Why do Mormons forbid wine when Jesus Himself drank wine? How do they explain this?

Question

I've heard from Mormons that it wasn't really wine back then, which is absolute B.S. I've also heard from them that wine was healthier back then which is also weird. We know wine in normal amounts is healthy today, an anti-oxidant, so why are they so against it? Jesus turned water into wine. Wine was used as communion from the very beginning of the church. My theory is that the early Mormons had to ban any luxury item such as alcohol and tobacco in order to prosper because they were poor. Is that true? If wine is bad for you, even small amounts (which is not true), then why don't Mormons ban red meat, super sugary snacks, fast food, high sodium snacks, etc.? Lots of people die of obesity as well as alcoholism. Can a Mormon or a mormon scholar please answer me this question? Your own God drank wine!

Answer 1

We don't forbid wine. Doctrine and covenants 20:77-79 (the blessing of the sacrament) actually akses God to bless the wine. But we're also told in D&C that it's not what is used in sacrament that is important, because it's souly the purpose that is important.

Wine was not "healthier" back then....unless you mean healtheir than the germ infested water...then yeah, it's true because the alcohol killed the bacteria.

Wine/alcohol is not healthy. Every sip you take kills hundreds of brain cells...so think house many millions of cells are being killed with 1 bottle of wine.

Wine was used in the beginning of our church. The church actually had it's own vineyard specifically to make wine for the sacrament.

Alcohol and tobacco weren't a "luxury" item since you could easily make it yourself. Tobacco and alcohol are bad for you....you're just upset because we've know what the surgeon general is telling you now for almost 200 years.

If building HUGE temples and churches and homes and stores and schools makes them poor...then I guess so...

We're actually told to eat meat sparingly, and the super sugary snacks, fast food, and high sodium food are personal choices. Does going to mcdonalds one a month or so, or eating candy now and then permanently harm you like alcohol and tobacco does? No...it doesn't.

And as I said earlier...we're not banned from drinking or eating anything. If someone wants to drink alcohol, coffee, tea, etc....they can.

Answer 2

Most believe that grape juice was also considered wine. I personally can't see Christ getting drunk. Doesn't really fit into my view. In some cases it may have been just grape juice.

....but lets say it's not. Lets say that the wine that was being drunk was in fact fermented wine.

There is a difference between an "Eternal truth" (e.g. God exists) vs a teaching, practice, or commandment (e.g. putting blood on your door posts or slaughtering animals for sacrifice).

Blood sacrifice isn't an "eternal truth". We don't do it today. Does this mean that God changed? Does it mean that we're all practicing Christianity incorrectly? Does it mean that the New testament is wrong?

No...it doesn't mean any of that. It means that God wanted some people to practice it for a time and for a reason.

When the church was formed originally they could smoke and drink. Joseph Smith observed that it didn't seem appropriate for followers of Christ to do such things. He prayed to God and God revealed a modern health code to Joseph Smith. By the way, smoking, at this time, was actually recommended by many medical doctors.

So, the reason, doesn't really matter IF you know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Because, if he was, then that teaching comes from Jesus Christ himself.

We encourage everyone to learn about our faith and read the Book of Mormon. After doing so, pray to God in humility and Faith to find out if the Book and the teachings are true and ordained by God or if they're false.

If they're false....sorry for wasting your time.
If they're true, then it means that Jesus Christ himself leads and directs HIS church on the earth today.

So...you want to know about Wine, ask God about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.

He knows either way....ask him.

Answer 3

We're not forbidden from using wine in our sacrament. It just as to be of our "own make". Meaning that we (the LDS people) must make the wine ourselves, and this is just me talking but I would think growing the grapes too.

I heard an old story once that said that because of the persecutions at the time, the wine that the early members of the church bought was occasionally spiked with poison. Many times so strongly that it could be smelled upon opening the bottle, so it wasn't used. Then one time Joseph Smith himself went to buy some and on his way it was revealed to him that the wine would be unsafe and for him to use water instead. Water was something they could control more easily than going to the saloon and buying the wine. Even if a few wells were contaminated, it would be unlikely that all the wells would be poisoned before anyone noticed.
Like I said, it's just a story I heard once and it came second hand. But there has to be a reason why we stopped using wine.

