Joseph Smith and Alcohol

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Joseph Smith and Alcohol

87 Primary Sources

An image of a silver goblet from 1847 against a plain background, used in Latter-day Saint or Mormon sacrament services, with an engraved image of Joseph Smith among grapevines. — A silver sacrament goblet from 1847 depicting Joseph Smith standing among wine grapes.

Did Joseph Smith drink alcohol?

Yes, but probably not habitually[1] and mostly wine.[2] He also occasionally drank beer.[3] Drinking was a common practice in his day (though drinking until drunk was frowned upon).[4]

Did he drink after the Word of Wisdom was revealed?

Yes. The Word of Wisdom was first revealed on February 27, 1833.[5] Joseph himself recorded drinking alcohol multiple times after that date.[6]

Isn't that hypocritical? Couldn’t he keep the revelation he received?

At the time, the Word of Wisdom was viewed by many saints as more of a guideline than a strict code.[7] The language of the text was that it came “not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:2).[8] However, Joseph did teach that willfully neglecting to follow the Word of Wisdom may disqualify members from holding leadership positions, and violation might lead to disciplinary action.[9]

Weren't early Mormon societies alcohol-free?

No. Early Church communities were temperate,[10] but not completely dry. For example, Nauvoo had taverns and breweries.[11] The sale of liquor in the city was regulated but not prohibited.[12]

Was Joseph a drunkard?

No, probably not. Joseph’s clerk, who saw him daily at the office, swore he never saw him drunk.[13] Critics accused him of excessive drinking,[14] but other historical records indicate Joseph was an infrequent and moderate drinker.[15] Close associates noted Joseph sometimes drank wine at the dinner table.[16] Joseph reportedly listed whiskey as one of his temptations.[17]

What did Joseph Smith think about alcohol?

Joseph Smith's revelation stated that drinking "wine or strong drink. . . .is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father," but "barley" could be used for "mild drink."[18] It was reported that Joseph stated that drinking whiskey as "sinful" and that it was a personal "temptation."[19] Joseph indicated that wine was an exceptions for religious purposes.[20]

He also seems to have accepted the idea that alcohol was an appropriate means to "revive" spirits that were "dull and heavy" while in Carthage jail.[21]

Was wine used in the sacrament after the Word of Wisdom was revealed?

Yes.[22] But a revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1830 indicates that it isn't important what is used for the sacrament.[23]

What about that story where, as a child, Joseph refused liquor for a leg operation?

According to Lucy Mack Smith,[BIO] Joseph refused brandy or wine as painkillers for the surgery, saying, "I will not touch one particile of liquor."[24] However, Lucy's account was recorded over 30 years after the incident[25] and her memory of the events may have been influenced by the Word of Wisdom, which had been around for over a decade by the time she wrote her memoirs.[26] Joseph Smith's 1842 account of the surgery made no mention of him refusing alcohol.[27]

