Cigarettes

[PtolemyGlenn]

I'm aware of the doctrine the LDS has in regards to drugs and alcohol.

Recently my girlfriend purchased me herbal cigarettes. They are nicotine free. Tobacco free. Made from a blend of naturally selected hetbs. Which include marshmellow. Red clover and rose petals.

What is your opinion on a smoker who is looking at becomibg a LDS as an alternative?

[Kenngo1969]

I don't think it would fly.  If you're sincere in your desire to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Lord will help you stop smoking.  (And even if you don't join the Church but are sincere in your desire to stop smoking, He'll still help you.)  I wish you well.  

[ERayR]

I'm aware of the doctrine the LDS has in regards to drugs and alcohol.

Recently my girlfriend purchased me herbal cigarettes. They are nicotine free. Tobacco free. Made from a blend of naturally selected hetbs. Which include marshmellow. Red clover and rose petals.

What is your opinion on a smoker who is looking at becomibg a LDS as an alternative?

 

My question is why are you looking for ways to push the boundaries?

[PtolemyGlenn]

1. I'm not pushing any boundaries. If you look at the herbal cigarettes. They have no nicotine, tobacco harmful chemicalls in them.

2. I'm quite happy being a smoker and it has not impacted my walk with Christ at all.

[thesometimesaint]

1. I'm not pushing any boundaries. If you look at the herbal cigarettes. They have no nicotine, tobacco harmful chemicalls in them.

2. I'm quite happy being a smoker and it has not impacted my walk with Christ at all.

 

Putting any burning thing into your mouth probably isn't the best of ideas.

[The Nehor]

Putting any burning thing into your mouth probably isn't the best of ideas.

As a fire breathing circus freak I resent your judgment of my lifestyle.

[bluebell]

I honestly have no idea how a bishop or stake president would view herbal cigarettes.  Herbal tea is o.k. to drink so herbal cigarettes might be alright as well.

 

My question though is, what's the point?  

 

As for cigarettes not affecting your walk with Christ, LDS look at the law of health which we believe that God has given us a little bit differently.  It's not only about our own relationship with God, but it's also about us being able to do God's will and Him being able to use us as He wants.

 

Not speaking of you personally, but just of smoking in general, we know it is incredibly unhealthy.  It kills people, or otherwise greatly impacts their health negatively, often stopping them from doing things or living a certain kind of life that otherwise would have been possible.

 

If God's will is for someone to live a long healthy life so they can serve other people, teach other people around them, and go out into the world and be that light on the hill, and that person develops lung cancer or emphysema for example, shortening their life by decades or making it impossible to do the things that God had wanted them to do, then those cigarettes most definitely impacted that person's relationship with Christ in a negative way, regardless of whether or not he or she could still worship Him while smoking while they were alive.

 

And besides all that, LDS believe that God doesn't just want us to follow Christ, but to become like Christ, and Christ would never allow a substance to control His body.  His body was subject to Him, not the other way around.  Christ would never shun smokers or think less of them, but He would never have put His body in bondage to nicotine, or want that for anyone else.

 

Though we all have a LONG way to go, recognizing that there are certain things we do that are not Christ-like, and desiring to change that is, for LDS, an important part of our walk with Christ.  We don't really feel that we can have a sincere walk with Christ if we aren't trying or at least desiring to want to be like Him in, even though we fail at it daily.

 

[Garden Girl]

I honestly have no idea how a bishop or stake president would view herbal cigarettes.  Herbal tea is o.k. to drink so herbal cigarettes might be alright as well.

 

My question though is, what's the point?  

 

 

This is why I've never bothered drinking decaf coffee... and I loved strong black coffee.  And I don't drink herbal tea...

 

And, more importantly, living alone like I do, who would ever know if I enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner (like I used to before reactivating into the Church).  No one would see or know... well, I would know, as would the Lord. 

 

While decaf coffee and herbal cigarettes may not be technically wrong, I don't even go there... what's the point? 

 

GG

[teddyaware]

As a fire breathing circus freak I resent your judgment of my lifestyle.

The Nehor scores again!

[teddyaware]

1. I'm not pushing any boundaries. If you look at the herbal cigarettes. They have no nicotine, tobacco harmful chemicalls in them.

