Mormon Prophets--Smoking, Drinking, Chewing Since.......Oh...About 1830!! From Joseph's House Bar To Brigham Young Explaining The Proper Way To Chew!!

Well, I was reviewing my blog, spefically my "Mormon Hall of Shame volume 1 page" and decided that these quotes by famous Mormon Prophets and Apostles deserved to have their own page. It just seems fitting after my pages on the Church deciding to allow alcohol sales in Jesus' mall, my posts on the Marriotts and then the post I just did on Orrin Hatch. In reality, when you consider the Mormon Church's past considering alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea, one has to really wonder, first of all, why they even had a "word of wisdom" and secondly why nobody really followed it. Nowadays, it's like the end of the world if somebody breaks it!!

When did the Word of Wisdom actually start to be enforced I guess would be the better question. In any case, it's pretty apparent that one of Joe's supposed "revelations from God", wasn't given much importance during his life or Brigham Young's life. It's pretty funny how the current General Authorities act as if it has always been this way and the Church has always believed in and followed the Word of Wisdom.

When you consider that the modern day Mormon Church is still invested in Tobacco and alcohol, have approved alcohol sales in Jesus' mall plus the quotes that I've posted below, the answer should be crystal clear to anybody that has half a brain. Once again, this just proves what Hypocrites the Mormon General Authorities are, starting with Joseph Smith right down the line to Gordon B. Hinckley.

Joseph Smith's Bar

In Nauvoo Joseph Smith sold liquor. The following ordinance relating to this matter was passed in 1843, Joseph Smith being mayor of Nauvoo at the time:

Ordinance on the Personal Sale of Liquors.

Section 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of Nauvoo, that the Mayor of the city be and is hereby authorized to sell or give spirits of any quantity as he in his wisdom shall judge to be for the health and comfort or convenience of such travelers or other persons as shall visit his house from time to time.
Passed December 12, 1843.
Joseph Smith, Mayor.
Willard Richards, Recorder. (History of the Church, vol. 6, p.111).

Joseph Smith's own son related the following:

About 1842, a new and larger house was built for us ... and a sign was put out giving it the dignified name of "The Nauvoo Mansion" ...Mother was to be installed as landlady, and soon made a trip to Saint Louis....

When she returned Mother found installed in the keeping-room of the hotel - that is to say, the main room where the guests assembled and where they were received upon arrival - a bar, with counter, shelves, bottles, glasses and other paraphernalia customary for a fully-equipped tavern bar, and Porter Rockwell in charge as tender.

She was very much surprised and disturbed over this arrangement,... "Joseph," she asked, "What is the meaning of that bar in this house? ... How does it look," she asked, "for the spiritual head of a religious body to be keeping a hotel in which is a room fitted out as a liquor-selling establishment?"

He reminded her that all taverns had their bars at which liquor was sold or dispensed....

Mother's reply came emphatically clear, though uttered quietly: "Well, Joseph,... I will take my children and go across to the old house and stay there, for I will not have them raised up under such conditions as this arrangement imposes upon us, nor have them mingle with the kind of men who frequent such a place. You are at liberty to make your choice; either that bar goes out of the house, or we will!"

It did not take Father long to make the choice, for he replied immediately, "Very well, Emma; I will have it removed at once" - and he did (The Saints' Herald, January 22, 1935, p.110).

Brigham Young admits to Word of Wisdom problems:

Brigham Young declared on September 27, 1845: "... I am and ever intend to be the Master of my passions ... some may say that I am in the habits of taking snuff and tea yet I am no slave to these passions and can leave these off if they make my brother affronted...." In 1854 Brigham Young drank coffee on a regular basis (see Mormonism - Shadow or Reality? p.408). On April 7, 1867, Brigham Young acknowledged in the Tabernacle that he had chewed tobacco for many years: "... it is not my privilege to drink liquor, neither is it my privilege to eat tobacco. Well, bro. Brigham, have you not done it? Yes, for many years, but I ceased its habitual practice. I used it for toothache; now I am free from that pain, and my mouth is never stained with tobacco" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 12, p.404).

The Mormon Church clearly sold and bought liquor, tobacco, coffee, etc.

Stanley P. Hirshon writes:

In Utah the church dominated the liquor trade. In 1856 Caleb Green freighted six tons of tobacco, rum, whiskey, brandy, tea, and coffee across the plains for Young, and two years later The New York Times reported that the "principal drinking-saloon and gambling-room are in Salt Lake House, a building under the control of the Church and the immediate superintendency of Heber C. Kimball." ...Young tried his best to rid himself of rival brewers (The Lion of the Lord, p.285).

On June 7, 1863, Brigham Young acknowledged publicly that he had built a distillery:

"When there was no whisky to be had here, and we needed it for rational purposes, I built a house to make it in. When the distillery was almost completed and in good working order, an army was heard of in our vicinity and I shut up the works; I did not make a gallon of whisky at my works, because it came here in great quantities, more than was needed" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 10, p.206).

