but should it REPLACE the smoking, then you would no longer be in line with the word of wisdom. Education Week attendees listen and take notes during an Education Week devotional on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019. (Is there anything wrong with drinking sodas with caffeine in them? Brigham Young (second president of the Church) related some of the circumstances leading up to the reception of the revelation: “The brethren came to that place for hundreds of miles to attend school in a little room probably no larger than eleven by fourteen. After giving “some facts” about the Word of Wisdom, including that “the Lord forbids our using tobacco and ‘hot drinks,’ which, Church leaders have explained, means tea and coffee,” the article systematically went after four different items that some young people might get confused about. Do not taste! If the Word of Wisdom is supposed to be a health code, then why would God have banned things that could be beneficial, including red wine and coffee? The way that D&C 89 has been generally interpreted  seems to be subjective eisegesis, or interpretation based more on one’s personal presuppositions than the context of a passage. For discussion of freedom and political issues in general. Critics of the Word of Wisdom might point out that the modern-day direction seems to cherry pick a bit from the original revelation which asks, for example, that members eat meat sparingly and only in times of winter, cold, or famine. Certainly the partaking of cola drinks, though not included within the measuring standard here set out, is in violation of the spirit of the Word of Wisdom (Mormon Doctrine, 1966, p. 845). . We are learning, and we are growing. Prior to the April 2019 General Conference, there were some who were predicting a possible change in Mormonism to allow coffee and tea, both of which are banned in the Word of Wisdom. Here, I’ll delve into Sabbath-keeping, the Word of Wisdom and whether Latter-day Saints are still expected to wear their temple garments around … According to 21st century LDS leaders, however, McConkie must not have been teaching “officially.” This only begs the question, how is anyone supposed to know when the leaders are speaking with authority? Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. Most vaping pods do contain nicotine, whether or not the users even know that. First, there are doctrinal influences, he said. All people are children of God, he continued, and that means all things are possible through Christ. The gospel, in its doctrine, culture and environment — wherever that may be — can be used to help each individual better understand their bodies, their health, and how to keep growing and improving. In another way, I think the overall rule is silly. Not only did the church remind its followers (in the introduction) that coffee and tea are still not allowed, but also any type of drink that has coffee. The only difference is that the leaves in black tea are fermented and in green tea they’re not. Once a person understands how the Atonement applies to them in all things, they won’t get stuck in a rut of thinking they can never change or that being healthy is too hard. The church and its members should be called. On May 6, it was announced that Latter-day Saint couples married civilly are now … Health isn’t just about what people shouldn’t do, it’s also about what they can do. Notice the phrase  “by revelation.” It’s a word that means different things to leaders today, but this was supposed to be God revealing His mind to Joseph Smith (and, ultimately, the Latter-day Saints). Education Week attendees listen during a devotional on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019. The Word of Wisdom is a hot topic lately, with earlier posts here at W&T (here and here) and BCC (here and here).It was the New Era article a couple of weeks ago that got things rolling, followed just a few days ago by the adult version released at the Mormon Newsroom. The Word of Wisdom doesn’t mention it”, by the full name, not nicknamed (i.e., “Mormon”), went from three hours to two beginning in 2019, allowed to be blessed and baptized, contradicting an edict from 2015, said drinking coffee and tea could lead to esophageal cancer, 25 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Coffee that you may not know, “Why are Mormons not allowed to drink coffee?”, Why the LDS Church needs to take a tougher stance on the issue of abortion, 10 Reasons why the Multiple LDS Temples Have Nothing to do with the Biblical Temple in Jerusalem. Is it possible that because so many Mormons are tempted by hot drinks that the church will consider making this change in the near future? Although the facts of a person’s circumstances and their cultural and environmental influencers may mean that they are overweight, have limited access to fresh food, were raised with bad eating habits, or any number of other factors, that doesn’t mean they are destined to be unhealthy, Cordell said. So, before you try what you think is just some new milkshake flavor, here are a couple of rules of thumb: (1) If you’re in a coffee shop (or any other shop that’s well-known for its coffee), the drink you’re ordering probably has coffee in it, so either never buy drinks at coffee shops or always ask if there’s coffee in it. “The idea is that we are progressing. Some drinks have tea in them but don’t advertise that fact, so