Again, some Mormons try to make sure they don't accidentally get tea in any other form, which can be more difficult than you might think now that green tea has become a "health food" and is sometimes added into other health items (including cold cereal). Mormons can choose! In the Word of Wisdom, the Lord commands Latter-day Saints to abstain from harmful substances. OK, the actual passage was about "hot" beverages. Must have something to do with caffeine. “, Father’s Day: How Mormon Fathers Are Different. I agree with your “rule of thumb” that you don’t need to check the caffeine content not to drink coffee. Well it is now 100 percent official - Mormon's are allowed to drink coke and more specifically caffeine, just not tea or coffee. This section is called the Word of Wisdom. Mormon Caffeine Policy Clarified, Coke And Pepsi Officially OK For Latter-Day Saints. Caffeine is widely acknowledged to be a stimulant and an addictive substance. The LDS Church-owned school doesn't sell caffeinated drinks on campus. "Another part of the issue is the general tendency (although there are exceptions) of devout people to be too literal and absolute, while not being rational enough. (Which the Mormon Church has never formally come out against, as I understand it). They just don't bar members from, say, pounding a Pepsi or slurping a hot chocolate. But, confusingly, the Mormon prohibition on coffee and tea is not a prohibition on caffeine. Mormonism Answers: What Is the Plan of Happiness? Mormons believes change from time to time because they say that they have a living … My Mormon friend drinks Dr. Pepper, but says he never drinks coffee. Latter Day Saints "can" drink caffeine, but many choose not to. Mormon don't smoke cigars, cigarettes, and they don't chew tobacco. Plain ignorance on this church policy by all parties seems to rule.". mormons can drink caffeine..... what they can't drink is coffee and tea - and while the reason for that is not given - many ASSUME it is because of caffeine and so make the choice to abstain from any caffeinated drinks. This article goes into detail to explain the historical significance, context, and modern interpretation of the prohibition/exhortation against coffee and tea for Mormons. It is fair to say, therefore, that the caffeine content of a glass of coca-cola is just about equal to that contained in a cup of tea or coffee.” In October 1939, the Improvement Era ran another article titled “Caffeine in Cola Drinks.” Mormon Apostle John Widtsoe warned that “cola drinks contain the drug, caffeine. Caffeine is an ergogenic: increasing the capacity for mental or physical labor. Not sure why, but I have seen the blessings of it. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org. Tag: Can Mormons drink Caffeine Is Caffeine against the Word of Wisdom? This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. All rights reserved. Breaking it is considered a major sin in Mormonism. The LDS Church-owned school doesn't sell caffeinated drinks on campus. Mormonism For Dummies by Jana Riess ( … How some Mormons view caffeine. It forbids consumption of wine, strong drink, tobacco and "hot drinks," which have been defined by church authorities as tea and coffee. The Church does not prohibit Coke or Pepsi, however. We believe that God blesses us with health and other spiritual blessings for following this commandment. 9 Missionaries Can Only Play Half-Court Basketball. if your mormon no.1 then yes. Dew,' " he said, proudly displaying the sizable collection of Mountain Dew memorabilia he has in his office. Nope, we can drink herbal tea, but no coffee of any kind. Caffeine is addictive, and while avoiding it has never been a commandment in Mormonism similar to the prohibition against alcohol, nevertheless, Mormons have been counseled to avoid it. The church has never come out and said that caffeine is behind the prohibition of hot drinks mentioned in the Word of Wisdom. It has long been assumed that because tea and coffee contain caffeine (which is addictive), that was the reason for avoidance. Do I detect a “double standard” when it comes to soft drinks? Well, I’m typing this from a laptop, so… I think some extremely uninformed people think we’re Amish. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon church, recently updated its guidelines on iced coffee and tea, as well as e-cigarettes. Following this interview, many Mormons immediately quit drinking caffeinated sodas. That doesn't mean church leaders view drinks that contain it as healthy. Followers of the religion adhere to strict fundamental rules that prohibit any drug use. Though it does not state so, some take this to also mean not to drink caffeine in general. Pastor Cares took special care to use language and illustrations that Mormons can understand. For the official Church websites, please visit LDS.org or Mormon.org. Simply stated, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes no official position on caffeine. The current debate over coffee, tea, caffeine, and other “hot drinks” boils down to a difference in interpretation about whether this particular portion of the Doctrines and Covenants is an outright prohibition or merely counsel. Why is it that some Mormons drink caffeinated sodas and others don’t? Question. Quoted from the official Church newsroom: “the Church revelation spelling out health practices (Doctrine and Covenants 89) does not mention the … Some just choose not too. Were they ever against the Word of Wisdom (WoW)? The LDS Church's health code, known simply as the "Word of Wisdom," was dictated in 1833 by Mormon founder Joseph Smith. So any churchgoing Mormons wondering whether it's OK — in their faith's eyes — to join Jorgensen for a caffeine fix can heed this simple advice: "The only official interpretation of 'hot drinks' (D&C 89:9) in the Word of Wisdom is the statement made by early church leaders that the term 'hot drinks' means tea and coffee.". Mormon Rules: Do Mormons Really Want Eternal Families? Nor was it added in the church's recent two-volume handbook, which stake presidents, bishops and other local LDS leaders use to guide their congregations. Mormons have never been formally told they are not allowed to drink caffeine. Some think it’s because of caffeine levels. Mormons believe that bodies are a gift from God and should be respected and taken care of, both