"To keep the body in good health is a duty, for otherwise, we shall not be able to trim the lamp of wisdom, and keep our mind strong and clear.
- Gautama Buddha
The closest thing I've had to tasting coffee was in jellybean form and I hated it. And I've never had a sip of alcohol or even wanted one. I couldn't give you a confident estimate of how many people consume one of those two beverages, but I imagine they're rather high. Those who forgo their consumption do so for a number of reasons, out of sheer distaste for them, for health reasons, and so forth. But for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we adhere to a commandment, a code of health if you will, that's come to be known as "The Word of Wisdom". Although we're not the only religion to adhere to some dietary restrictions, we still get looks of disbelief from others. Alcohol, more people understand, but coffee is the real shocker. This blog post delves deeper into the aspects of the Word of Wisdom. The ultimate reason for the restrictions and guidelines is that we believe it to be a commandment of God and nothing short of divine revelation can sway us to live otherwise. But for anyone who might be more scientifically inclined, I do offer some points to consider but only as possible secondary reasons to the divine mandate. These days, even as far as scientific evidence goes, people will do all they can to present the evidence in their favor, but nobody can disprove it as a commandment of God.
**NOTE: If you wish to get in contact with missionaries of the Church to learn more, you can do so at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/missionary-visit
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*Note that I talk about addiction in another post "You Will Be Freed" which you may wish to read.
Alcohol was as prevalent as air in Mexico and if someone didn’t drink alcohol, they likely drank coffee or tea (See "A Close Encounter in Mexico"). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believes in a modern-day revelation nicknamed “The Word of Wisdom”, first given back in 1833 to Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio that now serves as a commandment for the Church. The Word of Wisdom benefits all aspects of health and well-being (physical, mental, and spiritual). It includes abstaining from alcoholic drinks, coffee, black and green teas, tobacco, illicit drugs, and other harmful or highly addictive substances [1]. Of course, there are things that some individuals shouldn’t ingest for personal health reasons on a case-by-case basis, like for allergies or intolerance for example, but these are the key consumption features of the Word of Wisdom that everyone should abstain from. Additionally, some people still believe that caffeine goes against the Word of Wisdom, but officially, the Church is neutral on its position on caffeine itself, as I will go into shortly.
Remember, our bodies are a gift from God. Paul taught that our bodies are so holy that they are, in one sense, “[a] temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy…” (1 Corinthians 3:16; see also "Temples -- Holy Houses of the Lord"). We show God our appreciation of life when we treat our bodies with care. I firmly believe that longevity would prosper if the whole world lived the basic principles of the Word of Wisdom. So much of today’s diseases and deaths are not caused by viruses or antigens but by unhealthy lifestyles and what we choose to put into our bodies.
RELIGIOUS LAWS OF HEALTH
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints isn't the only religion to abide by dietary restrictions. Jewish diet is closely regulated by the Torah (Lev. 11) which follows several Kosher Laws. And then you have the Islamic faith which is made up of Halal foods. In Arabic, Halal means "lawful". Haram means "unlawful". In general, there are only a few food items that are Haram. For example; Muslims are not allowed to consume pork products, blood, carnivorous animals, wine, or ethyl alcohol (to name a few things).
In the first book of Daniel, the Hebrew youth are being brought up in the culture of their enemy the Chaldeans. Still keeping the Law of Moses in those days, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank…” (Dan 1:9). He was confronted for refusing the customs of the kingdom. To defend his actions, Daniel challenged the prince to a contest. He and his brethren would eat only what was allowed by the Mosaic law and at the end of ten days compare his health to those who ate like the Chaldeans. After ten days, he was found to be “fairer and fatter in the flesh” than all the others and gained “knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom” (Dan 1:10-17). Thus, was Daniel justified, and blessed physically and mentally. It was this same Daniel who was then able to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar's dream by divine inspiration.
According to Christians, the Law of Moses was ended (fulfilled) after Christ’s resurrection, including the strict dietary restrictions of the Torah. The new law that Christ taught was not unanimously accepted overnight; the Apostles often had to explain the implications of moving beyond the Mosaic Law and turning to Him. In the Book of Acts, Peter has a vision in which he sees many beasts and hears a voice saying “Arise, Peter, slay and eat”. But Peter said, “Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered [him] again from heaven, ‘what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” (Acts 11:5-9). This was an object lesson for Peter to take the gospel to the Gentiles whereas before, only those of the House of Israel could receive it (Matt. 10:6; 15:24) and is an example of a new divine mandate replacing a previous one.
