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Topics: Mormon Report / Opinions & Features

Did the LDS Church officially 'OK' caffeine?

Ashley Evanson - August 31, 2012

source: LDS Living

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This is a hot topic among members. How do you interpret this response to the NBC report, or the tweaking that was made a day later?

Did the Church just make an (un)official announcement saying it's okay to drink caffeine?

Two days ago the LDS Church Newsroom Blog published a story responding to NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams, clarifying the statement made on caffeine. The original post said "the church does not prohibit the use of caffeine" and that the reference to "hot drinks" "does not go beyond [tea and coffee]."

Yesterday the blog was tweaked to soften the wording, saying that "the church revelation spelling out health practices ... does not mention the use of caffeine."

Church spokesman Scott Trotter told The Salt Lake Tribune the wording was changed simply to "to clarify its intent, which was to provide context to the NBC piece."

So what does this mean for Mormons and Coke?

It's been a long and heated debate among members on whether or not caffeine is against the Word of Wisdom. President Gordon B. Hinckley told "60 Minutes" that Mormons avoid caffeine, apostle Bruce R. McConkie wrote that it violated the spirit of the Word of Wisdom, and even BYU campuses don't sell it.

But this doesn't stop Mormons from drinking it. It's served in the Church's Joseph Smith Memorial Building and other restaurants on Temple Square. Also, according to an excerpt from "David O McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism," President David O. McKay once requested a soda; he was told that all they had were Coca-Cola glasses, but that another soda would be served in it, to which he responded he didn't care what was on the cup, as long as there was Coke IN the cup.

This is a touchy topic - many Mormons will stick to their belief of no caffeine, while others might take this as a blessing to drink Mountain Dew. What do you think? Has the Church just given members the okay to drink caffeine? Take our poll and leave a comment below.

Before this announcement, did you think caffeine was okay to drink?

After this announcement, do you think it's okay to drink caffeine?

How do you interpret the phrase "hot drinks?"

© LDS Living, 2012.

Tags: LDS Culture, Poll, Media, Word of Wisdom, Mormon Report, Opinions & Features

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Comments 118 comments

zapoteco said...

03:46 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

If you're going to use 'Mtn Dew' as an alternative to caffeine, you're mistaken, it has MORE caffeine that either coke or pepsi. When i was a missionary in Mexico we had a conference with Mario G Romney,our General Authority. he was asked about coke/pepsi. He avoided a discussion/debate by saying: considering the water down here, it is probably better. 'The Jury is still out' Scripture says. "He that must be commanded in all things is a wicked and slothful servant". As with everything else we make the choices, and WE are responsible for them. No one is going to Hell for drinking coke nor Coffee, but we may go there sooner if we do.... (-:

rcd said...

04:21 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

I have what is called Metabolic Syndrome. Several of my doctors at the VA told me to drink coffee and oolong-green tea along with drugs to control the problem. Following their advise, I now am not allowed a Temple Recommend by my branch president. I am no longer an ordinance worker at the Chicago Temple. Which is more important a recommend or following medical professionals.

jdaddy5 said...

04:48 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

The decision to consume caffeine is a personal choice. Indeed the commandment from the scriptures is interpreted to not drink coffee or black tea. The commanded is also there to treat our bodies as temples. It is known there are many harmful substances - one of which includes caffeine. While there is no specific commandment to refrain from this, there are many (including myself) who strive to keep the temple vessel clean. As fir the person with Metabolic Syndrome - I am not a doctor, let me get that out front.... When asking for importance, I personally would choose the recommend is more important. With that in mind, I would personally explain to my physician my desire to pursue alternatives to including large amounts of caffeine from coffee and tea in my diet. Have just done a little internet searching, I found a coffee and tea diet for treating this syndrome to not be standard as there are many alternatives in diet and exercise. For me personally, if my doctor recommended I break a commandment - I would ask for alternatives and/or look for another doctor!

chinamed4u said...

05:21 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3ZWok9iIt0 watch this, and think !! Not with yours brain, it can be deceived, but with your heart and spirit.

kennyray said...

05:40 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

rcd -- I believe your Branch president is in error, and I would speak to the stake president about it. My father also suffered from arrhythmia and his doctor recommended he have something with a stimulant. He chose Dr. Pepper. He took a little ribbing about it, but was never denied a temple recommend over it. You might try another less obvious product to get your dose of caffeine... anyway, perhaps if you showed a note from your doctor... Personally I avoid any drinks with caffiene, but on occasion, feel the harm tuning it down (offending someone) would be greater than the consumption of a small glass of soda. Again, there is no specific prohibition of caffinated drinks, but the general handbook of instruction given to all church leaders says it should be avoided.

mckathlin said...

05:43 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

Zapoteco, your scripture reference is right on: "it is not meet that [the Lord] should command in all things." I suspect that the reason the LDS Newsroom didn't leave the statement "the church does not prohibit the use of caffeine" as official, is that no prophet had explicitly stated that as doctrine. Even though caffeinated soda in small amounts isn't against the Word of Wisdom (as far as I know), stating that caffeine is OK might have the harmful effect of giving members room to reason that there's nothing wrong with high-caffeine energy drinks, or with needing a Coke every morning as wake-up juice. The caffeine question is left to the spirit of the law, and we ought to follow conscience and common sense for our particular case. Let's not judge one another if our applications of the spirit of the law differ. (See Matthew 7; I also find 1 Corinthians 8 applicable.)

sgardner said...

06:31 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

I feel that caffeine is harmful to the body and addictive and have been trying to quit pop this year--it won't keep me out of the Temple, but it does affect how I feel and I have less patience and it affects my health. So I guess it depends on if we want the blessing of living a higher law--above the basic commands. @rcd I had an Aunt that was told to drink coffee for her heart and she refused--but did find some caffeine pills to take and felt that was more in keeping with the Word of Wisdom. We need to do what will let us stay closest to the spirit, that is the bottom line!

skhunt said...

06:33 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

I believe the Word of Wisdom was given to us to keep us free from addiction. Those things mentioned all have addictive properties. I am a convert and needed the caffeine to wake me up in the mornings. Once a person stops, you go through a very rough week and once it's over, it's an amazing difference. The Word of Wisdom argument is "it's the caffeine" while others argue "iy's the tannic acid." but the real lesson is obedience. I allow myself 1 Coke a day usually with lunch and try to go caffeine free with all other drinks such as herbal teas. After all, isn't all tea herbal?

mom2two said...

06:40 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

For me personally, I try to avoid anything which can cause dependency. I feel like if I am addicted or dependent on a substance then I am not free to worship my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as they should be worshipped. That being said, I still believe this is a personal decision that we all should make. In the same way that some choose to never eat meat as we're not in a time of famine.

jws1662 said...

06:46 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

If you're gonna eliminate all caffeine, then you also can't consume many types of dark chocolate. I've never heard anyone make that arguement. I believe it boils down to prayerfully considering the foods you eat while focussing on a healthy diet. By the way, I have never had a bishop or stake president ask about caffiene during a temple recommend interview.

joanieb said...

06:58 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

The Word of Wisdom contains Heavenly Father's code of health for all of His children - not just members of the LDS church. Just as the ingredients in cigarettes have been proven time and time again to be extremely detrimental to our health, caffeine has also been proven to be unhealthy and unsafe for our bodies. I have observed that when LDS Church members "leave" the Church, some of the first things they do is start drinking alcoholic beverages and/or coffee. Belonging to a church or no church - we still have a body that needs healthy care. So, whether or not we read between the lines to make it allright to take caffeine into our bodies, it still isn't healthy for us.

mahonri said...

07:01 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

Eight years ago right after my wife joined the church during our Stake conference all new converts were invited to meet with Elder Oakes. During this small meeting many questions were asked and one of them included the use of cola soft drinks. Elder Oakes stated the Word of Wisdom does not prohibit the use of carbonated beverages such as Coca Cola and does not keep one from the Temple...he added," If it did there would be a couple of Apostles without reccommends." Lastly, he reminded us about "moderation in all things".

fremkay said...

07:02 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

My hubby is the branch president, he doesn't comsume caffinated drinks but he buys them for me...it's a personal choice.

linda427 said...

07:23 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

I believe restraining from coffee and tea is the commandment. Drinking other caffinated drinks is a personal choice, which should not be judged by others. I'm tired of the Coke/Pepsi sermons from those consuming tons of chocolate which also contains caffeine.

gailwickers said...

07:39 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

Surprisingly this magazine forgot that about 10the years ago it was announced that the WOW was clarified as "any habit forming drink" CLEARLY ... Diet Coke is habit forming... i kick and then get sucked back in... Also...in this survey you didnt include.... "so you think it's against the WOW but you drink it anyway? ?"... CHECK.... :(

gailwickers said...

07:55 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

Besides... was Hot Chocolate even invented back then to even have neen included?? Someone tell me! Sheesh!

chicagofriend said...

08:01 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

Please add to the poll: How often do you drink beverages containing caffeine in the past year? Often Sometimes Rarely Never I can't remember. (caffeine gives me amnesia.)

laurag said...

