1) What the revelation actually says (and how it frames itself)

The Word of Wisdom (Doctrine and Covenants 89) opens with a framing that often gets skipped in modern LDS teaching:

  • It is sent “not by commandment or constraint.”

That matters because it establishes the document as counsel and principle at the outset—not a binding requirement in the way Latter-day Saints treat it today.

Why that wording existed (a later LDS explanation)

An LDS instructional manual explains one traditional reason leaders later gave for this “not by commandment” framing: if it had been presented as a commandment immediately, many members would have been condemned for habits they were still addicted to—so it was given as mercy first, then treated more strictly later.

2) Early definitions: What did “hot drinks” mean?

The revelation says “hot drinks are not for the body or belly,” but it doesn’t define what those are. Over time, LDS leaders did.

Early LDS leader clarification (1842)

In Times and Seasons (June 1, 1842), Hyrum Smith explicitly addressed confusion about the phrase and stated that “hot drinks” referred to tea and coffee.

Brigham Young’s explanation (Journal of Discourses)

Brigham Young also addressed the “it only says hot drinks” argument by pointing to what people commonly drank hot at the time—again identifying tea and coffee as the intended meaning.

What this suggests historically

From early on, “hot drinks” was commonly taught as tea and coffee, not “anything hot” (like soup, broth, or boiled water). Church history writing from the Church itself also notes that early Saints generally understood “hot drinks” to mean coffee and tea.

3) From “principle” to “requirement”: when did it become enforced?

A key historical shift is that the Word of Wisdom started as counsel, but later became treated as binding.

The LDS student manual describes a moment in 1851 when Brigham Young proposed that Saints formally covenant to abstain from the items named, and the motion was accepted—describing this as a point after which it became binding as a commandment for members.

Whatever one thinks of that change, it shows the lived reality: the “not by commandment” framing didn’t remain the functional interpretation forever.

4) Modern LDS position: it is a commandment, and “hot drinks” = tea & coffee

Modern official Church resources are straightforward:

  • The Church’s FAQ says leaders have explained “hot drinks” as coffee and tea (excluding herbal teas).
  • A Church “Gospel Topics” entry lists tea and coffee among harmful substances prohibited by the Word of Wisdom.
  • A Church History article quotes the General Handbook: “The Word of Wisdom is a commandment of God,” including abstinence from tobacco, alcohol, and “hot drinks (tea and coffee).”
  • A Church youth magazine article (“Vaping, Coffee, Tea, and Marijuana”) repeats that “hot drinks” means tea and coffee.
  • Another official youth Q&A states that the “only official interpretation” of “hot drinks” is that it means tea and coffee (and clarifies caffeine is not stated as the reason).

So: modern LDS teaching is consistent—tea and coffee are prohibited, not “heated water.”

5) The public health question: could “no hot drinks” have discouraged boiling unsafe water?

This is the most important part of your concern, and it needs to be handled carefully.

What we can say with confidence

Boiling water is one of the most effective ways to kill disease-causing organisms. The CDC explicitly teaches boiling as a primary way to make water safe in an emergency, with specific boiling guidance.

Historical public health scholarship also documents the enormous impact that improving water treatment had on reducing diseases like typhoid—showing how dangerous contaminated water can be.

What we cannot claim without stronger evidence

We should not claim (without documentation) that LDS leaders taught people “don’t boil water” or that the Word of Wisdom “caused many deaths” directly.

To make that claim responsibly, you’d need:

  • documented LDS statements or practices discouraging boiling water specifically,
  • and evidence that this led to measurable harm (death/illness) in a defined group.

The responsible way to frame your thesis

A fair, research-grade way to present it is:

“Because many 19th-century communities faced waterborne disease, it is worth asking whether any Saints—especially newer converts or strict literalists—may have interpreted ‘no hot drinks’ broadly enough to avoid heated beverages or boiled water, potentially increasing risk. However, early LDS explanations usually equated ‘hot drinks’ with tea and coffee, not boiled water.”

That’s plausible, historically meaningful, and doesn’t overclaim what the record proves.

6) A balanced conclusion you can publish

  • The Word of Wisdom began with language that framed it as not a commandment.
  • Early LDS leaders clarified “hot drinks” as tea and coffee.
  • Over time, Church teaching and institutional practice shifted toward treating it as a commandment and worthiness requirement.
  • Boiling water is a proven safety measure; therefore, any broad misinterpretation that discouraged boiling could matter in a historical disease context—but direct causation must be argued with direct evidence.

References (as a clean list for your post)

Scripture / Church sources

  • Doctrine and Covenants 89 (official scripture page).
  • Church History Topics: “Word of Wisdom (D&C 89).”
  • Church History Blog: “Ask Us: Top Reference Questions about the Word of Wisdom” (includes General Handbook excerpt).
  • Church FAQ: “Can Mormons drink coffee?”
  • Gospel Topics: “Word of Wisdom.”
  • New Era: “Vaping, Coffee, Tea, and Marijuana” (2019).
  • New Era Q&A (2008): caffeine clarification + “official interpretation” language.
  • Times and Seasons (June 1, 1842), via Joseph Smith Papers (Hyrum Smith statement on tea/coffee).
  • Journal of Discourses 13:32 (Brigham Young on “hot drinks” = tea/coffee).
  • D&C Student Manual: historical notes and quotations about transition to commandment; early explanations.

Public health / boiling water

  • CDC: “How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency” (boiling instructions).
  • CDC: “Drinking Water Advisories: An Overview” (boiling kills germs).
  • National Research Council (via NCBI): “Drinking Water and Health” historical note on waterborne disease and typhoid transmission via drinking water.