God’s Kingdom Rules!, “Moral Refinements—Reflecting God’s Holiness”
“In 1935, The Watchtower called tobacco “the filthy weed” and noted that no one who chose to chew it or smoke it could remain a member of the Bethel family or serve as a representative of God’s organization in the pioneer work or the traveling ministry. In 1973 a further moral refinement came. … Those who refused to give up the misuse of tobacco were to be disfellowshipped.”
The organisation's own account: before 1973 tobacco disqualified a person from headquarters service, pioneering and the travelling ministry, but not from membership.
Official source (opens in new tab)
Provenance and verification note for God’s Kingdom Rules!, Moral Refinements—Reflecting God’s Holiness
Confidence note. Document opened on wol.jw.org on 19 September 2026; the wording was read in full and the page number taken from the library's own page markers.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-chg-d-kr-2014-ch11-tobacco