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Footnotes

BIOLucy Mack Smith
Lucy Mack Smith (1775–1856) was the mother of Joseph Smith, Jr. Born and raised in New Hampshire, she married Joseph Smith, Sr. in 1796. A faithful Presbyterian and a committed Seeker, Smith believed her son's claims to visions. She stayed with the Latter-day Saints throughout her life until Nauvoo, when age prohibited her from traveling with the Saints to the Intermountain West. She composed and dictated the most thorough history of Joseph Smith's early life, which became The History of Joseph Smith By His Mother, transcribed by scribe Martha Coray.
BIOJoseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph Smith, Sr. (1771–1840) was born in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachussetts, to Asael Smith and Mary Duty. He married Lucy Mack Smith in 1796. He was the father of Joseph Smith, Jr. He was one of the eight witnesses of the Book of Mormon and served as the first Patriarch of the Church. He died in Nauvoo, Illinois.
BIOJohn Taylor
John Taylor (1808–1887) was born in Westmorland, England. He was the third president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He moved to Canada in 1832 and joined the Church four years later. Taylor was soon appointed to the apostleship and became a prominent advocate for Latter-day Saint doctrine during his mission to the United Kingdom. Taylor accompanied Joseph Smith to Carthage Jail in 1844, where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred. Taylor received a bullet wound to the thigh. He served in the apostleship and First Presidency until his appointment to the Presidency in 1880. Taylor oversaw the Church administration as the Church faced sustained prosecution from federal authorities for the practice of polygamy. He died while in hiding from federal authorities in Kaysville at the age of 79.
BIOWillard Richards
Willard Richards (June 24, 1804 – March 11, 1854) was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. He was a physician and served as Second Counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death. Richards was present at the shooting of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. He also served as the first editor-in-chief for the Deseret News.
[1]↩︎
Various accounts mention Joseph drinking on occasion but rarely mention him drinking until drunk.
[2]↩︎
On multiple documented occasions, Joseph Smith drank wine as part of the Lord's Supper (sacrament). He also drank wine socially.
On the day of his martyrdom, Joseph drank wine while incarcerated (to combat the "dull and heavy" mood he and his cellmates were experiencing).
[3]↩︎
At least one instance in Joseph's history records him drinking beer, but does not give much more information beyond that.
This was omitted from the History of the Church, even though it had been previously printed in an 1861 Church periodical. It's not clear why it was later omitted, since Joseph's drinking is mentioned several times throughout the volumes.
[4]↩︎
Historian W. J. Rorabaugh explained how in Joseph Smith's day, alcohol consumption was nearly universal. He wrote:
By the 1820s whiskey sold for twenty-five cents a gallon, making it cheaper than beer, wine, coffee, tea, or milk. In many places whiskey was also less dangerous than water, which was frequently contaminated. By 1830 consumption of alcohol, mostly in the form of whiskey, had reached more than seven gallons a year for every person over age fifteen or three times the current rate.
One source from 1835 ruled drunkenness as a "vice" and argued for moderate alcohol consumption lest it become "pernicious when taken to an improper excess."
- W. J. Rorabaugh summarizes alcohol consumption between 1770–1830, showing how it rose over time.
- Robert Macnish argues for temperance, condemns drunkenness as a "vice."
[5]↩︎
This revelation was prefaced with the caption "for the benefit of the saints" and was introduced with the following:
A word of wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests assembled in Kirtland, and church; and also the saints in Zion, to be sent greeting: not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom; showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days: given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak, and the weakest of all saints, who are, or can be called saints.
- Joseph receives the revelation often called the "Word of Wisdom."
[6]↩︎
There are several instances of this. For example, Joseph recorded in his journal how on March 29, 1836, in the Kirtland Temple, he and other Church leaders "partook of the bread and wine. The Holy S[p]irit rested down upon us and we continued in the Lords house all night prophesying and giving glory to God."
Joseph also drank tea and one late source said he smoked a cigar after "preach[ing] a powerful sermon on the Word of Wisdom" in order to "[try] the faith of the Saints."
[7]↩︎
Historian Thomas G. Alexander explained, "Currently available evidence indicates that members gave only sporadic adherence to the Word of Wisdom in the nineteenth century."
Historian Paul Y. Hoskisson has argued that the Word of Wisdom was originally intended to be strictly "binding on the members." However, by Nauvoo, "the Word of Wisdom was generally not enforced, though some groups and individuals tried."
- Thomas G. Alexander gives historical overview of the Word of Wisdom during the 19th century.
- Paul Y. Hoskisson concludes that the Word of Wisdom was originally intended to be strictly enforced.
[8]↩︎
Some printings of the Word of Wisdom revelation presented the first three verses as an introduction to the revelation rather than part of the revelation itself. However, some early handwritten copies of the revelation made no distinctions between the first three verses and the rest of the text.
