Question for Mormons...?

Question

There is the LDS custom that your body is a temple and that you must take care of it throughout your life (which is reasonable and respectable). One thing that follows this practice is that Mormons won't drink coffee or tea because they are hot drinks and caffeinated. But this raises a question: why are you allowed to drink hot chocolate and cola products? Hot chocolate is a hot drink and soft drinks are loaded with caffeine. Is it the combination together that is bad? Is "hot coke" a no-no? Please clarify. Plus, why is a "hot drink" bad for the body and belly?

Answer 1

As an added bit of information, coffee and tea not only contain harmful amounts of caffeine, but also tannic acid--the chemical used in tanning leather goods.

The Word of Wisdom found in Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants mention only "hot drinks," which were defined as coffee and tea. There is nothing to be said about consuming hot chocolate or cola drinks and the Church has not issued any directive or commandment against them.

What the Church does recommend, based on earlier Church presidents and prophets, is that we abstain from certain beverages that may be addictive and bring harm to the body. Many Latter-day Saints choose to drink Cokes, Pepsis, and Dr. Peppers, but I choose not to do so because an earlier prophet recommending not to do so. I choose to follow the precepts of that prophet that recommended not to indulge in caffeinated drinks not specified in the Word of Wisdom. That is my choice and many others follow suit.

This does not mean that those drinking colas and chocolate are sinning; they are merely using their free agency that God has given everyone. We are also reminded that God does not command in everything and that we are to use our minds and free agency for our betterment.

To paraphrase, the Lord said, "I will not command in all things, for to be commanded in all things is slothful and unwise."

Answer 2

When the Word of Wisdom was first given, it was a guide and not treated as a commandment. Later Brigham Young determined that the Saints should be following it. Since "hot drinks" was not defined, he said it specifically referred to coffee and tea whether hot or cold. Today if the bishop interviews someone he asks about keeping the Word of Wisdom and say "do you abstain from hot drinks, meaning coffee and tea".

Why are these bad for you? Put a set of dentures in a cup with coffee or tea over night. The next day both are discolored. That is what happens inside you. Personally I don't like coke, either. Experiment with that as a meat tenderizer.

Answer 3

Hey! :P

When you drink coffee, you are drinking the mere caffeine in there, it can easily lead you to an addiction. We understand that some sodas could have some caffeine on it, but it is not enough to harm you or make you addicted, there are some Mormons that don't even drink Coke or Pepsi. When it says hot drinks, it is about coffee and teas, not chocolate. A hot drink is not for the belly (this is a tea or coffee) because it can harm you and lead you to an addiction and we are not supposed to be addicted to anything but God's love. This doctrine is called the Word of Wisdom.

For more info go to http://www.mormon.org and http://www.mormon.org ^_^

Answer 4

Because it has never been officially established that caffeine is the reason why coffee and tea are verboten but Cocoa and colas are not. We are also not forbidden to drink herbal teas.

Answer 5

I think it was yesterday that I went round and round with mormons about this.

Apparently it's okay to drink Caffiene in soft drinks.
Coffee is bad cause it's hot, not cause the caffiene
also, coffee is bad cause the caffiene
cold coffee is still bad even though its not hot.

Its a very confusing rule and I don't think anybody knows the real answer.