McAllister said, ... the word is now given, that those who come into this Temple must keep the Word of Wisdom. Wines, liquors &c are good in sickness and should be kept in the house for medicine but not [as] beverages; they are forbidden. [Temple Minute Book, St. George, Sept. 22, 1886] (1)
-- Thursday, Nov 18, 1886
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] Lewisville and Eagle Rock, Idaho
Bro. J. Stevens took Bro. R. L. Bybee and myself to Lewisville where at 10 a.m. we held meeting, both of us speaking. We took dinner with Bp. K. Jardine and he took us to Eagle Rock in his wagon. I put up with J. B. Thatcher Jr. Meeting was held at 7 p.m., a full congregation present. I spoke for an hour on the Word of Wisdom [health code]... (2)
-- Nov. 30, 1886
[Temple] You state in your letter of the 24th that you understand from the teaching of the brethren of the apostles, that such as do not fully keep the Word of Wisdom, should not be recommended for ordinances to the temple; and you ask whether such persons shall be excluded from the House of the Lord. The Word of Wisdom as originally given was sent not by commandment or constraint; but "by revelation on the the [sic] Word of Wisdom, for the temporal salvation of all Saints in these days," and no rule has been formulated, nor law proclaimed, nor counsel given since that time which makes its strict observance, necessary to receive ordinances of life and salvation in the temples. There are many cases where people may violate the strict letter of the Word of Wisdom, and yet be following its spirit in doing so. To say that aged people who have been accustomed to the use of tea and coffee in early life, and who feel that in their old age they need beverages of this character, shall
not receive the blessings of the House of the Lord, is going beyond that which we think proper. The same may be said about other points; and yet * we are opposed to the common use of these articles by Latter-day Saints. A man or a woman who disregards the Word of Wisdom and still profess to be a Latter-day Saint ought to be ashamed of their conduct. A judicious bishop will not give a recommend to such a person without first taking up a labor with him or her against the indulgence in the habits mentioned in the Word of Wisdom. No person who flagrantly violates that word should ask for a recommend[.] [John Taylor to John D. T. McAllister and David H. Cannon, Nov. 30, 1886] (1)
-- Friday, Mar 4, 1887
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] Los Angeles
We got here at 8 a.m. and put up at the Pico House. We hired a Carriage and drove to Pasadena, which is a lovely spot made up of orange groves, vineyards and ornamental trees with nice residences. We also went to San Gabriel, visited the Wine Cellars of Major Rose and all took a drink but me. (2)
-- Jun 30, 1887
Unsuccessful convention seeking statehood, even though proposed state constitution has provision outlawing polygamy: "bigamy and polygamy being considered incompatible with a republican form of government, each of them is hereby forbidden and declared a misdemeanor." L. John Nuttall, Secretary to the President John Taylor, writes in his journal: "Pres. Taylor is much weaker this morning; he refused to take his usual bath. He does not partake of any nourishment, excepting a little wine and a glass of beer occasionally." (3)
Footnotes:
1 - Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/mo-temple
2 - Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
LDS History Chronology: the Word of Wisdom
Mormon Timeline: the Word of Wisdom
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
