policy of leniency, hoping that time and forbearance would enable
everyone to live up to the requirements of the will of God. And in this they
were largely successful, for as years passed the percentage of Church members
using tea, coffee, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and other objectionable
substances gradually decreased. This condition was quickly brought about
notwithstanding the fact that large numbers of converts were continuously being
added to the Church.
. . .
These results, however, were
not attained without careful and continuous work on the part of the Church leaders
and an unbending desire on the part of the laity to comply with the full pleasure
of God’s will. In the early days of the Church, delinquent members were urged
to “keep the Word of Wisdom”, but there seemed to be very few cases of
discipline for non-compliance.
. . .
During the presidency of
Brigham Young the Church leaders kept up a constant campaign in line with the
Word of Wisdom. President Young himself taught in very positive terms the absolute
necessity of compliance with the will of God in this matter. All of the other
leaders down to and including the present head of the Church have felt and
taught that members who are not keeping the Word of Wisdom are scarcely in full
fellowship.
During the past decade a
more and more rigorous attitude has been assumed toward members who persist in
using tea, coffee, tobacco and alcoholic beverages. Instructions have been sent
out by the First Presidency to the proper officers that no men either young or
old shall be ordained to the Priesthood who use these substances. Instructions are
also given that in the selection of missionaries no one must be recommended who
uses them. Similar instructions have been given with respect to the selection
of officers laboring within the Church at home. Admission to the temples, which
is granted only to members in full fellowship, is refused to those who do not
keep the Word of Wisdom. And, it might be added, these instructions are being
very strictly followed.
. . .
The “Mormon” people are not
waiting for Deity to do it all. They believe that God will bring about this
purposes through the operation of natural law, and that He expects them to do
their part. And so they are striving daily to eliminate deterring factors,
hoping that as each difficulty is overcome they will receive light and strength
to go forward with the next. (Frederick J. Pack, Tobacco and Human Efficiency
[Salt Lake City: The Deseret News, 1918], 314-15, 316, 317, 318)
Further Reading:
Mike Ash, Up In Smoke: A Response to the Tanners’ Criticism of the Word of Wisdom
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