08:06 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

Has anyone thought about what is IN those soda drinks besides caffeine?? Let's not forget that you can pollute your body with sugars, toxic sweeteners and other dangerous compounds that may even be worse than the caffeine. As for the person who was told to take caffeine by a doctor, there are caffeine tablets that would work just as well as coffee yet not be considered a violation of the word of wisdom. I use them to treat headaches and fibromyalgia because I am intolerant or allergic to all pain relievers and the caffeine (in SMALL controlled doses) works for me as well as NSAIDS and other drugs would. I think it is far better to use caffeine AS THE DRUG THAT IT IS than to drink it all day along with all the garbage that is in soda. And the caffeine tablets are not addictive in the way that soda is - makes me wonder what they put in those things to hook people! Just a long hard look at soda should discourage anyone who cares about their body from drinking that swill. No doctor will tell you soda is healthy for you in any universe! As for chocolate, the commonly held belief that there is any significant amount of caffeine in it is a myth. There are many other compounds in chocolate that make it habit forming so limiting chocolate is probably a good idea - not to mention the sugar, etc. that is in it! It all really boils down to enslavement. Are you chained to your Coke or Dr.Pepper? THAT is what the SPIRIT of the law is and the nuts and bolts don't matter as much as considering being a slave to anything if you don't have to be. It applies to any substance, habit, or behavior that you feel compelled to do that is unhealthy for you. It is the job of the adversary to enslave you and caffeine is one of those readily available items he uses on us frequently. I think what we are to learn from the word of wisdom is that is not the letter but the spirit of the law that is important.

chuckyboy said...

08:07 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

I think that if you are going to avoid caffinated drinks that you should consider eliminating chocolate to avoid possible hypocrisy. I admire those LDS that do not drink caffeine sodas. It is a drug and best left alone but it seems most do not think it violates to W of W, to which I agree. As an active LDS, I drink them in moderation but it would be best that I don't. Good luck trying to get me to give up dark chocolate! I know many faithful LDS that drink caffeine sodas and many faithful LDS that don't. I don't distinguish between the two.

eagleeyeskt said...

08:19 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

I would like you to know that I, personally, have battled the coke/no coke thing for years. I love the drink, but for years now, the spirit has told me that it is bad for my body. I, personally, feel it is a toxin to me. In fact, I have stopped drinking Diet Coke altogether, and now my cravings for coke and other sodas have all but gone away. I can tell that I feel better without it. But The word of wisdom is just that. Wisdom. Let the spirit guide. Every person is given the right to choose and that is the beauty of the GOspel. I don't ever drink coffee or tea. But I do drink a small coke. I can still go to the temple, and I can still fast. I can pray and worship.

littlecross said...

08:35 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

The truth is that it's easy to get excuses for disobeying the commandments. If your doctor tells you something contrary to your standards, just let them know your position on that matter, can not wait to have a recommendation to the temple if you are missing the commandments, that is not possible. Now the word of wisdom is clear what is prohibited, says tea and coffee, the fact that both contain caffeine, does not mean that we should not drink it, both also have water and sugar. In any way, the most important is our health, if you believe that caffeine is bad for you, do not take it, but do not teach as doctrine of the church, for that is his personal thing.

debihug said...

09:08 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

I have suffered from migraine headaches for many years. If I can catch the headache quickly, I have a caffeinated drink and it helps to stop the headache. I am a retired RN and treat caffeine as I would any drug. I do not think the Word of Wisdom includes caffeine. I don't drink coffee or tea. I limit my consumption of soft drinks because I have diabetes. Everyone has to make their own decision, that is why we have free agency.

lds1968 said...

09:20 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

To drink, or not to drink! Is that REALLY the question? Why do so many believe it to be correct that many things are between them and their Lord but judge others for the same? I have heard from the pulpit (but I have to loosely quote): "...has been interpreted to be coffee and tea... all are encouraged to consider the harmful effects to the temple the Lord has given to us... for all things consumed that are known to be harmful... obey the commandants the Lord has given, live by the Spirit... let the Spirit guide you in all things..." Now, shall we sit in judgement of others as to whether they live by the Spirit as WE think they should? Are WE living by the Spirit when we do such?

mronetwo said...

09:26 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

Why are we arguing whether or not we can drink soda which is nothing but sugar, water, and artificial flavors and colors (and possibly caffeine) with absolutely no health benefits... while we absolutely forbid coffee which has numerous possible health benefits? These benefits include prevention of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, dementia, certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes. Tea also has been shown to have many health benefits. It makes no sense to me. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/coffee-new-health-food

motherof3 said...

09:31 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

ok here we go again. i have heard of rumors the church owns pepsico..ha ha NOT. yes the word of wisdom is in place for a purpose. make your own choices. yes i admit when i was a teen i wanted to rebel and taste a coke. was not that impressed, root beer is far tastier. i have NEVER tasted or drank coffee, tea, alcoholic beverages because that is the word of wisdom. i have NEVER smoked or taken or used illegal drugs...word of wisdom...'wisdom-being smart'. period

kyinaz said...

09:35 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

Caffeine is a gift from God, use it wisely.

kyinaz said...

09:35 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

Caffeine is a gift from God, use it wisely.

shelly7165 said...

09:41 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

We get confused by the word "hot". And think this refers to temperature, but the word "hot" has numerous definitions. So when the Lord says, quite clearly: "And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly." I think He meant just that. THese are the definitions (right from the dictionary) of the word "hot". So if your drink hits these markers then it's considered "hot"...by definition: (1) very warm (2) very spicy--causing a burning sensation in throat or mouth (3) causing controversy--much discussion, disagreement or debate (4) intense--felt, done or expressed with forceful intense energy; or giving of intense energy (5) physically attractive (6) strong physical desire Quite obviously Coke, Pepsi, Mtn Dew, etc., hit the markers for definition #3...so? I think just logically you can say to yourself that you need to give it up. Make the sacrifice; gain the blessing.

katiest said...

09:43 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

I have never entered info on a blog before, but I found this discussion fascinating. "Judgement is mine," saith the Lord. It may not be verbatim, but we are commanded not to be judgmental. I am certain that I once heard President Hinckley reply to the question about caffeine. If my memory serves me he said, "Caffeine itself is not expressly mentioned in the word of wisdom, but neither is arsenic!!" (quoted loosely) The spirit and the letter of the law is what is important. When I took ALL SODA drinks out of my fluid intake, I lost 57 pounds!! (Well, there were other things I removed too - sugar, additives, gluten, dairy products - but I was addicted not only to the caffeine, but the carbonation!!

firebird said...

09:45 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

I love Dr. Pepper, Ginger Ale, all sorts of sodas. However, this still doesn't change the fact Soda is nothing more than "liquid candy." I once went about a year or so and left out soda out of my diet period. It really isn't that good for you. Part of those habits still stay with me because the only thing I generally drink now with lunch at work is water. Somehow I think I need to go back to my non-soda drinking existence I was a lot better off health wise at that time.

solana said...

10:29 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

I never thought "caffeine" was against the word of wisdom. However, I trust the Lord, and when he says not to drink tea or coffee, then no matter what science says, the Lord's wisdom trumps theirs any day. However, I have chosen not to drink any caffeinated beverages, because it is an addictive substance. The Lord has said is it not meet we be commanded in all things. As his children, we can decide for ourselves. I very rarely drink any carbonated beverages, with caffeine or not, as they just are not good for us.

darcy said...

10:55 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

The Word of Wisdom never spelled out caffeine as the reason that we shouldn't drink them. That was speculation on LDS people's part. We should not put anything into our bodies that isn't good for them. Do the research and decide for yourself whether caffeine, soda ... is good for your body or not. Then act accordingly.

1-4freedom said...

11:09 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

For almost 15 years, I served as Branch President. During that time, I conducted many temple recommend interviews and rubbed shoulders with other church leaders that had conducted literally thousands of such interviews. I experienced and heard of several situations in which an applicant for a temple recommend would try to excuse breaking of the Word of Wisdom by saying that their Dr. prescribed drinking coffee. I always discredited such as just tales in an effort to cover their habit and still get to go to the Temple. But, I have suffered migraine headaches most of my life. The only analgesic I ever found that would work to control a migraine was Excedrin. I had to take it almost daily. Then, I experienced some bleeding problems which my Dr.s felt was a result of the aspirin in the Excedrin. One of the doctors that worked on my case was conducting an evaluation on me to determine if there were lifestyle causes for my bleeding problems. In this process, I explained my history of headaches; that they had not responded to any medications that did not have caffeine in them, consequently, my regular use of Excedrin; and that there was no other source of caffeine in my diet or lifestyle. When I explained this, he thought for a moment and then said, as near as I can remember, “You know what you need? I am going to prescribe that you drink at least one cup of coffee every day when you get up, and another during the day if needed.” Needless to say, I was astounded! I informed him that I could not do that because I am a “Mormon” and my religion proscribes partaking of coffee. “A Mormon, huh? Then what we need to do is make you a Baptist,” he said, I think mostly in jest. I told him that would not be acceptable. “How about a Catholic?” he asked. No, that was not acceptable either. “Jewish?” No. “Presbyterian?” No. And on it went until he had named every religion he could think of. But he was completely serious about prescribing coffee for me. When he persisted, I told him I would compromise and take a caffeine pill each morning, and again during the day if necessary. He was not completely satisfied with that, but he agreed. Amazingly, following this Dr.’s advice has helped in controlling my headaches more than any of the other hi-powered drugs that have been prescribed over the years. Needless to say, I am much less judgmental about those who say their doctor prescribed coffee. Please note that there are other ways of taking caffeine for medical purposes that do not violate the Word of Wisdom.

jupiter119 said...

