[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] ...Apostle Smoot said that the temperance people of Provo desired Elder Jos. B. Keeler to join with them in this movement, and that Brother Keeler wished to know how far it might be proper for him to go. In view of the fact that the Mormon people are in every sense a temperance people, it was thought best for Elder Keeler to hold himself aloof from alliance with this movement.... (1)
-- Oct. 31, 1902
[Temple] It is for you to use your own discretion in the matter of giving recommends to the temple. You may consistently decline to give recommends to men who openly and flagrantly disregard the Word of Wisdom. * Very old men in whom the tobacco habit may have become part of their nature, and who may regard it as a great hardship to be required to abstain from its use in order to receive your recommendation to the temple, should at least be willing to curtail themselves as much as they possibly can, and promise to cleanse themselves from the tobacco odor and not to use it at all the days they do work in the temple. As to drunkenness, we certainly think you should draw the line there. Let all such men know that they are unworthy to enter the temple and if they feel themselves too weak to overcome this sinful practice they had better acknowledge themselves failures and turn their temple work over to their children to do it for them. [Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon
H. Lund to John W. Hess, Oct. 31, 1902] (2)
-- Thursday, Dec 18, 1902
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] ... Pres. Smith further remarked that those who present themselves at the temple for blessings who appear to be unworthy (as, for instance, under the influence of liquor or tobacco, &c.) should be put on probation. Presidents Winder and Merrill at the temples should act as a check upon the presidents of stakes in regard to this matter.... (1)
-- Thursday, Jan 22, 1903
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] Salt Lake City. Cloudy, thawing. 10:40 a.m. Meeting at the temple. Present: Presidents Jos. F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, and Jno. R. Winder, and Elders Jno. H. Smith, Geo. Teasdale, Marriner W. Merrill, Matthias F. Cowley, Abraham O. Woodruff, Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot, Hyrum M. Smith, Jno. Smith, patriarch, and the clerk.
There was an informal talk about the election of Reed Smoot as United States senator from Utah. The very pleasing information was conveyed to the brethren that the campaign of Brother Smoot was conducted absolutely without bribery or liquor. There was only one attempt at bribery, and that was in the case of one of the legislators who sent word to Elder Smoot that, if he would use his influence to have said party appointed chairman of the committees on railroads, he would in return vote for him. Brother Smoot immediately turned him down by sending word that, so far as his influence had any weight, he would oppose his appointment to said committee in any capacity and further that he did not want his vote.... (1)
Footnotes:
1 - Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson
2 - Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/mo-temple
LDS History Chronology: the Word of Wisdom
Mormon Timeline: the Word of Wisdom
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
