Cola Drinks, Decaf Coffee and the Word of Wisdom

[Happy_LDS]

With Coffee and tea its more then just caffeine that make them "bad".

Caffeine on the other hand is a little bit more in the gray area!  If you have drinks that have caffeine in them, are you doing it for the taste of the drink, or for the drug (Caffeine) that is in the drink?

I think this is what we all rationalize but the truth is that it was never revealed the why.

[TheMark]

It says hot drinks yeah but the interpretation was given to mean "tea and coffee" so no need to stop the chocolate thingie.

I was being rhetorical.  It was probably a really stupid comment.  Forgive me.

My real opinion is that the Word of Wisdom is an advisory message on how to be clean and healthy in what you take into your body.  I don't really understand why the Word of Wisdom has become a part of the temple interview process, but alas it is and I suppose the church leadership has some wisdom on the matter.

I don't think God would prefer anyone to become addicted to anything.  When someone is addicted to a substance then that substance becomes a sort of God to them.  The law that man shall have no other god before God applies.

On the other hand, I don't think a caffeine addiction is really a serious sin.  In some ways it is a useful tool.  As long as it is kept in control and not the controller, it isn't an issue.

The only reason I would think that tolerating decaf coffee might be a bad idea is the fact that not drinking coffee is an identifiable mark of a Mormon.  It gives us an identity.  It's sort of a uniform by which our fellow saints can recognize us.  This goes along with the rest of the standards (in the sense of an emblem or flag).

I guess when it comes down to it, I think it's up to each individual to act according to his/her conscience.  That's apparently how the leadership has left it.

[robvmtr]

My 2 cents here. Caffine is harmful and addictive!!!
 I know  this Much that medically  drinking drinks that are to hot can burn the mouth and throat which can cause more problems later . (Seems that choco can be consumed in moderation .)
 and caffine is very bad on the nervous system and is addictive (I know from exp.) we also know that there is sorry if i spell wrong (tanic acid ) which is coffee and some tea's which is same chemical in some other products (ex. sun tan oil) coffee I had a problem with it and know first hand it and regular tea can cause stomach problems later . so I changed to caffine free Coke and drink less of it if any because reg coke is a killer on the stomach . (is also good for cleaning the battery posts on your car) if your like me and like coffee and tea  here is the winner (herbal tea =no caffine) and (eather mild drinks made from acorns or chicory and i think the other is called Postem coffee alt. no caffine at all but still tastes like or close to coffee) and better for you . 

[Superfly2028]

The answer is simple.  Just look at the church handbook of instructions! Cola drinks are not against the wow! It says that members should avoid any kind of addictive substance, but it does not specifically mention cola drinks.  Now, decaf is another question.  The problem with coffee isn´t caffeine.  In all reality it doesn´t matter which part of coffee is bad for the body.  The fact is that God said that we can´t drink coffee.  Period! Non-alcoholic beer is different.  The WoW is against alcohol, not beer.  This question is super simple.  Just follow what´s in the scriptures and the church handbook.

[quaper]

What hot drinks means is something that can burn you when you drink it.  For example you take a swig of coffee and your mouth can be seriously burned, but as long as its not extremely hot its ok like hot chocolate.  Also one of the reasons it singles out tea and coffee is because of the caffine.  I don't drink caffinee and I never have.  The prophets and other preisthood leaders have told us to restrain from drings with large amounts of caffine.  To me a large amount of caffine is a soda with it in it, where as a small amount would be something like chocolate.

[tragula]

In 1972, the year the Lakers won the championship, the First Presidency issued a statement counseling against the use of caffeine drinks.  It was counsel, not a commandment.  But I wonder if their counsel should not be enough for us.  Strictly speaking, caffeine drinks are not against the letter of the WoW, but perhaps they are against the spirit of it.

[Suzie_Su]

Counsel is counsel, is not a commandment. Same thing with beard and hairstyles, etc. I dont think we need to be guided in all things specially in petty things such as this.

[tragula]

Counsel is counsel, is not a commandment. Same thing with beard and hairstyles, etc. I dont think we need to be guided in all things specially in petty things such as this.

Yes, you are right--counsel is counsel and not a commandment.  I think that it would nice if we did not need to be guided in all things, but if the Brethren offer us counsel, I think that we should think twice before rejecting it.