The Mormon Word of Wisdom: How the LDS Church Skirts History in Misleading "Now You Know" Video
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 scholarly
Portray outsiders as bumbling or immoral
Avoid explaining that the Word of Wisdom was not a commandment until the 1920s
Skip over real historical issues, like cholera outbreaks, boiling water, and inconsistencies in “hot drinks” definitions
We 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/wow
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