always check the ingredients. We find that there is a high degree of variation in Word of Wisdom compliance. Copyright © 2021 Deseret News Publishing Company. Many of the ways that people relate to food and health are heavily influenced by their culture, he said. SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement on the Word of Wisdom.. It is hard to figure out this current LDS administration out! A group of women cross North Temple on their way to the Conference Center before the general women’s session of the 189th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. Perhaps because there was such speculation in April, the church “doubled down” in August 2019 and declared, emphatically, that the Word of Wisdom remains in full force. The Word of Wisdom in Mormon Scriptures According to Section 89 of The Doctrine and Covenants , 1 God revealed these guidelines to Joseph Smith on February 27, 1833. If so, I can only imagine the leaders will someday say “drink coffee and tea, but with moderation” in his pronouncement. The Word of Wisdom is a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith as a response to an inquiry. only to finally back down in April 2019! After describing how “wine,” “strong drink,” and “tobacco” were. (For more on this and to see the teachings of LDS leaders on the Word of Wisdom, click here.). However, there are many other substances which have a harmful effect on the human body, though such particular things are not specifically prohibited by the Word of Wisdom. Education Week attendees listen and take notes during devotional at BYU Education Week in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019. LDS Liberty Forum. Mormon Stories October 9, 2017 Addiction, Ex-Mormon Stories, Marriage & Family, Mixed-Faith Marriages, Top 15 Mental Health, Word of Wisdom 9 Comments As part 1 in a new Mormon Stories Podcast series on navigating mixed-faith marriages, we interview Kirsten and David Udy. Latter-day Saints, with the Word of Wisdom as a foundation and mindful of both the scriptures and the counsel of a living prophet, are encouraged to personalize their health regimen and-just like anyone else who chooses to live a healthy lifestyle-quickly realize that there are many paths and options. Green tea and black tea are both made from the leaves of the exact same tea plant. If it’s healthy today, wasn’t it healthy at the time that Smith supposedly received his “revelation”? And how many Mormons would be able to exult in being able to partake of something everyone else at the office has enjoyed for all those years! Modern prophets and apostles have frequently taught that the Word of Wisdom warns us against substances that can harm us or enslave us to addiction. The community for those interested in faithful discussions related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members, known colloquially as "Mormons". The Doubling Down of the LDS Church: The Word of Wisdom Ain’t Going Away, At Least for Now By Eric Johnson (Revised 8/27/2019) Prior to the April 2019 General Conference, there were some who were predicting a possible change in Mormonism to allow coffee and tea, both of which are banned in the Word of Wisdom. 2 Midwest LDS and dahlia reacted to this The church article does not help clarify, one way or the other, this issue. “That was the point of the Atonement — that we can grow.”. Yet this idea (or the idea that hot drinks are bad) actually goes against scientific evidence. After all, these leaders denied children of homosexual parents to get baptized or blessed in 2015, with Nelson calling this decision a “revelation” in 2016. . The article said. Additionally, an understanding that Christ’s Atonement is about more than just overcoming sin can help a person develop more self-love, self-gratitude, and more respect for their body and health. Is caffeine bad? Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. It’s a choice that we make … about what we want to do and who we want to be.”. One of the last things it mentions is the importance of using “prudence and thanksgiving” in all things related to health. Could it be that the speculation of the possibility that coffee and tea was soon to be made kosher (so to speak) in Mormonism cause the leadership some angst. In a recent article in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, John Ferguson, Jana Riess, and I share results from the 2016 Next Mormons Survey regarding observance of the Word of Wisdom among self-identified American Mormons. This, he said, was the main reason why hot drinks were banned by God. “The nice thing is that we have the agency to choose what we do with those influencers,” he said. The review was written by Latter-day Saint Lance Starr who said drinking coffee and tea could lead to esophageal cancer. When people think about the relationship between food and the gospel in the context of the Church, often the first thing they think of is the Word of Wisdom, said Zachary Cordell, a registered dietician nutritionist, during a presentation at BYU Education Week. The Word of Wisdom is a law of health for the physical and spiritual benefit of God's children. The church’s statement mentions vaping and e-cigarettes as prohibited substances.. Second, there is the culture that comes from being part of a church and a faith community. Online. ... 