2. I'm quite happy being a smoker and it has not impacted my walk with Christ at all.

It might be a way to wean yourself off the addiction to nicotine, while still being able to participate in the ritualistic aspects of smoking. I also imagine using Nicorette for the first few days might make the weaning off process a bit easier, gradually diminishing Nicorette intake as you go.

Found the following info on the net:

"Once you get your pack of herbal cigarettes you are ready to smoke. They will light up just like your regular cigarette, and will last about the same amount of time. Warning - you will not receive the same sensation that you will when you smoke a regular cigarette because herbal cigarettes do not contain nicotine. You will enjoy the basic sensation of inhaling smoke into your lungs and blowing it out. You will quickly realize that there is nothing pleasurable about this act. But keep in mind, each herbal cigarette you smoke will bring you closer to quitting smoking because you will not be feeding your body nicotine and you will actually be in the process of removing nicotine from your body. Once you remove nicotine from your body you will be able to make rational decisions because you will no longer be a drug addict. Typically if you do not ingest any nicotine for 72 hours, you will have removed all nicotine from your system.

If you are going to attempt to quit using herbal cigarettes, commit to only smoking herbal cigarettes for at least a week. Do not cheat and slip in a regular cigarette now and again because you will just recreate the addiction you are trying to break. Even one puff a regular cigarette will give you enough nicotine to become a full fledged addict again."

[strappinglad]

If the manufacturers of cigarettes don't fit this description found in the D&C 89 , then few do.

4 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—

[halconero]

I'm aware of the doctrine the LDS has in regards to drugs and alcohol.

Recently my girlfriend purchased me herbal cigarettes. They are nicotine free. Tobacco free. Made from a blend of naturally selected hetbs. Which include marshmellow. Red clover and rose petals.

What is your opinion on a smoker who is looking at becomibg a LDS as an alternative?

 

If you're going by the current standards, i.e. the letter of the law, then you're in the clear. The prohibition is against tobacco use and illicit drugs.

 

If you feel uncomfortable or questioning about it, sometimes it's best to not do that, but that's just a word of wisdom, not given by way of commandment.

 

My best advice? Pray and fast about it, with the intent to follow whatever answer your Heavenly Father gives you. You're his son, he loves you, and from personal experience I can say that he does help us know what's best for us personally when we have questions such as this.

[saemo]

I'm aware of the doctrine the LDS has in regards to drugs and alcohol.

Recently my girlfriend purchased me herbal cigarettes. They are nicotine free. Tobacco free. Made from a blend of naturally selected hetbs. Which include marshmellow. Red clover and rose petals.

What is your opinion on a smoker who is looking at becomibg a LDS as an alternative?

I think if you're going for non-tobacco alternative, go for an ecig. Bonus is, no smoke, and the ritual of smoking is maintained. That's a good part of the habit, right there.

I know three people who are using ecigs in an attempt to stop smoking. I don't think it is working. The best thing is to just stop, cold turkey. Downside is your family and friends get to deal with your bad mood for a while. But it will pass.

I don't know about nicotine and the WoW. Logically it seems to me to be the same as caffeine and coffee. It's the tobacco not the nicotine that is forbidden??

Edited January 26, 2014 by saemo

[PtolemyGlenn]

Ive tried those overly they do not work. Granted my hand holds something but my mind isnt fooled.

[saemo]

Ive tried those overly they do not work. Granted my hand holds something but my mind isnt fooled.

Eh, well, light up!

J/K...if your aim is to quit I salute you but have never heard of anything working that isn't cold turkey. My brother in law did it that way, when he became active Mormon.

I smoke and also don't see how that has anything to do with my spiritual life. *shrug* But if you're going to be a Mormon, you have to quit. Post here and I'll cheer you on.

Edited January 26, 2014 by saemo

[nebula]

You know the joke: it's easy to quit smoking, I've done it hundreds of times!

I had the most luck with nicotine patches. They keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. I am smoking again now, though, so I'm probably not one to talk. I panic especially after meals if I can't have a cigarette immediately.

Edited January 26, 2014 by nebula

[saemo]

You know the joke: it's easy to quit smoking, I've done it hundreds of times!

I had the most luck with nicotine patches. They keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. I am smoking again now, though, so I'm probably not one to talk. I panic especially after meals if I can't have a cigarette immediately.

