Mormon caffeine ban false? BS?

The phrase "Hot Drinks" has been defined to mean tea and coffee. Hyrum Smith stated this in 1842, and Brigham Young also commented on this, saying that it wasn't hot water they drank, but tea and coffee were not only common hot drinks, but the only hot drinks in use at the time. To them back in the 1800s, hot drinks was very obviously tea and coffee, not caffeinated beverages.. There has been a lot of controversy over whether anything "hot" meaning high temperature should be consumed at all, but nothing definite has come of that. The church draws the line at tea and coffee. They do not micro manage what we can and what we cannot drink. They draw the line at tea and coffee and leave it up to us to decide what to drink.

No it doesn't change every couple of years. It was defined in the 1840s and has not changed since. Every now and then someone at a higher or lower level of leadership voices their opinion on things like caffeinated beverages, but it is just that - their opinion. Nothing additional has ever come from the first presidency in the form of doctrine on this subject, nor have we ever been forbidden to consume caffeinated beverages. The line remains at tea and coffee to this day, as it has been since the 1840s.

A while ago the church released an article on energy drinks. Did they say "thou shalt not consume energy drinks"? No, of course not. They simply discussed the health implications of doing so, and advised us not to drink them.

It's a confusing issue for many non-members because there is so much misinformation going around about it. Often non or ex-Mormons who think they know more about it than actual members speak as though they are the experts, which they aren't. And practicing members will also state personal opinion as though it's fact.

You can read official statements about it from the links below from the LDS Church. But the basic facts are that the Word of Wisdom is a law of good health, not a dietary code of strict obedience. The Word of Wisdom teaches that we should abstain from some substances because they are not good for us.

From Doctrine & Covenants 89:9 "And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly." Hot drinks was a common term used in the 1830's to refer to coffee and tea, and it has been clarified by church leaders that we should abstain from coffee and green and black teas. If you view it with logic this makes sense because if it were literally hot drinks as some say that would be 1) it would be okay to drink coffee and tea cold. 2.) We would have to abstain from any kind of hot liquid.

Concerning caffeine, I'm sure that the addictive nature of coffee and tea is one reason we are told to abstain from them, and while it's the most obvious reason, there are other substances in coffee and tea that are harmful when consumed to excess as many people do.

Some Mormons, in their personal interpretation of the W.O.W. choose to abstain from all caffeine, others abstain from all drinks that are highly caffeinated and others don't view caffeine as harmful enough to abstain from and will drink colas and other caffeinated drinks. But when it comes to abstaining from all caffeine the Word of Wisdom doesn't mention caffeine and our church leaders have confirmed that we don't abstain from all caffeine.

Wrong Coke contains MORE caffeine and is banned!

The truth is most Mormons drink all the banned drinks!

It is also interesting that Tea, Coffee and Chocolate are all shown by scientists to be good anti oxidants and act to prevent cancer and heart disease!

Seems Mormons are likely to make their maker earlier than people who live in reality!

The revelation from which this comes is commonly called the word of wisdom and was given on February 27, 1833. It is a revelation on health.

In 1833, hot drinks meant coffee and tea. There was no caffeinated soda drinks at the time. The church later gave an official explanation that hot drinks means coffee and tea. Non caffeinated herbal tea is considered OK by the church.

I am sure that one of the reasons for the revelation was to help people avoid harmful and addictive substances. This concept is taught to us by church leaders. Harmful and addictive substances not only affect our health but can numb the quite spiritual sensitivities that are so important in Mormonism. Mormons tend to seek spiritual guidance in their daily lives. Addictive substances somewhat stifle our God given ability to choose.

Though caffeinated soda's and chocolate are not listed in the revelation, members of the church should definitely use these in moderation.

Here is the entire revelation:

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89?...

"Hot drinks" has always been interpreted to mean coffee and tea. No clarification has been given as to why these drinks are unwise. Perhaps it is just unwise to pay money for a drink that one consumes daily. Or perhaps it is unwise because of "conspiring men", who try to make drinks more addictive to raise sales. Either of these last two reasons might apply to caffeinated sodas as well, which is why I avoid them. Hot chocolate has about half of the caffeine as coffee, and for reasons unknown, has never been associated with addiction. So Hot chocolate is in the clear. Alcohol and tobacco are also highly addictive, and considered to be unwise; this seems like a theme in the revelation.

The healthy nature of tea has often been vaunted, but it is just hype. Most teas have unusually high levels of heavy metals, a poison, that when taken in less-than-lethal doses, and can diminish one's intelligence and health.

My wife occasionally drinks Coke, and that is her choice. She also occasionally lies awake all night.

It's all pretty subjective. Yes, certain "hot drinks" are allowed, and non-hot caffeinated drinks are allowed now, though they weren't in the past. It changes every couple of years.

EDIT: I love how guys like Neerp fall back on the "opinion not official doctrine" as if that means ANYTHING to the rank and file. If an apostle gets up and says "you shouldn't drink Coke because it has caffeine in it" then guess what? The vast majority of the church will take that as revelation from God and will stop drinking Coke. The whole "it's not official doctrine" thing is a deceitful dodge. Be honest guys, it really isn't that difficult. You might even like it once you get used to it.

I've been told by Mormons that it's not about the caffeine, but yes, "hot drinks" has a nebulous definition in their theology.

It's easily explained, Mormons are idiots, if it comes from the earth why would it be bad? Tea and coffee is not processed to the point it is no longer in a raw form, coffee is toasted and ground, tea is basically just ground. Why would adding something to hot water make it a sin?

This is how I never became a coffee drinker , and even gave up all pop because it has been proven unhealthy .

But I'm not a fake Utah Mormon , who still believe that Jesus told Joseph Smith to practice polygamy ( but Joe's own mom , son , and only wife swore till their deaths he never did that sin ) .

I would like you to provide the link and proof that JS owned hot chocolate stock..

It has nothing to do with caffeine. It is just non herbal tea and coffee (of any kind, even cold).