The Word of Wisdom (LDS food and drink taboos) always gets a lot of attention in the youth curriculum. So it’s no surprise that a short article pops up in the New Era this month, titled Vaping, Coffee, Tea, and Marijuana. It’s only five teen-sized paragraphs (short sentences, small words), so you should go read it right now. The tagline in the Table of Contents is “clearing up Word of Wisdom confusion,” so let’s see if it does that. I’m expecting readers who have taken a walk on the wild side to chime in with a few details I can’t bring to the table.
Vaping. I know it’s a thing, but not a thing I have ever done. Nor have I ever smoked, so I can’t really comment on the real thing or the electronic thing. But even though vaping is more or less just breathing, the article states, “Vaping is clearly against the Word of Wisdom.” No confusion there. To vape or not to vape, that is not the question.
Welcome to Starbucks. Have a hot chocolate. If Exmo boards are any indication, learning the new and expanded vocabulary of coffee is a real challenge for someone who grew up Mormon. The coffee paragraph in the article suggests just about anything to drink in a coffee shop, whatever it’s name, is verboten. Except of course hot chocolate. God is fine with vanilla beans and cocoa beans but is stoutly against coffee beans. But not caffeine, as long as it comes diluted in soda pop, not tea or coffee. Energy drinks can kill you, but they’re okay. Because the Word of Wisdom is about health, not boundary markers.
Green Tea. So I have never had a cup or can of green tea, but I know two things about it. First, it is a very healthy drink, probably healthier than anything I ever drink. Second, vending machines in Japan (one or two every block) offer about 40 options, and 35 of them are green tea. The article makes it clear regarding black tea and green tea that “they’re both tea and against the Word of Wisdom.” And iced tea is a hot drink. No wonder the kids are confused. No discussion of herbal teas, which are presumably allowed, because that’s just dried or crushed leaves dropped in hot water. What could be wrong with that?
Last Dance with Mary Jane. President Nelson has been changing a few things, but no change here: marijuana is still proscribed, herb or not. I have a great deal of sympathy for those who deal with chronic pain, and the good news for such sufferers is that marijuana, while habit-forming, “should be avoided except under the care of a competent physician, and then used only as prescribed.” So medically prescribed pot is not against the Word of Wisdom. I presume medically directed coffee or green tea is allowed as well. If your doc will write you a letter, you can have that morning cup of joe.
Wheat & Tares 
Ugh!! But as long as good Mormons in Utah keep Swig in business…..
I guess the rumor mill about coffee being given the thumbs up in Gen Conf isn’t coming anytime soon.
The closest I probably will ever come to vaping was when a cold left me with some chest congestion I tried a bit of extra albuterol via a nebulizer that my asthmatic kid had about to expire. I am not sure if it helped by chest congestion, but I was WIRED for a few hours with my mind feeling it was running at about 110% (much of it just panicking).
This just reminds me of the interesting find from “The Next Mormons” on how many young adult members were drinking iced coffee and feeling it was OK.
And here we all just read in Acts two weeks ago how Peter has a vision to not call things unclean which are cleansed by God. And by not calling whole populations unclean for not circumcising or eating common or unclean foods, many gentiles embraced and turned their life to being a follower of Christ. The Holy Spirit was poured out upon the gentiles. Hmmm. Methinks the WoW shouldst not be the hill upon which we die.
Happy Hubby, I believe that Next Mormons said they were drinking coffee (not iced). I’d have to search it to cite it, and I’m too lazy right now, so if anyone wants to do the heavy lifting, here’s to you!
As to the clarification, this is mostly positive. Vaping is rampant here in the high school (although, come on, not among the Mormon kids, and from what I’ve heard it’s only popular among the fringe kids in Utah). Vaping is more prevalent than teen sex here. Clearly stating that medical marijuana is copacetic if used medicinally–long overdue to openly state it, IMO. Self-medicating is the concern here.
As to the article’s claim that coffee shops serve almost exclusively “bad” drinks, that’s dumb and Utah-centric. Dutch Bros is the biggest “coffee shop” chain in Phoenix, and they serve tons of froofy drinks that are totally fine for Mormon kids (although as a parent I object to their coffee shop prices!)
