Why is it that mormons don't drink tea and coffee but yet that drink mountain dew, coke, pepsi and other caffeinated drinks? Thats just crazy.
2006-12-13 10:17:14 · 23 answers · asked by Qt PIE 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The reason i was asking this is because my boyfriend's brother and his wife are mormons and they don't drink tea and coffee but i see them drinking soda with caffeine. So i was just curious. Don't get the wrong impression i wasn't trying to talk about the religion.
2006-12-13 10:28:04 · update #1
We don't drink tea or coffee because we have something called the Word of Wisdom (link below) that has been interpreted to mean specifically tea and coffee. It isn't a caffeine thing. There are plenty of Mormons who drink vast amounts of caffeine, but are still considered to be keeping the commandments. Some believe that the only reason soda's weren't specifically mentioned in the WoW was because they weren't invented yet (when it was given), and so they follow the "spirit of the law" and don't drink soda's or anything else that's bad for you. Those that follow the "spirit of the law" aren't thought of as being more Mormon than those who don't, it's just a personal preference. Also, we have been counseled to use wisdom and not do anything that's bad for us, even if it's not specifically mentioned.
2006-12-14 05:46:51 · answer #1 · answered by Tonya in TX - Duck 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Curiosity is a good thing. My guess is that we are all still learning what is good for the body and what is not. Some substances are more likely to damage internal organs than others. Some tea is okay - there are all kinds of herbs and plants which are good to make tea out of. I have heard that caffeine is bad when a woman is pregnant because it makes the baby more nervous. I don't know if the people you knew who drank caffeinated drinks were pregnant or not. If they were not, I don't see anything wrong with drinking soda once in a while, if you brush your teeth soon afterward.
2006-12-13 23:13:31 · answer #2 · answered by Cookie777 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The fullness of the Gospel of Christ was lost after His death and the deaths of His apostles, and has been restored in these latter days. There are prophets on the earth again today, just as there were before His mortal ministry, for He is the same God, yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Just as the Jews had a Law concerning that which they could and could not eat, some meats being clean, and others unclean (See Deuteronomy 14), today we have been given a law concerning our health as well. That code of health, as you mentioned, includes tea and coffee, but not caffeinated sodas.
"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. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness." (Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27)
The Lord chose to allow us to use our discernment concerning caffeinated sodas. I choose not to drink them, but there is not necessarily anything wrong with drinking them.
2006-12-16 13:02:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As a couple others have stated, it is not about the caffein and there is no specific commandment to stay away from caffein. Their word of wisdom included coffee and tea. Others, on their own accord, have included caffein because of the addictive nature and negative influence on our health.
2006-12-15 11:19:51 · answer #4 · answered by straightup 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Mormons do not drink coffee and tea, but contrary to what many believe it is not because of their caffeine content. Many Mormons, however, choose to avoid other products that have caffeine because it is a stimulating and addictive drug, although there is no official doctrine in the Church that says we must avoid caffeine.
2006-12-13 18:24:26 · answer #5 · answered by hmmm... 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋
My Christian Response:
Interesting question, but it's not a key issue. Whether or not you consume caffeine is irrelevant in the big scheme of things.
Some more important things: is the Bible the inerrant Word of God? Is the Bible trustworthy? Is Jesus YAHWEH, the one true God as described in the Bible? Is there but one God, who has revealed himself as three persons (God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit? Is faith alone required for salvation (not a belief in Joseph Smith and his successors as God's mouthpiece)?
The mormons disagree with all of the above, and this is the core problem. They also believe "as man is, God once was: as God is, man may be (LDS apostle Jame Talmage). All other key doctrinal beliefs stem from these errors.
So the stand on caffeine is really the least of the problem by far. In fact, I'm sure that you can find Bible believing churches with similar man-made rules which are equally silly, if not more so. But so what?
Pray for our mormon friends - that they may find Truth.
God bless -
2006-12-15 09:35:09 · answer #6 · answered by Pastor John 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Because the prophet has never come out and said "Do not drink any substance with caffine." basically.
But, we have been commanded not to drink tea and coffee - and alcohol.
Caffine is sort of a personal choice whether or not one drinks it...sort of like R rated movies - it won't keep you out of the temple but why not only do/see upllifting things? We are just cautioned to use our best judgement...
***BY the way -regarding popular belief that mormons "own those companies"....that is just a load of garbage...don't listen to idle gossip.
2006-12-13 18:51:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
I am not Mormon. But why spend so much energy looking for faults in others? I thought long ago when I got out of my teens and twenties that it felt so good that I was around people who were deeper than that...now on here, a forum that could serve a great purpose we are back in junior high and high school worrying about what others are doing and attacking them when it is different from us because we are not sure of ourselves.....
2006-12-13 18:23:39 · answer #8 · answered by chico2149 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I use to be Mormon. They really aren't suppose to drink any caffeinated drinks. Caffeine is considered to be a drug cause its addictive. Many younger Mormons don't follow this rule its kind of a dumb one if you ask me. Most of the church bishops will tell you that its ok to drink caffeine once in a while since there is no docment of it saying other wise. I also think its kinda hypocritical cause mormons own stock in pepsi co.
2006-12-13 18:19:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋
What about Green Tea?
2006-12-15 09:06:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