Words of Wisdom
March 28th, 2008 by Wulf
For some reason, religion has been on my mind a lot lately. Perhaps because I’ve had an unusual slew of questions from various folks on my own religious beliefs (I’ve written a response and will be posting it shortly), and perhaps because I’ve recently been feeling as though I haven’t been living up to my own religious ideals recently. At any rate, the idea of “authoritative revelation” has been kicking around in my head recently, and I feel I should jot down a few notes on the subject.
The idea of authoritative revelation—that received by one person for the benefit of others, as opposed to personal inspiration received through meditation and prayer—was the principle that first sparked my doubt in my spiritual upbringing (for those who don’t know, I was raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints [”Mormon” or “LDS” for short]). It didn’t sit well with me that one has to have absolute faith in “divine revelation” by “authority” even if it makes no logical sense. The particular commandment that got me thinking of this lately was what they call the Word of Wisdom (full text here).
The original revelation advised that meat only be eaten in winter, and even encouraged making beer (D&C 49:17 encourages the use of barley for “mild drinks”, which Brigham Young took to mean that beer was okay). It strictly forbade wine, “strong drinks” and “hot drinks” (which Church officials at the time translated as only coffee and tea). The original Word of Wisdom was a suggestion; Brigham Young made much of it a commandment. The current revelation and guidance from senior church leaders denies baptism and entry to the temple for use of any and all alcohol, coffee, tea (except herbal teas) and tobacco.
That’s where the logic fails. Ignoring the change of stance on “mild drinks” made from barley, the current stand leads to some illogical results. Two case studies:
The case of the amped law student
A friend of mine, and one of the best Mormons I know, is one of the top law students at the law school I attend. He drinks “Monster” energy drinks daily, and has been known to drink 2-3 when he has to stay up all night cite-checking or studying for finals. He is a Church member in good standing and does temple-work regularly. A 16 oz. can of Monster has 160 mg caffeine and 53 grams of sugar. A cup of black coffee has 100 mg of caffeine and no sugar. Yet if a health-conscious LDS law student were to drink a cup of coffee to help with these same study tasks, he or she would not be allowed a temple recommend. Even more illogical, a sick LDS person who drinks a cup of green tea (only 40 mg of caffeine) which actually has health benefits and no sugar, he or she would also be faced with losing temple privileges. To carry the argument ad absurdum, the same result would occur even if the green tea were decaffeinated.
Side note: Yes, I’m aware that some church officials, most notably President Spencer W. Kimball, counseled against the use of cola as well—but the fact remains that cola won’t keep you out of the temple, and decaffeinated green tea will.
I can certainly understand the reason for counseling against the use, especially intemperate use, of addictive substances. As a tobacco user, I sincerely wish I’d never heard of cigarettes. But this is clearly a case where personal revelation could supply a much better answer more in keeping with the spirit of the law than the authoritative revelation.
The Case of the Anxious Mother
Another example brought itself to my attention recently. Another friend of mine, who has a relatively large number of children, was suffering from mild anxiety. She wasn’t having panic attacks or anything, but at times it was sufficient to affect her relationship with her children and family. When she went to see her family physician, he explained the possible side effects of common anti-anxiety medications, and suggested she first try a glass of red wine after dinner. This not only has anti-anxiety effects, but aids digestion and has numerous other documented health benefits. She too is LDS, so this was utterly out of the question. The Church would prefer she take potentially harmful prescription drugs, with just as much potential for abuse as alcohol. Again, a less healthy alternative is officially preferred by authoritative revelation, in defiance of logic.
I have always been a proponent of developing a personal relationship with your “god” instead of relying on others as intermediaries. In my view, if anyone else tries to prescribe what is best for your spiritual development, any advice they give should be taken with a large grain of salt. Wealthy nobles used this tactic for years, using the Catholic church to keep the peasants powerless and in-line. I’m not saying that all faith is bad. I have faith in lots of things I can’t prove (like evolution 
). Blind faith is dangerous, however, and I would just say to be wary when the object of your faith is a person–especially a person with power and authority.
Metatron acts as the voice of God. Any documented occasion when some yahoo claims God has spoken to them, they’re speaking to me–or they’re talking to themselves.
–Kevin Smith, Dogma
Update: Those of my family who think that the Word of Wisdom was what inspired the doubt in authoritative revelation referenced above would be wrong. It was actually related to the conduct of some church officials, along with the contention that they were called of God, not of man.
You do realize that personal revelation is a major facet in the LDS religion, right? You do realize that every member is encouraged to ask for themselves whether or not something is right. Every word that comes out of our prophet’s mouth is something that you can and should recieve your own personal revelation about.