“that’s just dried or crushed leaves dropped in hot water. What could be wrong with that?”
Depending on what leaves you crush and drop in hot water, it is likely to kill you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_poisonous_plants
So crush your leaves and take your chances!
What’s funny is the actual wording of the WoW is spot on. Hot drinks cause cancer. They burn the esophagus and the long term repeating of that leads to cancer. That’s a proven fact*.
WHAT IF when the Lord told Joseph “Hot drinks are not for the body” he actually meant Hot drinks are not for the body.
I’ll be the first to admit that while I don’t regularly drink coffee, when I have a road trip and I’m tired I drink it because the WoW teaches me to take care of my body.
See, I have three options for my drive home:
1) Take nothing and fall asleep at the wheel and crash hurting my body and other’s bodies (which has almost happen so don’t tell me about exercising more faith)
2) Drink two highly sugary mountain dews which make me feel horrible and contributes to diabetes and fat.
3) Take straight caffeine pills and question if on my drive home I should stop at a hospital
4) Drink an 8 oz cup off coffee, lightly sweetened and now I’m awake and able to drive home.
If you can honestly argue with me that I’m in the wrong, I’ll honestly argue with you that you’d make a wonderful Pharisee.
* https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/world-health-organization-says-very-hot-drinks-may-cause-cancer.html
I need to clarify: Drinking hot drinks “may” lead to cancer.
Angela, you are right on what “The Next Mormon’s” says. It was coffee. I confused that with hearing from somewhere else that “many” younger members were quick to say, “iced coffee isn’t the same as hot coffee, so it is OK under the WOW.”
For some the biggest damage done by going to high-end coffee shops, even just for hot chocolate, will be in their wallets. They HAVE to be making a killing given how many there are everywhere.
I was recently at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the sign in the restroom said, “No Smoking, No Vaping”. I assumed that people should be smart enough to realize that vaping is prohibited where smoking is prohibited, but clearly that’s not the case!
I believe iced coffee is ok in the Community of Christ, because it is about temperature, not caffeine.
FWIW, having a word of wisdom is wonderful, in that the idea of caring for our bodies which house our spirits is showing respect to heavenly parents. I’m not opposed to this in the least…until that’s our benchmark to draw close to deity.
Having a temple recommend on the line for doing things against the WoW- like a minor coffee infraction (or tea, or an occasional mild alcoholic beverage as Jesus, Joseph Smith, Emma, Brigham Young, etc. did) just doesn’t fit into reason, which was given to me also by Heavenly Parents. No scientific evidence exists that the substances themselves are harmful- only when used in excess. Young kids see this more of a controlling-leader issue than a drawing close to God through abstinence of coffee and tea. Kids are smart.
Curious that the article didn’t say a thing warning about the excess of meat or fruit in season—Only focusing on “things that enslave us,” and coffee and tea are right there with nicotine and opioids (and opioids are very necessary in certain circumstances.)
I’ve never once had coffee or tea and I fail to see spiritual benefits of adherence. I’ve been an active member for 40+ years…..and I just want so badly to be known for the good Mormons do, not the weird-o “You drink coffee! Tea, too?! It’s a sin!” Such an odd reputation that defines us now. We can do better than adhere strictly to rules…..right?
Andy, ever heard of diet soda?
Three or so years ago, our missionaries had an investigator who was trying to transition from smoking to vaping. They had been told that he could be baptized if he succeeded. (He was never baptized, but I don’t know if smoking remained the issue).Has the guidance changed since then or were the missionaries just misinformed?
“No wonder the kids are confused.” Indeed. And the adults. Although I have no evidence, I felt the official line on the WOW was getting close to recognizing science on sugar, meat, iced vs. hot caffeine, green tea, etc. What a shame that some 20-something ghost writer sets back eastern-hemisphere missionary work 20-something years with fluffy opinion. Not to mention providing fodder for YM/YW lessons for years to come. Who vets this stuff?
