There's a story that comes up, and I'm not sure of it's veracity. It was said that Emma got sick of cleaning up tobacco spit after Joe's meetings and "School of the Prophets" bull sessions.
She nagged about it, so he came up with the WoW. Since there was a temperance undercurrent during those times as well--women especially didn't like drinking.. alcohol was also part of it. It was also said that Joe inserted the part about tea and coffee to give Emma and the ladies some "payback" so they'd have to make some sacrifice too.
I once saw a newspaper article from that time and place as well, written by some quack doctor. His recommendations were strikingly similar to the Wow, almost too coincidental.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/2012 04:37PM by rationalguy.
JS didn't live the Wow. There are accounts of him drinking and smoking well after it's "revelation." Of course it wasn't enforced seriously at all by the church until well into the 20th century. It's adoption as serious practice coincided quite closely with the adoption of the national prohibition of alcohol.
To me, a critical reading of the WoW clearly indicates approval of beer. I always took it to be so in practice.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/2012 04:46PM by rationalguy.
It came from the pamphlets of the Cold Water Army. There was a big surge in the early temperance movement in the 1830s-40s and there many chapters in the Midwest and East. Apparently there are rosters from chapters near Mormon settlements that have very familiar Mormon names on them.
They espoused no tobacco, alcohol or hot drinks, and less meat.
They thought hot drinks caused vapors in the stomach that caused illness.
The temperance movement died out during the Civil War and then bounced back stronger.