inside and out. Latter-day Saints are taught not to drink any kind of alcohol (see D&C 89:5–7). Can Mormons Drink Soda?Why can mormons drink Coke? From 1899 to 2006 the word “caffeine” is mentioned only eight times in the Semi-annual General Conference reports of the church. Many "Mormons" take that to mean caffeinated beverages, so they will not partake of coffee or soda that contains caffeine. Since moving to Cedar City to take a job teaching chemistry at Southern Utah University, the LDS professor has "carved out a place for [himself] as 'Dr. It’s not rocket science that soda provides no health benefits to our bodies, and it would not be considered healthy to “need” soda to get by day-to-day. Earlier this summer, Jorgensen was chosen to be "the face of White Out" in one of Mountain Dew's promotions. He also wrote this book to speak clearly and powerfully to Christians by covering familiar topics in a … However, since the punctuation was added by CNN, it is not clear whether President Hinckley was listing things we say no to, or whether he was clarifying the “no to caffeine” statement by adding the “coffee and tea,” in which there are lots of caffeine. Neither is accurate. Keeping the Word of Wisdom is extremely important to active Mormons. What can Latter-day Saints eat and drink? Well that is what they believe NOW. Among other instructions, it prohibits the use of alcohol, tobacco and hot drinks. Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) The LDS restrictions involving coffee and tea are fairly well known, though many people may not really know the details behind it. By Peggy Fletcher Stack The Salt Lake Tribune. It covers, in a very particular way, the use of tobacco and alcohol. SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Maybe now, reporters, bloggers, outsiders and even many Mormons will accept that the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not forbid drinking cola. There are many positive effects of caffeine. Mormonism Answers: Why Youth Serve Missions. This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). You just are not able to go to the Temple. Mormons are free to down a Coke or Pepsi. 'Dew' tell. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has clarified its position on caffeinated soft drinks, noting the news media often incorrectly states that its members are forbidden to drink caffeine according to a news article published by Heraldextra. Sure, the LDS faith's health code forbids booze, coffee, tea and tobacco — but not Coca-Cola, Pepsi or hot chocolate. I don’t happen to like Coke, but I don’t think I’m going to hell if I drink it. It's mostly because of the tanic acid in the coffee and tea that's destructive, not so much the caffeine. Why Don’t Mormons Drink Coffee? Gordon B. Hinckley: No to caffeine, coffee and tea. Subsequently LDS prophets said that hot drinks referred to coffee and tea. There is no longer a ban on caffeine Mormons are now saying that they forbid hot drinks. Mormons, as most folks around here know, don't drink alcohol, tea or coffee. Mormons can drink caffeine? Any beverage that contains ingredients harmful to the body should be avoided. Which is potentially true. When it comes down to it, the point of the Word of Wisdom is to take care of our bodies. A: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not take a direct position on caffeinated beverages. Mormons aren't supposed to drink caffeinated beverages. Top rumor: next weekend, the prophet will lift the ban on Mormons … Mormon Apostle John A. Widtsoe, on page 96 of his book, Joseph Smith As Scientist, called caffeine a ‘vegetable poison.’ He states, “Without going into further details, it is readily seen that the teachings of Joseph Smith, in 1833, in relation to the value of tea and coffee in human drinks, harmonizes with the knowledge of today. We Latter-day Saints are very cautious of addictive substances, so some people assert that we must not be able to drink coffee and tea because the caffeine in them is a stimulant and can be addictive. The answer is no, the Church does not forbid caffeine usage per se. Although the Church does not specifically prohibit it, they do not endorse it either. “Why Do Mormons Have So Many Family Traditions? How about medicines such as Excedrin, which contain caffeine? In the Word of Wisdom, the Lord states that fruits and vegetables should be partaken of with “prudence and thanksgiving” D&C 89:10-11). The prohibition against coffee is contained in one of Mormonism’s scriptures, section 89 of Doctrine and Covenants (D&C). December 9, 2018 May 12, 2020 Certina. Or Pepsi? others just don't drink it because caffeine is a stimulant and wearing on the circulatory system. But that logic doesn’t work because of our cultural obsession with the aforementioned Diet Coke and Pepsi and the continued allowance of energy drinks. According to an analysis of the survey by the Religion in Public blog, 35% of church members said they consume coffee, 25% consume tea and 25% consume alcohol. The Mormon Church is totally fine with people consuming as much caffeine as they can handle—just as long as it’s slightly chilled. Some Mormons do choose to drink … Church spokesman Scott Trotter said the clarification was made to provide context to last week's NBC News hour-long special on Mormonism that stated Mormons don't drink caffeine. Though Young encouraged Mormons to follow the Word of Wisdom code, the church was tolerant of those who did not follow it. "Part of the issue is that nonofficial remarks by certain church leaders get selectively spread around," Jorgensen writes in an email. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also called the Mormon or LDS Church, is a Christian sect established in the 19th-century United States. Mormons don't drink green or black tea (caffeinated teas). After Mitt Romney, a prominent member of the Mormon Church, attracted attention in 2012 for drinking Diet Coke, the church clarified that it has no rule against caffeine. Mormons do choose to drink any kind allowed to drink caffeinated beverages so... A major sin in Mormonism Church does not state so, many and! Family Traditions Plan of Happiness … can Mormons drink caffeine, coffee and.! A Mormon and self-described devotee of caffeine-stoked Mountain Dew memorabilia he has in office. 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