"When there was no whisky to be had here, and we
needed it for rational purposes, I built a house to make it in. When the distillery was
almost completed and in good working order, an army was heard of in our vicinity and I
shut up the works I did not make a gallon of whisky at my works, because it came here in
great quantities, more than was needed. I could have made thousands of dollars from my
still, which has ever since been as dead property. Have others followed my example in
this? They have not, but there was a whisky shop established here and another there. Some
have even told me that they would starve if they did not make whisky. I said to them, make
it then, and be damned, for they will be damned anyhow. Am not I able to make whisky? Yes;
there stands the still and the still-house to this day, which I have never used and from
which I might make thousands of dollars. Have I made whisky and sold it in what some call
whisky street? No. Had I done so how many would have hailed me with, "You are a good
man, brother Brigham, and you are the right man to lead Israel; thank God for such a man:
he keeps a whiskey shop, drinks liquor, trades with our enemies and hugs them to his heart
as long as there is any money in their pockets, and takes them to his house and introduces
them to his wives and daughters; what a blessed man brother Brigham is." (Journal of Discourses Vol. 10, p.206 )
“...it is not my privilege to drink liquor,
neither is it my privilege to eat tobacco. Well, bro. Brigham, have you not done it? YES,
FOR MANY YEARS, but I ceased its HABITUAL PRACTICE. I used it for toothache; now I am free
from that pain, and my mouth is never stained with tobacco.”
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 12, page 404)
"Ordinance on the Personal Sale of Liquors.
Section 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of Nauvoo, that the Mayor of the city be and
is hereby authorized to sell or give spirits of any quantity as he in his wisdom shall
judge to be for the health and comfort, or convenience of such travelers or other persons
as shall visit his house from time to time.Passed December 12, 1843.JOSEPH SMITH, Mayor.
WILLARD RICHARDS, Recorder."
(History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 111)
"Called at the office and DRANK A GLASS OF WINE
with Sister Jenetta Richards, made by her mother in England, and reviewed a portion
of the conference minutes.”
(History of the Church,Vol. 5, p. 380)
“We then partook of some refreshments, and OUR
HEARTS WERE MADE GLAD WITH THE FRUIT OF THE VINE.”
(History of the Church, Vol. 2, page 369)
"Elders Orson Hyde, Luke S. Johnson, and Warren
Parrish, then presented the Presidency with three servers of glasses filled with WINE to
bless. And it fell to my lot to attend to this duty, which I cheerfully discharged. It was
then passed round in order, then the cake in the same order; and suffice it to say, OUR
HEARTS WERE MADE GLAD while partaking of the bounty of earth which was presented, until we
had taken our fill;..."
(History of the Church, Vol. 2, p. 378)
“April17.—This day THE TWELVE blessed and
DRANK A BOTTLE OF WINE at Penworthan, made by Mother Moon FORTY YEARS BEFORE.”
(History of the Church, Vol. 4, page 120)
“Before the jailor came in, his boy brought in
some water, and said the guard wanted some WINE. JOSEPH gave Dr. Richards two dollars to
give the guard; but the guard said one was enough, and would take no more. “The guard
immediately sent FOR A BOTTLE OF WINE, pipes, and two small papers of tobacco; and one of
the guards brought them into the jail soon after the jailor went out. Dr. Richards
uncorked the bottle, AND PRESENTED A GLASS TO JOSEPH, WHO TASTED, AS BROTHER TAYLOR AND
THE DOCTOR, and the bottle was then given to the guard, who turned to go out.”
(History of the Church, Vol. 6, page 616)
"Sometime after dinner we sent for some WINE. It
hasbeen reported by some that this 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.... I believe we
all drank of the WINE, and gave some to one or two of the prison guards."
(John Taylor, in History of the Church, Vol. 7, page 101)
About 1842, a new and larger house was built for us....
