Abide #7: Doctrine and Covenants 89
Channel: Maxwell Institute
Date: 2021-10-19

In 1833, each morning around 25 elders would cram themselves into a small upper room of the Newel K. Whitney store in Kirtland to listen to Joseph teach them. Brigham Young described, “Men would light a pipe and begin to talk about the great things of the kingdom and puff away until they could barely see Joseph through the thick haze of smoke. After they finished their pipe, they would pull out their chewing tobacco and soon their spittle was all over the floor.” This dingy setting was the School of the Prophets. Historian, Jed Woodworth quipped, “Ironically this was the place Joseph Smith attempted to teach the men how they and their converts could become holy, without spot, and worthy of the presence of God.” 

Now, Brigham Young pointed to Emma’s frustration with the stained floor prompting Joseph to ask the Lord. David Whitmer talks about women being strong proponents of temperance while many of the men would prefer to ignore such ideas. This was a time of major flux in the transatlantic world with ideas concerning hygiene and temperance. And Joseph’s decision to ask the Lord gave the saints a new revelation- a principle with a promise. That revelation- a word of wisdom- is our topic today.