This also applies, IMO, to things that weren’t explicitly referred to back in 1832 when Joseph Smith received this revelation. Modern chemistry was barely in its infancy (indeed, Dmitri Mendelev, (Russian: Дми́трий Ива́нович Менделе́ев) wouldn’t publish the first Periodic Table of the Elements until 1869) , and most of the exotic chemicals that are (mis)used in our times weren’t known. Therefore, the missionaries teach prospective members that the WoW includes ‘harmful drugs’, and clarify that it even means ABUSE of legal OTCs and Rx.

As for indulgence in things like vaping, energy drinks, caffeinated soft drinks, herbal teas, and so on, unless we’re given explicit direction, we all should be adult enough to rely upon the Spirit of the Lord as to whether or not said indulgence is ‘ok’, and act accordingly. A good principle that works for me is not to ask what’s WRONG (with ‘it’), but what’s RIGHT?

I admit I love meat, but I am also fine without it.

Doesn’t it state in the Word of Wisdom : it is pleasing unto me that meat is used only in times of cold, winter, famine. Not : it is condemned ?

The word of wisdom was not enforced as a commandment (100% necessary for all members to enter the temple) until almost 100 years after Joseph Smith gave it to the school of the prophets. At that time it was clarified as to what was specifically prohibited, since it wasn’t enforced at the time of its conception. Meat clearly wasn’t a big deal to the prophets and apostles at the time of specification because they did not say not to eat it. If you personally feel that eating a lot of meat prevents you from being in a state conducive to the holy ghost, then don’t eat meat, but it has not been prohibited by the Lord’s servants.

I don’t think you really need to worry about it..just don’t be a glutten..in the end it is how you feel. The Lord knows what is in your heart & will judge you accordingly

Hi Alan! Note that just because the comma was added in 1921, does not mean it changed the meaning of the verse. The verse had always been interpreted in the same way before 1921. The comma only clarified that meaning. Clearly, the verse states that it is pleasing to the Lord that the flesh of animals “should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, of famine.” For a full scholarly discussion of the added comma, see: http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/questioning-the-comma-in-verse-13-of-the-word-of-wisdom/

From this article, here is an incident involved Elder McConkie. The verse with the added comma (verse 13) was specifically reviewed by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, who, after asking Elder Bruce R. McConkie to research the matter, “decided that the comma as it now stands was in the proper place and should not be removed.” Here is the complete account as it appears in a biography of Bruce R. McConkie:

“The Brethren carefully examined the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants for printing errors and mistakes, including details as small as the placement of a comma. For example, during the committee’s work on the Doctrine and Covenants, the subject of the comma in section 89, verse 13, came up for discussion. The presence, or lack thereof, of the comma between the words ”used” and ”only” can drastically change the meaning of the verse. Earlier publications of the Church which contained this verse were ambiguous, as some included the comma and others did not. Elder McConkie said that the subject had been discussed by the First Presidency and the Twelve a year or two earlier. At that time they asked Elder McConkie to research the subject, which he did. His findings were then approved, and it was decided that the comma as it now stands was in the proper place and should not be removed. Therefore, the Scriptures Publications Committee did not take any further action. Elders Monson and Packer, both of whom were at this meeting, concurred with the decision to leave it as is.”

As you point out, D&C 89 was originally given without commandment or constraint (vs. 2). Unlike the prohibitions, the dietary counsel has never been made a commandment, but it still remains wise counsel from our Savior, and I believe we’d do well to heed it to the best of our ability, without judgment for what others choose to do. As you also wisely state, this counsel is in the form of principles that do not spell out every detail but that can help us make wise choices.

I agree with you that we should not forbid the use of meat. God ordained it for our use. On the other hand, we should also note that not only does He ask us to use it sparingly, He tells us it is “pleasing” to Him if we do not use it except in times of need: winter, cold, famine, or excess of hunger (vss. 13, 15). Clearly, crossing the plains was a time of need. We need to judge whether our time now in America, surrounded by grocery stores, is a time of need for us. Again, this is without commandment or constraint, but it is wise counsel from our Savior.

In times of need, there are nutrients in animals that we need because we can’t get them from plant foods. But the animals get all these nutrients from plants, and we can do so just as easily. Modern science is clear: no animal foods are needed for good health, in fact, they have been associated with chronic diseases of all kinds. This may be another reason (in addition to the waste of indiscriminately killing animals) why it is pleasing to the Lord if we do not use them, except in times of need. Between factory farming, the heavy use of antibiotics, and other modern practices geared toward making money and not promoting health, it is not clear that eating meat is any more “safe” today. What is clear is that the consumption of meat is not especially healthy, and even non-members of the Church counsel us to use it sparingly at most.

Of course the same is true of the excess amounts of fats and sugars and processed foods we use. Most of the food we eat is heavily processed. The nutrients are stripped out, and lots of fat, sugar, and salt added. I’m not sure the end products are the “wholesome” plants God ordained for our use.

I love the non-judgmental approach you take to this question. We can all prayerfully study D&C 89 and come to our own conclusions and try to do the best we can. I’ve been collecting stories of Latter-day Saints who are trying to follow the counsel in D&C 89 and have realized many of the promised blessings in their lives. You can find their stories at http://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com. You can also find more of my writings on the Word of Wisdom on that site and also: http://discoveringthewordofwisdom.com/about/jane-birch-writings/.

The first two paragraphs about the placement of the comma are my favorite, ending in Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s quote that “We eat meat in the winter, we eat meat in the spring, we eat meat in the summer, we eat meat in the fall…”