“Although I have no evidence, I felt the official line on the WOW was getting close to recognizing science on sugar, meat, iced vs. hot caffeine, green tea, etc.”
Sounds like a pipe dream to me.
But seriously, there’s nothing to vet. Without official statements or general conference talks, there is nothing to stop the church magazines from repeating past teachings.
Also, I haven’t gotten the same impression as you. I have seen no indication of looming changes to the WoW. In fact, it looks to me like digging in for a fight. The church fought hard against medical marijuana in Utah. Utah lowered the legal alcohol limit for driving. I haven’t heard anything new on coffee or tea. I mean, after two hour church it’s possible that change is in the air, but I don’t see it.
As Conan O’brien joked, the Mormon church was against the medical marijuana bill in Utah because marijuana could become a gateway drug to coffee.
But seriously, green tea? And it says nothing on energy drinks or mass diet soda consumption? A regular coffee and tea drinker who doesn’t drink energy drinks and diet sodas (or drinks them in moderation) is far more likely to live a healthier life than a person who regularly drinks the latter two. This obsession with not drinking coffee and tea has got to go. These drinks have been strictly forbidden for decades now. It is high time that the leaders relax the prohibition to discouraged from forbidden.
On my mission in South Korea we had to memorise a list of tea’s that were from the tea plant, all prohibited by the word of wisdom (according to the Preach My Gospel manual in Korean). Thankfully tea’s not from the tea plant were not prohibited. In Korea this did not just include herbal (basically other leaf )teas, but many other tea’s (flowers, fruits, grains, beans, seeds, roots, shoots, barks, and mushrooms,). A kind korean man who was not interested in hearing our message invited us in anyway to share his homemade fermented cactus flower tea. It was great. I loved all the tea’s we got to try.
When I returned from my mission I realised that the tea issue with the word of wisdom was not as clear to many other members of the church. Lot’s of people considered green tea to be ok.
The WOW sure is a weird one. It’s originated in a time where evidence-based medicine wasn’t really a thing. While president Nelson toured the Pacific he often spoke about the word of wisdom as the reason he is in such good shape at his age. As many of you have pointed out, if the word of wisdom were strictly about our health, we might be worrying less about vaping, which teas are from the tea plant, or whether a drinks name ends in ‘ccino’ and more about things that are evidently unhealthy like excessive sugar or fat consumption. I’m pretty sure diabetes hurts members health more than tea ever would. In current practice, the word of wisdom seems to be less about health than one might initially think and more about social boundary setting. It seems like at least some prophets resisted this, like David O McKay with coke, rum cake, or Kava, but I wouldn’t expect anything like this to come from President Nelson.
“regular coffee and tea drinker who doesn’t drink energy drinks and diet sodas (or drinks them in moderation) is far more likely to live a healthier life than a person”
Reference, please. Most coffee in the western world is served with refined sugars and lots of empty calories.
Also, no one has pointed out that the article said to avoid all “icinos” when Starbacks’ frappocino doesn’t contain coffee.
From the second verse of section 89.
« To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, »
I think a large problem with word of wisdom observance is the continual focus on a proscribed list of “don’ts” rather than a focus on the principles of moderation and healthy living. If we could shift that focus to teaching the principles and letting the saints govern themselves we’d be much better off. Instead, there seems to be a large body of members who would rather be told explicitly what they are allowed to partake of.
I served my mission in polynesia where I saw several substances consumed with no clear message as to whether or not it violated the word of wisdom and varying local interpretations as a result. Kava is a drink that is probably best consumed either not at all or in moderation, or perhaps just associated with local traditions and rituals. Betel nut is chewed and stains teeth black and probably best avoided all together. That would be easier to see if the focus was on health. But members there would see that those things aren’t specifically prohibited and felt justified partaking.
However, if the focus was on health, then coffee and green tea would likely be consumed by many, hopefully as a replacement for sodas or other energy drinks. And so the specific non-sensical prohibitions continue.