11:17 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

The revelation says "hot drinks are not for the body, or belly". If you read the Word of Wisdom closely, you'll see that the Lord distinguishes what is for the body or belly, or as we would say in modern parlance "external use" or "internal use". Thus "strong drinks" (alcohol) are/is not for "internal use" but are allowed for "external use" to wash your body. Tobacco (not just smoking!) in any form is not allowed for external use in humans, but is acceptable for animals. So now back to "hot drinks". The institute manual quotes both Hyrum and Joseph Smith as saying "hot drinks" means coffee and tea. I take that to mean anything made from the coffee bean or tea leaf. Decaffeinated coffee is still coffee. Oolong, white, green, and black tea all come from the plant Camellia Sinensis, and thus would be prohibited. Cocoa, rooibos, camomile and other herbal teas would be allowed. The tricky one is yerba mate. It's not made from the tea leaf, but does contain substances found in tea and coffee. I don't know what the Church's official position is on it, but I avoid it as part of the "principle with a promise". But now and then I do partake of Dr. Pepper as well as Barq's root beer and A&W cream soda, both of which have caffeine (read the labels!)

arnold said...

11:32 AM
on Sep 01, 2012

The occasion with President McKay was that he asked for milk. I remember the occasion as it was widely talked about to the youth in the 50's.

otsohavu said...

01:19 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

Caffeine is doping is used in excess (eg. sports). I use coffeine drinks only if nothing else is available or I am extremely weary. That means just about once a year. I know many who are cola or caffeine dependents -- Headache or weariness without caffeine/colas

ksgal said...

01:37 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

I believe that we should not have to be commanded in all things. The Word of Wisdom to me means that Heavenly Father is telling us that to live a healthy, active life we need to be concerned about the things we put into our body as well as the exercise we get through running and/or walking. I have found that I can easily become addicted to soft drinks of any kind, caffeinated or not, or even chocolate so I avoid those things...not hard line forever type of avoidance but very infrequently.

brjll said...

01:42 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

President Packer has spoken on this topic in General Conference. He stated that even though the Word of Wisdom does not mention drinking gasoline it is not an endorsement of drinking it. Likewise, many times we have been counselled against using addictive substances. We ought to use wisdom in what we consume, ought'n we?

pen1954 said...

01:49 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

Lets use common sense here. Caffeine can be used for some purposes but it's still the most widely used drug there is and should be used with caution and under advisement, especially if you are taking any type of heart medications. I think if you are consuming these power drinks of today such as Red Bull and others like it that you might as well start drinking strong coffee and black tea. I know that white tea hardly has any caffeine in it but the caffeine starts to increase as it ages from green and becomes greatest as it ages to black tea. Tea can be used for sickness just as brandy or whiskey could be used to help you sleep for using it as a hot toddy instead of using harmful drugs in Nyquil that could cause serious side effects with your heart medications and beta blockers. I know, because my uncle died from taking Nyquil because it reacted with his medications. How many of us blow away the Word of Wisdom by over consuming meat on a daily bases. The Lord said that it would be pleasing in my sight if you only ate meat during times of cold weather or famine? I really think the Lord would rather have us getting our Proteins from other sources than from over killing his creations just to satisfy our lusts for meat. I belive in what Bruce R. McConkie said that it violates the Spirit of the Word of Wisdom if we notice that we are over using the product. Caffeine is a harmful drug as sugar is and they both could lead to stronger addictions such as Meth and Utah is one of the leaders in the usage of such drugs.

childsplay said...

02:17 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

The word of wisdom is about health and keeping the spirit with us as a result of obedience to the laws of health.Do the research http://www.supplecity.com/articles/softdrinksunsafe.htm http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/06/02/Drinking-Soda-Can-Paralyze-You.aspx http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/11/04/the-dirty-truth-behind-coca-cola.aspx Cola drinks are far worse than coffee ever could be. Coffee is an herb and has many medicinal properties. He that has to be commanded in all things is stupid.Use the brain God gave us.Soft drinks are destroying peoples health in epidemic per-portions. Just go to the temple and see all the obesity with the associated diseases .Soft drinks have been linked as the number 1 cause of obesity.But Mormon's need there Mormon coffee and deceive themselves that they are living the Lords law of health.

msmith07 said...

02:33 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

Similar to zapoteco's response, I was told by the mission president while serving as a missionary in Venezuela that it was better to drink Coke/Pepsi than the water in some areas. It was also proscribed as medicine for stomach aches caused by the water. I avoid drinking caffeinated soda because it can become addictive, so I won't be running out to the store to add it to my food storage now!

dol1968 said...

02:47 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

I am a convert to the church. I often get asked why I can not drink coffee or tea? This question gets me in trouble if I just answer because they contain caffine. Since I do drink caffiented soft drinks. The word of wisdom does not specifically say avoid caffine. Tea and coffee have certain substances in them that hurt could hurt us. I recently saw our executive secretary in a local grocery store. As we were speaking he said dont pay attention to the Dr. Pepper in my cart....I think it is a personal choice and we should not judge each other. But also after reading all this I think maybe there should be a definite answer given to us soon since we are under so much scrunity from the press during this election....we dont want to be waverying on our beliefs. If the modern day prophet told us stay away from any caffine (including chocolate) then I would know for sure it was commanded of us not to partake of these things. These are just my thoughts. Thanks.

vonngirl said...

02:49 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

I choose to use my common sense and while I will occasionally consume caffeinated sodas that is about how often I consume sodas in general. If it's not the HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) that is affecting you, it is the aspartame.... and that isn't even going into the realm of caffeine. I am trying to stick to pure cane sugar sodas when I DO drink because your body can metabolize ACTUAL sugar a lot easier then it can HFCS. Moderation in all things and a daily drink of a soda instead of water is not good for your body.

misscrys said...

03:05 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

The missionary who baptized me had dinner at my house every Tuesday and Thursday for months before I was baptized. I asked him and his companion what they wanted me to buy at the grocery store since they were over so often- he said Mountain Dew- I never thought caffeine was against the word of wisdom.

wtblackc said...

04:43 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

I am a physician. My wife drinks coke with caffeine. One morning after exercising she drank and had the onset of ventricular tachycardia. Her heart rate was 168. I had no assistance but did bilateral carotid artery massaging for 10 minutes. Her heart rate finally came down slowly to 148, 130, 118, and finally to 106 - which point I stopped the carotid massaging. If I hadn't been here right when it happened, she probably would have died. She has not had caffeine since. This is possibly rare, but was real to her. Her husband, Bill Black, M.D.

momw said...

04:57 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

As a nurse, I see caffiene as a medication and yes, it can have very valid benefits when used in that sense. But when over used, like any drug, we have a problem. Caffiene can lead to addiction, rather than helping head aches... can actually cause them if you don't get the daily dose. It seems like there is much in the world to enslave us...Moses lead the children of Israel out of bondage...a type and shadow of our Savior Jesus Christ. I choose to avoid anything that would enslave me. Therefore, I choose to avoid caffeinated beverages of all kinds, including energy drinks or pills for that matter. One can do a sample test of avoiding the drink for a day and see how they feel...if they have cravings, headaches and adverse effects, then we know the body has an addiction to the substance. The closest I have ever heard a prophet talk about caffience is in the Teachings of David O McKay, pg 105..." There is a substance in tea and coffee which when taken into the human system, tends to increase the beating of the heart....the habitual use of "strong drink" ...only makes the body weaker and more dependant upon the stimulant to which it is addicted."Today, I know that stimulant to be caffiene. I also heard President Hinckley state when asked about members drinking caffiene, he said, "They ought not to." Maybe Coke, Mt. Dew, Monster are not hot drinks, but are they strong drinks? and getting stonger in todays clever marketing? Where will you draw the line? I personally have heard too many Diet Coke sermons preached from the pulpit...they are actually encouraging the use a such a stimulant. The stimulant being so important to them they have to speak about it in church. I have also witnessed youth activities that only caffienated soda was available for the youth to drink. In the medical community we often talk about gateway drugs. What is the drug that youth experiment with? Is it alcohol? Is it caffiene? I personally have known youth that have over-loaded on energy drinks to get a "buzz". And I know of DUI Offenses issued to drivers under the influence of caffiene. Again...where do we draw the line? It is much easier to avoid the use of a drug than it is to explain why we choose to use one drug daily but discourage the use of other drugs. Anything to the extreme is not obeying the word of wisdom. Caffiene is actually placed in soda as to make the customer more thirsty and thereby increase the consumption of the drink and increase profits for the company. A nutritionist of another faith asked a group of members about the coke-controversy. Her response was that swhe understood the make-up of both drinks-coffee and coke- and didn't understand why we would say one was ok...both are not healthy and have very similiar ingredients. I think those who choose to drink caffienated beverages are denying the guidance from the word of wisdom because it doesn't spell it out for them.

phillyfinder said...

04:57 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

As is all aspects of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is personal between each individual and their Heavenly Father. As to the finer points of the Word of Wisdom, it is simply that; Wisdom. If a substance, such as caffein, or any other thought, word, action, or deed interferes in our relationship with Heavenly Father, wisdom dictates it be avoided, hot, cold, or whatever. Pray about it. If you don't feel good about drinking it, thinking it, saying it, or doing it, then please avoid it. Just please don't judge anyone else. Furthermore, quit letting something as inane as the Church approving or disapproving caffeine distract any of us from our own personal relationship with our Father. That is unwise.

kingmoosemt said...

05:48 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

I find this quite hilarious. We have been specifically told that "'hot drinks' refers to tea and coffee"--end of story! Ours is very much a religion of sacrifice. We give up many of the things the world sees as very normal. I think many members take this too far and somehow feel superior or more righteous by avoiding caffeinated soda. Obviously you should not become addicted to anything and moderation is important. Many of these same members are obviously overweight. Addiction to food or sugar, or eating way too much meat is wrong too.

will7370 said...

