As part of the minutes for the Kirtland Elders’ Quorum for 15 October 1837, we read:
3rd the quorum voted
to keep the word of wisdom and all the Commandments
In a footnote to the above, Cook and
Backman offered the following comments:
The Word of Wisdom—Section
89 of the Doctrine and Covenants—as given in the spring of 1833 commanded
that the Saints totally abstain from the use of alcohol, tobacco, and hot
drinks (tea and coffee). However, because of wide-spread use of and deep-seated
attachment to these substances by members, this revelation, by 1834, was changed
form a direct commandment to general advise only. Even so, zealous leaders and
members pressed for compliance with the original meaning of the revelation, and
in early December 1836, a unanimous vote of the Saints in Kirtland supported
the complete abstenance of “all liquors from the Church in Sickness & in
health except wine at the Sacraments & for external washing” (Wilford Woodruff,
Journal, 4 December 1836). (Lydon W. Cook and Milton V. Backman, Jr., Kirtland
Elders’ Quorum Record 1836-1841 [Provo, Utah: Grandin Book Company, 1985], 32
n. 1)
