Saints Alive Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 One thing that stuck out to me in the NBC special "Mormon in America" was the segment where they asked the wife and husband of the LDS family if they had ever had Coffee, Tea, or even a Coke. The wife said she had only tried coke once and the husband admitted to drinking the occasional Dr. Pepper (although he seemed ashamed to admit it).Why didn't they correct the interviewer about drinking caffein? It still amazes me when i tell someone I am LDS and they say "oh, you cant drink caffein" I always correct them. do you?
altersteve Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 Yes, I always do. I don't drink a lot of it (just because soda is full of sugar and is extremely bad for you), but I do help myself to the occasional Dr Pepper.
The Grimace Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 One thing that stuck out to me in the NBC special "Mormon in America" was the segment where they asked the wife and husband of the LDS family if they had ever had Coffee, Tea, or even a Coke. The wife said she had only tried coke once and the husband admitted to drinking the occasional Dr. Pepper (although he seemed ashamed to admit it).Why didn't they correct the interviewer about drinking caffein?It still amazes me when i tell someone I am LDS and they say "oh, you cant drink caffein" I always correct them. do you?Did the interviewer (or the voice over) say that Mormons don't drink caffeine? My suspicion is that most journalists (ethical journalists) check their facts and know full well that Mormons *can* drink caffeine, they just don't understand their own doctrine. I mean, come on, we all know there are a lot of members that won't drink any soda pop containing caffeine - Dr. Pepper, cola, some rootbeer (I think Barq's has caffeine)...What I'm getting at is that maybe the point some journalists are making is that Mormons are a little...peculiar - doctrinally and culturally.
urroner Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 I love Dr. Pepper Diet Cherry and I also love chocolate which does have caffeine. I have yet to hear any of the Brethren tell the sisters that eating or drinking chocolate is against the WoW. I rather doubt that any priesthood holder would ever attempt to do so and then not fear for his life.So that is what I tell people when they inform me that the Church doesn't allow us to consume anything with caffeine.
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 One thing that stuck out to me in the NBC special "Mormon in America" was the segment where they asked the wife and husband of the LDS family if they had ever had Coffee, Tea, or even a Coke. The wife said she had only tried coke once and the husband admitted to drinking the occasional Dr. Pepper (although he seemed ashamed to admit it).Why didn't they correct the interviewer about drinking caffein? It still amazes me when i tell someone I am LDS and they say "oh, you cant drink caffein" I always correct them. do you?I don't...I only drink water, milk or juice. I freely admit it is my choice.
Avatar4321 Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 I try to avoid it when I can. But im not a big soda fan. Lost the desire to drink it when i felt it my teeth corroding.
theplains Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 Attached is a Word of Wisdom pamphlet published by the church. Its the same dimensions as the Plan ofSalvation. I'm not sure why Joseph Smith is on the second page with his beautiful blue eyes however.Regards,Jim
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 (edited) I try to avoid it when I can. But im not a big soda fan. Lost the desire to drink it when i felt it my teeth corroding.I was so converted and I obeyed as it (the W oW) was explained to me In the 70's when I joined. I would stop drinking grape koolaid if that is what God required of me. Edited August 29, 2012 by Bill “Papa” Lee
Calm Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 I try to avoid it when I can. But im not a big soda fan. Lost the desire to drink it when i felt it my teeth corroding.Still crave the bubbles from time to time, but it screws up my stomach....Caffeine I treat as a drug. It comes in very handy at times.Why didn't they correct the interviewer about drinking caffein? You don't know what ended up on the editing floor, I believe, so we can't tell if they mentioned that caffeine was more of a cultural issue for some and not a doctrinal one. 1
why me Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 One thing that stuck out to me in the NBC special "Mormon in America" was the segment where they asked the wife and husband of the LDS family if they had ever had Coffee, Tea, or even a Coke. The wife said she had only tried coke once and the husband admitted to drinking the occasional Dr. Pepper (although he seemed ashamed to admit it).Why didn't they correct the interviewer about drinking caffein?It still amazes me when i tell someone I am LDS and they say "oh, you cant drink caffein" I always correct them. do you?I think that the problem comes with individuality. Some members do not drink coke etc. Others do. However, when it comes to coffee and tea it i rather clear for all. So, there is nothing to correct. For these members coke, pepsi, dr. pepper is off limits. As it is for many other mormons who have made that choice to abstain. They may also believe that their interpretation is correct and should be followed by all.