One late, unsourced account claimed that "the Caption to the Word of Wisdom was put their by Oliver Cowdery, not by [Joseph Smith's] Consent and that it was just as binding as any other commandment."
[9]↩︎
One year after the Word of Wisdom was revealed, Joseph taught that "no official member in this church is worthy to hold an office after haveing the words of wisdom properly taught to him, and he, the official member, neglecting to comply with, or obey them."
For example, Elder Almon Babbitt had disciplinary charges brought against him for not following the Word of Wisdom, confessing that he "had taken the liberty to break the word of wisdom from the example of President Joseph Smith junr & others, but acknowledged that it was wrong."
Other times it was less clear if charges were for violation of the word of wisdom or if violations were incidental to the offense. For example, Lyman Johnson was also formally charged with "taking whiskey and making Weldon drink & then cheating him out of his property."
[10]↩︎
Notes from a meeting of Latter-day Saints in 1837 indicate that the Saints at that time adopted a general boycott against the sale of liquor, tobacco, and other substances prohibited by the Word of Wisdom.
- Vote by church members not to buy liquor, tea, coffee, tobacco.
[11]↩︎
A late reminiscence from Joseph's son Joseph III recounted how his father had a tavern in the Nauvoo Mansion until he removed it at Emma's behest.
Joseph also inspected shops selling beer and said he did not object to building a brewery.
[12]↩︎
On February 15, 1841, the Nauvoo City Council passed an ordinance that "prohibited from vending Whiskey in a less quantity than a Gallon, or other Spirituous Liquors in a less quantity than a quart, to any Person whatever, excepting on the Recommendation of a Physician duly accredited."
Two years later, another ordinance allowed the mayor (Joseph Smith) to "sell, or give Spirits, of any quantity he in his wisdom shall judge to be for the health, comfort or convenience of such travellers or other persons as shall visit his House from time to time."
- Nauvoo temperance ordinance "in Relation to Temperance."
- Nauvoo City ordinance allowing Joseph to sell alcohol.
[13]↩︎
In a public statement, Joseph's clerk, William Clayton, asserted that Joseph was "as much opposed to the use of intoxicating drinks as any man need be" and that he had "never seen him drunk, nor [had he] ever heard any man who has seen him drunk" since the Saints settled in Nauvoo.
- William Clayton denies that Joseph ever got drunk in letter to William Hardman.
[14]↩︎
Accounts saying Smith was a chronic drunkard usually came from detractors and hostile sources.
[15]↩︎
Later reminiscences from Joseph's family members and childhood neighbors either denied ever seeing Joseph intoxicated or recalled only infrequent, isolated instances.
In 1834, Martin Harris denied claiming that Joseph got drunk during the translation of the Book of Mormon, clarifying that any incident of Joseph's youthful bouts with intoxication "took place before the book of Mormon was translated."
There are records of Joseph Smith Sr. purchasing alcoholic drinks from a local merchant, so it's likely that as a young man, Joseph Jr. and other members of his family did drink alcohol.
[16]↩︎
Joseph's close friend Benjamin F. Johnson recalled, "He was partial to a well supplied table and he did not always refuse the wine that 'maketh glad the heart.'"
- Benjamin F. Johnson describes Joseph enjoying wine.
[17]↩︎
- Julius A. Reed records Joseph saying that he is tempted by "whiskey," but that God calls it "sinful."
[18]↩︎
This comes from the Word of Wisdom revelation.
Later apostles argued that the "Word of Wisdom gave the liberty to make mild drinks of barley" and "that Danish Beer was not detrimental."
- Joseph receives the revelation often called the "Word of Wisdom."
- John Henry Smith and Brigham Young, Jr. approve of Danish beer.
[19]↩︎
Reverend Julius A. Reed reported that Joseph said in an April 1841 sermon, "What are my temptations? Whiskey whiskey whiskey."
He further said that he "C[oul]d live on it & get fat & feel well. If God did not say it was sinful."
- Julius A. Reed records Joseph saying that he is tempted by "whiskey," but that God calls it "sinful."
[20]↩︎
An 1831 revelation to Joseph Smith speaks of a future day at the Second Coming when wine will be included in a great banquet.
The Word of Wisdom stated that wine was acceptable "only in assembling yourselves together, to offer up your sacraments before him."
After he returned from his mission in 1843, Orson Hyde told Joseph of the excellent wine he drank in Jerusalem, and "Joseph prophcid in the name of the Lo[r]d— that he would drink wine with him in that country."
On at least one occasion the Twelve drank wine together in one of their sacrament meetings, and on another occasion, Joseph broke a fast with the Saints with bread and wine.
[21]↩︎
John Taylor remembered that the reason why wine was called for at the Carthage Jail was "to revive us," and Alexander McRae reported alcohol being shared with the guards "in token of friendship" prisoners at Liberty Jail to calm tense nerves.
- John Taylor recounts drinking wine with Dan Jones at Carthage.
- Alexander McRae remembers drinking with Joseph in Liberty Jail.
[22]↩︎
Multiple journal entries tell that wine was used in the sacrament in Joseph's day. Revelations from Joseph instructed the Saints to use wine in the sacrament, which matches scripture in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible and the Book of Mormon (e.g., 3 Nephi 18:1–9; 20:1–8; Moroni 5; 6:6).
[23]↩︎
This revelation, now section 27 of the Doctrine and Covenants, reads:
It mattereth not what ye <shall> eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory.
