MSN Weighs in on "Surprising Mormon Beliefs You Didn’t Know Were Real"

[smac97]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/surprising-mormon-beliefs-you-didn-t-know-were-real/ss-AA1fWa3A#image=1

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Surprising Mormon Beliefs You Didn’t Know Were Real

Those who practice the Mormon faith are expected to follow a collection of specific rules to abide by.

From the Department of Redundancy Department: "to follow a collection of specific rules to abide by."

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The unique culture comes with a distinct set of beliefs that can be admittedly difficult for others to comprehend. These guidelines may be meant to lead Mormons on a path to a better life, but some of these rules seem almost too outlandish to be real.

Well, let's take a look:

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No Caffeine by Any Means

For many people, a morning cup of coffee is essential to start their day. Mormons, however, are prohibited from consuming caffeine. Mormons devoutly follow a religious guide called Words of Wisdom, which details ways for them to achieve healthy habits.

Followers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not supposed to have coffee or any other caffeinated beverages. Mormons believe that not drinking caffeine is something that God would want, so they go without energy drinks, espresso and anything with an ounce of caffeine in it.

Stellar journalism, this.

A google search (!) for "lds caffeine" yields the following results:

From a 2017 LDS Living article:

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Official Church Stance on Caffeine

With Latter-day Saint sharing so many differing opinions (not to mention second- and third-hand sources) it’s no wonder fact and doctrine often blur with fiction when it comes to caffeine. So what is the Church’s official stance on caffeine? What have prophets said on the topic?

In a 2012 Newsroom article clarifying media misconceptions of Latter-day Saint beliefs, the Church stated: “Despite what was reported, the Church revelation spelling out health practices (Doctrine and Covenants 89) does not mention the use of caffeine. The Church’s health guidelines prohibit alcoholic drinks, smoking or chewing of tobacco, and ‘hot drinks’—taught by Church leaders to refer specifically to tea and coffee."

An official statement issued by Church leaders in the 1970s states: “With reference to cola drinks, the Church has never officially taken a position on this matter, but the leaders of the Church have advised, and we do now specifically advise, against the use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs under circumstances that would result in acquiring the habit. Any beverage that contains ingredients harmful to the body should be avoided” (Priesthood Bulletin, Feb. 1972, p. 4).

In 2008, ChurchofJesusChrist.org gave a similar response to the question “Is there anything wrong with drinking sodas with caffeine in them? Is caffeine bad?”

Doctrine and Covenants 89:9 says we shouldn’t drink “hot drinks.” The only official interpretation of this term is the statement made by early Church leaders that it means tea and coffee. Caffeine is not specifically mentioned as the reason not to drink these drinks.

However, we should keep in mind this counsel given by President Boyd K. Packer: “The Word of Wisdom was ‘given for a principle with promise’ (D&C 89:3). . . . A principle is an enduring truth, a law, a rule you can adopt to guide you in making decisions. Generally principles are not spelled out in detail. Members write in asking if this thing or that is against the Word of Wisdom. . . . We teach the principle together with the promised blessings. There are many habit-forming, addictive things that one can drink or chew or inhale or inject which injure both body and spirit which are not mentioned in the revelation. . . . Obedience to counsel will keep you on the safe side of life” (“The Word of Wisdom: The Principle and the Promises,” Ensign, May 1996, 17–18).

Prophetic Counsel Regarding Caffeine

While the Church has taken no official stance prohibiting caffeine, Church leaders have made it clear that they encourage Latter-day Saints to focus on the spirit of the Word of Wisdom and treat their God-given bodies with respect. In 2008, an Ensign article shared the harmful effects caffeine addiction and abuse can have on the body, advising members to follow the advice of prophets and be careful about what they put into their bodies.

While modern-day apostles and prophets have made it clear that avoiding caffeinated drinks is not a commandment, some have asked Latter-day Saints to abstain from drinking them.