Not only that, but you have to admit that the word of wisdom makes all sorts of common sense. It was prophesied before we knew all of the harmful effects of caffeine or tobacco. Sure a cup of green tea probably isn’t going to hurt anyone. But is it really going to hurt you to not drink it? Besides, in twenty years we may find out, oops, green tea actually has this or that harmful effect. I don’t know.
Your friend with the mild anxiety. What is to keep that one glass of wine from turning into three. And then three in the morning as well. And then she is trying to raise her children as an alcoholic. Of course this is not going to happen to everyone. But I am pretty sure it would happen to me. Some of us have really addictive personalities. Some of those people don’t know it.
I am personally really grateful for the word of wisdom. I know for a fact that I would be a smoker without it, and possibly a lot worse.
That being said, free agency is key. I know a member of the church that will have a really fancy coffee drink about once a year. She tells the bishop about it when he asks. He tells her she probably shouldn’t do it again. But it doesn’t keep her out of the temple. I don’t know if it should. I am not the judge.
Your friend who drinks energy drinks all day long may not actually be the best mormon you know. President Hinkley actually said on 60 minutes that members should not drink caffeine. Some of us do, some of us don’t . It is a choice we make for ourselves. Excessive caffeine use probably isn’t good for anybody. I drink a little caffeine to help my headaches. Not much, and I feel perfectly comfortable doing it because it is right for me.
Also church leaders, whether called by God or not, are only human. Sometimes that can be a really hard thing to learn. Some of them go astray. They are allowed their own free agency the same as you and me. Some can go pretty far astray. The only guarentee we have is that the prophet never will. He is the only one you can be absolutely sure of.
The point is we are all allowed our free agency, and we are all allowed personal revelation. It is our right and our gift. Even as members of the church. We should all use it.
I appreciate your thoughts because I know that at one time you really struggled through your old faith. I realize it is very difficult to walk away from something that is so important to many of your friends and family as well.
Sherry, I realize that the LDS faith urges its members to seek personal revelation regarding its mandates, but riddle me this: when personal revelation runs afoul of authoritative revelation, which one trumps?
Also, I admitted that the Word of Wisdom was sound advice. The examples given are not meant to undermine the Word of Wisdom itself. Rather, they are meant to show that general, authoritative edicts, especially ones that come with such dire consequences for noncompliance, can be detrimental at best and nonsensical at worst when applied (as they often are) without consideration of personal revelation and varied circumstances.
As far as one glass of wine turning into three (or six), the risk of addiction os no less severe with prescription medication, and the side effects are far worse. The acceptance of one, and the utter rejection of the other is what I mean by illogical.
And finally, this statement: “Also church leaders, whether called by God or not, are only human.” Exactly. And since the confirmation of any Church authority who is called “of God” comes through human intermediaries, I can’t see that there are any guarantees. Once again, it’s putting blind faith in man.
Wulf
P.S. I never said my friend was the best Mormon I know. That distinction would probably go to Jan. I said “one of the best”, and it’s true as far as his living the tenets of the Gospel.
“when personal revelation runs afoul of authoritative revelation, which one trumps?”
This is an interesting question, and I can only tell you what it means for me. If my own personal revelation ran afoul of authoritative revelation, I would not be a member of the church. I would simply leave the church. I understand that this very thing may have been one of the reasons you left the church, but I don’t know for sure.
Yyou know me better then to think that I would just follow anything without questioning. I am too stubborn, and probably too conceited for that. There have been many many times that I have questioned our church. How could I not? Every time I have been humble enough to fast and pray about these things I have had my own personal revelation verify what I have been taught.
“I can’t see that there are any guarantees. Once again, it’s putting blind faith in man.” Here is where our beliefs differ again. I don’t feel like putting faith in our prophet is putting faith in man. I feel like it is putting faith in God. I don’t believe any man is perfect, but I do believe that the Lord will not let His prophet lead His church astray. I know we will have to agree to disagree on this one. I also know that I am free to question anything he says, and am free to recieve my own personal revelation regarding anything.
I always respect your opinions because you always put a lot of thought into what you say and are able to have a disagreement without being hard headed or hard hearted. I know we don’t always have the same beliefs, buty I know that you will always talk to me about them respectfully.
P.S- should I be offended that Jannalee is the best Mormon you know;)
I am horrified to be listed as the best anything that you know, let alone the best Mormon. Please don’t think that anymore. I am just like everyone else, trying to do the best I can with what I know.
