Clearing up misconceptions: Caffeine


Byron
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Hi there. I will be asking a series of questions and would like to insert this introduction before them all to ensure that my intent is not misconstrued.

Though I believe God tells us there is no sin greater than another, I have a particular distain for gossip. Thus I would like to take any hearsay given to me about Mormonism and put it under a spotlight and find the truth.

 

I have heard that in the Mormon faith, Caffeine is not allowed to be imbued. Yet Coca Cola is allowed. What is the truth here?

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This is a common misunderstanding, so common that I really have to wonder if people pay any attention at all to things. But let me get my inner cynic under control and answer the question.

 

The truth is that caffeine per se is not mentioned at all.

 

But the truth is also that God expects us to take good care of ourselves and use the brain he gave us.

 

So if soda pop is bad for you, whether because of the caffeine or because it's a way of infusing pure sucrose into your gut, you are better off avoiding it. It should not take a revelation from God or an angelic visitation to figure that out. But no, technically speaking, caffeinated soda pop is not contrary to Mormon teachings.

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Caffeine is never explicitly mentioned.


Coffee and Tea are explicitly not allowed.

There certainly is no dearth of material calling attention to the negative effects of caffeine if one searches lds.org
 

Edited by jerome1232
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Caffeine is not one of those forbidden things for Mormons. But as Vort mentioned, we are counseled to take care of our bodies.  So for example, if you have high blood pressure, caffeine is probably one of those things you want to stay away from.  If you have a hard time sleeping, caffeine is probably one of those things you want to stay away from.  If you just can't live without your Mt Dew...you might find yourself addicted to the caffeine and so caffeine is probably something you should stay away from.

 

It's all about common sense and taking care of our bodies.

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I believe you mean "imbibed".

 

No, the common myth that is thrown around evangelical circles is that the Church policy on caffeinated soft drinks was

     1) Originally forbidden.

     2) The Church purchased the Coca-Cola Company.

     3) Then we were allowed to drink Coke, but no other caffeine.

 

Obviously this is just to make us seem like hypocrites.  And it is false.

 

See this link for a basic understanding of our health code.

 

No formal statement was given on soft drinks for many years.  And it has been a topic of debate within the membership for a very long time.

 

1) In the early 1980s, the Church sent out letter to be read over the pulpit.  We should "avoid" caffeinated soft drinks and other substances containing caffeine.

 

2) A few years later, another announcement was sent out.  Members of the Church "should not consume caffeinated soft drinks under conditions where it would cause addiction."  Apparently, not a lot of people didn't hear this because the debate raged on.

 

3) A Church publication stated that "Anything that is considered unhealthy is not really in line with the spirit of the Word of Wisdom."  The wording indicates that there is some judgment on what is considered healthy.  If we went with any fad health guru that came along declaring things unhealthy, we'd pretty much be breatharians.  So, we gotta eat.  And we have to judge on many things.

 

4) Just a few years ago the Church made an announcement through the LDS Newsroom website.  "The Word of Wisdom does not mention the use of caffeine."

 

The debate continues within the membership.  But the fact is that unless you're going to get Pharisaic about the do's and don'ts, and create a 10,000 page tome of approved and unapproved substances, there are always going to be judgment calls and gray areas.  Let caffeine be the gray area.  I don't think crystal meth should be a gray area.

Edited by Guest
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The link Carborendum shared is a good one to start with for background. Our founding prophet, Joseph Smith, received a revelation for the "temporal (earthly) salvation of all saints in the last days", noting the "evils and designs ... of conspiring men". We call this revelation the Word of Wisdom. Portions of it have become a part of our covenants including a prohibition on:

  • alcohol
  • "hot drinks" - clarified to mean coffee and tea
  • tobacco

The proscription of tea and coffee led to the cultural notion that caffeine was the offender. With that background (you'll probably find the links interesting) you can revisit some of the other answers about cola drinks.

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Caffeine can be used for both good and bad....pretty much like any other medicine, or even food that we partake into our bodies. Explicit commands to not eat/drink certain substances* seem closely related with a large number of people eating/drinking without moderation.

*[coffee,tea,alcohol,tobacco,(illegal drugs)]

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Hi there. I will be asking a series of questions and would like to insert this introduction before them all to ensure that my intent is not misconstrued.

Though I believe God tells us there is no sin greater than another, I have a particular distain for gossip. Thus I would like to take any hearsay given to me about Mormonism and put it under a spotlight and find the truth.

 

I have heard that in the Mormon faith, Caffeine is not allowed to be imbued. Yet Coca Cola is allowed. What is the truth here?

there are some things that are specifically stated and some things are not, coffee and tea have been specifically stated and some think that it is because of the caffeine.

caffeine itself has not been explicitly stated and tends to fall inside a grey area for some..... however in general we are told to not use drugs for reasons other than health reasons

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I drink Pepsi or Mountain Dew, and yes I am not going to outer darkness which some Mormon hardliners might think.  There’s no commandment that says you can't eat a bacon cheeseburger every day, but your health and gut will say otherwise.  We self-govern ourselves to make correct principles, which in hand can lead to a healthy or poor lifestyle.