Spencer W. Kimball taught:

I never drink any of the cola drinks and my personal hope would be that no one would. However, they are not included in the Word of Wisdom in its technical application. I quote from a letter from the secretary to the First Presidency, 'But the spirit of the Word of Wisdom would be violated by the drinking or eating of anything that contained a habit-forming drug.' With reference to the cola drinks, the Church has never officially taken any attitude on this but I personally do not put them in the class as with the tea and coffee because the Lord specifically mentioned them [the hot drinks]. (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball).

From a May 2023 Tribune article:

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This first news tidbit is brought to you in honor of this past Monday’s National Have a Coke Day:

 

Just Dew it, Latter-day Saints. As in glug a Mountain Dew. Or down a Dr Pepper. Or pound a Pepsi. Or quaff a Coke.

Despite what many snippy outsiders and nitpicking insiders think. There is no general church proscription against faithful members consuming caffeinated sodas.

Yes, the Word of Wisdom forbids “hot drinks.” Yes, church leaders have stated that means swearing off coffee or tea. And, yes, coffee and tea have caffeine. But that dictate doesn’t extend the scriptural health code’s prohibition to all caffeinated products.

So those cola drinks and that chocolate — either hot or cold — are fair game.

Latter-day Saint authorities reaffirmed that stance in 2012, stating that “the church revelation spelling out health practices ... does not mention the use of caffeine.” The faith’s flagship school, Brigham Young University, started selling caffeinated colas in 2017. Apostle Dieter Uchtdorf even joked in General Conference about imbibing “a diet soda that shall remain nameless.”

The General Handbook puts it simply: “Prophets have clarified that the teachings in Doctrine and Covenants 89 include abstinence from tobacco, strong drinks (alcohol), and hot drinks (tea and coffee).”

No mention of any corruptive caffeinated concoctions.

Of course, that hardly endorses that these products do a body good.

“There are other harmful substances and practices that are not specified in the Word of Wisdom or by church leaders,” the handbook cautions. “Members should use wisdom and prayerful judgment in making choices to promote their physical, spiritual, and emotional health.”

It’s just that caffeine is not the creedal culprit. Period. Full stop. The end.

And yet here we have MSN telling the world "No Caffeine by Any Means."

Huh.

Moving on:

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Drinking Alcohol Is Not Allowed

Not only is caffeine out of the question, but alcohol is definitely on the “do not consume” list for Mormons. With coffee and alcohol off the table, it leaves little room for recreational libations, but devout Mormons believe these rules are important to their spiritual journey.

Based on the Words of Wisdom, Mormons believe that alcohol can have a negative impact on them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The goal of Mormons is to have a clear mind, and alcohol would inhibit them from making good choices. By choosing to honor their bodies, they are also also honoring God.

True, but not "almost too outlandish to be real."  Has this journalist ever met a Muslim (2 billion or so of 'em)?  Or a Buddhist (half a billion or so, though quite a few Buddhists I met in Taiwan imbibed)?  Or a Baháʼí (8 million)?  Sikhs (26 million)?  Jainists (4-5 million)?   61% of American Protestants do not consume alcohol.

Seems like plenty of people do not drink alcohol, and many do so as a point of religious observance.

Moving on:

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Temple Garments Are Required to Be Worn

Traditional Mormon temple undergarments are to be worn by adult members of the Mormon Church at all times. For both men and women, temple garments consist of two pieces of plain white attire meant to be worn under clothing.

While there’s nothing particularly magic or holy about temple garments, they are intended to serve as a “constant reminder” of the covenants Mormons made in the temple while also being a symbol of modesty.

True, but not "almost too outlandish to be real."  There are plenty of examples of religious clothing (most of which is more overt/visible than garments) :

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Religious clothing is clothing which is worn in accordance with religious practice, tradition or significance to a faith group. It includes clerical clothing such as cassocks, and religious habit, robes, and other vestments. Accessories include hats, wedding rings, crucifixes, etc.

Contents

1Christianity

1.1Latter Day Saint movement

2Islam

3Judaism

4Sikhism

•  

Moving on:

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Say Goodbye to Gambling

Mormon teachings have strict rules against gambling of any kind. That includes more than just playing the slot machine in Vegas. Mormons aren’t allowed to participate in lotteries and they are even encouraged to oppose the legalization of these government activities. Mormons believe that gambling goes against their moral code.