We have had this conversation before, about blind obedience. So, I thought of you on Saturday when I was watching conference and Elder Oaks was speaking about this very thing. He explained it in such a way that I understood it with more clarity than ever before. Here is part of his talk:
“Members who have a testimony and who and who act upon it under the direction of their church leaders are sometimes accused of blind obedience. Of course we have leaders and of course we are subject to their decisions and directions in the operation of the church and the performance of needed priesthood ordinances. But when it comes to learning and knowing the truth of the gospel, our personal testimonies, we each have a direct relationship with God our Eternal Father and his son, Jesus Christ, through the powerful witness of the Holy Ghost. This is what our critics fail to understand, it puzzles them that we can be united in following our leaders, and yet independent in knowing for ourselves.
Perhaps the puzzle some feel can be explained by the reality that each of us has two different channels to God. We have a channel of governance through our prophet and other leaders. This channel which has to do with doctrine, ordinances and commandments, results in obedience. We also have a channel of personal testimony which is direct to God. This has to do with His existence, our relationship to Him, and the truth of His restored gospel. This channel results in knowledge. These two channels are mutually reinforcing; knowledge encourages obedience and obedience enhances knowledge.
We all act upon or give obedience to knowledge. Whether in science or religion, our obedience is not blind when we act upon knowledge suited to the subject of our action. A scientist receives and acts upon a trusted certification of the content or conditions of a particular experiment. In matters of religion a believer’s source of knowledge is spiritual but the principal is the same. In the case of Latter-day Saints, when the Holy Ghost gives our souls a witness of the truth of the restored gospel and the calling of a modern prophet, our choice to follow those teachings is not blind obedience.”
Dallin H. Oaks
If you were God, and wanted to have an organized gospel, and a means of communication with your children, would you rely on each individual responding to their own personal revelation? What about when differences arise? What about when someone isn’t listening to the spirit or is fraudulently claiming that they are. That is no logical way to communicate with your children. There needs to be a way for everyone to get the message regardless of how well they are listening or how worthy they are at that moment. So much of our communication with God is dependant on us. This must be so in order to maintain agency. He will not force us to do anything, nor will he force us to listen to Him.
The scriptures speak of many different spiritual gifts, and each of us on the earth has at least one of them. One of my spiritual gifts is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I know this because I have always known of the reality of Jesus Christ, and only needed to confirm this knowledge when I was at an age to understand. No matter where I was born or what I was taught as a child, I know I would have known the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as soon as I heard it. I feel sad that you do not have the same gift, but I know that you have others.
My intent in sharing this with you is that you will know of my love and esteem for you and your beautiful family. I wish you would take time to ponder one thing that I know: that God is your Heavenly Father and that He loves you and your family more than anyone else.
P.S You once told me that you would be a believer if this scripture came true: Joel 2:31. Well it has, call or e-mail me if you want the details.
Can’t find the reference to barley. It’s not in D&C 49:17 — That is in reference to marriage: “17 And that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made.” — written to the shakers, telling them to get married and procreate.
This is for Jan and Sher. Why don’t you study the History of the Church books 1 & 2 then skip to Brigham Young Discourses, then cross reference it to a letter written by apostle Bruce R. McConkie and see if you still think that a prophet will not be allowed to lead the church astray. Also, look up the history of his (McConkie’s) book “Mormon Doctrine” and find out why the first presidency halted publication of it. Every word spoken by the prophet (or apostles) is not doctrine, it is not a direct revelation from God. If it were, we would have many many volumes of D&C. If you study the Church history, you’ll find all sorts of interesting things. What it comes down to is finding your own personal testimony and believing that you are following the only true church of Jesus Christ in these latter-days. Then you take the leaership of the church for what it is…inspired MEN that are chosen of God to help us find our way in these really difficult times on earth. Men are not perfect, they make mistakes. The leaders of our church are sincerely trying to help us make fewer mistakes. As far as church history goes, I personally choose to take it all with a grain of salt. I don’t know why you think you have to blindly believe every word spoken by a General Authority in order to be a good member of the church. Not all “Mormons” are created equally, we’re not clones, or drones, and if [the author] could find his way to get past the little things, he could probably benefit from being one.
I don’t think you can generalize anything of any kind of religion. Sherry has her beliefs, jan hers, rebecca hers and I, my own beliefs and yet we are all members of the same church. If there is anyone who has doubted it’s me. Especialy right now. What is odd is that I don’t doubt anything from the prophet but from god himself. I’m not sure I chose this life, why would I? Or that I can handle what I am dealing with right now. Or that he’s comforting. I feel absolutely no comfort. And yet… The only time I have ever been truly happy is when I was living the gospel to the fullest of my ability. That is all I have faith in. Nothing more, nothing less.
I enjoyed reading your thoughts.