Why do Mormons not drink coffee?

Question

I want to know who told the Mormons to stay off tea and coffee, was it god or has someone else given the command?

Answer 1

It's caffeine in general that they aren't suppose to drink I believe, but I don't know why...

Answer 2

Great question. The commandment was given by the Lord through Joseph Smith on Feb. 27 1833. Many have speculated that the reason the Lord requires us to abstain from tea and coffee is due to the caffeine content. This, of course, is only speculation and we can really only guess as to the reason. Many have wondered if it's the tanic acid in tea. Tea is actually meant to be used for cattle for bruising. If caffeine was the real issue, we wouldn't be drinking sodas with caffeine in them or consuming chocolate.

The commandment is called the Word of Wisdom and covers a wide spectrum of issues, and not just coffee and tea.

Harmful substances:
alcoholic drinks
tobacco
tea and coffee
illegal drugs or abuse of non-prescribed

Good foods:
vegetables and fruits
meat and poultry (used sparingly)
grains such as wheat, rice and oats

getting to bed early and rising early

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I never knew they didn't drink tea or coffee I always thought they did.

Here ya go

Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
The LDS restrictions involving coffee and tea are fairly well known, though I'm sure most people don't really know the details behind it. Coffee and tea are specifically prohibited, as written in the Word of Wisdom: "Hot drinks are not for the body or belly" (D&C 89:9) It has been interpreted by the Church that Joseph Smith was referring to coffee and tea with this statement, as they are the only hot drinks commonly available at the time (early 1833).
Some LDS members feel this is based on caffeine content, and then also feel that all caffeine is to be avoided. Some feel that the rule should be taken at face value, and therefore only refers to coffee and tea. The LDS church has no official position about caffeinated products other than coffee and tea.
More on the LDS caffeine issue, from the About Latter-Day Saints Guide.

Answer 4

I read through the answers and thought I'd chime in. The word of wisdom mentioned above was not a commandment. It was a divine recommendation concerning nutrition in general with a promise of spiritual and physical blessings (D&C 89 if anybody cares to read it - it isn't that long). It was recorded as a revelation from the Lord to the prophet Joseph Smith. It is remarkably similar to current nutritional guidelines. It recommends high quantities of fruits and grains, sparing quantities of meat, herbs to be used wisely in there season, etc. It also recommended against alcohol, tobacco, and hot drinks. It was some time later that another prophet who succeeded Joseph Smith that asked the body of the church if they would be willing to enter into a covenant to not drink coffee or black tea (this was directed to the women) and to not use tobacco products (this was directed to the men). It was much later when "illicit drugs" was prohibited. So strictly speaking Mormons do not drink coffee or black tea because the body of the church voluntarily entered into a covenant not to and it has been considered a part of the baptismal covenant ever since. As for the hot drink interpretation there exists a minority of the church that simply will not drink anything that is hot irregardless of the content. They cite recent studies linking hot drinks to mouth and throat cancer as support for their literal interpretation.

Answer 5

It is against the "Word of Wisdom" which was revealed to Joseph Smith in 1833 following his wife's complaints about scrubbing up the tobacco stains off the hearth where the men spit their tobacco in the room where they met. After praying about this, it was revealed to him. It's interesting that in 1833 this was a young man with less than a modern 6th grade education who told us that tobacco was bad for us and so was too much meat and such. How else would he have known these facts that were not discovered until over 130 years later if not by divine revelation from God?

I've posted the link below to the Word of Wisdom in it's entirety. Coffee is referred to when it states "hot drinks". Tea is also referred to in this statement. During that time in history the only "hot drinks" were tea and coffee. Some Mormons take this to mean all drinks that have caffeine in them, I don't. I drink Mt. Dew and I'm considered a "good Mormon" by my Bishop. And I know that I am right with God in my life.

Answer 6

It's interesting to note that most of the people who answered said it's the caffeine that's the problem. It isn't the caffeine that is the big problem, although that does have something to do with it. They have found that the acids in both tea and coffee can cause harm to the body. It can eat the lining of the stomach for instance, and can have adverse effects on not just teeth, but on gums, tongue, esophagus and the lining of the intestines.

They have also done studies on the effect of these on other things, like nerve problems, heart attacks, strokes and other common problems. They have found that the percentage of people who drink coffee and tea are shown to have higher instances of stomach, throat and intestinal cancers, higher blood pressure, high incidences of stroke and nerve damage.

We know that tobacco can cause lung, gum, tongue, esophagial and stomach cancer, as well as higher instances of stroke or blood clots in women who are on birth control. It has also been linked to low birth weight babies, loss of taste and smell and higher rates of heart attacks and asthma.

All these things added up, means that if you aren't drinking or using these products, the better your health in general is going to be. It isn't just these products either.

The word of wisdom is a guideline to how to live our lives, what things are good for the body, and what isn't. It parrallels the food pyramid, and has been shown to be better then other food plans for losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight.

I do drink a caffeinated beverage from time to time, usually when I have a bad headache. I don't really like the way caffeine makes me feel, so I avoid it most of the time. There isn't anything in the church that says that caffeinated beverages are bad for you. We can still drink them, but some feel that caffeine can be harmful to our bodies.

It isn't a commandment, but it was a recommendation from the Lord on how to eat and how to treat our bodies.

Here's a link for you. It explains it better then I could!!

Answer 7

The Word of Wisdom (a revelation given to Joseph Smith) teaches us to stay away from drinks and substances that may be hazardous to our health.

Contrary to many of the above answers from non-LDS, Caffeine is NOT included in the Word of Wisdom. The Word of Wisdom refers specifically to the "hot drinks", and these are tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. It also teaches us to stay away from tobacco products.

But it doesn't include ALL caffeine drinks. Some LDS stay away from all caffeine, but it isn't mentioned in the Word of Wisdom. We can still drink soft drinks and each chocolate.

I point this out because some people, when they see a Mormon drinking a Coca-Cola, they think...."Oh, he's a hypocrite".

Answer 8

Joesph Smith wrote it in a statement Called the Word of wisdom. Which says hot drinks. It doesn't coffee or tea. But the church says not drink coffee or tea.

Answer 9

I found the article below from 1983 -- which is not the moment you are looking for but it is definitive that "Hot drinks [defined as tea and coffee] are not for the body"

Maybe someone else knows -- for some reason I thought it originated with Wilford Woodruff but I don't have time to search it out.



Added:
Someone suggested that Tea is used for cattle bruises but it is Tobacco not tea.

Answer 10

Well, it's not a great idea. It is a little addictive, but considering all the other things we do, it's better than a lot. Wow, if I could be that perfect I'm sure I would float away somewhere. Really. How could this planet hold me? I suppose that would be nice. The only problem is that I would get to thinking I was so good I wouldn't be fit to live with. Well actually I'm not now so I don't see how it could get any worse.

Answer 11

I don't think God mentions tea or coffee! Think it is the caffeine in both that Mormons don't want in their system. Both are my drug of choice!