when this school of prophets was inaugurated almost the first

thing that came before this body of was what we call the Word

of Wisdom given under very peculiar circumstances they were called together they were but few Joseph

commenced to teach them you understand at once going into the world to preaching [sic] the gospel

and the people believing it and then gathering together according to the words of the prophet those words been

spoken in ancient days all this didn’t infringe upon the individual

character no further than the ordinances of the house of God faith in the name of Jesus repentance baptism for

the remission of sins the laying on of hands the reception of the Holy Ghost the gifts

prophecy tongues revelations visions healing gifts of faith etc. or the ordinances of these gifts didn’t say to one

man when that he should be a merchant

farmer or take 5 percent per month for his money he gave his means to the poor and became like those of

old all this work the preaching [of the] gospel

gathering of the saints didn’t infringe upon the temporal life of the people no further than the ordinances of the

house of God are concerned Joseph commenced to instruct the people

with regard to their lives I will relate here as far as I understand it I cannot say I was an eye witness still I

think I have the understanding

of this Word of Wisdom probably as any man in the church when the elders came together they used their

freedom they got up into their small room

over Joseph Smith’s kitchen the house he lived in in Kirtland belonged to Bishop Whitney attached to his store

probably 15 feet square

the rear of this a kitchen probably ten by 14 with their little pantries over this little kitchen was the room the

prophet received revelations in and

instructed his brethren his room over what was used for [illegible] was made for an [illegible] room all the

brethren for hundreds of miles came to this

school in a little room probably from ten to 11 feet when they came into room after breakfast first thing was

for each and every man to light a

pipe and begin to talk about the great things of the kingdom and puff away and how is this and how is this and

spittle here and spittle there and by the time they

were ready to hearken to Joseph to hear his counsel Joseph did not use tobacco [but?] he had it to

accommodate his brethren by the time he came to instruct them here

was tobacco spot all over the floor and as soon as pipe out of mouth in goes plug of tobacco this set Joseph to

thinking and Emma complained of cleaning the room and could not

make the floor look decent one complaint after another the girls complain scrubbing the floor and the

prophet and the smoke was so dense you could hardly

see across the room so been told by those there Joseph commenced to inquire of the Lord with regard to use

of tobacco and set him to meditate and talk and think about

it and sought unto the Lord to know with regard to the conduct of the elders with this particular practice he then

received the revelation that is called the Word of Wisdom you have read it

you know what it is and we see here almost the first thing introduced by revelation unto this school was

upon the conduct of the life of every individual in this school

not eating tobacco spirits and so on