Jason Bourne wrote:The real question SB when was it made a requirement for entrance into the temple?
According to Quinn, it was April 10, 1910, when Joseph F. Smith made compliance with the WofW a requirement to receive a temple recommend.
"Moving beyond apologist persuasion, LDS polemicists furiously (and often fraudulently) attack any non-traditional view of Mormonism. They don't mince words -- they mince the truth."
-- Mike Quinn, writing of the FARMSboys, in "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View," p. x (Rev. ed. 1998)
Runtu wrote:When did the Word of Wisdom officially become a "commandment"? First to answer correctly wins a prize.
According to Quinn, BY made breaking the WofW an excommunicable offense at a special conference on September 9, 1851, but it was rarely enforced. Joseph F. Smith made it a requirement to receive a temple recommend on April 10, 1910. At the April 1932 Gen'l Conference, Heber J. Grant began his crusade to enforce the WofW.
When I worked at the COB, I had to research this question, so I spent the better part of the day in the historical library. I actually saw the microfilm of the original minutes from that 1851 conference. If that's Quinn's description of what happened, he's wrong. BY was talking about how keeping the Word of Wisdom would benefit your health. He then asked all in attendance under the age of 90 to commit to keeping the Word of Wisdom by the raising of the right hand. He then promised them blessings if they did.
Anyhow, it wasn't until much later in the 19th century (I think it was during JT's presidency) when you couldn't assume a priesthood leadership position if you had a WofW problem, and then in 1930 it was added to the temple recommend questions.
Last edited by cacheman on Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Runtu wrote:When did the Word of Wisdom officially become a "commandment"? First to answer correctly wins a prize.
The WoW never officially became a commandment. If you're talking about canonisation, that is.
Can a commandment be canonized? But, yep, you and Bond are correct. It is not a commandment and never has been one.
So folks are being denied their temple recommends based on not following a suggestion?
Goodness...
Cult is as cult does...
Aren't you glad you are out? :)
Words cannot describe how I feel today as compared to how I felt a year ago, when convinced that I needed to stay in the LDS church in order to gain fulfillment. My walk with God is not based on what building I walk into on sunday, it's not based on any ritual. It's based on ethical living, which sadly most fundamentalists of all religions seem to overlook.
Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances. -Ghandi
Runtu wrote:When I worked at the COB, I had to research this question, so I spent the better part of the day in the historical library. I actually saw the microfilm of the original minutes from that 1851 conference. If that's Quinn's description of what happened, he's wrong. BY was talking about how keeping the Word of Wisdom would benefit your health. He then asked all in attendance under the age of 90 to commit to keeping the Word of Wisdom by the raising of the right hand. He then promised them blessings if they did.
Quinn doesn't cite the minutes as his source. He cites to Hosea Stout's diary entry for Sept. 9, 1851, as well as to books/articles written by Juanita Brooks (book), Robert McCue (Dialogue), Lester Bush (Dialogue), and Thomas Alexander (Dialogue).
"Moving beyond apologist persuasion, LDS polemicists furiously (and often fraudulently) attack any non-traditional view of Mormonism. They don't mince words -- they mince the truth."
-- Mike Quinn, writing of the FARMSboys, in "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View," p. x (Rev. ed. 1998)
Runtu wrote:When I worked at the COB, I had to research this question, so I spent the better part of the day in the historical library. I actually saw the microfilm of the original minutes from that 1851 conference. If that's Quinn's description of what happened, he's wrong. BY was talking about how keeping the Word of Wisdom would benefit your health. He then asked all in attendance under the age of 90 to commit to keeping the Word of Wisdom by the raising of the right hand. He then promised them blessings if they did.
Quinn doesn't cite the minutes as his source. He cites to Hosea Stout's diary entry for Sept. 9, 1851, as well as to books/articles written by Juanita Brooks (book), Robert McCue (Dialogue), Lester Bush (Dialogue), and Thomas Alexander (Dialogue).
Interesting that Hosea Stout recalls it differently from what the actual minutes say. One of the better sources I had in the library was doctoral dissertation on the WofW. I wish I could remember who wrote it, but it all checked out, and I wrote a summary for my boss, who said it was consistent with what he had been told.