God has again revealed a law of health customized to our day and circumstances. Pork is no longer prohibited among other things mentioned in the Law of Moses, but God has warned us of new things to take heed of. The before mentioned things to avoid in the Word of Wisdom include things not yet discovered or locally available during Biblical times or whose potency has since been enhanced by chemical engineering. The coffee plant for example wasn’t discovered until the 11th century in Ethiopia which makes sense why it wouldn’t be mentioned in the Bible. The Word of Wisdom says, “strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies” (D&C 89:7), and “…hot drinks are not for the body or belly” (vs. 9). Living prophets have specified this is to be interpreted as coffee and black teas (regardless of actual temperature).
COFFEE & CAFFEINE
There is no official reason given for why coffee isn’t allowed other than God has commanded it but there are things that may be taken into personal consideration. The first thing that usually comes to mind is that coffee has massive caffeine content. Coffee is infamous for its ability as a stimulant because it has the ability to block neuroreceptors for the sleep chemical adenosine. A cup of coffee contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine, sometimes up to 300 milligrams. To put it into perspective, a can of coke contains about 29 milligrams of caffeine. There was a time in the church’s history where Coca-Cola products were considered against the Word of Wisdom, however, that idea was short-lived. In September of 2012, the Church made an official statement clarifying that it does not prohibit the use of caffeine and again affirmed that the commandment refers to coffee and tea. After all, traces of caffeine can be found from chocolate to pain relievers like Aspirin but that doesn’t make them bad. Caffeine has been shown to have useful properties under certain conditions and in controlled amounts.
This is also the trouble with relying on science alone when deciding whether to keep the Word of Wisdom or not because there are things that can be considered both good and bad when you break things down enough. You'll likely find some benefits mixed in with the bad. In the world of science, things aren't always so black and white, especially in matters of morality. That's why we have to fall back on whether or not we believe that God has commanded us to abstain from them or not. You'll understand my intent to give fair warning on the negative for you to consider.
In addition to having high amounts of caffeine, coffee contains ingredients like 2-Ethylphenol, albeit in small amounts, which is a tar-like substance, and cockroach pheromone that gives coffee its famous aroma and has been shown to have adverse effects on animals in large amounts.
Coffee can cause staining on your teeth. Coffee contains ingredients called "tannins" that cause color compounds to stick to your teeth. Tannins are also found in beverages like wine and tea.
And although it’s debated whether coffee produces a physical dependency, it can cause just as strong of a psychological or behavioral dependency. Still, physical withdrawals may occur when quitting including drowsiness and headaches. However, the body will readjust itself by naturally decreasing the buildup of adenosine receptors after about a week so if you can get through a week of no coffee, you are on your way to breaking that habit. So, although caffeine might not kill you in and of itself, neither should it be consumed regularly in large quantities. But again, there is no official reason why we don’t drink coffee but life seems to go better when we don’t. There are plenty of people who don't need coffee to make it through life. But the need for coffee is something that people rehearse in their minds so much that it's no wonder they convince themselves they couldn't possibly live without it. I assure you, we can.
TEA
Black and Green teas also don’t have specific medical reasons to avoid them (although a cup of black tea contains about 47 milligrams of caffeine and we are counseled to avoid anything we may become dependent on). They differ from natural teas in that Black tea and Green tea are both made from the leaves of a bush called Camellia sinensis and undergo an oxidation (fermentation) process which is what gives it its dark color. Natural teas are not against the Word of Wisdom and have great health benefits (such as lemon or cinnamon).
TOBACCO & SMOKING
Tobacco seeds were first brought to the Old World in 1559 following the orders of King Phillip II of Spain. Likewise, tobacco was long in use in Mesoamerica but became popular only after the Columbian exchange. Of course, the scriptures wouldn’t mention tobacco! But thanks to modern-day revelation from God through living prophets, we know that tobacco isn't for consumption.