05:49 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

This is really a non-issue. The Holy Ghost speaks to the individual as to what the Lord expects. Those who stretch and seek any possible way to compromise and get around what the Spirit whispers will find in the end they have inherited a different eternal mansion than those who sacrifice all things and follow the Spirit implicitly. Of course, those who have determined to do what they want regardless of the consequences will eventually cease to hear the still, small voice. Thus they will hear nothing and feel free to act as they choose.

macho_mz said...

06:52 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

I agree with those who said this debate is a moot point. The original phrase “hot drink” from the Word of Wisdom (later officially defined by the church as coffee and tea) is the commandment. When President Hinckley said that most Mormons avoid caffeine, he was correct- but he didn’t say that members are forbidden for consuming other forms of caffeine. Many extend the guidance in the Word of Wisdom to include other caffeinated beverages that did not exist at the time the original revelation was given, but that does not mean that you are sinning if you don’t. I assume the reference made to Bruce R. McConkie’s statement was referring to his book Mormon Doctrine, which is not considered scripture. I personally choose to extend the Word of Wisdom to other caffeinated beverages, but I also recognize that someone who drinks Coke will not be kept out of the temple for violating that commandment. We get into dangerous ground when we start judging others by “The Gospel According to Me.” There is certainly nothing wrong with trying to live the law as fully as we can rather than looking for loopholes, but the commandment is what is written in the scripture or given by modern revelation to the church, not personal decisions that we make for ourselves.

wilonestar said...

07:00 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

I believe we each have a choice to make, and have admitted to drinking diet Dr. Pepper when getting my temple recommend. However, in January 2011 I chose to give up drinking any caffeine drinks because they had begun to control my life. I needed to know I would have one ready for breakfast, and other times in my life. Caffeine is addicting, and anything that controls our lives should be avoided.

momstheword said...

07:06 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

"Did the Church just make an (un)official announcement saying it’s okay to drink caffeine? " It was never not okay to drink caffeine. The revelations in D&C was clarified by Joseph Smith who said that "hot drinks" referred to tea and coffee. No where does it say anything about caffeine. Some members go overboard in their zealousness and won't even eat chocolate cake!! We can drink hot chocolate and have soup without feeling guilty. We can have our cake and eat it, too. We should not need to be commanded in all things. The 10 teaspoons of sugar per can of pop isn't doing you a whole lot of good, though.

bgtaylor4 said...

08:25 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

Some of these comments are very surprising. If something is prescribed by a doctor, allowing that one question such things closely, then it would be okay to use these and still hold a recommend -- including IMO smoking pot or baking with it if prescribed, drinking coffee, my mother (non-LDS) was prescribed to drink beer, or any of many addictive narcotics "good" LDS people take on prescription. Again, you can question the wisdom, get second opinions, decide to live with conditions or seek priesthood blessing solutions, whatever... but a prescription makes many "harmful" things legal in a good, better, best sense. Some here have mentioned many OTC things which can be abused... Me I take really anything but will use a caffeinated drink in lieu of falling asleep driving or other rare instances. And yes, the WOW talks about meat, about minimum standards for caring for your body (the least of the Saints... we know sugar is bad, we know white flour is bad, we certainly abuse chocolate, we have obesity issues... bottom line, we read D&C 89, prayerfully consider our own lives and (JS's words) govern ourselves.

bgtaylor4 said...

08:27 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

typo -- I rarely, very rarely take anything OTC or otherwise.

bgtaylor4 said...

08:31 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

Oh... sorry to chain these together... hot drinks to me means HOT liquid! Duh! Not wise or necessary to burn your mouth. HOT drinks are not going to warm your body any more than ice cold drinks will cool it. Liquid helps... cold is nice, room temp or warm is great. Warm chocolate is very good. HOT chocolate is useless till it cools down. Same with soup, tea, whatever. And BTW tea (bags) is the prescribed natural solution to tooth issues and rather mandatory after oral surgery.

gratefulmouse said...

08:41 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

before I joined the church, I had problems with lumps in my breasts..I was told by the dr to stop drinking caffiene...also I have a seizure disorder and was told to not drink caffiene...so there are many health reasons not to partake of caffiene....also HOT DRINKS to me means alcohol...not coffee and tea....the reason I wouldnt drink coffee or tea would be because of caffiene...I cant use caffiene anyway...because the different drs told me not to...so there must be some medical problems with caffiene....there is caffiene in aspirin...and if caffiene is taken it should only be in aspirin like medicine...no one would take hot liquids that would burn ones mouth...I believe its liquer..

gratefulmouse said...

08:44 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

also the church didnt say not to drink caffiene...everyone knows its not good for you ..as i stated in my comment before...different drs told me not to have caffiene...these are health warnings...

racheljl said...

08:55 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

mronetwo: Just because there are "health benefits" to drinking coffee and tea doesn't mean there may not be other problems with it that negate any benefit. We have been commanded not to drink coffee or tea, so I trust that there's a good reason for it. As for people who drink too much soda (with or without caffeine) or eat too much sugar: yes, of course its bad for them. I'm fortunate that I've never really liked carbonation, so its a non-issue for me. We all have things health-wise that we can improve on. Hopefully we will all do so. I wouldn't get hung up on the "benefits" of things that the media covers. They're more likely to report the ones that people want to hear, like the benefits of red wine. But will they tell us, in that same report, that grape juice has most of the same benefits? Not likely, because people want to drink their red wine.

etilly said...

09:00 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

This is the stupidest thing I've read in a while. I thought this argument between members was swept under the rug years ago. The LDS Church NEVER banned caffeine - this was some people's interpretation when caffeine was identified in coffee and tea. This recent statement is not new nor a change of policy. The LORD specifically said coffee and tea are prohibited and people decided to take his clear wording and find their own reasons for it based on limited human scientific knowledge. Frankly, the Lord's reasons may have nothing to do with caffeine; the presumption to know the mind of the Lord and expand on what he says along with the typically attending judgementalism on those LDS members who drink caffeinated soda is ugly and pointless. Talk about a narrow Gospel hobby! I have learned that non-member friends have been introduced to the Gospel with a largely anti-soda platform. No wonder they were not interested - this kind of speculation outside the realm of declared revelation is unlikely to invite the Spirit and is besides the point of the glorious message of the restoration of the Gospel. I can think of more important and sound introductions to what the Gospel teaches: having a prophet in our day, the Book of Mormon, and being sealed together as a family forever for starters. I have NEVER had ANY priesthood leadership ask me in worthiness interviews whether I drink caffeinated soda or hot chocolate. What that means to me is that as far as the Lord and the church are concerned, the buck stops with tea and coffee. If you want to avoid caffeine in your beverages, don't claim religious belief as the reason. You are doing it for health reasons based on scientific research - fair enough.

etilly said...

09:25 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

An afterthought: if you really want to cut out an addictive, harmful, even life-threatening, substance from your diet go for sugar and all it's substitutes - that will also take care of the whole soda/hot chocolate issue as well; bonus! I think most American Saints will find that effort so mind-boggling and difficult we would realize just how prevalent and addictive sugar and/or sugar substitutes actually are. And with that thought, I wish a (non-alcoholic) toast to your health. . .

ericka said...

09:38 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

I suffered from severe pains on my face when I was a teenager, I don´t remember the name of it in English, and the doctor prescribed caffeine with a brand name, it did good to me but put me to sleep for several hours and then the pain disappeared. I know it´s bad in large amounts but Mormons consume lots of chocolate and I always wondered why they say they follow the word of wisdom when in reality they don´t. I´m a Mormon myself but there are things they say they do but....

childsplay said...

10:11 PM
on Sep 01, 2012

Some people just don't get it. The word of wisdom was given in 1833 Coke was introduced in 1886. The original formula contain cocaine, other caffeinated soft drinks came later.The Lord didn't mention cola drinks or soft drinks probable because they were not around.The one thing the Lord did warn about was conspiring men in the last days. Conspiring to do what?He's talking about health, conspiring to make money by producing highly addictive substances to are bad for us. Its not just the caffeine in these drinks that are so harmful. Again do the research every ingredient in these drinks are very harmful.Each ingredient is toxic and very harmful. The word of wisdom is about taking care of the physical body so that we can receive health in the navel and marrow to the bones and find wisdom and knowledge and hidden treasures and run and not be weary and walk and not faint and have the destroying angel pass by us and not slay us.Do you really think cola drinks allow for those promises.They are harmful and addictive, what else can be said.

j5mohun said...

01:15 AM
on Sep 02, 2012

Caffeine is an addictive drug. How many times have you heard someone say "I,ve GOT TO HAVE my cup of coffee", or "I've GOT TO HAVE my diet Coke". Addictive substances diminish your free agency. Once addicted, choosing not to consume them becomes much more difficult, even resulting in physical illness. Taking away agency is Satan's plan. It is wisdom to avoid these harmful substances, even if the Word of Wisdom does not name them specifically.

littlecross said...

02:31 AM
on Sep 02, 2012

Read these comments is very sad, because people who claim to be members of the church write nonsense on the basis of their personal concepts. If the church at large, said he was not against their miebros take cafaina, therefore, be humble and let everyone take the decision to take or not, this is called supportive our leaders, when they simply accept their teachings and live. You think caffeine is harmful? it´s ok, but no to express disappointment comment or opposition to the principles taught to his church, the principle of the Word of Wisdom says we should not drink coffee or tea, it do not teach any more, that way our heavenly mansion will be our. The called is supportive our leaders, supportive our leaders

kjob said...

07:20 AM
on Sep 02, 2012

To rdc, I have a friend who has to drink coffee for their Migraines and they still have a temple recommend. If it is a prescription from a doctor it should be fine. You can have them write out a prescription if that would help. After all coffee is less harmful then a lot of things we get prescriptions for.

childsplay said...

