Worthiness to enter the temple, the role of the Kirtland endowment, and advancing between each covenant in different temples for Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods.
Drew - You asked for sources on one of my comments, and I finally got it for you.
Yes, historical records confirm that Joseph Smith, while imprisoned in Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844, requested tobacco (often interpreted as pipes or cigars) and wine, though the exact details and context are nuanced.
Source: History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Vol. 6, p. 616 (compiled from contemporary records and later edited by Church historians).
Text: “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 to 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 some wine to Joseph, who tasted it, as also Brother Taylor and Dr. Richards, and all partook slightly, except Brother Hyrum, who did not drink.”
Source: John Taylor, who was present in Carthage Jail and later became the third LDS Church president, provided a detailed account in his Martyrdom of Joseph Smith (reprinted in History of the Church, Vol. 7, pp. 99–101, and Gospel Kingdom, p. 362).
Text: Taylor confirms the event, stating: “Sometime after dinner we sent for some wine. It has been 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 guards. We all of us felt unusually dull and languid, with a remarkable depression of spirits.”
I've read that last quote by JT before but it has been quite some time and I did not know that was the last day of Joseph's life - that makes it a more interesting detail. Sadly, the account does not mention who smoked the tobacco - one could argue it was purchased to pay the guard off without more information. Even so, we have lots of records of the early brethren not abiding by the WofW as it's interpreted today. I believe the St. George Temple Minutes is where we find the brethren drinking brandy during Q12 meetings and Joseph claimed Emma tried to kill him by poisoning his coffee, etc.
Drew - I think some would argue that the tobacco was purchased to pay the guard but all of them except for Hiram drank some of the wine...
Yet I think it is much more likely that all of them smoked a little of the two papers of tobacco which would have increased their testosterone and relaxed them somewhat during this tense situation. Especially since they didn't interpret obeying the WofW as something they needed to do for divine approval/salvation.
Yeah - I think that's a reasonable reading of the record. If we don't know, however, and the record is not explicit, you'll always have those who read it from a modern/faithful perspective, which was essentially what I was trying to say earlier. I don't know of any other record saying that Joseph smoked. I guess I haven't studied details like that in a couple of decades. haha
Drew - You asked for sources on one of my comments, and I finally got it for you.
Yes, historical records confirm that Joseph Smith, while imprisoned in Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844, requested tobacco (often interpreted as pipes or cigars) and wine, though the exact details and context are nuanced.
Source: History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Vol. 6, p. 616 (compiled from contemporary records and later edited by Church historians).
Text: “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 to 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 some wine to Joseph, who tasted it, as also Brother Taylor and Dr. Richards, and all partook slightly, except Brother Hyrum, who did not drink.”
Source: John Taylor, who was present in Carthage Jail and later became the third LDS Church president, provided a detailed account in his Martyrdom of Joseph Smith (reprinted in History of the Church, Vol. 7, pp. 99–101, and Gospel Kingdom, p. 362).
Text: Taylor confirms the event, stating: “Sometime after dinner we sent for some wine. It has been 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 guards. We all of us felt unusually dull and languid, with a remarkable depression of spirits.”
Thank you - that's super helpful and interesting.
I've read that last quote by JT before but it has been quite some time and I did not know that was the last day of Joseph's life - that makes it a more interesting detail. Sadly, the account does not mention who smoked the tobacco - one could argue it was purchased to pay the guard off without more information. Even so, we have lots of records of the early brethren not abiding by the WofW as it's interpreted today. I believe the St. George Temple Minutes is where we find the brethren drinking brandy during Q12 meetings and Joseph claimed Emma tried to kill him by poisoning his coffee, etc.
Drew - I think some would argue that the tobacco was purchased to pay the guard but all of them except for Hiram drank some of the wine...
Yet I think it is much more likely that all of them smoked a little of the two papers of tobacco which would have increased their testosterone and relaxed them somewhat during this tense situation. Especially since they didn't interpret obeying the WofW as something they needed to do for divine approval/salvation.
Yeah - I think that's a reasonable reading of the record. If we don't know, however, and the record is not explicit, you'll always have those who read it from a modern/faithful perspective, which was essentially what I was trying to say earlier. I don't know of any other record saying that Joseph smoked. I guess I haven't studied details like that in a couple of decades. haha