In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) named tobacco as the world's single greatest preventable cause of death; according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), more people die from smoking-related illnesses every year than people who die from motor accidents, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and other drug use, AIDS, suicide, and homicide combined. Tobacco’s danger comes largely from the high content of nicotine which is a potent parasympathomimetic stimulant and alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants (infamous for toxicity); it used to be used as an insecticide. Yet, nicotine is more addictive than heroin or alcohol according to a study by the CDC in 2010.
There are zero benefits of smoking and a million negative effects. Ask any doctor if you don’t take my word. Most cigarettes contain a "reconstituted tobacco" product known as "sheet", which consists of "recycled [tobacco] stems, stalks, scraps, collected dust, and floor sweepings", to which are added glue, chemicals, and filters (which do not make them safer); the product is then sprayed with nicotine that was extracted from the tobacco scraps, and shaped into curls. Cigarettes are disgusting! You can probably already think of all sorts of resulting health trouble ranging from cancer (namely lung) to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (heart disease). About half of cigarette smokers die of tobacco-related disease and lose on average fourteen years of life. Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemical compounds, including arsenic, formaldehyde, cyanide, lead, nicotine, carbon monoxide, acrolein, and other poisonous substances. I could go on forever but you get the point. Smoking is bad. Tobacco is bad. Tobacco companies prosper off of the addictive properties of these nasty poisons. Don’t give in. Your life isn’t worth it.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol is another psychoactive drug—a depressant because it depresses inhibitions (good judgment). When alcohol is consumed, around 33% of it gets absorbed immediately into the blood, through the stomach lining. The remaining alcohol is absorbed more slowly into the blood, through the small intestine. The liver turns alcohol into something called acetaldehyde, which is toxic and can cause cancer. Excess drinking causes the liver to accumulate fat, which can lead to fatty liver disease which can cause the liver to become inflamed. A liver that has become clogged with fat cannot perform at an efficient level, which affects the rest of the body since the liver is responsible for filtering toxins out of your blood. Ultimately alcohol consumption can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, and death. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol diffuses into almost every biological tissue in the body, because cell membranes are highly permeable. Drinking releases excess GABA and dopamine, two naturally occurring neurotransmitters that are generally good. GABA is responsible for calming the brain down, and dopamine is responsible for pleasure which is a part of the brain’s reward system (which helps us make decisions). Too much of these neurotransmitters can lead to shortness of breath, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, night terrors, delusions, hallucinations, spasms, and increased levels of both aggression and depression. Drinking also releases endorphins, which are similar to neurotransmitters except they carry natural pain-reducing chemicals instead of ‘messages’. Endorphins are normally released upon rewarding actions, such as exercise, sexual activity, eating, etc. Too much endorphin release can cause depression, lower sex drive, low testosterone, infertility, and extreme fatigue, among other complications. Alcohol affects every part of the body from the brain, to the heart, to the decalcification of your bones, to your stomach lining. Drunkenness turns otherwise good men into unpredictable fools who are more likely to do things they otherwise wouldn’t do in good judgment; it robs you of your dignity, your agency, and everything good. It tears families apart, it can lead to violence, it robs your bank. You can live without drinking alcohol and you can bet a happier and safer life without it.
WINE
Those familiar with the miracles that Jesus performed will be quick to point out that the first recorded was turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana.
Be that as it may, it’s not preposterous to say that there were non-alcoholic wines during Jesus’ time too which would become alcoholic eventually.
NOTE: Let me be clear that I am not making a case that Jesus only drank non-alcoholic wine. He almost assuredly did drink alcohol, as well as the Apostles. But whether or not Jesus drank wine or approved of others drinking wine anciently does not give us the same permission to do so today. It wasn't a commandment back then, but it is now. New commandments from God always hold precedence over old practices. I again remind you of the example earlier in this blog post, where before the gospel wasn't allowed to be taken to the Gentiles, and later it was. Therefore, let this commentary on wine be clear in this one sentence, that no argument for Jesus drinking alcohol justifies our consumption of it today.