09:07 AM
on Sep 02, 2012

The healthiest source of caffeine is dark chocolate.Those who would be concerned about there health and felt they needed caffeine for some health problem dark chocolate would be the way to go.Soda drinks are just bad bad bad. The high fructose corn syrup that in these drinks now is the number one cause of obesity in this country. In the Gospel Principle manual in chapter 29 The Lords Law of Health it says We should avoid anything that we know is harmful to our bodies. We should not use any substance that is habit forming. The manual's of the church are endorsed by the first presidency, so that to me would be the churches position on the matter.

mronetwo said...

10:38 AM
on Sep 02, 2012

I think it's funny that this caffeine "revelation" comes from the church's PR department and not from one of the brethren in GC.

noemchen said...

02:04 PM
on Sep 02, 2012

I only read some of the other comments, but I would like to add my view of it. Let me share 2 experiences with you. I used to drink coke during my graveyard shift at the hospital, because I thought I would stay awake better. After 7 nights I had off and got a bad headache on my first day off. I new it was one of the withdrawal symptoms and knew if I drank coke now, the headache would be gone in no time. But I did not drink, instead I put on my running shoes and went for a run, had lots of water that day and my headache was gone after a while. Took longer without a coke, but I did not want to get dependend on it. Another time I forgot to buy coke for a graveyard shift at the hospital and it was a Sunday. I did not want to spend money on Sunday and so decided to go without coke. That night went better than I thought and I was more allert and less tired than most nights with coke. So I started to take a walk or drink cold orange juice when I felt I got tired. My husband is a convert and does not drink caffeine at all and I stopped drinking it, too. I no longer miss it, there are other drinks I can consume. I had low blood pressure as long as I can think and my doctor also told me to drink coffee, but I told her I do not want to do that for religious reasons. We found other ways to get it a little higher. I am doing sports and that helped me keep it on a level that is acceptable. I feel blessed because I stayed away from coke, but if anyone wants to drink it, it is their decision. I for myself and my family, we do not drink it. The same goes with alcoholfree beer that is sold here in Europe.

noemchen said...

02:09 PM
on Sep 02, 2012

Let me add something... in the december 2008 Ensign was an article about Energy Drinks and Caffeine. I recommend everyone to read it.

abfamily said...

04:13 PM
on Sep 02, 2012

Since when did the church announce official doctrine in a blog? "Did the LDS Church Officially Ok Caffeine?" I'm surprised no one has quoted the "Official" statement from the brethen. As far as I know the last official statement came in 1972 from a Priesthood Bulletin. It said "With reference to the cola drinks, the Church has never officially taken a position on this matter, but the leaders of the Church have advised, and we do now specifically advise against the use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs under circumstances that would result in acquiring the habit. Any beverage that contains ingredients harmful to the body should be avoided." First Presidency. The doctrines are agency and that we only get one mortal body so your spirit has to make good choices so it is not a slave to the body. The WOW is both a principle and a commandment or application of a principle. Advice from the brethren is pretty good advise.I am a pharmacist and feel that the fewer drugs a person has to take the better. Caffeine is a drug. There are many other harmful chemicals and additives in our foods and even "natural" medicines. When we use drugs as food our bodies build up a tolerance and render the substances ineffective as drugs when we may need them. The important thing is that this comment has two parts: one is from the brethren, one part is from me

patsygounden said...

01:14 AM
on Sep 03, 2012

The rule is simple YOU ONLY TAKE INTO YOUR BODY WHAT IT REQUIRES TO SURVIVE. If you're having a problem deciding what not to take into our bodies, the Word of Wisdom advises what is good for our bodies TO SURVIVE - grain, fruit, vegetable... The Lord created our bodies do you not think that HE would know what is good for it...?

aotrizsb said...

02:14 AM
on Sep 03, 2012

Words of Wisdom is given to us as a guide to follow. Although Caffeine has been studied and found to be an anti-toxin, let us also consider other effects that can harm our body. For instance, a persons suffering from hypertension cannot take caffeine as it can increase heart palpitation. Bottom line, follow the prophet. The prophet knows what is best for us and our bodies.

kandee said...

04:43 AM
on Sep 03, 2012

I am addicted to diet coke, in other terms, caffeine. The word of wisdom is an amazing revelation given the period of time and accepted cultural practices when it was received. I have been grateful that my temple recommend was not contingent on abstaining from caffeinated sodas BUT honestly I know better. Addiction is not healthy. There are plenty of scientific researched based reasons to refrain from soda, especially caffeinated soda. We are encouraged as a people to refrain from R rated movies. I am often bewildered when I hear a fellow member justify attending a raunchy comedy or excessive violent PG-13 movie with the sentiment, “It was PG-13”. Is that our church leader’s intention when they offer us guidelines? I feel the same principle applies with caffeinated soda. Yes, we are able to drink caffeinated soda but isn’t it still up to each of us to seek our own personal guidance regarding this topic? I do not want to fall captive on this topic like the moviegoers I mentioned above. We are free to choose. I love diet coke AND I know that it is not healthy for me. I am also free to change.

elmo said...

06:33 AM
on Sep 03, 2012

I'm a church member. I wish we were more open about such things. Example, we don't talk about or discuss that coffee was listed as a stable supply item on the pioneer supply list. Facts show that the saints had a brewery in Nauvoo. These facts do not change anything, but I wish we were more open in our discussions about things like this. I salute our recent discussions openly about the Mountain Meadow Massacre, and i believe that the Joseph Smitth Papers project is fabulous. Let's not be afraid of the truth at any level.

elmo said...

06:33 AM
on Sep 03, 2012

I'm a church member. I wish we were more open about such things. Example, we don't talk about or discuss that coffee was listed as a stable supply item on the pioneer supply list. Facts show that the saints had a brewery in Nauvoo. These facts do not change anything, but I wish we were more open in our discussions about things like this. I salute our recent discussions openly about the Mountain Meadow Massacre, and i believe that the Joseph Smitth Papers project is fabulous. Let's not be afraid of the truth at any level.

ric said...

06:54 AM
on Sep 03, 2012

"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward...For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in no wise lose their reward." (D&C 58:26-28)

indysnana said...

07:25 AM
on Sep 03, 2012

All I know is that my ability to communicate with the Lord is like fine tuning a radio. The more obedient I am to not just the commandments but also the prophet's counsel --the clearer my reception. Will Coke keep me out of the Temple or the Celestial Kingdom? No. But not listening to prophetic counsel might. That includes things like get out of debt-clean up your yards-avoid harmful substances and judging one another. Once when I was trying to get an answer about somethiing I began by parading my "obedience" before the Lord--clearly a mistake...He gently and almost humerously (considering my request and situation) reminded me of my cola addiction. Needless to say I haven't had a coke since.

cherish said...

06:52 PM
on Sep 03, 2012

We don't need to hang on every word of the scriptures and General Authorities to direct our every decision. Methinks people rationalize that since caffeine isn't mentioned in the Word of Wisdom that it therefore must be OK. Well strychnine isn't mentioned in the Word of Wisdom either, and would you put that in your mouth? Overweight LDS housewives are addicted to baked goods. That's a problem. We have addiction recovery programs for that. Should these people be temple worthy? I've seen fat people in the temple. Food addicts! Probably caffeine addicts too! Caffeine is a drug, people. Step away from it. Get addicted to something else instead like going to the gym or something.

jenn1 said...

08:38 AM
on Sep 04, 2012

I do have an occasional Diet Coke. I think that we need to remember the Word of Wisdom isn't just about Coffee and Tea and Smoking etc. its about alot more then that. EVERYTHING in moderation, this means even good things. I know that Diet Coke is not good for me, neither is chocolate or deserts. But how many of us are overweight? We are suppose to be able to judge better for ourselves now, we are no longer given a maximum of number of foot steps to take on the Sabbath Day. Do we HAVE to choose between the letter of the law and the Spirit of the law? It's a good thing WE are not to judge one another, that is not our place! We are all on the same side and need to remember who we are let alone who we are trying to emulate. Remember, you are the only one you are going to have to answer for. Personally....I would rather answer for a Diet Coke here and there than to have to answer for condemning someone else for it.

lyhenry said...

10:36 AM
on Sep 04, 2012

Um, hasn't anyone ever read the New Testament and studied about Pharisees who "added upon" the Law?

kateyes19 said...

07:53 PM
on Sep 04, 2012

For a church that discourages judging others there sure is a lot of that going on here. "Living the higher law" is all about not judging. Anyone that is over weight, eats processed sugars and processed foods, or does not exercise is not living the higher law. Isn't more important that we all focus on being the person Heavenly Father knows we can be and not focus on making ourselves sound all wonderful and spiritual by talking about how much we live the higher law?

grandmachoochoo said...

09:34 PM
on Sep 04, 2012

For a number of years now, I have had a different thought on this subject. All the talk of caffein is just one aspect in my thinking. Consider for a moment what the historical aspects of the time are. Pre-civil war and the importation of goods from the south. Tea and Coffee and alcohol from southern states islands produced by slaves. Cotton and silk also. While it may have been difficult to ban the use of textiles, the requirement to discontinue these beverages would have help in a noble cause and been helpful to both the body and soul. I think there is more to this issue than just caffeine and alcohol.

trevsnavywife said...

07:59 PM
on Sep 05, 2012

Even before I joined the church this was the great LDS debate. The word of wisdom is what it is and much like all scripture is subject to interpretation.

mayb2b said...