" And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make. " D&C 89:6 "The Word of Wisdom"

As for "banning" other items that are bad for you, we are counselled to be prudent in all things. If something is bad for you, but not expressly written the scriptures then that doesn't mean you can use it/eat it/etc. If something is bad for you personally then you should avoid it - sugar to a diabetic, salt to someone with high blood pressure, etc. Also the Lord has said that He will not tell us EVERY thing we should and shouldn't do, that it's up to us to decide for ourselves. At the same time He will not tell us WHY on everything either. We don't know WHY we aren't to drink coffee, or tea - we only know that the Lord has commanded and the faithful obey. Many have their opinions why, but they are only opinions.

Answer 4

At first the LDS Church used wine. However, Joseph Smith was instructed to not buy wine for the sacrament (from enemies). Joseph was told that the wine was poisoned. At that point water was used instead of wine and it has been that way ever since.

Various studies have shown the benefits of wine but those some qualities can be obtained without the alcohol part. Other studies show it's not good. You can get the same benefits of wine from wine that has no alcohol!

It is the MEANING of the sacrament, not the actual liquid that we drink, that is important. If you are trying to prove that the LDS Church is false since we don't drink wine, don't go there. That is a ridiculous argument!

Answer 5

In Section 89 of the Doctrine & Covenants, known as the "Word of Wisdom," the eating of meat is to be done sparingly. There is the warning of alcoholic drinks and tobacco that is due to the craftiness of men. What category would you put wine in; lite drink or strong drink that is even warned against in the Old Testament. Remember, the word grape did not originate in the Latin or Greek language. It originate in the Germanic languages and did not come into common use until the late Middle Ages. There was no other word for unfermented wine other than wine that came from the name of the fruit on the vine known as "wineberries."

Answer 6

Two issues. Jesus drank wine. He used wine in the sacrament. No one is sure if this was 'new' wine or fermented wine. I recall reading Jerry Fallwell, a fundamentalist write that it was not alcoholic.

Second, if our child asked us if they should smoke, we would not only tell them about smoking, but we would warn them about other health issues. This is exactly what happended when Joseph Smith received the Word of Wisdom. He was told to avoid harmful substances and to eat meat sparingly.

The Word of Wisdom was given as a suggestion in the early church. It was not applied as a matter of thrift. It was not treated as a commandment until 1851.

It is easier to just obstain from wine than to create pointless arguments about moderate use.

Answer 7

Well I was listening to a JEWISH Scholar who said that the wine spoken of in the Bible is actually- just the New wine- or the juice from fruits. According to him, actual alcohol would not have been permitted to be part of Jewish celebrations because the fermentation process causes it to rise- any food or drink that rises in the process of making it is considered leavend and is not kosher. But since you refuse to believe that, I am not sure why I even told you. That is what I know- That is not LDS doctine- just what I learned from a Jewish Scholar.

There are really two reasons we currently don't partake of alcohol. One is because it is addictive. We avoid ANYTHING that is highly addictive in nature. The other reason and probably the biggest reason is the immediate affects that alcohol has on a person. When you drink alcohol you loose control of your actions and of your behavior. We are taught to always be in control of our actions and that agency is a law of God when we partake of Alcohol and other substances, we loose that agency. People do stupid stuff while drunk or buzzed, stuff that they would not do sober.

Answer 8

Other LDS have answer your question quite clearly.

Before you make anymore accusations, why don't you look back to your own religion, and ask where is the Prophet and Apostles to lead the church?

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(New Testament | Ephesians 4:11 - 12)

Why are you Bible only believers have so many different churches and different ways of worship?

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
(New Testament | Ephesians 4:5)

Answer 9

Wine then was almost the only way that you could drink water. A lot of it carried diseases and stuff. They would turn it into wine to clean it. They didn't drink to get drunk. The reason we don't today is b/c alcohol is not thought of like it was then. Now it is drinking to get drunk and the modern ideas are just different. Octoberfest, all the concerts and holidays is just to see who can drink the most. We keep away from it b/c then we can't get addicted. I drank a lot when I was in the military and I understand why they keep us away. Some people can withstand getting addicted and some people can't. So instead of putting it on some people to not to drink we just say don't drink. It is not that big of a deal to me after what I have seen and the alcoholics I saw in the military.

Answer 10

Yeah, but all wine was not fermented. Look into it if you don't believe me. And alcohol and tobacco are more along the lines of crutches than luxuries. And the word of wisdom does talk about the food we eat as well. It is right in Doctrine & Covenants 89 for anyone to read. The bible does warn about being drunk.