Scripturally, wine was referenced in both positive and negative metaphorical ways throughout the Bible. Positively, free wine is used as a symbol of divine grace, and wine is repeatedly compared to intimate love in the Song of Solomon. Negatively, wine is personified as a mocker ("the most hardened apostate" in the Book of Proverbs whose chief sin is pride) and beer a brawler (one who is "mocking, noisy, and restless"). The mention of wine or related imagery is prevalent throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament. There are many instances of vineyards being used in parables. Jesus uses wine in an object lesson whereby if new wine is put into old bottles, the bottle fails and the wine spills (Luke 5:37-39). And in the final days of Jesus' mortal ministry, He says, "I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come", therein saying that when He does come again in the Second Coming, He will drink wine again. (Matt. 26:29; Luke 22:18; D&C 27:5)
Even after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was organized, wine was used for a time, but only as part of the Sacrament (See "Sabbath Day Observance"). After all, Jesus used wine when He instituted the sacrament at the Last Supper, otherwise called "Passover" (See "Great Sacrifice"). Wine was symbolic of blood in many ways. That's why the sacrament prayers as found in our scriptures say "wine" instead of "water" (D&C 20:78-79; Moroni 5). Even then, it was "weak" wine, newer less alcoholic wine, not "strong drink". In the same section where we get the start of the "Word of Wisdom" in 1833, we see the Lord place those restrictions upon wine:
"That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him. And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make." (D&C 89:5-6)
Going back even further, within the first 4 months of the Church being organized in 1830, the Lord gives a similar constraint upon the type of wine permitted for use in the sacrament, to not be overly fermented (alcoholic):
"Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, that you shall not purchase wine neither strong drink of your enemies; Wherefore, you shall partake of none except it is made new among you; yea, in this my Father’s kingdom which shall be built up on the earth." (D&C 27:3-4)
But in the verse just before this, in regards to wine and the sacrament, it explains that wine is not even required in the sacrament and that anything may be used:
"For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins." (D&C 27:2)
Apparently, it wasn't until July 5, 1906 that the complete shift from wine to water in the sacrament was made. Just the same, Nationwide prohibition in the America with the 18th ammendment, which was in the talks for years already, came into effect in 1920 until it ended in 1933. And so, nowadays, water is used in the sacrament instead of wine, but the important part of the ceremony, the promise that we make with God remains. The power of the sacrament is in the covenant not the bits of food and liquid.
All wines begin as unfermented wine. The purpose of making wine was to preserve grape juices through means of fermentation, however, boiling fermented juice to eliminate the alcohol was also practiced in those days. In those cases, it would reduce the juice to a syrup which could then be diluted with water like canned concentrated juice. Aristotle who was born around 384 B.C. wrote, “The wine of Arcadia was so thick it was necessary to scrape it from the skin bottles in which it was contained and to dissolve the scrapings in water”. During fermentation, yeasts transform sugars present in the juice into ethanol and carbon dioxide. Alcohol content increased as fermentation set its course over time so not all wines could confidently be said to contain the same amount of alcohol; the newer the wine, the less alcoholic it was. Of course, then, wine came from grape juice so grape juice was an available beverage but not always convenient in the long run, especially when it came to transport and resale.
But historical facts can’t clarify every detail. The data is limited on this topic. Whatever the case was, Paul instructed the Saints against “drunkenness” (Romans 13:13) and that “drunkards” would not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:10; Gal. 5:21). If ever there was an insult, it was that of “winebibber” (Prov. 23:20; Matt. 11:19; Mosiah 11:15).
The same is true in our day and age. We might consider the mandate to abstain from wine as really a mandate to abstain from "strong drink", or any alcoholic beverage. We haven't been commanded to avoid grapes or grape juice. It's the alcohol. As such, although I may not speak for everyone, I know members of the Church who cook with wine in a way that evaporates or burns off the alcohol. Just as the early members of the Church in the 1830s were permitted to consume wine of low to zero alcohol content, we should strive to live first and foremost by the spirit of the law, so to speak, in cases such as these.
The commandment we call the Word of Wisdom today is more important than that of old as far as we should be concerned. Why? Because never before have so many dangerous substances been at the disposal of mankind for consumption. All one has to do is drive to the local gas station for a pack of cigarettes or a can of beer, but just because we can doesn't mean we should.
