Episode Details

In 2019, the LDS Church released a new video on the Word of Wisdom, also known as the Lord’s Law of Health. With over 200,000 views, the video attempts to explain why Latter-day Saints abstain from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, and drugs—but it glosses over the messy historical reality.From its origins in 1833, the Word of Wisdom was shaped by the temperance movement, early 19th-century cultural habits, and practical concerns—like Emma Smith confronting Joseph Smith about tobacco in the School of the Prophets. Yet early church members, including Joseph Smith himself, continued to drink alcohol and smoke for decades.This Mormon News Roundup episode highlights how the 2019 video uses simplified imagery and cartoony narration to:Portray early leaders as polished and scholarlyPortray outsiders as bumbling or immoralAvoid explaining that the Word of Wisdom was not a commandment until the 1920sSkip over real historical issues, like cholera outbreaks, boiling water, and inconsistencies in “hot drinks” definitionsWe break down the historical context, the real social influences behind the Word of Wisdom, and why the Church continues to present a sanitized version of history—even in 2019.📌 Watch as we expose the gap between official LDS presentation and the historical record.Based on: https://www.ldsdiscussions.com/wowPlease consider making a donation by joining our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/MormonNewsRoundup Email: kolob@mormonnewsroundup.org Website: https://mormonnewsroundup.org/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonnewsroundup Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormon_news_roundup/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093511869924 X: https://twitter.com/NewsMormon New episodes LIVE every Sunday and Monday nights at 9:30PM ESTPlease like and subscribe and hit the notifications bell. Remember remember, no unhallowed hand can stop this podcast from progressing!The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affilated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.