The first is the formal document as recorded in the 89th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. My opinion, which I think is the mainstream one, is that decaffeinated coffee is against the word of wisdom. Now concerning herbal tea. Should you only get one blessing for an illness? I am continually amazed at how people try to split hairs and walk as close to the line of disobedience as possible without breaking any rules. In other words, we should also avoid decaffeinated coffee and tea. Also, in the Doctrine & Covenants we are counseled to use herbs for medicinal purposes-, And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy (D&C 42:43. I am sure many were not even aware they were creating such an impression or assuming such a posture. Many could not even begin a functional work day until they had their mug of coffee in hand or positioned prominently on their desk. We all know that tea and coffee contain caffeine and the use of either would prevent receiving a Temple Recommend. For the offcial church websites visit, Latter-day Saint Church Donates $3.3 Million to Shelter the Homeless in 2021, Church Office Building Plaza Renovation Is Underway, Church Leaders Condemn Violence in the US Capitol, Church Leaders Thanked Donald Trump for his Service. Obesity, for instance, often results from our inability to control our appetite; and thus we impair our health. Decaf coffee is still coffee. I think the reason hinges on the designs of conspiring men in the last days. Everything changed, literally over night. The fact that the Presiding Bishop possibly made the statement that decaf is not against the Word of Wisdom is by no means a recommendation for its use (if such a letter exists). Dr. Clifford J. Stratton, a Doctor of Human Anatomy at the University of Nevada in Reno, says, “I counsel inquiring members that eating or drinking anything that may result in bodily harm is probably a violation of the spirit of wisdom enjoined … Some drink herbal teas. What’s even worse is they all already know it has coffee in it. How will it be heaven if our family members aren’t with us. Hot drinks in the Word of Wisdom have been defined as tea and coffee. Mocha, Latte, Macchiato, Espresso: The word coffee isn’t always in the name of coffee drinks. I also believe there is a vulnerability that exists in the predictable pattern of behavior that often accompanies the use of coffee and tea. The Word of Wisdom is a section of the Doctrine and Covenants, one of the church’s four volumes of scripture. MCH is a selection of Church News, LDS trends, Stories, Mormon Lifestyle and other useful ideas for the LDS community. However, church leadership has come out and said it’s not about the caffeine, and so decaf is a no-go. Is a prayer given while kneeling more powerful? Drinking tea is against the Word of Wisdom, the official doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The Word of Wisdom is the label Mormons use to refer to a revelation received by Joseph Smith on February 27, 1833. Drinking two or more cups of decaf coffee per day has also been linked with up to a … We should use wisdom in all things. Several earlier LDS leaders, including apostle Bruce R. McConkie, considered imbibing Coke as a violation of the "spirit" of the Word of Wisdom. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. There’s been a lot of speculation over the years that the reason for this section of the Word of Wisdom had to do with caffeine and other chemicals, and thus decaf coffee would be okay. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently released a statement regarding its stance on the use of vaping or e-cigarettes, coffee-based products, marijuana, and opioids.. Coke is not formally against the Word of Wisdom since it is not mentioned in the scripture, although it is heavily loaded with … The following two tabs change content below. LDS family struggling with Word of Wisdom. Any conspirator could easily use the predictable behavior surrounding coffee and tea to plan a mass poisoning, or distribute biological or chemical agents to a large demographic who would never suspect it, never see it coming. Hot drinks = coffee and tea. 2. Whatever the case, I am certain the Lord has other reasons, known only to him, for warning us and forewarning us to avoid coffee and tea. So, what’s the problem? The only official interpretation of this term is the statement made by early Church leaders that it means tea and coffee. Many herbs and plants have been provided by the Lord to be used for restoring health. Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards; (D&C 59:17-18). The Word of Wisdom lists the drinks as 'hot drinks' and church leaders have told us that means black teas and coffee. (Remember, this is the family that made me move out because of a single cup of coffee consumed within the house). Kind of a side note, but some folks have reasoned that drinking decaffeinated coffee should now be ok, but the Church clarifies that it is still against the Word of Wisdom. In 2012, church leaders clarified that the Word of Wisdom did not prevent members from drinking caffeinated soft drinks. Each of us as members of the Church has a responsibility to represent the Church in the best light possible. It says coffee. Some don't drink any decaffeinated beverages. by Ilyan Kei Lavanway, Moroni Channel | Sep 26, 2016, “Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation …” (see Doctrine and Covenants 89:4). Vaping is clearly against the Word of Wisdom. My family is fucking retarded. Everything else is personal interpretation. Except God. The "Word of Wisdom," which one must abide by in order to go to the temple, prevents members from using or consuming alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, coffee, tea, and "harmful substances. Headline news and op-eds delivered to your inbox weekly. Caffeine is not specifically mentioned as the reason not to drink these drinks. coffee and herb tea be in violation of the Word of Wisdom? It is not something that is impossible to follow. This revelation is Section 89 in the Doctrine and Covenants, a book of scripture. The prohibition in question is against ‘hot drinks.’ The Church has, as a body, accepted that the hot drinks in question are coffee and tea. After the Lamanite troops were drunken, Moroni was able to free his people and take back the city without bloodshed (see Alma 55:3-24). Not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. LDS Church-owned Camp in New Zealand Offers Visitors a Unique Experience, Copyright © 2020 by Moroni Groups. Both Frankincense and Myrrh, that were given by the Wise Men to Jesus at his birth, are oils distilled from herbs. My rule of thumb has always been, if I can eat/drink the item and still feel as though I’m obeying the spirit (or intent) of the Word of Wisdom, … Iced tea or coffee is a blatant violation. At the time of General Moroni, about 72 B.C., the Book of Mormon account mentions the beneficial effects of plants and roots in controlling fevers-. Mormons believe God revealed in 1833 the … In 1937, Elder John A. Widtsoe and his wife, Leah, wrote the first major book on the Word of Wisdom, speaking strongly against caffeine, saying, “Whenever a drink is advertised to 'give you a lift,' the 'lift' is likely to be caused by the drug which it contains. We will never go back to the way it was before 9/11 (at least not until the second coming of Jesus Christ). While coffee and tea without caffeine may still be. This is not against the Word of Wisdom, but it is certainly against the practice of wisdom. Decaffeinated coffee stimulates the production of stomach acid because the roasting of coffee beans releases harsh acids and oils that irritate stomach linings. Green Tea and Iced Tea: According to the New Era, both green tea and iced tea are still considered tea and are against the Word of Wisdom. Information shared are subject to our Privacy Policy. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org. LDS church leaders have defined "hot drinks" as coffee and tea. Decaf coffee typically only has between two and 15 milligrams per 8-ounce cup, according to the FDA. Around 63 BC, Captain Moroni freed all the Nephite prisoners in the city of Gid by administering strong wine to the Lamanite troops guarding the city. If containing caffeine is the problem how about Cola drinks? (2) Drinks with names that include café or caffé, mocha, latte, espresso, or anything ending in -ccino usually have coffee in them and are against the Word of Wisdom." My parents drink sodas such as Coke and Dr. Pepper. But, of course, partaking of the good things of the earth is not evil. We provide fresh articles from members of the LDS Church and feature real-life stories of their trials, conversion, missionary work, and personal experiences. When I was not an active member, I drank cola drinks and enjoyed them. coffee and Coke- Decaf. Should we eat meat only in winter and famine? It was dictated in 1833 by Mormon founder Joseph Smith and bars consumption of wine, strong drinks (alcohol), tobacco and "hot drinks," which have been defined by church authorities as tea and coffee. There are many other things that contain caffeine, such as chocolate and many other soft drinks. It would be virtually undetectable until after the fact. And not for the better. As with regular coffee, there’s clearly a lot of variability here. coffee and Coke- Decaf. I myself am old school. ), And the Lord states that herbs “are made for the benefit and use of man.”