MARIJUANA & "OTHERS"
In recent years, the discussion over marijuana has gained enormous attention from the general public across the United States. In many states, marijuana has been legalized. Medicinal uses have been proposed. In return, some may wonder what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' official stance is. I will not go deeply into this discussion other than citing the church's general handbook:
"The Church opposes the use of marijuana for non-medical purposes.
However, marijuana may be used for medicinal purposes when the following conditions are met:
The use is determined to be medically necessary by a licensed physician or another legally approved medical provider.
The person follows the dosage and mode of administration from the physician or other authorized medical provider. The Church does not approve of vaping marijuana unless the medical provider has authorized it based on medical necessity.
The Church does not approve of smoking marijuana, including for medical purposes."
There are other harmful substances and practices that are not specified in the Word of Wisdom or by Church leaders. Members should use wisdom and prayerful judgment in making choices to promote their physical, spiritual, and emotional health.
BLESSINGS
A fourteen-year study conducted by UCLA followed the mortality rates and health practices of 10,000 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints living in California. The study’s results were that "Mormons" who followed their health code (the Word of Wisdom) had an increased life expectancy 5 to 10 years longer than the general U.S. population and that they also had the smallest death rates from cardiovascular disease and cancer. The blessings of the Word of Wisdom are real.
Many try to claim that the things we voluntarily abstain from are not always bad, but those claims will ultimately be in vain. With any pro will come three cons to their claim. All you have to do is, like Daniel, look around to see that we are better off without intoxicating products. Put them to the test and try it out for yourself! See if I lie! I’m not an expert on what substances cause what health issues but it’s easy to see that those who live the Word of Wisdom are generally healthier physically, mentally, and emotionally (not to mention the money that is saved from not purchasing poisons or paying those needless medical costs that ensue).
I plea for you to decide from this same moment to refrain from drinking alcohol, coffee, or teas and smoking if you do so now. Keep your word to yourself and seize those blessings that will be yours. Do all that is necessary to stop. The recommended first step: get them out of the house.
I have talked about many medicinal reasons to live the Word of Wisdom but I wish to always fall back on the genius of our Heavenly Father. He doesn’t always tell us the reason for His commandments but He has His purposes. His reasons may include things I’ve already explained, but in the end, God’s ways are higher than our ways. There are things that we have yet to learn and we shouldn’t pretend to have all the answers. Despite the many individuals who continue to seek benefits in the things we abstain from, I know that a commandment from on High cannot be changed by research in a lab. My commitment to the Word of Wisdom is faith in the Lord, not the facts of a medical encyclopedia.
Many in the world justify doing anything they want because “it's their life”. It's whatever comes to mind when I hear people say "YOLO". In fact, because of the resurrection and life after death, you don't only live once. It's a lie to think that living however we want today won't carry consequences into the eternities. Nephi prophesied of this kind of people:
“…And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 28:8)
“Justification” of sin is a mockery of the atonement of the Son of God. Such a mindset is contrary to God’s plan and will be rewarded with negative consequences. We must not say, “Just a little bit won’t hurt. I’ll stop tomorrow”. No. There is a difference between sinning and giving sin the spare bedroom. Move forward and don’t look back. As the second shortest English scripture after “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) says, “Remember Lot’s Wife” (Luke 17:32). God told Lot and his wife to flee the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and to not look back lest they be consumed (Gen 19:17). Lot’s wife disobeyed and looked back. Maybe it was more than looking back that turned her into a “pillar of salt” (Gen 19:26), maybe she wanted to go back and doubted the future that God promised them. Maybe it was a lack of faith. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once said, “such people know they should have their primary residence in [God’s kingdom], but they still hope to keep a summer cottage in Babylon”. We must not look back at sin. We must not trip on what is behind us.
The Word of Wisdom is like an instruction manual that Heavenly Father has given us to make healthy choices to care for our tabernacles of clay (See "Patriarchs and Potters"). In addition to things to avoid, the Word of Wisdom counsels us to partake of good things—fruits, vegetables, wholesome grains, etc. There is so much good food that we have at our disposal that far outnumber the bad things. Additionally, we are counseled to get a good amount of sleep but not oversleep (D&C 88:124), and to not overwork ourselves (D&C 10:4). Our bodies are the vessels by which we experience mortality and they will be there in eternity.
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