Saints Alive Posted August 29, 2012 Author Posted August 29, 2012 Did the interviewer (or the voice over) say that Mormons don't drink caffeine? My suspicion is that most journalists (ethical journalists) check their facts and know full well that Mormons *can* drink caffeine, they just don't understand their own doctrine. I mean, come on, we all know there are a lot of members that won't drink any soda pop containing caffeine - Dr. Pepper, cola, some rootbeer (I think Barq's has caffeine)...What I'm getting at is that maybe the point some journalists are making is that Mormons are a little...peculiar - doctrinally and culturally. I believe the interviewer specifically mentioned caffeine, I know that several times during the program it was said that "mormons don't Smoke, drink alcohol or caffeine"
The Grimace Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 I believe the interviewer specifically mentioned caffeine, I know that several times during the program it was said that "mormons don't Smoke, drink alcohol or caffeine"I'm not so sure the interview was wrong. They didn't claim it was *doctrine* that Mormons avoid caffeine, perhaps they were commenting on the raft of Mormons who refuse caffeine. Perhaps if *Mormons themselves* understood the Word of Wisdom and didn't treat caffeinated soft drinks the same way they treat coffee and tea, then this so-called misconception would disappear.The thing is, it isn't a misconception, given the fact that many Mormons do believe that caffeinated beverages must be avoided.
Saints Alive Posted August 29, 2012 Author Posted August 29, 2012 I see where you are coming from... however if a population of mormons starting being vegetarians because of the WofW would it be correct to say mormons avoid meat? I guess its just the generalization that bothers me. I think it is interesting we have such a range of beliefs about the WofW. Anything from not drinking soda, to saying that beer is ok or that the WofW isn't really a commandment, and everything in between.
The Grimace Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 I see where you are coming from... however if a population of mormons starting being vegetarians because of the WofW would it be correct to say mormons avoid meat? I guess its just the generalization that bothers me.I think it is interesting we have such a range of beliefs about the WofW. Anything from not drinking soda, to saying that beer is ok or that the WofW isn't really a commandment, and everything in between.To your first point, yes, I believe that if a large enough population of Mormons became vegetarian because of the Word of Wisdom, then it is correct to say that Mormons avoid meat. I also think it would be nice to see a deeper investigation into why Mormons avoid meat (or caffeine, in the original case) and show that there is a range of belief.I find that Mormonism is fraught with interpretation problems, the WoW being one. I've sat in High Priests Group during a discussion of the Word of Wisdom, and heard everything from the most minimalist interpretation right up to the notion that the WoW prohibits milk, because it's unnatural to drink the milk of another mammal and because milk is laced with steroids and antibiotics. And everything in-between. There was little consensus beyond the prohibition on tobacco and alcohol. Like I said, the LDS do it to themselves. Until they get it right, I can't see how the media could ever help the public make sense of it.
Walden Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 I was so converted and I obeyed as it (the W oW) was explained to me In the 70's when I joined. I would stop drinking grape koolaid if that is what God required of me.Believe me, the church would never, ever ask you to stop drinking the koolaid
The Grimace Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 Believe me, the church would never, ever ask you to stop drinking the koolaid Especially the purple kool-aid.
alter idem Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 One thing that stuck out to me in the NBC special "Mormon in America" was the segment where they asked the wife and husband of the LDS family if they had ever had Coffee, Tea, or even a Coke. The wife said she had only tried coke once and the husband admitted to drinking the occasional Dr. Pepper (although he seemed ashamed to admit it).Why didn't they correct the interviewer about drinking caffein?It still amazes me when i tell someone I am LDS and they say "oh, you cant drink caffein" I always correct them. do you?If the interviewer had asked this question of an LDS member who is a caffienated soda drinker, they would have gotten a different answer. And since they seem to be a couple who avoid caffeine, I would not expect them to correct the interviewer. From what you've said, the wife is a non-caffeine drinker and the husband limits his intake, so they wouldn't have seen anything wrong with his question.Caffeinated sodas are not considered a violation of the word of wisdom by many members of the church. That's because the church put out a directive in the 1970's to Bishops and Stake presidents reminding them of this. The decision to not add caffeinated sodas to the official list of do's and don'ts was made by Pres. Heber J. Grant about 80 years ago, but was left for individual members to decide for themselves how far they want to go to avoid addictive substances in beverages. Probably because caffeine addiction doesn't cause the same level of damage to families and lives that alcoholism does.If the couple had known this, they might have corrected the interviewer, or they didn't think it mattered. From their comments, it seems they understand the decision to drink caffeinated beverages is left to the individual to decide.
cinepro Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 I think it is interesting we have such a range of beliefs about the WofW. Anything from not drinking soda, to saying that beer is ok or that the WofW isn't really a commandment, and everything in between.There are no LDS in 2012 who believe that it might be okay with God and/or the Church to drink alcoholic beer, or that the Word of Wisdom "isn't really a commandment."And if there are, it is only out of ignorance.I understand that there might be LDS that disagree with the Church and/or God on those points, but that is different than having a "range of beliefs." The term "range of beliefs" implies that all beliefs in the range are acceptable.
