History of Mormonism’s “Word of Wisdom” Health Code

History of Mormonism’s “Word of Wisdom” Health Code

From Mormonism Live! – Radio Free Mormon by Mormon Discussion Inc

April 2, 2026 · 2h 42m

About this episode

This episode explores the evolution of the Word of Wisdom health code in Mormonism from its origins to its current implications for temple worthiness.

In this episode of Mormonism Live, we walk through the full evolution of the Word of Wisdom—from its origin in 1833 to how it functions today as a requirement for temple worthiness. We start in Kirtland, where the School of the Prophets was filled with tobacco smoke, chewing, and spitting—and where Emma Smith’s frustration becomes part of the story behind the revelation. From there, we zoom out and examine the broader 19th-century health movements already shaping ideas about diet, stimulants, and self-control. Figures like Sylvester Graham and the growing temperance movement weren’t fringe—they were mainstream. And their fingerprints are all over the Word of Wisdom. We then track how the revelation was originally given “not by commandment,” how early leaders—including Joseph Smith and Wilford Woodruff—continued to drink alcohol, and how enforcement slowly tightened over time. What began as counsel eventually became a defining boundary marker of Mormon worthiness. Along the way, we tackle the contradictions and gray areas: Why coffee and tea are prohibited while caffeine is not How “mild drinks of barley” disappeared from the conversation The shifting stance on medical marijuana…

People in this episode

Host: Radio Free Mormon

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mormon Discussion Inc

More episodes of Mormonism Live! – Radio Free Mormon

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Mormonism Live! – Radio Free Mormon podcast page.