Good joke!

[PtolemyGlenn]

You know the joke: it's easy to quit smoking, I've done it hundreds of times!

I had the most luck with nicotine patches. They keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. I am smoking again now, though, so I'm probably not one to talk. I panic especially after meals if I can't have a cigarette immediately.

Same I must have my after meal ones. And my bedtime ciggie and my wake up ciggie

[PtolemyGlenn]

Eh, well, light up!

J/K...if your aim is to quit I salute you but have never heard of anything working that isn't cold turkey. My brother in law did it that way, when he became active Mormon.

I smoke and also don't see how that has anything to do with my spiritual life. *shrug* But if you're going to be a Mormon, you have to quit. Post here and I'll cheer you on.

When I cboose to quit I will quit. I have done it before I last 364 says. (Seriously)

I was confronted with my smoking by my old church. And while I was not formally disfellowshipped I was asked to choose between the church and my smoking.

I'm not sure if my removal was just about the smoking. My minister had approached me and I lied and said I had uit only to have the cigarettes fall out of my pocket.

I guess I am going to have some issues with the LDSA church also. However someone on this forum did mention that they dont remove people who dont folow the WoW.

Lol God exposed my sin clear as day.

[saemo]

Same I must have my after meal ones. And my bedtime ciggie and my wake up ciggie

As you know, the anxiety is all in your head. Magnified by the fear of becoming anxious and not being able to do anything about it. Behavioral modification, that sort of thing. The mind is a trippy thing, but can be retrained. Why I think the cold turkey method is the only one that works. You are forced to make a behavioral change. The only trick is to keep to that change long enough for it to become a habit. Something you no longer think about.

I think the suggestion to pray for help is a great idea.

Me, I like a smoke while driving to work. Relaxes me. Other than that, other times are luxuries that I do without most of the time. I don't get anxious about not smoking, I get anxious about not having smokes on hand. Even if they are just sitting there, I like them to be there. I imagine quitting by buying a pack that I never, ever, ever open. But just let it sit there.

[saemo]

When I cboose to quit I will quit. I have done it before I last 364 says. (Seriously)

I was confronted with my smoking by my old church. And while I was not formally disfellowshipped I was asked to choose between the church and my smoking.

I'm not sure if my removal was just about the smoking. My minister had approached me and I lied and said I had uit only to have the cigarettes fall out of my pocket.

I guess I am going to have some issues with the LDSA church also. However someone on this forum did mention that they dont remove people who dont folow the WoW.

Lol God exposed my sin clear as day.

I thought you had to be a WoW follower to get baptized a Mormon, no?

[Calm]

Someone needs to show a good faith effort to quit....don't know if here is a set number of days or not,,, once baptised if they relapse they wouldn't be kicked out, but won't be able to move forward to get temple recommend, go on missions and would be limited in some callings in my understanding. The biggest problem is that a lot may not have been around smoke and it makes them ill. I am one, I am sad to say. If someone who smelled just a bit sat down by me I would need to get up to move and I would hate that they thought it was their fault rather than my medical weaknesses. Have to do the same thing with strong perfume. Anyway it appears we are shunning smokers by leaving when we are not.

[Garden Girl]

When I was inactive for all those years I didn't live the WoW (why is it that LDS who go inactive always seem to start smoking?)... In fact, I was a heavy smoker... but I had no idea how much cigarette smell was obvious to non-smokers until I quit smoking... and I hated the smell of cigarettes thank goodness so I was never tempted to start again when I'd see someone smoking...

I'll always remember how my husband would t take me home for the holidays and I'd hug my mom, etc.  Of course she knew I smoked and could smell the smoke on me but never said anything, and out of respect for my folks I never smoked when around them... Anyway, after my husband and I quit, I really became aware of smoke smell... and I'll never forget the next time I went home and I got out of the car and hugged my mom... I said, do I smell better?... she chuckled and said, You have no idea!!  Anyway, that was just about 25 years ago that I quit, so I hope I quit soon enough and my lungs are nice and pink again.

If you are LDS and continue to smoke or drink, you won't be "kicked out" of the Church, but you will not be able to attend the temple, or participate fully in some ways... it's a choice... what is more important to a person... smoking? or enjoying the full blessings of the gospel?

 

GG