Word of Wisdom

Our bodies are the temple of God

Our bodies are the temple of God, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and D&C 93:35. The Lord dwelleth not in unholy temples, Mosiah 2:36-37, Alma 7:20-21 and Helaman 4:24.

We need to bring our bodies into subjection to our spirits, 1 Corinthians 9:25-27.

Drinking wine has been discouraged since ancient times

Aaron, and his sons were commanded not to drink wine nor strong drink when they go into the tabernacle, Leviticus 10:8-9. The priest were not to drink wine when they entered into the inner court of the temple, Ezekiel 44:21.

Don't be drunk with wine, Ephesians 5:17-18.

Strong drink has made the people stumble in judgment, Isaiah 28:7-8. Those who use strong drink are not wise, Proverbs 20:1.

He that loves wine will not be rich, Proverbs 21:17. The drunkard and glutton shall come to poverty, Proverbs 23:19-21.

The Children of Israel drink wine and feast while forgetting the Lord, Isaiah 5:11-12 and 2 Nephi 15:11-12.

A bishop needs to not be given to wine, 1 Timothy 3:1-3 and Titus 1:7-8. Also the aged women is not to use much wine, Titus 2:3.

Drunkards will be punished

The curses that are written in the book of the law will fall upon the drunkards, Deuteronomy 29:19-20.

Under the law of Moses a drunken and rebellious son was to be stoned, Deuteronomy 21:18-21.

Wine bites like a snake, Proverbs 23:30-32. "Their wine is the poison of dragons," Deuteronomy 32:31-33. I am not sure this really applies since it is probably talking about how bad it will be for those who don't follow the Lord instead of the evils of wine.

"The drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet," Isaiah 28:1-3.

Drunkards are not to have fellowship in the Church, 1 Corinthians 5:11-13. One of the sins that Paul list for those who wont inherit the kingdom of God is drunkenness, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:21.

The second coming will catch the drunkard unprepared, Luke 21:34-35.

Drunkenness is associated with other sins

Whoredom and "wine take away the heart," Hosea 4:9-11. Being a drunker is typical of an unworthy servant, Luke 12:43-46.

"Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine," Isaiah 5:22 and 2 Nephi 15:22. When Peter talks of the evil ways the people had before coming to know Christ he included excess of wine, 1 Peter 4:3-4. We are to cast off the works of darkness such as drunkenness, Romans 13:12-14.

The word drunken is used to show how completely sin has overcome the people in the last days, 2 Nephi 27:1. Even as alcohol causes people to lose their reason, anger can do the same, Ether 15:22.

"It is not for kings to drink wine," Proverbs 31:4-5. That is the advice given to kings, but few observe it.

This is a strange story, but shows that drinking is often associated with other sins, Genesis 9:20-25.

One of the things that the wicked King Noah did was to become a wine-bibber, Mosiah 11:15.

Belshazzar and his Lord's drank wine from the golden and silver vessels that had been taken from the temple and in the same hour the writing appeared on the wall that his kingdom was over, Daniel 5:1-5.

The Children of Israel were given a complex law of health

There are many scriptures about the laws that governed health in Israel particularly in the book of Leviticus. Only a few examples are given here. A description of which animals the Children of Israel were to eat, Leviticus 11:1-3. The Children of Israel were not to eat pork, Leviticus 11:7-8. The Children of Israel were not to eat fat or the blood, Leviticus 7:22-27.

Daniel would not defile himself with the king's food and wine, Daniel 1:8-16.

A Nazarite was to separate himself unto the Lord. One of the requirements was to drink no wine or even eat anything of the grapes, Numbers 6:2-4. Maybe it was a little bit like being called on a mission in our day. John the Baptist was not to drink wine or strong drink, Luke 1:13-16. Samson's mother is instructed to not drink wine or strong drink, Judges 13:3-5.

The Rechabites keep their promise to their father to not drink wine, Jeremiah 35:5-6. Because of the obedience of the Rechabites to their father, the Lord promises they will not be destroyed. Many of the other Jews were killed when Babylon conquered Jerusalem, Jeremiah 35:18-19.

We are given a law of health in our day

The Word of Wisdom was originally not given as a commandment, D&C 89:1-3.

The use of strong drink and tobacco are forbidden, D&C 89:4-9. We are commanded to cease drunkenness, D&C 136:24.

The Lord has made the things of the earth for the benefit of man, D&C 59:16-20. Herbs, grains and fruit are to be eaten as well as meats sparingly, D&C 89:10-17. It is not of God to forbid the eating of meat, D&C 49:18-21.

Those that keep the Word of Wisdom will be have both physical and spiritual blessings, D&C 89:18-21.

Miscellaneous Word of Wisdom Scriptures

While the children of Israel were in the desert they did not drink wine or strong drink, Deuteronomy 29:5-6.

The people want a prophet that will encourage wine and strong drink, Micah 2:11.

Eli thought Hannah was drunken because of her sadness, 1 Samuel 1:12-18.

Alcohol incapacitates people so they can easily be overcome. It was easy for Nephi to kill Laban because he was drunk, 1 Nephi 4:7-10. The people of Limhi were able to escape from the Lamanites because the guards where drunken, Mosiah 22:5-8. Moroni was able to capture the city of Gid by getting the Lamanites drunk, Alma 55:8-16.