09:18 PM
on Sep 05, 2012

About 20 years ago I was teaching 16 year old young women. As a class we wrote the First Presidency. We asked if the caffeine in soft drinks was against the word of wisdom and if so, why is it okay to eat chocolate. A few weeks later our Bishop received an answer from President Spencer W. Kimball and his counselors, President Marion G. Romney and President Gordan B. Hinckley. It said, it was not the caffeine in coffee, though they advised against it, as they do all things that in excess may harm the body. Coffee and Tea's of all kinds, should be avoided and is clearly against the Word of Wisdom. This is because the tea leafs and coffee beans are preserved with an acid that is used in tanning animal hides. This acid is what destroys the body. The Bishop kept the letter and gave us the signatures of the First Presidency.

robodad said...

11:36 AM
on Sep 06, 2012

The wording of the poll questions is unnecessarily ambiguous. Did I think it was "OK" before to drink caffeine? No. Did I think it violated the Word of Wisdom? No. There are many things that are not prohibited by the Word of Wisdom that I don't think are "OK", and I avoid them. Things like excess sodium, trans fats, excess saturated fats, excess processed sugar... The list goes on and on. Just because the Word of Wisdom doesn't expressly prohibit caffeine doesn't suddenly make it a healthy substance to ingest on a daily basis. And for me personally, I have such horrible physical reactions to caffeine (severe headaches, increased blood pressure) that I would NEVER subject myself to it.

brones55 said...

11:59 AM
on Sep 06, 2012

The term hot drinks has been interpreted to mean "coffee and tea." I do not partake of either in any form, but have many friends and family with different in interpretations. I wish the Church would clarify, because I don't know how to respond to the following: -Herbal teas. -Green tea. (I've heard it advertised on KSL) -Ice tea. (Not hot and offered to me by some active members) -Decaffeinated coffee. -Iced coffees. -Mocha shakes.

hpsauce said...

11:43 AM
on Sep 08, 2012

When I was young I was told no coffee or tea because of caffeine and other things in it, however Mother still served hot chocolate!!?? Then I learned in the D&C that hot drinks was not good for you, also everything in moderation. Just a couple years ago I heard a newscast that a University did a study over a few years and found that those that drank "hot drinks" had a higher risk of mouth/throat cancer. Caffeine is only one impurity in coffee, another is trace amounts of arsenic, so we can't just put the blame on caffeine. I don't know the general authority that said it was the caffeine, most American LDS that visited us in Canada thought it was strange that we held the belief that coke or Pepsi was taboo. So in my view if I drink one Coke/Pepsi a day and fellow employees have ten cups of coffe/tea a day, if it is the caffeine to stay away from , I'm drinking it in moderation. If it becomes a problem or addiction then stay away from it.

tsqd said...

04:02 PM
on Sep 08, 2012

Really? sometimes we mormons look alot like pharisee's. "just tell me what you want me to do, and give it to me exactly". sheesh. And then we want to make sure everybody else see's and does it exactly the way WE do it---if I decide caffeine is wrong, then you must also. sheesh.

johns2012 said...

11:49 PM
on Sep 08, 2012

The wonderful thing about the LDS culture is that it follows a wonderful tradition of open exchange about concepts and ideas. We don't need to agree on everything. Like it or not, interpretations and standards do change somewhat in certain areas, and to that end, we do look to the councils of the Church for guidance where confusion may arise. Ideally, the Church sets the minimum standards, and permits us to operate in a zone of choices, in the garden of our lives. In some things, we exercise our conscience. The more informed we become, the more we can understand correct principles to govern ourselves as the Spirit directs. We don't need top be preachy on matters of conscience, and we rejoice that others are, or should be, following that process as well.

doctrine-crusader said...

02:38 PM
on Sep 09, 2012

This is a rediculous question. As has been pointed out, the Word of Wisdom is a list of foods that we need to partake of, and other substances that are harmful to our bodies. The Church Handbook of instructions, and other sources, have defined some of the substances in the Word of Wisdom as coffee and tea.Say's said book, "beyond this the Church has no official ruling." FACT; there are far more harmful substances in both of these drinks than caffeine! FACT; Caffiene was not pointed out by the Handbook of Instructions, or any other document. Caffiene was observed to be in both drinks,period. When are we going to quite trying to take God's laws, and cover every possible contingency? Even in the Commandments God himself does not define our every step, word, or breath we take, so why should we try to? Now, here's the doctrine. God will compel no man, or woman to the Celestial Kingdom. The great plan is that we learn to think, and make decisions on our own so that we can earn all that he has to give us. Now, that does not mean that we make our own rules,it means that we learn to live by the spirit. We shun the Pharasaical approach of defining every Nth degree, and adopt a Latter-day Saint approach of following our Master, even Jesus Christ.

susan-c said...

11:42 AM
on Sep 10, 2012

Why is there even an issue of whether caffeine is "OK"? We are counseled to avoid addictive drugs, and caffeine is a very addictive drug. The manufactures purposely add it to their soft drinks so people will crave them. How many people "can't live" without their coffee, or their coke or pepsi? People! Stop trying to out-guess the Lord, and just leave ALL the addictive drugs alone!

crazycanuck said...

01:20 PM
on Sep 12, 2012

I personally stay away from Carbonation in general. It's terrible for the body, especially for athletes and singers. I do use Coke to wash aluminum in my kitchen though. I remember drinking coke once in front of members while serving as a missionary for the sole purpose of teaching that it is not a commandment in the Word of Wisdom per se. I think the line in the Coke debate is when it transitions from a beverage to a drug. If you're addicted to it and can't not have it, it is a bad thing. We've been counseled to avoid coffee and tea as being hot drinks. Truthfully, according to some medical studies, any drink that is as hot as coffee and tea is when they are normally drunk is bad for you. Even hot chocolate and herbal teas. Heck, why anyone would want to pour a scalding beverage down their esophagus is beyond me...I personally like to cool my hot chocolate off with milk and have warm chocolate. Medicine is still evolving. There are studies that illustrate both the purported harmful and positive effects of all these (and pretty much every other) substances. I choose to keep the word of wisdom not because of what we know, but because I assume there is wisdom in it that I don't know. When the Word of Wisdom was given in the 1800s everyone thought alcohol and tobacco was very healthy. I'm going to assume that the Lord knows something I don't.

hadster said...

09:49 AM
on Sep 14, 2012

That's why it's called the Word of Wisdom.

hd2 said...

07:13 AM
on Sep 15, 2012

Life is hard, it is harder if you are stupid! (John Wayne). If you can't figure out what the word of wisdom means.......... well, maybe someday. Yea, right!

bzo said...

08:00 AM
on Sep 15, 2012

I am a mammography technologist. Frequently we have patients with problems with breast pain. After a diagnostic workup and we find nothing wrong, often we find out the patient drinks coffee, or caffeinated beverages. I have had patients come back later and after taking the advice to quit caffeine, their fibrocystic problems and pain have gone away. But for some, the addiction is just too great to give up. I, also, do bone densitometry which checks for osteoporosis. The "sodas" are bad for your bones and teeth with or without caffeine. The sugar is not good as well, nor the artificial sweeteners. I don't think it is harmful once in a while to drink sodas. When I drive for long periods, I have trouble staying awake. Then I have to choose what is best for me at that time. I had a bishop tell me once that we should avoid anything that makes our body a slave. I have people I work with who watch what I do because I am LDS. Once we show in front of them it is o.k., they think we can lower our standards in other ways. I am always alert to avoid the appearance of evil. I am thankful for the word of wisdom and the right to choose.

alsoarty said...

08:37 AM
on Sep 15, 2012

My doctor also told me to drink Coffe for my condition as all other medicines tried and failed. I drink one cup in the morning of DECAFFEINATED coffee, and I drink it iced cold. In all my years of suffering with my affliction I finally have a solution that works. It was not the caffeine in the coffee that was to fix my problem, so I chose decaffeinated. I have never liked carbonation in drinks, so I've never drunk any of them, I choose to drink only water. All the caffeine taken out of coffe is made into a caffeine soup, and it gets sold to all the soda companies. So in effect, if your drinking caffeinated sodas you're still consuming some coffee. Drinking my one cup a day has not changed my testimony, I am just thankful that caffeine can be taken out of coffee, and that it's been the best solution to my health proble. So thank the Lord for coffee, He did after all create all things, and left it to us to control.

carolsuenosworthy said...

10:33 AM
on Sep 18, 2012

I Had learned that it is the acid in coffee that eats away at the insides of our stomachs. There is only a very few brands that have acid free coffee. However I still do not drink coffee.

uneva said...

08:55 PM
on Sep 21, 2012

I used to think it was OK to drink anything but coffee, tea, Pepsi and Coke. (My parents had banned Pepsi and Coke.) Then, one day, I was listening to a General Authority, at General Conference. He began his talk by telling us he would speak about the Word of Wisdom. I thought, "Oh boy! Another boring lecture!" He mentioned abstaining from drinking coffee and tea, and I yawned. He added Pepsi and Coke to that, and I patted myself on the back, 'cause I had nothing to worry about. Then he mentioned Dr. Pepper. I thought, "No problem. I don't like that anyway." Then he added Mt. Dew, and I gulped. That was my favorite soft drink! Oh well. It had been, but...no more. THEN he shifted his talk to the Church's female dress code. He said the only time it was appropriate for females to wear pants was while participating in active sports events(such as softball games or hiking), or during strenuous or dirty labor (such as baling hay, or painting a house). This was when I was a teen, but I never miss General Conference, and I've never heard either of those admonitions rescinded.

uneva said...