The church teaches self-reliance and integrity – two things that they believe aren’t achievable when gambling is involved. Mormons view gambling as addictive and can lead to other issues such as financial strain. When it comes to gambling, mormons must simply say “no.”

True, but not "almost too outlandish to be real."  Several religious groups have constraints or prohibitions on gambling/wagering:

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A common perception in Utah is that the only religion strongly opposed to gambling is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Not so.

"Muslims and Buddhists are very strongly against it too," said David Robertson, past president and current board member of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling (NCALG) in Washington, D.C.

The United Methodist Church, Southern Baptists, Jehovah's Witnesses and a few others are also strongly against games of chance.

Moving on:

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Smoking Isn’t Happening, Either

Mormons believe that their body is a temple, and they strive to keep their temples clean and pure at all costs.

Given this teaching, Mormons are also not allowed to inhale any hazardous chemicals – which means smoking is one bad habit they’ll never have to worry about. The Word of Wisdom outlines a principal health code for healthy living, and even smokable plants are not permitted by followers of the Church of the Latter-day Saints.

True, but not "almost too outlandish to be real."  Plenty of religious groups constrain smoking.  And given the terrible effect smoking has on health...

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Mormons Are Required to Participate in a Missionary Program

Followers of the Mormon faith are supposed to embark on a mandatory full-time mission that serves as a rite of passage into adulthood.

The expectation is that men between the ages of 19 to 26 will dedicate two years to missionary service, while women who are 21 and older will carry out an 18-month mission. These missions are important to the Mormon faith, and many young followers begin saving for their future trip from childhood.

Not quite.  Latter-day Saints are encouraged, not required to serve missions.

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They Once Preached Plural Marriage

Mormons were once big believers of plural marriage, and they often promoted a life of pologamy. Often viewed as one of the more controversial Mormon doctrines, polygamy in Mormon teachings can be traced back to the Old Testament in 1831.

Prophet Joseph Smith spoke highly of having multiple wives, and encouraged his male followers to adopt a similar lifestyle. While Mormons have historically denied the plural marriage doctrine, they finally admitted its existence in 1852. The topic of polygamy is a tricky one, as society only recognizes relationships between two consenting parties.

True, but not "almost too outlandish to be real."

Jews and other Christians have polygamy in their pedigrees, too.  As does Islam.

Oi, what a lazy, inaccurate, poorly written article.  

Thanks,

-Smac

[The Nehor]

I would be more shocked if a clickbait article like this actually had something interesting to say.

And C'MON, Kolob is right there!

Edited August 29, 2023 by The Nehor

[Benjamin McGuire]

33 minutes ago, smac97 said:

Oi, what a lazy, inaccurate, poorly written article.

AI generated. Not written.

[smac97]

46 minutes ago, Benjamin McGuire said:

AI generated. Not written.

I had suspected that, but there is a byline:

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Surprising Mormon Beliefs You Didn’t Know Were Real

Story by Carissa Moore •5h

MSN, 

-Smac

[blackstrap]

re : gambling. Despite not encouraging gambling , the Church has little to say about members working in casinos in Vegas. 

[Benjamin McGuire]

1 hour ago, smac97 said:

I had suspected that, but there is a byline:

This isn't an MSN story. Almost everything actually produced by MSN is written by AI - they have been cutting the MSN news team and replacing them with AI since 2020.

That being said, the article is posted under the brand History All Day. History All Day is a brand of Dicido. Dicido is a click-bait publisher that focuses on the use of AI to generate ad revenue. They publish under seven brands, and Carissa (who is new enough at the company to not have a bio on their website yet) is listed as an editor for all seven different brands. She provides content for all of the different sites. She is an editor of AI generated content. This article may not be created from scratch by AI, but it is almost certainly produced using AI. If you read through much of the description of the technology they use and the job descriptions for the people they employ, you will see that a huge part of their effort is to repurpose content - either old content from their collected library of material, or existing material that they find elsewhere. They have a tier of people that purchases cheap content, get it edited, and then put it out with targeted advertising. This company fits the essential definition of providing click-bait. At any rate, the job of the editor in this situation is to take existing material, run it through a customizing algorithm to make it more appealing to the target audience, add some images they find (and we can see the strange assortment of slides), and then make sure it is reasonably grammatically correct and push it out. They pay MSN to get it highlighted there, and they collect ad revenue.