Father proceeded to build an extensive addition running out from the south wing toward the
east.... “At any rate, it seemed spacious then, and a sign was put out giving it the
dignified name of 'The Nauvoo Mansion,'... Mother was to be installed as landlady, and
soon made a trip to Saint Louis.. “When she returned Mother found installed in the
keeping - room of the hotel—that is to say, the main room where the guests assembled
and where they were received upon arrival—A BAR, with counter, shelves, bottles,
glasses, and other paraphernalia customary for a FULLY -EQUIPPED TAVERN BAR, and Porter
Rockwell in charge as tender. “She was very much surprised and disturbed over this
arrangement, but said nothing for a while...she asked me where Father was. I told her he
was in the front room... Then she told me to go and tell him she wished to see him. I
obeyed, and returned with him to the hall where Mother awaited him. 'Joseph,' she asked,
'What is the meaning of THAT BAR IN THIS HOUSE?'... 'How does it look,' she asked, 'for
the spiritual head of a religious body to be keeping a hotel in which is a room fitted out
as a LIQUOR-SELLING ESTABLISHMENT?' “He reminded her that all taverns had their BARS
at which liquor was sold or dispensed..“Mother's reply came emphatically clear,
though uttered quietly: “'Well, Joseph,... I will take my children and go across to
the old house and stay there, for I will not have them raised up under such conditions as
this arrangement imposes upon us, nor have them mingle with the kind of men who frequent
such a place. You are at liberty to make your choice; EITHER THAT BAR GOES OUT OF THE
HOUSE, OR WE WILL!' “It did not take Father long to make the choice, for he replied
immediately, 'Very well, Emma; I will have it removed at once'—and he did"
(Joseph Smith's own son, in The Saints' Herald, Jan. 22,
1935, page 110)
Stills were afterward obtained from emigrants, and the
manufacture and sale of alcohol were later controlledby the city councils. The FIRST
BAR-ROOM in S. L. City, and the only one for years, was in the Salt Lake House, owned by
PRESIDENT YOUNG and Feramorz Little. It was opened for the accommodation of travellers,
whose requirements would be supplied by some one, and it was thought by the brethren that
they had better control the trade than have outsiders do so.” (Hurbert Howe Bancroft, History of Utah, p. 540,
footnote 44)
“You go through the wards in the city, and then
through the wards in the country, and ask the Bishops—'Do you keep the Word of
Wisdom?' The reply will be 'YES; NO, NOT EXACTLY.' 'Do you drink tea?' 'No.' 'Coffee?'
'No.' 'Do you drink whisky?' 'No.' 'Well, then, why do you not observe the Word of
Wisdom?' 'Well, this TOBACCO, I CANNOT GIVE IT UP.' And in this he sets an example to
every man, and to every boy over ten years of age, in his ward, to nibble at and chew
tobacco. You go to another ward, and perhaps the Bishop does not chew tobacco, nor drink
tea nor coffee, but once in a while he takes A LITTLE SPIRITS, and keeps WHISKEY in his
house, in which he will occasionally INDULGE— Go to another ward, and perhaps the
Bishop does not drink whisky nor chew tobacco, but he 'CANNOT GIVE UP HIS TEA AND COFFEE.'
And so it goes through the whole church. Not every Bishop indulges in one or more of these
habits, but MOST OF THEM DO. I recollect being at a trial not long since where quite a
number of Bishops had been called in as witnesses, but I could not learn that there WAS
ONE WHO DID NOT DRINK WHISKEY, and I THINK THAT MOST OF THEM DRANK TEA AND COFFEE. I think
that we have SOME BISHOPS in this city who do not chew tobacco, nor drink liquor nor tea
nor coffee TO EXCESS.... If a person is weary, worn out, cast down, fainting, or dying, A
BRANDY SLING, a little WINE, or a cup of TEA is good to revive them. DO NOT THROW THESE
THINGS AWAY, AND SAY THEY MUST NEVER BE USED; they are good to be used with judgment,
prudence, and discretion. Ask our BISHOPS IF THEY DRINK TEA EVERY DAY, AND IN MOST CASES
THEY WILL TELL YOU THEY DO IF THEY CAN GET IT.”
(Journal of Discourses, Vol.12, pp. 402-403)
“Many of the brethren chew tobacco, and I have
advised them to be modest about it. Do not take out a WHOLE PLUG OF TOBACCO IN MEETING
BEFORE THE EYES OF THE CONGREGATION, AND CUT OFF A LONG SLICE AND PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH, to
the annoyance of everybody around. Do not glory in this disgraceful practice. If you must
use tobacco, put a small portion in your mouth when no person sees you, and be careful
that no one sees you chew it. I do not charge you with sin. You have the'Word of Wisdom.'
Read it.”
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, p. 361)
“There is another subject I wish to refer to. Last
Sabbath this front gallery,...was very full. After meeting was dismissed I took a walk
through it, and to see the floor that had been occupied by those professing to be
gentlemen, and I do not know but brethren, you might have supposed that cattle had been
there rolling and standing around, for here and there were GREAT QUIDS OF TOBACCO, AND
PLACES ONE OR TWO FEET SQUARE SMEARED WITH TOBACCO JUICE. I want to say to the doorkeepers that when you see gentlemen who cannot omit chewing and SPITTING WHILE IN THIS
HOUSE, request them to leave; and if such persons refuse to leave, and continue their
spitting, just take them and lead them out carefully and kindly. We do not want to have
the house thus defiled. It is an imposition for gentlemen to SPIT TOBACCO JUICE around, or
to leave their QUIDS OF TOBACCO on the floor; they dirty the house, and if a lady happen
to besmear the bottom of her dress, which can hardly be avoided, it is highly offensive.
We therefore request ALL GENTLEMEN ATTENDING CONFERENCE TO OMIT TOBACCO CHEWING WHILE
HERE.”
(Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p. 344)
“You know that we all profess to believe the 'Word
of Wisdom.' There has been a great deal said about it, more in former than in latter
years. We as Latter-day Saints, care but little about tobacco; BUT AS 'MORMONS' WE USE A
GREAT DEAL.... The traders and passing emigration have sold TONS OF TOBACCO, besides what
is sold here regularly. I say that $60,000 annually is the smallest figure I can estimate
the sales at. Tobacco can be raised here as well as it can be raised in any other place.
It wants attention and care. If we use it, let us raise it here. I RECOMMEND FOR SOME MAN
TO GO TO RAISING TOBACCO. One man, who came here last fall, is going to do so; and if he
is diligent, he will raise quite a quantity. I want to see some man GO TO AND MAKE A
BUSINESS OF RAISING TOBACCO AND STOP SENDING MONEY OUT OF THE TERRITORY FOR THAT ARTICLE.
“Some of the brethren are very strenuous upon the 'Word of Wisdom,' and would like to
have me preach upon it, and urge it upon the brethren, and make it a test of fellowship. I
do NOT think that I shall do so. I have never done so. We annually expend only $60,000 to
break the 'Word of Wisdom', and we can save the money and STILL BREAK IT, IF WE WILL BREAK
IT.” (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 9, page 35)
“Some of our pretended pious people, a few years
ago, were shocked and horrified by seeing the symbol of the All-Seeing Eye and the words
'Holiness to the Lord' in gilt letters over the front of Zion's Cooperative Mercantile
Institution. Especially was this the case with some of our brethren when they found these
letters over the drug department of Z.C.M.I. Why was it? Why some of these pious (?)
Mormons found that Z.C.M.I. UNDER THE SYMBOL OF THE ALL-SEEING EYE AND THE SACRED WORDS,
'HOLINESS TO THE LORD,' SOLD TEA AND COFFEE, AND TOBACCO, and other things possibly that
Latter-day Saints ought not to use; and at the drug store, Z.C.M.I. KEPT LIQUORS of
various kinds for medicinal purposes. It was terribly shocking to some of the Latter-day
Saints that UNDER THESE HOLY WORDS LIQUOR SHOULD BE KEPT FOR SALE. Has it injured me, in
any sense of the word, because Z.C.M.I. drug store kept LIQUOR for sale? Has it made me a
drunkard? Have I been under the necessity of guzzling liquid poison? Have I made myself a
sot because liquor was KEPT FOR SALE BY Z.C.M.I.? I am not the worse for it, thank the
Lord. And who else is? No one, except those pious Mormons (?) who in open day or under the
cover of night would go into the drug store and buy liquor to drink.... Those who were the
most horrified at seeing the All-Seeing Eye and 'Holiness to the Lord' over the front door
of Z.C.M.I., I will guarantee are the ONES THAT HAVE BOUGHT THE MOST TEA AND COFFEE,
TOBACCO AND WHISKEY THERE.... It does not matter to me how much tea and coffee Z.C.M.I.
sells, so long as I do not buy it. If I do not drink it am I not all right? And if the
poor creature that wants it can get it there, that ought to satisfy him. IF HE COULD NOT
GET IT THERE, HE WOULD NOT PATRONIZE Z.C.M.I. AT ALL, BUT WOULD GO SOME WHERE ELSE TO
DEAL.” (Conference Report, April 1898, page 11)
About 1842, a new and larger house was built for us....
Father proceeded to build an extensive addition running out from the south wing toward the
east.... “At any rate, it seemed spacious then, and a sign was put out giving it the
dignified name of 'The Nauvoo Mansion,'... Mother was to be installed as landlady, and
soon made a trip to Saint Louis.. “When she returned Mother found installed in the
keeping - room of the hotel—that is to say, the main room where the guests assembled
and where they were received upon arrival—A BAR, with counter, shelves, bottles,
glasses, and other paraphernalia customary for a FULLY -EQUIPPED TAVERN BAR, and Porter
Rockwell in charge as tender. “She was very much surprised and disturbed
over this
arrangement, but said nothing for a while...she asked me where Father was. I told her he
was in the front room... Then she told me to go and tell him she wished to see him. I
obeyed, and returned with him to the hall where Mother awaited him. 'Joseph,' she asked,
'What is the meaning of THAT BAR IN THIS HOUSE?'... 'How does it look,' she asked, 'for
the spiritual head of a religious body to be keeping a hotel in which is a room fitted out
as a LIQUOR-SELLING ESTABLISHMENT?' “He reminded her that all taverns had their BARS
at which liquor was sold or dispensed..“Mother's reply came emphatically clear,
though uttered quietly: “'Well, Joseph,... I will take my children and go across to
the old house and stay there, for I will not have them raised up under such conditions as
this arrangement imposes upon us, nor have them mingle with the kind of men who frequent
such a place. You are at liberty to make your choice; EITHER THAT BAR GOES OUT OF THE
HOUSE, OR WE WILL!' “It did not take Father long to make the choice, for he replied
immediately, 'Very well, Emma; I will have it removed at once'—and he did"