09:38 PM
on Sep 21, 2012

I also used to love chocolate...anything chocolate, but especially Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Kit-Kat Bars. I gave it all up when I realized that I had become addicted to it (as had my son). We have been admonished to stay away from addictive things. A few times each year, I'll buy and indulge in a few York Peppermint patties. I love the taste of the peppermint!! Just a note of interest: the first six months after I stopped having chocolate...cold turkey, were miserable! But I stuck it out. A few years later, a friend gave me some brownies, for Christmas. I had heard that you eventually lose your taste for chocolate, after abstaining from it for a long duration of time. I took a bite...and hated it!! Took a few more bites, to be sure. Yech! My late husband scared me out of being addicted to salt, when I saw what indulging in it did to his health. (I used to sprinkle it on all my dinner foods at restaurants, before tasting anything.) I went through the same six months of withdrawal. Tasted some later, on some scrambled eggs. Hated it. It tasted very strange to me.

dutchreader01 said...

05:28 PM
on Sep 23, 2012

I cannot imagine the wording means caffeine is OK. It only says that caffeine is not explicitly mentioned in the Word of Wisdom - or in a Conference talk by any of the Church presidents, probably. This does not mean that we should not avoid it. In a Priesthood Bulletin from 1972, Church leaders advised not to use drinks containing any habit forming substances, and to avoid drinks containing substances which are harmful to the body. If you have a serious look at the ingredients, many soda drinks should be avoided (though they are not explicitly forbidden). It’s true that coffee and tea contain some healthy substances; however, they contain some harmful substances as well. I remember that my father, while being cared in a nursing home where some of our instructions were forgotten, got stomach pains from drinking coffee – which was not caused by the caffeine. And be warned that decaffeinated coffee is still coffee and still contains some harmful substances. Sometimes caffeine is a good medicine. A have some tablets that always help me when I’m having a head ache; next to some other substances, they contain a small amount of caffeine. However, I think we should avoid caffeine when we do not need it. A few words on “alcohol free” beer and wine: in some countries, drinks are allowed to be sold as “alcohol free” even if they contain a small amount (for instance 1%) of alcohol. Though drinking one of two glasses would not harm you, you might consider if you should use these drinks (according to the WoW). Much has been said about chocolate. Cocoa is said to be good for our health if taken in small amounts per day. But we also know that is gives some people headaches. Sugar is unhealthy anyway, so you may think twice before taking another piece of chocolate.

lumanwalters said...

01:34 PM
on Sep 28, 2012

I put "other" for hot drinks. Seeing as how coffee was on the list of supplies to bring out west, and how emma served tea after the word of wisdom was given...I interpret it differently. Maybe hot refered to like liquor cause it goes down hot. So I don't drink whiskey, vodka or tequila straight. I'll only have it in mixed drinks. Similarly, after brewing my coffee I make sure it isn't too hot before I drink it. So yeah...other. Glad they had this new "revelation" though. Coffee is the new Dr Pepper !

pag said...

06:05 PM
on Oct 07, 2012

rcd.. Im sorry but you need a new physician. The advise they gave you for metabolic syndrome is just wrong. I also agree that you need to talk with your stake president about your temple recommend as caffeine is not in the questions required to have a temple recommend

goldenthorn said...

12:27 AM
on Oct 10, 2012

I drink one to two cups of coffee a day. It helps me be a ,regular girl' otherwise I would need to take a laxitive each day with harsh chemicals and harsh and unpredictable effects. I love the church and my God. I don't think is angry with for my choice.

guysays said...

12:12 AM
on Oct 17, 2012

So is caffeine really bad for Latter Day Saints? I don't, and have never thought it was not okay to drink. Caffeine speeds up the heart a little hence giving the drinker a slight boost, if the drinker has a heart condition then it may not be appropriate to drink caffeinated drinks. I work long hours sometimes and will drink an energy drink to get through. I feel that its up to the individual to decide however, I wouldn't drink coffee or tea but then that's my choice based on my understanding of the word of wisdom. Is this an issue that deserves media attention? Not really as Paul says some will eat meat offered to idols and some wont it is up to the individual. My son drank coffee as a member but it was medicinal I don't think the Lord would be to upset.

bridget said...

11:48 AM
on Oct 25, 2012

The answer to the question asked in this headline is NO. The church has not authorized the use of caffeine. Look, when the Lord gives you advice, it's not because he's just up there twiddling his thumbs, deciding if he can be arbitrary about something. He gives advice when he wants to keep his children from harm. So steer clear of caffeine. As for hot drinks, it includes the regular use of coffee and tea. Herbal teas can be used for medicinal purposes, but no one should be drinking teas that are addictive. Coffee is best just avoided. I know some people drink de-caffeinated coffee, but what's the point? It tastes awful. And if you feel you cannot function without your coffee, it's time to admit you should toss it. Avoid any addiction (except to the word of God). I had BYU roommates addicted to Pepsi and Coke. They had to have their Big Gulps daily. That addiction could easily have been avoided if they were more interested in obeying the Lord than they were in trying to get away with doing as they pleased. By the way, most Mormons are certainly breaking the Word of Wisdom, for they frequently eat meat, instead of eating it only in times of famine and extreme want. I know, I know. I can hear the screams of people quoting Paul about abstinence from meat, but Paul was talking to Israelites who were going hog wild on the law of Moses instead of listening to the Lord directly. Here's what the Lord has to say about it: "[flesh of beasts is to be used sparingly] And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine." D&C 89:13 I don't know why everybody just ignores what's pleasing to the Lord and decides that sparingly can mean having meat each and every day, and that times of famine can mean daily hunger. I mean, if we were really concerned with pleasing the Lord, we would end up being healthier and happier all the way around. Personally, I know when I started really studying the Word of Wisdom and decided to give up meat, I benefited by having far less digestive upsets. Plus, now I understand the Lord's viewpoint, instead of just accepting what culture has to say about it. So my suggestion to everybody who wants to skirt the Word of Wisdom and do as little as possible is that they have the wrong mindset, and they can fully expect to pay for it.

imdll said...

05:15 PM
on Oct 28, 2012

I think some people are missing the point when it comes to coffee and tea and the Word of Wisdom. Yes we should be mindful of the substances that we put in our bodies but the issue of coffee and tea may have a great deal less to do with caffeine and more to do with the habit of drinking those substances. In England the world stops for tea time, in America people are constantly going out for coffee. In South America the drink is Mate and people sit around for hours drinking it. The product itself is habit forming and so something to be avoided and so is the act of drinking it and the social norms surrounding these drinks. The Lord sees a much bigger picture than we do and we need to stop looking for loop holes so we can be more like the world. We should not need to be commanded in all things and need to understand the guidance we recieve and quit worrying so much about the "letter" of the law. Christ spoke rather harshly to those of his time that were more concerned with the letter of the law rather than the intent or spirit there of. The guidance in the Word of Wisdom is there to help us be more healthy and to take care of our bodies, it is also about obedience (sometimes the Lord asks things of us simply for the sake of obedience). The counsel about tea and coffee is not necessarily about stimulants it could simply be about obeying what the Lord has asked of us. Do we really have to know why? Or can we just do as we are asked and be obedient? We shouldn't need scientific reasons for why the Word of Wisdom is a good idea. The Lord asked it and that should be good enough. As far as those who have medical conditions that require or do better with stimulants, is it not about time we started to figure out that everybody has different medical needs and get over the condemnation of others? Obey the laws the Lord has set and take care of the body you have been given. Quit looking for ways to walk the line or excuses to justify your behavior. We have our agency, let's remember that it wasn't free but we are free to use is as we see fit. We can choose the behavior we can't choose the consequences. There are lots of ways to break the Word of Wisdom. Over eating is a good example. If we truly appreciated the gift the Lord has given us and the bodies we have been blessed with we would live like it and quite nit picking guidance to see how close to living like the world we can get while still maintaining a recomend. Is that really what we figure Heavenly Father is desiring from us?

violaantwine said...

04:41 PM
on Nov 05, 2012

The Lord does not command in all things. He leaves some things up to the individual to use common sense or depend on personal revelation. Unless it specifically says 'Don't do it", the individual should listen to the promptings of the spirit. If prompted not to do it and then the individual chooses differently, he/she is turning their back on the spirit and may be headed for trouble; not only in this choice, but on other matters also.

kamaka said...

01:23 PM
on Nov 06, 2012

Read D&C 89 carefully, then imaginge if were to be written TODAY how many volumes would it take??? CAFFEINE is NOT mentioned, nor is SUGAR, FAT, SALT or other PRESERVATIVES. How many members abstain from coffee & black tea, yet are still damaging their health with too much meats, sugars, salts, & other assorted chemicals?? Sec. 89 is a "word of wisdom", in that thru it we have an example of prudence & moderation in all things. If a Temple Recommend interview required a MD.'s report on one's complete physical well-being, how many otherwise worthy members would be advised to get their "house" (personal temple) in order before a recommend could be issued?? My seminary teacher (over 50 yrs. ago), paraphrased Sec. 89, as "A WORD PERTAINING TO WISDOM". In other words to obtain wisdom in all things temporal, we would have a "running start" if we were to follow the counsel given. So many physical problems could be reduced, (& yes, even eliminated), if the other parts of these WISE WORDS OF COUNSEL are given as much discussion as HOT drinks..(& the compounds within)....Remember..Sec.89 :2 .."sent by greeting".., :3 ..."for a principle with a promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints." We should be as actively concerned, & involvoved with educating ourselves to improving our OWN health & well being as possible...(learn about & act upon the needs of, & TOXINS to our individiual metabolism) Science has already validated Sec.89...no further "commandment" is necessary. LET'S LIVE LONG & PROSPER !!! Ameni

zaza53 said...