In his sermons Brigham Young occasionally discussed the idea of Mormons producing their own tea, coffee, tobacco and whiskey and making money from it:

You know that we all profess to believe the "Word of Wisdom." There has been a great deal said about it.... We as Latter-day Saints, care but little about tobacco: but as "Mormons" we use a great deal.... The traders and passing emigration have sold tons of tobacco, besides what is sold here regularly. I say that $60,000 annually is the smallest figure I can estimate the sales at. Tobacco can be raised here as well as it can be raised in any other place. It wants attention and care. If we use it, let us raise it here. I recommend for some man to go to raising tobacco.... go to and make a business of raising tobacco and stop sending money out of the territory for that article.... We annually expend only $60,000 to break the "Word of Wisdom," and we can save the money and still break it, if we will break it (Journal of Discourses, vol. 9, p.35).

The statement by Mormon Apostle George A. Smith would also lead a person to believe that wine was used to excess: "... after the people had fasted all day, they sent out and got wine and bread.... they ate and drank.... some of the High Counsel of Missouri stepped into the stand, and, as righteous Noah did when he awoke from his wine, commenced to curse their enemies (Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p.216).

Orson Pratt once quipped: "I do not wonder that the world say that the Latter-day Saints do not believe their own revelations. Why? Because we do not practice them" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 17, p.104).

Even the Mormon-owned Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution (now known as ZCMI) sold the items forbidden in the Word of Wisdom. On October 7, 1873, George A. Smith, a member of the First Presidency, admitted: "We are doing a great business in tea, coffee, and tobacco in the Cooperative Store" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 16, p.238).

In 1908 the Salt Lake Tribune accused the Mormon leaders of trying to monopolize the liquor business in Utah: "... the Mormon priesthood ... resisted to the utmost the establishment of liquor houses by Gentiles here for a good while, not because they were liquor houses, but because the Gentiles were getting the trade.... This fierce effort to retain the liquor traffic here as a monopoly of the church was quite in accord with the present status of affairs here where the church is running the biggest liquor business in the State, through its Z.C.M.I. drug store and also through the big liquor business done by Apostle Smoot in his drug store at Provo" (Salt Lake Tribune, July 14, 1908).

Brother Joseph, enjoying the fruits of the vine and the grains of the field:

"Called at the office and DRANK A GLASS OF WINE with Sister Jenetta Richards, made by her mother in England, and reviewed a portion of the conference minutes.” (History of the Church,Vol. 5, p. 380)

“We then partook of some refreshments, and OUR HEARTS WERE MADE GLAD WITH THE FRUIT OF THE VINE.”
(History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 369)

"Elders Orson Hyde, Luke S. Johnson, and Warren Parrish, then presented the Presidency with three servers of glasses filled with WINE to bless. And it fell to my lot to attend to this duty, which I cheerfully discharged. It was then passed round in order, then the cake in the same order; and suffice it to say, OUR HEARTS WERE MADE GLAD while partaking of the bounty of earth which was presented, until we had taken our fill;..."
(History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 378)

“April17.—This day THE TWELVE blessed and DRANK A BOTTLE OF WINE at Penworthan, made by Mother Moon FORTY YEARS BEFORE.”
(History of the Church, Vol. 4, page 120)

Joseph continues to drink, even while in jail:

“Before the jailor came in, his boy brought in some water, and said the guard wanted some WINE. JOSEPH gave Dr. Richards two dollars to give the guard; but the guard said one was enough, and would take no more. “The guard immediately sent FOR A BOTTLE OF WINE, pipes, and two small papers of tobacco; and one of the guards brought them into the jail soon after the jailor went out. Dr. Richards uncorked the bottle, AND PRESENTED A GLASS TO JOSEPH, WHO TASTED, AS BROTHER TAYLOR AND THE DOCTOR, and the bottle was then given to the guard, who turned to go out.”
(History of the Church, Vol. 6, page 616)

"Sometime after dinner we sent for some WINE. It has been reported by some that this was taken as a sacrament. It was NO SUCH THING; our spirits were generally dull and heavy, and it was sent for to revive us.... I believe we all drank of the WINE, and gave some to one or two of the prison guards."
(John Taylor, in History of the Church, Vol. 7, page 101)

Brigham Young, on the widespread use of coffee, tea, liquor, and tobacco by Mormon bishops.

“You go through the wards in the city, and then through the wards in the country, and ask the Bishops—'Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?' The reply will be 'YES; NO, NOT EXACTLY.' 'Do you drink tea?' 'No.' 'Coffee?' 'No.' 'Do you drink whisky?' 'No.' 'Well, then, why do you not observe the Word of Wisdom?' 'Well, this TOBACCO, I CANNOT GIVE IT UP.' And in this he sets an example to every man, and to every boy over ten years of age, in his ward, to nibble at and chew tobacco. You go to another ward, and perhaps the Bishop does not chew tobacco, nor drink tea nor coffee, but once in a while he takes A LITTLE SPIRITS, and keeps WHISKEY in his house, in which he will occasionally INDULGE— Go to another ward, and perhaps the Bishop does not drink whisky nor chew tobacco, but he 'CANNOT GIVE UP HIS TEA AND COFFEE.' And so it goes through the whole church. Not every Bishop indulges in one or more of these habits, but MOST OF THEM DO. I recollect being at a trial not long since where quite a number of Bishops had been called in as witnesses, but I could not learn that there WAS ONE WHO DID NOT DRINK WHISKEY, and I THINK THAT MOST OF THEM DRANK TEA AND COFFEE. I think that we have SOME BISHOPS in this city who do not chew tobacco, nor drink liquor nor tea nor coffee TO EXCESS.... If a person is weary, worn out, cast down, fainting, or dying, A BRANDY SLING, a little WINE, or a cup of TEA is good to revive them. DO NOT THROW THESE THINGS AWAY, AND SAY THEY MUST NEVER BE USED; they are good to be used with judgment, prudence, and discretion. Ask our BISHOPS IF THEY DRINK TEA EVERY DAY, AND IN MOST CASES THEY WILL TELL YOU THEY DO IF THEY CAN GET IT.”
(Journal of Discourses, Vol.12, pp. 402-403)

