The Harm In Disobeying The Word Of Wisdom

[thesometimesaint]

I love this fact from Church history.  I know that even down to as recently as 20 years ago the GA's had differing beliefs on doctrine.  Somewhere recently they've become much more homogenized as a group.  I personally would prefer to see them disagree on points of doctrine occasionally.  For me at least, it would breed more confidence rather than less.

 

And the important point in this quote is not that we don't have to take their word or that we can still find out for ourselves.  The important one is that nobody, not even President Monson, should have the right to set an "official interpretation" for the Church on a piece of scriptures, and that includes the WoW.

 

It has been a standing rule of the Church that if there is not unanimous agreement then it isn't doctrine for a long time now. That rule started under Joseph Smith Jr.

 

What do you think a Prophet is for? Are they to just throw out mildly amusing, feel good, homilies?  What do you think the organization of the Church is for if it isn't to come to a unity of faith? The Prophets have every right and a responsibility to set the "official interpretation" for the Church. What do you think JS was doing when he interpreted the words on those golden plates? SEE Article of Faith # 8.

[JAHS]

I have said many times, that the Word of Wisdom is the most poorly interpreted and poorly followed piece of divine instruction.

Really, we just need to read it and stop overthinking it.

 

1. Is it a commandment? "not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days"

So it is the will of God, but it is not a direct commandment.

 

2. What is actually forbidden?

Alcohol - inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

Strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. (Identified with wine, so liquor)

Tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle

Hot drinks are not for the body or belly (no specification as to tea, coffee or any ingredient, just temperature)

 

3. What is actually recommended?

All wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man

Herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof

Flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;  And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit

 

 

Really, all this debate over caffeine, coffee, tea, energy drinks or chocolate are completely irrelevant to the Word of Wisdom.  The scripture says what it says and that is all God has said on the matter.  We either follow it or we don't.  And picking and choosing which parts we focus on is not following it.

And as for the harm, well, the actual harm is the loss of the blessing and promise:

 

In regards to  "(no specification as to tea, coffee or any ingredient, just temperature)", Joel H. Johnson, with whose family the Prophet Joseph Smith was intimate, relates that on a Sabbath day in July (1833) following the giving of the "Word of Wisdom," when both Joseph and Hyrum Smith were in the stand, the Prophet said to the Saints: "I understand that some of the people are excusing themselves in using tea and coffee, because the Lord only said 'hot drinks' in the revelation of the Word of Wisdom. Tea and coffee are what the Lord meant when he said 'hot drinks.'(Johnson, J. H., A Voice from the Mountains, p. 12)

 

There were other hot drinks that people were using at the time, so apparently Joseph Smith himself specified tea and coffee as the definition of "hot drinks".

[rpn]

I don't see how anyone can read this and not directly think the whole thing is about caffine.

 

It is entirely likely that the quote IS about caffeine, but that doesn't mean the Lord himself has said that the hot drinks is all about caffeine. 

 

I think it is possible that Pres. Hinckley's interpretation WAS that it was all about caffeine --- he famously told a tv host that members don't drink cola drinks.    But that doesn't mean that he was saying that the Lord had specified that the reason was caffeine.  It was simply the reasonable explanation he'd adopted.   (It is likely that if the subject had ever come up in a first presidency/quorum meeting, it would have had trouble getting the required consensus to be announced as policy or doctrine.)

 

Perhaps even if members seek to confirm their interpretations that caffeine is the problem, most of them will get that spiritual confirmation.   That doesn't mean that is the Lord's reason for everyone.

 

It is really the juxtaposition of  wanting God to be our nanny to tell us everything we must do, and not putting words in His mouth that apply to all when He has not done that Himself, even if we have ourselves received such revelation.   After all, how smart is our culture's desire to ingest substances to change our moods or our physical characteristics overall.   What does it say to our children when their parents and school teachers talk of NEEDING caffeinated beverages to function normally --- word of wisdom aside?

Edited January 6, 2014 by rpn

[Brian 2.0]

In case anyone doesn't remember.  The recent statements on caffiene came about because NBC's "Rock Center" in late 2012 did a news hour on Mormon where they said Mormon can't drink caffinated sodas.

 

The newsroom responded to clarify parts of that broadcast:

 

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-news--getting-it-right-august-29

 

The interesting thing is the change.  Originally the lds newsroom statement was:

 

"the church does not prohibit the use of caffeine"

The newsroom statement was then modified to say:

[the WoW] ...does not mention the use of caffeine."

 

Here are some accompaning news reports on the announcement...

 

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54797595-78/church-drinks-caffeine-lds.html.csp

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865561921/Caffeine-and-controversy.html?pg=all

Edited January 6, 2014 by Brian 2.0

[EllenMaksoud]

God hasn't said why He bans coffee and tea.  Therefore, as they are prone to do, mortals speculated.   Some of the speculation reach the status of cult following, prompting leaders recently to remind everyone that the Lord hasn't banned caffeine. 

 

I think the harm may be entirely different for various people.   Coffee costs a lot, it requires labor that don't meet western standards and probably not God's standards for treating people.   It interferes with getting sufficient sleep and can make people be rude and mean to each other.   Drinking it historically accompanied smoking, with its own dangers.   Drinking it wastes a lot of time and causes fights in the break room over washing the cups and who is mooching.   Etc., Etc.

 

On the other hand, for a view people caffeine can be a cheap and easily used ADHD treatment.

In the early 1800's it is doubtful that people had proper coffee pots and I think that they usually just threw the ground up beans in the pot and perhaps made really strong coffee. I've had camp coffee and it is just BLEH !!!  So, I wonder if Heavenly Father was acting against that practice.

 

People used to laugh at me because my coffee was extremely weak, more like weak tea. Still I love powdered, flavored creamers, and brown sugar in my coffee. So, according to my likes, the result is a sweet, creamy, warm drink that makes me smile.

 

However, D&C 89 forbids me drinking coffee. I obey it ... mostly. Weak coffee relieves what I think might be infrequent Gall Bladder like symptoms. I even went to my Bishop and he said that I should get some medicine ... I'm not sure I see the difference between pills and a cup of weak coffee. My Doctor seems completely unable to diagnose Gall Bladder, or Pancreas problems, or what ever is wrong.

[thesometimesaint]

In the early 1800's it is doubtful that people had proper coffee pots and I think that they usually just threw the ground up beans in the pot and perhaps made really strong coffee. I've had camp coffee and it is just BLEH !!!  So, I wonder if Heavenly Father was acting against that practice.

 

People used to laugh at me because my coffee was extremely weak, more like weak tea. Still I love powdered, flavored creamers, and brown sugar in my coffee. So, according to my likes, the result is a sweet, creamy, warm drink that makes me smile.

 

However, D&C 89 forbids me drinking coffee. I obey it ... mostly. Weak coffee relieves what I think might be infrequent Gall Bladder like symptoms. I even went to my Bishop and he said that I should get some medicine ... I'm not sure I see the difference between pills and a cup of weak coffee. My Doctor seems completely unable to diagnose Gall Bladder, or Pancreas problems, or what ever is wrong.

 

I'm not a medical doctor and don't play one on TV. If you are not happy with one diagnosis you can see another doctor and get second opinion.