Verse 2 says"To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and willof God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days."To explain how the revelation from God says one thing yet leaders say another Ezra Taft Beson said this: "In 1851, President Brigham Young proposed to the general conference of the Church that all Saints formally covenant to keep the Word of Wisdom. This proposal was unanimously upheld by the membership of the Church. Since that day, the revelation has been a binding commandment on all Church members."So Brigham Young can turn a teaching into a commandment? We can take out covenants on behalf of the dead but how can we turn a teaching that God said was not a commandment and turn it into a commandment?No one person can turn anything into a commandment but God. And He was clear that the word of wisdom was given "Not by commandment or constraint."But here's what really happened with Brigham Young in 1851; This is what was reported in the Millenial Star: "President Young rose to put the motion and called on all the sisters who will leave off the use of tea, coffee, etc., to manifest it by raising the right hand; seconded and carried.
"And then put the following motion; calling on all the boys who were under ninety years of age who would covenant to leave off the use of tobacco, Whiskey, and all things mentioned in the Word of Wisdom to manifest it in like manner, which was carried unanimously."
"The evidence is that Brigham Young regretted his earlier call for the young men and women to commit to stop using these substances, for it appears that many caught up in the fervor of the moment were unable to keep their resolutions for very long. Years later, President Young made this statement:
"I will not call upon you to make a covenant to do this, for some might break their covenants, and that would be a sin."
Even a Prohpet cannot turn a teaching of God into a commandment. I am the only person that can make a covenant between myself and God. No one, not even a Prophet, can do it for me or anyone else who is living.Up until 1912 wine was part of the sacrament until the temperance movement swelled to the point that the sacrament prayer switch water from wine. Wine of your own make is what the word of wisdom dictates should be used for the sacrament.D&C 89:5-6 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wineor strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
It seems as though a teaching of God became a commandment of men. Perhaps it was a matter of keeping up with the Jones's and religiously one upping each other.
I believe in the blessings of health promised to those who follow the word of wisdom in terms of its do's and don'ts. But I do not believe this teaching is or ever really was a commandment.
I believe God knew what He was doing in revealing this teaching the first time and that no revisions were nessecary or made, not by God at least.
What amazes me is the lengths many LDS in Utah go through to push the Wird of Wisdom on those who aren't even Mormon. Jews have Kosher but the don't make bacon illegal or force you to buy it in over priced state stores.