Edited August 29, 2023 by Benjamin McGuire

[Judd]

As superficial exposure to media, and other similar sources, largely make up some of our most global assumptions about the world, this would be a good time to review over what Michael Crichton termed “Gell-Mann Amnesia”:

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“Briefly stated, the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect is as follows. You open the newspaper to an article on some subject you know well. In Murray [Gell-Mann]’s case, physics. In mine, show business. You read the article and see the journalist has absolutely no understanding of either the facts or the issues. Often, the article is so wrong it actually presents the story backward—reversing cause and effect. I call these the “wet streets cause rain” stories. Paper’s full of them.

In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story, and then turn the page to national or international affairs, and read as if the rest of the newspaper was somehow more accurate about Palestine than the baloney you just read. You turn the page, and forget what you know.”

 

 

Edited August 29, 2023 by Judd

[Kenngo1969]

This thread is "Too Outlandish to Be Real."   

Sorry.   

I had to do it!

[The Nehor]

21 hours ago, Benjamin McGuire said:

This isn't an MSN story. Almost everything actually produced by MSN is written by AI - they have been cutting the MSN news team and replacing them with AI since 2020.

That being said, the article is posted under the brand History All Day. History All Day is a brand of Dicido. Dicido is a click-bait publisher that focuses on the use of AI to generate ad revenue. They publish under seven brands, and Carissa (who is new enough at the company to not have a bio on their website yet) is listed as an editor for all seven different brands. She provides content for all of the different sites. She is an editor of AI generated content. This article may not be created from scratch by AI, but it is almost certainly produced using AI. If you read through much of the description of the technology they use and the job descriptions for the people they employ, you will see that a huge part of their effort is to repurpose content - either old content from their collected library of material, or existing material that they find elsewhere. They have a tier of people that purchases cheap content, get it edited, and then put it out with targeted advertising. This company fits the essential definition of providing click-bait. At any rate, the job of the editor in this situation is to take existing material, run it through a customizing algorithm to make it more appealing to the target audience, add some images they find (and we can see the strange assortment of slides), and then make sure it is reasonably grammatically correct and push it out. They pay MSN to get it highlighted there, and they collect ad revenue.

Local man comes up with one weird trick to identify AI written drivel, click-bait companies hate it

[MustardSeed]

22 hours ago, blackstrap said:

re : gambling. Despite not encouraging gambling , the Church has little to say about members working in casinos in Vegas. 

Not sure why they would.  That level of control is unnecessary.  Otherwise then they have to say something about working in a brewery, doing sales for Victorias Secret , working at CVS where transgenders purchase makeup, attending colleges that sell beer on campus - I mean you can see how ridiculous this gets. 

[LoudmouthMormon]

On 8/29/2023 at 3:56 PM, Judd said:

As superficial exposure to media, and other similar sources, largely make up some of our most global assumptions about the world,

If anyone is looking around to see who qualifies for this statement, they’ll have to look beyond me. I think I gave up on main stream media about 20 years ago. Probably about 80% of my headline making news comes from social media citizen journalists who are broadcasting live from site or other.  
 

That, and I get the same newsfeed that news commentators get when they’re preparing their daily program.

iId like to see some sort of nationwide poll or study to see where people actually are getting their news from these years. I know recent studies talk about how I think majority of people just don’t believe network television news anymore.

[blackstrap]

4 hours ago, LoudmouthMormon said:

majority of people just don’t believe network television news anymore.

Could this be why the Canadian gov't will regulate news feeds  posted on Facebook ? 

Canadians will no longer have access to news content on Facebook and Instagram, Meta says | CBC News

Edited August 31, 2023 by blackstrap

[Dario_M]

That supprisses me a lot actually. 🤭