[Joseph Smith] Joseph, as chairman of the committee on vending of spirituous liquors, suggests a bill that would prohibit selling whiskey in smaller quantities than a gallon. After a long debate it is passed. Joseph says, "I spoke at great length on the use of liquors, and showed that they were unnecessary, and operate as a poison in the stomach, and that roots and herbs can be found to effect all necessary purposes." (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 4:298-99.) (1)
-- Apr 7, 1841, Wednesday
[William Clayton Writings] Alanson Ripley had his Bishopric taken from him for frequently being drunk and not fit for business. (2)
-- Apr 15, 1841
[Brigham Young] April 15.-- Elders O. [Orson] Pratt, W. [Willard] Richards, George A. Smith, Levi Richards and myself, having bid the Saints in Manchester good-bye, went to Liverpool, and arrived in time to attend a tea party at the Music-hall, where 200 Saints were seated at table together. I addressed the meeting a short time, and was followed by several of the Twelve. At the close of the party the Twelve met a few moments, and agreed to sail on Tuesday. (3)
-- Sep 5, 1841
Joseph Smith "preached to a large congregation at the Stand, on the Science and practice of Medicine, desiring to persuade the Saints to trust in God when sick, and not in an arm of flesh, and live by faith and not by medicine, or poison, and when they were sick, and had called for the Elders to pray for them, and they were not healed, to use herbs and mild food." (4)
[Joseph Smith Journal] [I preached to a large congregation at the Stand, on the Science and practice of Medicine, desiring to persuade the Saints to trust in God when sick, and not in an arm of flesh, and live by faith and not by medicine, or poison, and when they were sick, and had called for the Elders to pray for them, and they were not healed, to use herbs and mild food.] (5)
Footnotes:
1 - Conklin, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
2 - Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries
3 - Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).
4 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
5 - Scott H. Faulring, An American Prophet's Record: Journal, ca. 1841-43 'The Book of the Law of the Lord', http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
LDS History Chronology: the Word of Wisdom
Mormon Timeline: the Word of Wisdom
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