08:22 PM
on Nov 30, 2012

In following the spirit of revelation you will be blessed. Listen and obey!!

marlener said...

10:56 PM
on Dec 03, 2012

I do not partake of coffee or tea because it is a commandment. I also agree with many of the statements about doing what is right without being commanded. But, I would also like to add that my father-in-law passed away with esophageal cancer. The doctors determined that the cause was probably the large amounts of hot tea that he drank. I know that caffeine is not good for us, but I also believe that caffeine is probably not the only reason why coffee and tea are forbidden--I am sure there are additional substances that are not currently known to be bad for us. But our Heavenly Father knows. We know that caffeine is bad for us, so we need to act according to that knowledge, and trust in our Heavenly Father by following his commandments in regards to substances we don't understand.

mspanderer said...

01:00 PM
on Jan 10, 2013

^_^ this has been very interesting. I was raised in the church and it was always understood that our household would not have coke or pepsie in it and that the herbal tea we had was not caffeinated. My mother made it very clear that it wasn't the caffein it it, that our friends and neighbors that were drinking it (also memebers)werent wrong- it just wasnt allowed in our house. So when people would be talking about LDS standards and the common misconseption would come up "mormons cant have caffein", I would pipe up, "yes we can", it would open up to a slew of "no you cant!" "then why dont you drink coffee?" "why will you drink this tea but not that tea?". It could get very confusing. Apparently I wasnt the only one. Directly from my bishop, as told to him; "tea" is anything made from the tea plant 'Camellia Sinensis', and "coffee" is anything made from 'Coffea arabica' or its seeds; the coffee bean. By no means am I endorsing caffein or suggesting that its then ok to consume drinks or food derived from the Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia- makes a fantastic topical cream). I found his deffinition very helpful. Over and over again in the gospel we are taught and encouraged to follow the spirit of the law, NOT the letter of the law. For those of you that are taking perscriptions for your health, I hope you get better, and that the spirit brings you warmth and love- For those that choose to drink coke, or tea, or coffee; my hope for you is the same. I try to follow the presept of not to be addicted to anything. I did a 6 week trial once to live without any sugar- I succeeded but it sure tought me that I am addicted to sugar. Bottom line, our bodies and thier needs all have the same basics- but in infinite variety, and the only ones who knows us all perfectly is our heavenly father and Jesus. They gave us beautifull guidelines to help us, but its between us and them how we do so.

latcatin said...

06:35 PM
on Mar 02, 2013

So if everyone in the church that was overweight was denied a recommend for violating the word of wisdom, then would we be more in line with the intention of the commandment? Where I live that would wipe out most of the membership, including myself. It's interesting to watch the reaction of someone who weighs 300 pounds to someone who smells like smoke at church or who, heaven forbid, defends the strict coffee bean and tea leaf interpretation in sunday school. ...one of the hundreds of reasons why I'd rather teach nursery than attend a gospel doctrine class.

german_lds_member said...

07:21 AM
on Mar 05, 2013

I've been baptized only two years ago. I have always been taught that the WoW means no coffee and no tea. This is what modern prophets teach about how to interpret the WoW. I do occasionally consume Coke and 5 Hour Energy. I'm not addicted to it and only consume it once a week or so. Of course it a personal decision but I feel good about it and cannot see that I'm violating the WoW in any way.

zoccoli said...

10:26 AM
on Mar 05, 2013

It must be clear by now. The Word of Wisdom teaches us that we should not ingest Alcohol, Tobacco, Coffee, Black Tea and harmful drugs. - Alcohol: is a substance present in many beverages, but it is not a specific drink. - Tobacco: it is also a substance that should be avoided. - Coffee: this is not a substance, but a drink. (Not caffeine) - Black tea: also it is not a substance, but a drink. - Harmful drugs: are any illegal drugs. or those not recommended by a health professionals or by word of wisdom.

pamelalouise said...

09:53 PM
on Mar 30, 2013

Why pick this apart? It states hot and cold drinks and later clarified as coffee and tea. Caffeine is not even an issue. The commandment is coffee and tea. Simple. The commandment is to abstain from coffee and tea. If you choose to abstain from caffeine great, but it is not the commandment. Let's not second guess. Just follow what we are told. We all may have different thoughts about caffeine but again the church has no official position against using caffeine. Beware of preaching false doctrine.

getsmart2 said...

07:40 PM
on Apr 15, 2013

The Word of Wisdom is beautiful wisdom but poorly understood. It is time we used our heads instead of being commanded in all things and acting like sheepeole. The following is more than just my opinions. They are based on science, but my opinions they are. I believe the "hot drinks" refers to the common belief in the day that hot liquids were very bad for the body (and rightly so). This is a historical belief of the time. (Years ago I heard this from a scholar but never investigated it, perhaps someone could please do so). Since hot water was not drunk by itself but only used to make coffee and tea, coffee and tea are the examples of what not to drink hot. However, both do in fact have major health benefits in some if not many situations. There are also unhealthy implications from their use. Soda pop has NO health benefits whatsoever, caffeine being one of those, but a minor one in comparison to other ingredients. The debate over caffeine misses the mark; we are chocking on a gnat and swallowing a camel. HFCS and aspartame have serious health repercussions that trump anything caffeine can do (with some exceptions based on our personal bodies of course). The fast rise in obesity has exactly tracked the massive introduction of HFCS, it is the largest contributor: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/10/03/hfcs-and-obesity-epidemic.aspx, and http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/23/dramatic-example-of-how-the-food-industry-lies-to-you-about-corn.aspx. Aspartame is a powerful and dangerous neurotoxin (along with MSG): http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/08/03/just-how-bad-is-aspartame.aspx. Sufficed to say, if someone does not understand how dangerous to our health these substances are, they need to get educated. The LDS community has wrongly assumed that all the sugar we consume is an acceptable replacement for the other WofW bad boys. We are far too obese and unhealthy because we have to be commanded in all things. Green (and white) tea has so many healthy compounds that it is considered to be one of the healthiest things you can do. Soda pop is among the worst things to consume, with or without caffeine. We do so many things right with the WofW, but condemning caffeine and allowing all the other junk in soda pop without a second thought is embarrassing. We condemn street drugs when prescription drug use is proving to be just as, and even much more dangerous. A high percent of those whose lives have been ruined because of addiction got their start from a doctor’s prescription for some injury etc. In fact prescription drug abuse is rampant. We take them to deal with the symptoms of poor health choices. Do we actually think that eating all the artificial flavors and colors, preservatives, hormone and antibiotic impregnated “foods” that are not specifically condemned in the WofW will save us from the curses therein? Do YOU actually believe that the FDA will keep our food and drugs safe because they are following science? Remember Vioxx and it’s 60,000 deaths? Read what the FDA scientist Dr. David Graham has to say about the fight of his life against some “evil and conspiring men” within the FDA just to get it removed: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/08/13/secrets-of-the-fda-revealed-by-top-insider-doctor.aspx . Also read this four part article that health conscious people already know about: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/01/19/Top-12-Mercola-Predictions-That-Came-True-Part-1-of-4.aspx. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/mar2004_awsi_death_02.htm. Before you get your righteous indignations all fired up, consider this: I am a very active (and trying to be worthy) LDS member. I am not encouraging the use of drugs or alcohol. I put a lot of emphasis on the oft ignored “dos” part of the WofW, how to eat, as well as the “do nots”. I have not been sick in over 8 years but for a minor sniffle every four years and one day of food poisoning. I used to get the flu and many colds every year until I got educated. I have always followed the WofW, or thought I was. I was not, and chances are you are not ether if you eat like the average North American and think drugs do anything more than simply suppress symptoms. I take a green tea supplement that removes the tannic acid and fluoride (possibly the problems with green tea) and reduces the caffeine (a lesser issue): http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/01/green-tea-extracts-plus-vitamin-d-boost-bone-health.aspx. The powerful antioxidants and other compounds are unmatched in nature and so far in manmade drugs. There is a lot I do, but the thing I learned about that has made the biggest difference in my health (and without exception in the health of everyone I have told about it) is getting my vitamin D3 to the proper level. WOW, what a difference! I take what the Vitamin D Council recommends: 35 IU per 20 lbs. per day per average adult minimum, not the pitiful 400 to 800 IU per day limit of most doctors. I use the 25 Hydroxy Vitamin D3 blood test and work for 70 to 90 ng/ml. This IS part of the Word of Wisdom! This is just part of the blessings that come from obedience. Using it and our brains, science, and common sense to understand the garbage that the evil and conspiring men in the last days are dumping on us. Don’t waste your time debating over caffeine and ignoring the real big toxins just because the WofW doesn’t talk about them; it was never intended to be the end of the health issue, just the beginning.

thelma said...

06:21 AM
on May 18, 2013

I suffer from migraines, and the prescription for this is an expensive drug with many contraindications, once I went to my physician, with a terrible migraine, I could hardly walk or open my eyes, I was in tears from the pain. she told me that the prescription will do no good since it has to be taken when the symptoms tart, she counsel me to go and take a couple of Motrin with a strong black coffee, since I was not addict to caffeine, it will help. I dis as told and took a couple of sips of the coffee and the Motrin, less than 5 minutes later the pain was completely gone, therefore and thanks that I do not drink coffee, my body responded to the dosage of caffeine, open my brain vessels alleviate the pain. I take it only in extreme circumstances, for medical reasons

chriccha said...

12:58 PM
on May 19, 2013

I was denied temple recommend before when I was drinking Coke. So I stopped drinking Coke and then I could go to the temple. :-)

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