Scott Lloyd Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 (edited) One thing that stuck out to me in the NBC special "Mormon in America" was the segment where they asked the wife and husband of the LDS family if they had ever had Coffee, Tea, or even a Coke. The wife said she had only tried coke once and the husband admitted to drinking the occasional Dr. Pepper (although he seemed ashamed to admit it).Why didn't they correct the interviewer about drinking caffein?It still amazes me when i tell someone I am LDS and they say "oh, you cant drink caffein" I always correct them. do you?I think it's fair to say that consumption of soda beverages with caffeine is discouraged. They are not sold in the Church Office Building or (unless things have changed) on the BYU Campus.The LDS family in which the wife has only tried Coke once and the husband admits to the occasional Dr Pepper is not at all atypical.In our family, we never consume soda with caffeine, and it's due to the LDS upbringing of my wife and me. If, when you "correct" people, you lead them to believe that Mormons universally deem it to be OK, you are not being accurate. Edited August 29, 2012 by Scott Lloyd
cinepro Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 (edited) [media=] "Right"? Edited August 29, 2012 by cinepro
Verum Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 (edited) It still amazes me when i tell someone I am LDS and they say "oh, you cant drink caffein" I always correct them. do you?So I guess a more accurate statement would be that LDS members can't drink LARGE amounts of caffeine?The only rationale for prohibiting the consumption of hot or iced coffee (but not apparently ice cream coffee as already discussed on this board) is not because of the hotness or coldness but instead because of its chemical contents, correct? Which contents would be caffeine....The church has officially advised "against the use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs under circumstances that would result in acquiring the habit." This refers to a lot of things but definitely refers to the caffeine contents in coffee. Edited August 29, 2012 by Verum
Zakuska Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 (edited) If Mormons don't drink Caffine, I wonder why my Wife served Pres. Monson and His Wife Coca-Cola's at the Sizzlers when she first moved to Salt Lake city? Edited August 29, 2012 by Zakuska
Walden Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 So I guess a more accurate statement would be that LDS members can't drink LARGE amounts of caffeine?The only rational for prohibiting the consumption of hot or iced coffee (but not apparently ice cream coffee as already discussed on this board) is not because of the hotness or coldness but instead because of its chemical contents, correct? Which contents would be caffeine....The church has officially advised "against the use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs under circumstances that would result in acquiring the habit." This is refers to a lot of things but definitely refers to the caffeine contents in coffee.The First Presidency has said that we should stay away from substancesI am an ex-member, but I would argue that the rationale for not drinking hot or cold coffee is not because of it's chemical contents. Rather, the rationale is simply that the drinking of coffee is prohibited by the Word of Wisdom. Period. Why the need to rationalize a directive that was given directly by revelation from God? No further revelation has been received regarding soft drinks, and therefore, the consumption of such is not prohibited by the LDS church, simple as that.It's funny to me that the consumption of caffeine, as related to the Word of Wisdom, is so thoroughly debated within the church, as well as by critics and LDS experts alike, but the Word of Wisdom's directives to consume meat sparingly is never a stumbling block. I mean, if one is looking to rationalize the Word of Wisdom as some type of divine health regimen, the consumption of large amounts of meat is certainly a greater health risk than consumption of large amounts of caffiene (and anyone who says meat isn't addictive just hasn't tried my Santa Maria style tri-tip or my baby-back ribs ). I just never really hear anyone in the LDS church ponder their meat consumption with the same fanatacism as they do their caffeine consumption. 3
Saints Alive Posted August 29, 2012 Author Posted August 29, 2012 So I guess a more accurate statement would be that LDS members can't drink LARGE amounts of caffeine?The only rational for prohibiting the consumption of hot or iced coffee (but not apparently ice cream coffee as already discussed on this board) is not because of the hotness or coldness but instead because of its chemical contents, correct? Which contents would be caffeine....The church has officially advised "against the use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs under circumstances that would result in acquiring the habit." This is refers to a lot of things but definitely refers to the caffeine contents in coffee.The First Presidency has said that we should stay away from substancesMaybe not necessarily... a counter example would be tobacco use. Generally you would say tobacco is unhealthy and banned because of the nicotine. However, nicotine in itself is not that harmful. It is the Tar, arsenic and myriad of other toxins that cause the majority of health problems. Nicotine by itself if about as harmful as caffeine and other mild stimulants. So perhaps it is not the caffeine in coffee and tea that is the reason for their prohibition as it is the other Chemicals (coffee has thousands of other chemicals) in those drinks.
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