1. Was the creation of the world a ritual act like the preparation of the sacrament or was it more like a more mundane construction project? 

2. As far as I have been able to find out, part of the reason for the Word of Wisdom is to set us apart from the world, much like the children of Israel in the Mosaic dispensation were commanded not to trim the corners of their beards. Also, other practices of dress and grooming. Therefore, is a nonmember of the Church technically guilty of a sin for engaging in those practices (drinking, smoking, etc.) proscribed by the Word of Wisdom? Sam

Dear Sam,

Question 1. The creation of the world cannot be compared to anything within our experience. And above all, it was far from mundane!  The Lord is all-powerful and all knowing. His methods of creation cannot be understood nor even imagined by the human mind. In spite of the fact that large numbers of well-educated people in various scientific disciplines attempt to discover the creation process by scientific examination of the thing created, it is utter foolishness. The only things we may know about the activities and processes that take place in the celestial realms of God are those things that He chooses to reveal to us by the voice of his holy prophets. God did reveal in brief form His plan for the creation of the world and it is recorded in the Book of Abraham, Chapter 4.

Question 2. I don’t know that the Word of Wisdom was given by the Lord to set his people apart.  As Peter says, We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9). The peculiarity of the people of the Lord goes far beyond the observance of the laws of health revealed by the Lord.

But more directly to your question--there are two consequences to disobeying the word of the Lord. One, there is the natural consequence of following a course of behavior contrary to the will of God. With respect to the Word of Wisdom, those who partake of tea, coffee, alcohol or tobacco will suffer the natural consequences that those harmful drugs impose on the body. Member and nonmember alike suffer the natural consequences of the sin of imbibing harmful substances.

The second consequence is related to fidelity of commitment. If I make a promise to the Lord, and then break that promise, not only will I suffer the natural consequences of inappropriate behavior, but I will undoubtedly also be punished for breaking my promise and violating a sacred covenant. The Lord said to Nephi

After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me (2 Nephi 31:14).