Alcohol Consumption Is Not Funny

A friend emailed me a joke that listed a series of humorous comments by young children about their views on alcoholic beverages and their parents frequent use of alcohol to get intoxicated. The email really got me thinking.

Thanks for the humorous note on childrens view on alcoholic beverages. The email really got me thinking.

Here is what my Irish Catholic father said about my Irish Catholic grandfather. "every time my father drank he would come home and yell at my mother and hit me". I see many more very non-humorous consequences of alcohol every day in the Emergency Department of our community.

Here is what the Bible says on the subject. Hopefully one day "all [our] children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of [our] children." (Isa 54:13)

1 Cor 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Lev 10:9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: (common Jews were allowed to drink wine but those worthy to labor in the Temple it was forbidden)

Prov 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Prov 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
(as followers and deciples of Christ, we are to be a royal priesthood, and a holy nation of kings on priests to Christ who is King of kings and Lord of lords)

Isa 5:11;22 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! ...22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

I am thankful for modern prophets beginning with Joseph Smith and modern scripture like the Word of Wisdom in the LDS Doctrine and Covenants, warn us to stay away from tobacco, alcohol and other addictive and potentially destructive substances.