Brigham Young, on how to chew tobacco in church:

“Many of the brethren chew tobacco, and I have advised them to be modest about it. Do not take out a WHOLE PLUG OF TOBACCO IN MEETING BEFORE THE EYES OF THE CONGREGATION, AND CUT OFF A LONG SLICE AND PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH, to the annoyance of everybody around. Do not glory in this disgraceful practice. If you must use tobacco, put a small portion in your mouth when no person sees you, and be careful that no one sees you chew it. I do not charge you with sin. You have the'Word of Wisdom.' Read it.”
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, p. 361)

Brigham puts an end to spitting tobacco in the Salt Lake Tabernacle:

“There is another subject I wish to refer to. Last Sabbath this front gallery,...was very full. After meeting was dismissed I took a walk through it, and to see the floor that had been occupied by those professing to be gentlemen, and I do not know but brethren, you might have supposed that cattle had been there rolling and standing around, for here and there were GREAT QUIDS OF TOBACCO, AND PLACES ONE OR TWO FEET SQUARE SMEARED WITH TOBACCO JUICE. I want to say to the doorkeepers that when you see gentlemen who cannot omit chewing and SPITTING WHILE IN THIS HOUSE, request them to leave; and if such persons refuse to leave, and continue their spitting, just take them and lead them out carefully and kindly. We do not want to have the house thus defiled. It is an imposition for gentlemen to SPIT TOBACCO JUICE around, or to leave their QUIDS OF TOBACCO on the floor; they dirty the house, and if a lady happen to besmear the bottom of her dress, which can hardly be avoided, it is highly offensive. We therefore request ALL GENTLEMEN ATTENDING CONFERENCE TO OMIT TOBACCO CHEWING WHILE HERE.”
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 344)

Joseph F. Smith justifies the sale of coffee, tea, and liquor at the Mormon store ZCMI (He was president of ZCMI when he said this).

“Some of our pretended pious people, a few years ago, were shocked and horrified by seeing the symbol of the All-Seeing Eye and the words 'Holiness to the Lord' in gilt letters over the front of Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution. Especially was this the case with some of our brethren when they found these letters over the drug department of Z.C.M.I. Why was it? Why some of these pious (?) Mormons found that Z.C.M.I. UNDER THE SYMBOL OF THE ALL-SEEING EYE AND THE SACRED WORDS, 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD,' SOLD TEA AND COFFEE, AND TOBACCO, and other things possibly that Latter-day Saints ought not to use; and at the drug store, Z.C.M.I. KEPT LIQUORS of various kinds for medicinal purposes. It was terribly shocking to some of the Latter-day Saints that UNDER THESE HOLY WORDS LIQUOR SHOULD BE KEPT FOR SALE. Has it injured me, in any sense of the word, because Z.C.M.I. drug store kept LIQUOR for sale? Has it made me a drunkard? Have I been under the necessity of guzzling liquid poison? Have I made myself a sot because liquor was KEPT FOR SALE BY Z.C.M.I.? I am not the worse for it, thank the Lord. And who else is? No one, except those pious Mormons (?) who in open day or under the cover of night would go into the drug store and buy liquor to drink.... Those who were the most horrified at seeing the All-Seeing Eye and 'Holiness to the Lord' over the front door of Z.C.M.I., I will guarantee are the ONES THAT HAVE BOUGHT THE MOST TEA AND COFFEE, TOBACCO AND WHISKEY THERE.... It does not matter to me how much tea and coffee Z.C.M.I. sells, so long as I do not buy it. If I do not drink it am I not all right? And if the poor creature that wants it can get it there, that ought to satisfy him. IF HE COULD NOT GET IT THERE, HE WOULD NOT PATRONIZE Z.C.M.I. AT ALL, BUT WOULD GO SOME WHERE ELSE TO DEAL.” (Conference Report, April 1898, page 11)

Any doubts now that the Mormon Church whitewashes their history and lies about how they have believed regarding the Word of Wisdom. How can anybody discount the above quotes and their current actions. In my opinion, CASE CLOSED!!

Here's a link to the other post I did on the Church agreeing to allow alcohol to be served in their/Jesus' mall:

http://mormontruth.blogspot.com/2005/08/its-official-mormons-will-serve.html

Samuel the Utahnite