Thanks for the comments, everyone. Such a fascinating topic, not so much for the science of healthy eating and drinking as for the sociology and psychology of Mormons trying to understand this institutional rule and carve out a personal approach. I think we all sort of negotiate (informally) with the Church and with ourselves what we accept or reject. Kind of like how you negotiate with your company’s dress code or your HOA’s rules for what you can or can’t have in your yard or the speed limit on the freeway.
Here’s a sobering thought. All of us Boomers and Gen-Xers kick this stuff around but, on the whole, follow the party line. Millennials and Gen-Zers kick this stuff around and, on the whole, then do what they think is okay to do, vaping and coffeeing and whatever. So maybe Millennials and Gen-Zers are bolder, more courageous. Maybe Millennials and Gen-Zers are smarter than we give them credit for. So Boomers and Gen-X Mormons say “not drinking coffee is silly” but don’t drink anyway. Millennials and Gen-Z’s say “not drinking coffee is silly” and drink away.
If Millennials and Gen-Z’s are willing to just ignore silly teachings coming from the Church … then the Church is going to have to change a lot of things or else lose really big chunks of its younger membership.
Re: choosing between coffee and keeping the WoW via Mt. Dew and other sugary, carbonated (and otherwise unhealthy drinks)–I hate to sound like a commercial, but I have found a solution that works for me. I drink V8 energy drinks. They are not harmful like other energy drinks; according to the can, they only have as much caffeine as a single cup of coffee, contain one serving of fruit/veggies (50% juice), have no added sugar, with only 50 calories. They are sold at Walmart-Mart and other grocery stores and have been a god-send to me.
About a decade ago our stake merged the Chinese branch into our ward. Overnight one third of our ward membership was Chinese. I spoke with our bishop at the time and he said that he refused to deny temple recommends to members who drank green tea because it has so many health benefits. He said this was completely in keeping with the spirit of the WOW. I fully agree and besides Starbucks green tea frappacinos are to die for and probably pretty healthy except for all that whip cream! 😉
Hi JPV, Yep, I have heard of diet soda. On top of the horrible taste, you’ll have to pardon me if I don’t get excited about taking copious amounts of a substance that causes cancer in rats.
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20051118/rat-study-shows-cancer-aspartame-link#1
Annie asks “We can do better than adhere strictly to rules…..right?”
Very right!
D&C 58:26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant
Obeying the rules is a minimum. But some rules are of God and some are not, and at times it is not possible to obey all of them at the same time so you choose which to obey and which to not obey. Jesus certainly did not strictly obey all of the rules that then existed.
And that plays into Dave B’s comment:
Dave B. writes “If Millennials and Gen-Z’s are willing to just ignore silly teachings coming from the Church … then the Church is going to have to change a lot of things or else lose really big chunks of its younger membership.”
Or it could lose big chunks of Boomers by followed every other denomination onto the sand. In all the history of the Earth there has never been “social media”, an ability to nearly instantly find like-minded persons almost anywhere on Earth. The fellowship that used to be provided by church is now provided by smartphones and blogs. I mean, what are we (the readers of this blog) doing right here, right now?
I don’t even know where “here” is but I love reading these articles and the comments; considerably more stimulating in my opinion as compared to sitting at church and nobody dares rock the boat, except for some guy that seems a bit unstable and enjoys stirring the pot but otherwise doesn”t really have much to contribute (oh, I think i am describing me!)
This genie is out of the bottle. Nothing is going to re-create large scale attendance at church. Those days are over in Western civilization for a generation, maybe more.
I believe that hot coffee is ok in Community of Christ as long as it isn’t scalding. The congregation near me has a big pot of coffee and everyone pours themself a cup before before Sunday school starts.
GES65
I made a decision a few years ago that green tea is acceptable in my WOW and ALL carbonated beverages are not acceptable. I answer affirmative to and he temple recommend question. Phariseeis abound in this culture that gives us Swig. Will someone please find the quote attributed to BY making WOW a commandment. No such statement exists.
Rick B, At Community of Christ they drink all kinds of coffee. The one I attended even had coffee hour after meetings or in place of Sunday School.