2019 … Thank you! After all, how can the church allow hot drinks such as hot chocolate (with caffeine in it, even!) This flies in the fact of Colossians 2:1-23, which says. The Word of Wisdom … In a recent New Era article, the Church offered some clarifications to the Word of Wisdom, specifically concerning substances like mocha, latte, macchiato, espresso, green tea, iced tea, vaping, e-cigarettes, marijuana, and opioids. Keeping the perspective that one’s body is eternal can be a positive influence on how one views their health, he said. For now, the Church has doubled down on the Word of Wisdom. The church clarified its interpretation of the Word of Wisdom, its dietary rules meant to keep members from consuming unhealthy substances. I like how the NIV translates verse 23: “Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom . For example, consider this article that describes “25 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Coffee that you may not know.” If the Word of Wisdom is a “health code,” then how could coffee be shown to be beneficial? Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. It includes instruction about what foods are good for us and those substances to avoid. “It’s the principle that regardless of (your circumstances), you should do healthy things,” he said. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints canonized the Word of Wisdom, essentially going all in on it. Most vaping pods contain nicotine, which is highly addictive, and all of them contain harmful chemicals. In fact, for the original April 2019 edition of the article you are reading, I had written the following: It seems to be that if the members don’t like three-hour Sunday services, then the attitude offered by the leadership is apparently accommodation. It sure seems so because, just a few months after that April conference, an article came out in the August 2019 New Era magazine titled “Vaping, Coffee, Tea, and Marijuana.” The subtitle reads, “Let’s clear up a few items that young people today may be confused about when it comes to the Word of Wisdom.” This magazine is aimed at the Mormon teenagers. Until maybe tomorrow or next week. But there are also some instructions about what people should eat and how they should approach their overall relationship with food. Shouldn’t these be banned too? However, in 2012 the church stated that caffeinated soda is not in violation of the Word of Wisdom. Discussions of Book of Mormon issues and evidences, plus other topics related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Last visit was: Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:53 pm . 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Aug 13, 2019 23 The August 2019 issue of New Era magazine for LDS youth lists vaping, e-cigarettes, lattes, capuccinos and recreational marijuana as against the Word of Wisdom. (2) Drinks with names that include café or caffé, mocha, latte, espresso, or anything ending in -ccino are coffee and are against the Word of Wisdom. I’ve heard rumors of a word of wisdom change to tea and coffee. . If these leaders decide to make this change, it will only prove once again that Mormonism’s truth claims are as fluid as the culture around them is in flux. However, there is too much evidence to show how the leadership has taught all along how coffee and tea goes against the commandment of God. Why not? For all the evolving personalized ways people interact with this purported revelation, probably just so they can hold their heads up in temple recommend interviews, I think tradition means a lot. After describing how “wine,” “strong drink,” and “tobacco” were not good, verse 9 adds that “hot drinks are not for the body or belly.” The church interprets this verse this way on its website: Doctrine and Covenants 89:9 says we shouldn’t drink “hot drinks.” The only official interpretation of this term is the statement made by early Church leaders that it means tea and coffee. Should Mormons be considered “Christians” because the name Jesus is in their church’s title? I am guessing that most Latter-day Saints already knew that vaping and e-cigarettes went against the Word of Wisdom. But the principle of the word of wisdom would say it is ok to use to get off of an addiction. The word coffee isn’t always in the name of coffee drinks. Marijuana may be legal for medicinal or even recreational use in a lot of places now, but that doesn’t mean that any use is suddenly not against the Word of Wisdom. Other policy changes have been made just in the past year (2018-19), including: I remember a review of a book Bill McKeever and I wrote in 1994 (Questions to Ask Your Mormon Friends, Bethany House, 1994), now out of print. Is caffeine bad? Such habit-forming substances should be avoided except under the care of a competent physician, and then used only as prescribed. 13.1k. Where people are located and what people surround them, as well as factors like income and food availability, are going to have an impact on how people view their health, Cordell explained. Doctrine and Covenants / Pearl of Great Price, Mormon Objections to Christian Evangelism, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Is there anything wrong with drinking sodas with caffeine in them? It is currently Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:53 pm. If there are too many complaints about female missionaries having to wear dresses, then they seem to be fine allowing them to wear slacks. 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