Edited by Scovy
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@Mordorbund I think it would be best if I answer your question by saying what I believe and not what I think.

 

I believe the "word's of wisdom" you quote are of man simply because they are not found in the bible. This is not to say that man's wisdom is evil. But it is limited especially when compared to God's wisdom.

And as a man, both my wisdom and my beliefs are limited, so I could be wrong.

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@Mordorbund I think it would be best if I answer your question by saying what I believe and not what I think.

 

I believe the "word's of wisdom" you quote are of man simply because they are not found in the bible. This is not to say that man's wisdom is evil. But it is limited especially when compared to God's wisdom.

And as a man, both my wisdom and my beliefs are limited, so I could be wrong.

 

Morderbund wasn't saying "words of wisdom", but referring to the Word of Wisdom (proper noun).  

 

The Word of Wisdom is a section of scripture from which the ban of coffee/tea/smoking/alcohol arises.  It is not in the Bible (as you correctly stated), rather in the Doctrine & Covenants, which is (in the Mormon POV) another book of scripture that sits alongside the Bible and Book of Mormon.

 

The full text of the Word of Wisdom can be found here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89?lang=eng

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Mormons believe that God continues to speak to us. We believe that He has not abandoned us, and continues to give us guidance relevant for the time we live in and the progress (or regression) we make as a people. We believe the Word of Wisdom to be modern day revelation given through a prophet of God, who acts as His mouthpiece on earth. 

 

It doesn't hurt anything to follow it, anyway.

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@Mordorbund I think it would be best if I answer your question by saying what I believe and not what I think.

 

I believe the "word's of wisdom" you quote are of man simply because they are not found in the bible. This is not to say that man's wisdom is evil. But it is limited especially when compared to God's wisdom.

And as a man, both my wisdom and my beliefs are limited, so I could be wrong.

 

Do you believe that the Bible contains all the revelations that God has for humanity?

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I drink Pepsi or Mountain Dew, and yes I am not going to outer darkness which some Mormon hardliners might think.  There’s no commandment that says you can't eat a bacon cheeseburger every day, but your health and gut will say otherwise.  We self-govern ourselves to make correct principles, which in hand can lead to a healthy or poor lifestyle.

 

 

Dang!  My gut prays, "Oh Anddenex, please purchase another bacon cheeseburger, biggie size it!"  

 

Yep, you and I are both going to outer darkness...please pass me another Mt. Dew.  :P

Edited by Anddenex
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  • 2 weeks later...

I believe the "word's of wisdom" you quote are of man simply because they are not found in the bible. This is not to say that man's wisdom is evil. But it is limited especially when compared to God's wisdom.

So, you're saying that the Bible is the only source of God's word?

Why do you say that?

What would you do if archeololgists found an authentic writing, in the hand of Jesus Christ, with the full text of the Bread of Life sermon, three times as long as the synopsis in the Bible? By this measure, you would have to reject it "simply because [it is] not found in the bible." That seems a rash judgement.

It seems unlikely that any of us should refuse more of God's word simply because it was not included in a list made by secular men, who neither sought nor acknowledged the will of the Lord when they dictated the canon. If "[His] word is a lamp unto my feet", I would want as much light from that Source as possible. Arbitrarily limiting it appears foolish, at least to me.

... I could be wrong.

Yes, this is true: you could be wrong.

This is one area where asking God what His thoughs are on the subject would be helpful.

Lehi

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Well, if it's on snopes.com, it must be true: Mr. Ed

Lehi

I see you didn't follow the links at the bottom.  The first link takes you to a page that shows that Snope actally started this rumor because they wanted people to be aware not to trust any single source -- not even snopes.  They also wanted to prove just how gullible people can be.  There are some things that just don't make sense if you just take a minute to think about it.  But people won't even go that far.

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Just as FYI, this is probably the least important of all differences and controversies between LDS and Evangelicals.  Nevertheless, particularly in the Pacific Northwest (and much of Minnesota) the sharing of coffee has become almost a sacrament.  So, we tend to joke...this is how we really know they are different.

 

I sometimes wonder if that was part of the purpose of the WoW--a means of distinguishing the Saints. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just as FYI, this is probably the least important of all differences and controversies between LDS and Evangelicals.  Nevertheless, particularly in the Pacific Northwest (and much of Minnesota) the sharing of coffee has become almost a sacrament.  So, we tend to joke...this is how we really know they are different.

 

I sometimes wonder if that was part of the purpose of the WoW--a means of distinguishing the Saints. 

I agree.

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