- Joseph receives a revelation on sacrament: wine "made new among" Saints to be used.
[24]↩︎
This account is preserved in Lucy's 1844–45 history.
- Lucy Mack Smith records in her History that Joseph refused alcohol before his leg surgery.
[25]↩︎
Lucy's memoirs were written in 1844–45, and the story she's sharing took place sometime around 1811–12 when the Smith family was living in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
- Lucy Mack Smith records in her History that Joseph refused alcohol before his leg surgery.
[26]↩︎
The Word of Wisdom was received on February 27, 1833.
- Joseph receives the revelation often called the "Word of Wisdom."
[27]↩︎
In 1842 Willard Richards recorded Joseph Smith's recollection of the surgery:
At one time eleven Doctors came from the <Dartmouth> Medical college, at Hanover New Hampshire, for the purpose of amputation, but, young as I was, I utterly refused to give my assent to the operation, but I consented to their Trying an experiment by removing a <large portion> ~~great~~ of the bone from my left leg. which they did. & fourteen additional peices of bone afterwards worked out before my leg healed, during which time I was reduced so very low that my mother could carry me with ease. & after I began to get about I went on crutches. . . .
- Joseph gives history of his leg operation; no mention of refusing alcohol.
[28]↩︎
David and Barton Stafford, in a pair of 1833 affidavits, accused Joseph Sr. of being "a drunkard and a liar, and to be much in the habit of gambling" and "a noted drunkard," respectively.
- David Stafford accuses Joseph Smith, Sr. and Joseph Jr. both of getting drunk.
- Barton Stafford accusation reprinted in E. D. Howe book that Joseph got drunk.
[29]↩︎
For example, members of the Saunders family remembered seeing Joseph Sr. drink but disavowed that they ever saw him get drunk.
Orlando Saunders, for instance, affirmed, "Every bod[y] drank in those days and the Smith[s] drank also, but they never got drunk."
Benjamin Saunders insisted that "their morals were good. The old man [Joseph Sr.] sometimes would drink until he felt quite happy at our log rollings and raisings: but he was not quarrelsome. He was not a bad man. would attend regularly to his business."
When asked specifically if he ever saw either Joseph Sr. or Jr. get drunk, Benjamin answered he had not.
- Orlando Saunders remembers Smith family drinking alcohol in letter to William Kelley.
- Benjamin Saunders says Joseph never got drunk.
[30]↩︎
The relevant part of the blessing reads:
Thou hast stood by thy father, and like Shem, would have covered his nakedness, rather than see him exposed to shame: when the daughters of the Gentiles laughed, thy heart has been moved with a just anger to avenge thy kindred.
The imagery comes from the account of Noah's sons covering their father's nakedness when he was passed out drunk in his tent (Genesis 9:18-27). It may be an allusion to Joseph Sr.'s past drinking problems, or it could simply be a scriptural example of a son caring for his vulnerable father.
A more explicit reference appears in a blessing Joseph Sr. gave to Hyrum on the same day as the blessing he gave to Joseph Jr.:
Thou hast loved thy father’s family with a pure love, and hast greatly desired their salvation: Thou has always stood by thy father, and reached forth the helping hand to lift him up when he was in affliction; and though he has been out of the way, through wine, thou has never forsaken him nor laughed him to scorn: for all these kindnesses the Lord my God will bless thee.
- Joseph Smith, Sr. blesses Joseph Smith, Jr., possibly alludes to alcohol problem.
- Joseph Smith Sr. blesses Hyrum Smith; mentions being out of the way "through wine."
[31]↩︎
Taylor recorded wine being consumed in Carthage Jail on at least two occasions.
- John Taylor recounts drinking wine with Dan Jones at Carthage.
- Taylor remembers wine being sent for in Carthage Jail.
[32]↩︎
In one of his accounts of the martyrdom, Taylor addressed a claim that was apparently circulating among members of the Church:
It has been reported, by some; that this [the wine] was taken as a sacrament. It was no such thing; our spirits were generally dull and heavy, and it was sent for to revive us.
- John Taylor recounts drinking wine with Dan Jones at Carthage.
[33]↩︎
Richards, unlike Taylor, did not explain the motive behind purchasing the wine.
- Joseph drinks wine in Carthage Jail.
[34]↩︎
For example, in 1834, Joseph Smith noted that members needed to follow the Word of Wisdom.
And in the 1852 meeting minutes for General Conference, John Smith spoke of the Word of Wisdom, "urging on the brethren to leave off using tobacco, &c." In that same meeting, Brigham Young said, "the Lord bears with our weakness; we must serve the Lord, and those who go with me will keep the Word of Wisdom."
At other times, there were disciplinary actions taken for breaking the Word of Wisdom.
[35]↩︎
General authorities continued to discuss and debate the meaning of the Word of Wisdom at the turn of the twentieth century.
For example, Anthon H. Lund recorded a meeting with the Twelve that determined "Danish Beer was not detrimental."
John Henry Smith is reported to have said, "The Word of Wisdom gave the liberty to make mild drinks of barley."
At another meeting recorded by Lund, George Teasdale declared that "Pork was more against the Word of Wisdom than tea and coffee." Lund himself was still drinking coffee in 1910.
[36]↩︎
In 1919, a First Presidency letter to mission presidents stated missionaries must "keep the Word of Wisdom" to receive a temple recommend.
However, the 1928 Handbook of Instructions did not mention the Word of Wisdom in its section on temple recommends. This changed in the next edition (1934).