. ​My personal opinion (not doctrine) is that the prophetic interpretation of the Word of Wisdom that declares we should avoid ingesting coffee and tea has nothing whatsoever to do with caffeine. For the offcial church websites visit ComeUntoChrist.org. The Word of Wisdom also never states that coffee is okay as long as it is 99% caffeine free. And he has already warned and forewarned us to avoid ingesting coffee and tea. Decaf coffee has been shown to cause significantly less acid reflux than regular coffee (29, 30). “Decaffeinated coffee is like a hooker who only wants to cuddle.” Like many quotes on Instagram, this one is styled in a cutesy sans serif font and has the beigeness of … Therefore other beverages with caffeine are not prohibited, per se. Coffee/tea flavored ice cream: Marginal, but probably not a Word of Wisdom violation. The religion teaches that tobacco and “hot drinks” — tea and coffee — are forbidden through divine revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom. Particularly in our diet, we should avoid becoming the slave of habit or addiction to any food or drink. With all the health benefits of green tea, can we use it in supplement form? Jul 11, 2010 | Current issues, Doctrine & Covenants, Health, Word of Wisdom | 1 comment. Perhaps we could help others to see and rejoice in the goodness of God in providing for “the benefit of man” . But decaf coffee has higher loss of chlorogenic acids because of the chemical changes that it underwent during the decaf coffee process. Herbal teas are rather common drinks and not only contain no harmful substances, but in many cases have beneficial effects on the body. The Word of Wisdom prohibits tea and coffee, but we are left to make our own decisions on other foods and beverages which contain caffeine. It is part of our responsibility of “Every member a missionary.” If someone not of our faith sees us drinking either coffee or Coke-and by the way, it would be rather difficult to carry around a big sign saying, “This is only Decaf.”-they could easily, and often do, make the judgement that “There goes another Mormon disobeying the tenants of his own religion!” It is highly appropriate that as members of the Church, we should avoid the very appearance of evil. Both the caffeinated and regular coffee lose antioxidants during the roasting process. When I served in the military, I noticed that those who used coffee, in particular, but also tea, to some extent, walked around with mug in hand as if they were better than others, or as if their mug of coffee or tea were some sort of unspoken status symbol that elevated them above the common man. Salt Lake City — In an article published by Mormon Newsroom, the church indicated that caffeine is not explicitly against the church’s Word of Wisdom — a set of guidelines for members that forbids the use of tobacco, alcohol and “hot drinks.” Church Response to the said manner: “Despite what was reported, the Church revelation spelling out health […] There seems to me to be a very important reason to avoid both those drinks. He would not have his prophets declare this warning to us without reason, or without consequence. Consumer Reports weighs in on whether decaffeinated coffee is bad for you. Decaf coffee was not even a thing back when the Word of Wisdom was introduced so of course no mention is … If we were to have a cup of herbal tea in a public restaurant, where it would be served in a regular tea cup, it could be assumed by others that we were drinking conventional tea. Not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... code reference to hot drinks "does not go beyond" tea and coffee. If the U.S. 1st Amendment was banned, would the Church follow it? Could the use of decaf. We are obligated as members of the Mormon Church to obey the precepts taught therein. Several earlier LDS leaders considered drinking caffeinated soft drinks as a violation of the "spirit" of the Word of Wisdom. No one would see it coming. Rockledge Florida, USA My personal opinion (not doctrine) is that the prophetic interpretation of the Word of Wisdom that declares we should avoid ingesting coffee and tea has nothing whatsoever to do with caffeine. Removing the caffeine does not make it stop being coffee. Those who orchestrated the tragic events of that day caught the world completely off guard. . . Featuring inspiring and informative stories for the Latter-day Saints, from Moroni Channel, your online source for gospel-centered contents. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. We can rationalize that the reason the Lord gave a commandment against tea and coffee was because of the caffeine that they contain, and there is … Coke is not formally against the Word of Wisdom since it is not mentioned in the scripture, although it is heavily loaded with caffeine. Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart, It is well and appropriate to keep ourselves from the very appearance of evil. I did not mean to imply that drinking coffee in any form is acceptable according to the Word of Wisdom. Make your Inbox more interesting with Moroni Channel. First regarding decaf. The Word of Wisdom has been interpreted as referring to tea and coffee when it speaks of "hot drinks", whether or not they are actually hot. All Rights Reserved.​​​. I think there is an element of pridefulness that accompanies the consumption of coffee and tea, and it seems evident in all cultures. coffee evidently contains no caffeine, and therefore shouldn’t be habit forming. The chemicals used on decaffeinated coffee used to be toxic, but there are newer techniques. However, we should keep in mind this counsel given by President Boyd K. Packer: “The Word of … We have the Word of Wisdom and the word of wisdom. No part of this content or the data or information included therein may be reproduced, republished or redistributed without the prior written consent of the Publisher & Moroni Channel except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial and church uses and purposes permitted by copyright laws. When the Word of Wisdom was given, black tea and coffee were the popular "hot drinks". “Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:3). Caffeine is not the reason why Coffee and Tea are prohibited in the Word Of Wisdom. "Black Coffee" as opposed to the not so popular Green Coffee or Green Coffee Extract. We all know that the Word Of Wisdom pertains to Hot Drinks and has been defined as tea and coffee. And we should remember that the Word of Wisdom is designed so that even the weakest among us can live by it. Concerning all the other foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as chocolate, it is left for each individual to use his own judgement and common sense with respect to what he takes into his body. In other words, we should also avoid decaffeinated coffee and … The Word of Wisdom doesn’t mention it. “How much caffeine is … Moroni’s cause was just, but one can imagine how easy it would be for conspiring men in the last days to employ such a tactic using coffee and tea as transmission vectors for any number of harmful or fatal agents (viruses, bacteria, chemicals, nanotechnology, etc.) Some don't drink any kind of tea. Doctrine and Covenants 89:9 says we shouldn’t drink “hot drinks.”. Nevertheless, it was discernible. This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). I have two questions: 1. Dear Ruth, Tea, coffee, alcohol and tobacco are against the Word of Wisdom. In such a case it might be prudent to avoid drinking the herbal tea to prevent the possibility of giving others a wrong impression. History and scripture both give examples of such a notion, one being an unjust cause, the other being a just cause but one that could easily be adapted into an unjust operation in the last days. The reason why anything is prohibited in the Word of Wisdom … Dear Bill, First regarding decaf. coffee evidently contains no caffeine, and therefore shouldn’t be habit forming. “both to please the eye and to gladden the heart.”. My sis even defended it saying that it is NOT against the word of wisdom. And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land-but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate– (Alma 46:40). Before 9/11, the general public had never imagined anyone would use airliners as weapons of mass destruction. Some are fine with it. Ruth, from California. 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Not only contain no harmful substances, but probably not a Word of Wisdom we will never back! Habit or addiction to any food or drink health benefits of Green tea, coffee, alcohol tobacco! Church to obey the precepts taught therein supplement form the general public had never imagined anyone would use as! Pridefulness that accompanies the consumption of coffee consumed within the house ) California. Jesus at his birth, are oils distilled from herbs the best light.... The U.S. 1st Amendment was banned, would the Church both those drinks to! Antioxidants during the decaf coffee per day has also been linked with up a... Not prohibited, per se any form is acceptable according to the Word of Wisdom have defined. Mch is a selection of Church News, LDS trends, Stories, Mormon Lifestyle and other ideas. Not about the caffeine, and therefore shouldn ’ t be habit forming website of the has! Practice of Wisdom the Latter-day Saints even defended it saying that it underwent the!