why will a mormon not drink coffee or tea, but drinks colas?

Question

why is it that overeating and being a glutten is not sinful? Is that not bad for them too?

and if drinking a hot substance is not good, then what about soups? What about a heating pad that warms the body and sooths muscle tension? If you were freezing in a snow storm, would you drink hot tea or hot cocoa?

Answer 1

Because it is not actually caffeine which is expressly stated to be wrong, but "hot drinks," which are identified as Coffee and Tea - including "decaffeinated" versions. Some Mormons will avoid all caffeine entirely, however, as it is an addictive substance, which means they will also not drink sodas and other such drinks. It isn't an across the board thing, and is ultimately a personal choice one makes.

As to other hot substances, these are generally not interpreted to be prohibited. It is rather strictly applied to only the two above. Gluttony is considered sinful in all Christian religions, and certainly is for Mormonism as well.

Answer 2

The general idea is to take care of our bodies and not harm them with alcohol, and other addicting or damaging substances. As far as decaff, I don't know for sure, I can have a virgin pina colada since there is no alcohol but we don't know all the reasons that we should avoid coffee, so drinking decaff may not be in keeping with the Lord's command. Also with the food that has wine in it, well...most of the time the alcohol was burned off through cooking, and if there is a minimal amount for flavoring...well I guess it's not a problem, but I don't want to flirt with the limits so I'll generally avoid it. The whole caffeine thing is based on the first premise. Doctrinally, the church advises against caffeine but doesn't enforce or require abstinence from it for worthiness considerations. Yet the interesting thing is that caffeine is starting to rear it's ugly head as a very damaging substance to human health. Our bodies were created by God, and therefore are precious gifts to be cared for. Even Jesus Christ retrieved His body from the tomb. That must say something about our earthly tabernacle's importance.

Answer 3

Because Coffee and tea have been specifically identified as "hot drinks" (see D&C 89:9)

If we drink Coffee/tea then we cannot say that we keep the Word of Wisdom (a health commandment -- for lack of a better term)(see D&C 89) and therefore cannot attend the temple

We are also Cautioned to be healthy -- not over-eating and so forth -- this is not however held to the same standard -- heanse fat Mormons can go to the temple.

Not drinking Coffee/tea/wine/beer etc. is a MINIMUM standard and we should all aim higher than that minimum and be healthy -- eat right, exercise, avoid caffine, etc.

D

Answer 4

The prophet clarified "hot drinks" to mean coffee and Tea.

Mormons teach that we should care for our bodies and treat them well. This includes eating well, exercising, and avoiding harmful substances. Some have been spelled out and identified while we are required to use our best judgment for others (e.g. paint thinner...don't drink it).

Soda in general is mostly sugar. Not the best thing for you. It should be consumed in moderation. There is a scripture that says (paraphrasing) "it is a lazy and slothful servant that must be commanded in all things". We don't wait around and say "What can I do" and "What can't I do". We're given some guidelines and then asked to excercise our best judgement.

Answer 5

Members of the church, as others have answered, do not drink hot drinks because of the revelation in D & C 89. However, this revelation only outlines the minimum standard of health. Members can choose to exceed it by avoiding products that contain caffeine, other harmful or addictive chemicals, unhealthy fast foods, junk foods, etc.

Gluttony and overindulgance are condemned in the bible and therefore should be avoided by all christians.

Answer 6

Coffee & Tea are expressly forbidden but no reason has been given as to why or what about Coffee & Tea is harmful. (Just like how Heavenly Father gave no reason for the Law of Kosher, he simply said that certain things were "unclean").

Many LDS personally believe that Caffeine is the reason and thus they abstain from it either in its entirety or abstain from large portions (large enough that constitute it being labeled in the ingredients of something). Chocolate has a very small amount of Caffeine, but anyone who has LDS friends can probably testify that many of us are Chocoholics.

There are over 70 different chemicals common to both Coffee & Tea but which are not found in any soda (including Coke) Maybe, the chemical found in "hot drinks" that is "not for the belly or the body" is:

The tannic acids
Dimethyl-5-Acetaldehyde
Isochlorogenic acid
Obtusifoliol
Daturic acid

(pardon for the non-exhaustive list)

Caffeine none-the-less is an addictive stimulant, so the General Authorities have wisely ADVISED (not commanded) us to abstain from consuming it unnecessarily.
On a side note:


I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT UP OVER EATING, AND BEING A GLUTTON because the LDS Word of Wisdom actually accounts for this but sadly many of us Mormons ignore it (whether consciously or not).

Certainly Latter-day Saints have their abstinence of smoking, drinking, and coffee to thank for their less than national-average diagnosis of pulmonary diseases (including lung cancer), cirrhosis of the liver, and hypertension, however there seems to be an EQUAL IF NOT HIGHER rate of diagnoses of LDS compared to non-LDS in Type 2 Diabetes, and clinical obesity.

What very few LDS seem to practice is the part of the Word of Wisdom counseling us to have a diet RICH IN VEGETABLES & GRAINS BUT PRUDENT IN MEAT! The actual word of wisdom says that meat is “to be used sparingly […] that it is pleasing unto [God] that [it] should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.” It goes on to say that "Grain is ordained to be the staff of life." The word of wisdom then concludes with a PROMISE that "all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings [...] shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; [...] and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint".(D&C 89:12-13).

As national (and also LDS) levels of dietary diseases increase at ever alarming rates, I wouldn't be surprised if the GAs brought this obscure part of the Word of Wisdom to the forefront of our conscious religious practice.

Excellent question!

Answer 7

They are brainwashed to believe that these hot drinks are bad for you.... It's just a part of the mind control that the mormon orginization puts you through.

Spend some time on this website. It will help you.
http://exmormon.org/

Answer 8

The Word of Wisdom pertains only to coffee and tea, not sodas, chocolate or other products with some caffeine.

Answer 9

Its not the caffeine that mormons can't drink. their doctrine says hot drinks such as coffee and tea. It is true that caffeine is addictive and they shy away from it. But it is not true that it is against their religion. Colas while frowned upon are not forbidden.

Answer 10

They are not supposed to drink tea and coffee specifically. Obviously many herbal teas are fine. Caffeinated beverages (and chocolate) are not included, although many try to avoid colas also.