“I have spent the last year of my life on a mission. I have been traveling with our southern brethren; spent some time in the temple; been through Arizona, where the brethren and sisters are living in the United Order. I will say that I have been pleased with my visit to the southern country. In many of our settlements the people are endeavoring to keep the commandments of God. … I made my home in Sunset when I was not traveling. the people there are living in the United Order, as also in Brigham City and St. Joseph, and while I was in those settlements I never heard an oath, I never saw a quarrel, I never saw any man or boy smoke a cigarette, or use an ounce of tobacco, or drink whiskey, or drink a cup of coffee or tea, except what I drank myself. The idea of drinking coffee where nobody else was drinking it was a very poor example, I thought, for an Apostle; I therefore took, instead of coffee, water and milk, and have felt a great deal better. The promise is that those who keep the Word of Wisdom ‘shall run and not be weary, shall walk and not faint,’ and I can say I have enjoyed much better health than before.”
– Wilford Woodruff, 1880
Well, that was an interesting (and kind of unexpected) admission.
One of those ‘do as I say not as I do’ moments, oops. Did that several times as a parent and I’ll be darn if the kids noticed it and remembered them. If I knew the Prophet was in town I’d wouldn’t being doing those things in public either. Odd point in history before the WoW was only advice and then we said as a people let’s make it a commandment and one of our claims to fame.
People in town: “Better not drink coffee while the Apostle is watching.”
Traveling Apostle “Better not drink coffee while these people are watching.” 😀
I smiled over the coffee thing, too. I’ve been working with the missionaries, and last week taught a lesson about the Word of Wisdom. I showed the investigator a time line that showed how it started out as a “word of wisdom” and when it became a requirement and then a commandment. He was grateful that Heavenly Father is a patient Father.
I’ll need to jot this down for my Mormon masculinity piece — it’s very notable that he focuses on “gentlemanly” behaviors as markers of righteous Mormon maleness!