In this work we attempt to gather official statements made on the subject of caffeine in order to trace its development within the context of the health code known as “The Word of Wisdom”. However, the LDS church recently released a statement (read more about that HERE, and yes, it was on the news!) We used to have revelations, then manifestos, then proclamations, and now we have Newsroom blogs.” This whole thing smacks of a publicity stunt. The … Jorgensen, who is doing a two-year research fellowship in Germany, grew up "in a devout Mormon household, in a small, devout Mormon town," where his neighbors and church leaders viewed "drinking a Coca-Cola as so close to drinking coffee that it made your … Synthetic caffeine, available in both powered form and as an additive to sodas and energy beverages, is significantly more powerful than natural caffeine. They are based on what church members believe was a revelation from God to founder Joseph Smith in 1833. I eventually settled on my cold caffeine beverage of choice…Diet Pepsi. LDS caffeine statement sparks discussion; Rexburg Unplugged features local artists September 17, 2012. The clarification on caffeine “is long overdue,” said Matthew Jorgensen, a Mormon and longtime Mountain Dew drinker. Still, many Mormons will not consume caffeinated drinks. Most people feel that they can drink a caffeinated soda or eat a chocolate every once in a while, but do not feel it is prudent to have these things on a daily basis. https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Caffeine&oldid=28635. -snip- "I can understand why the church is cautious," Jorgensen wrote in an email. Dance, theatre, art classes available September 17, 2012 . Indeed, fully caffeinated colas are available in the church's Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and in the Lion House Pantry, next to the faith's headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City. That blog post was later tweaked, according to church spokesman Scott Trotter, "to clarify its intent, which was to provide context to the NBC piece. The caffeine discussion within the Latter-day saint community intensified when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement on the Church’s Newsroom blog. Stress and Weight Gain: The Vicious Cycle 8. On Wednesday (Aug. 29), the LDS church posted a statement on its website saying that "the church does not prohibit the use of caffeine" and that the faith's health-code reference to "hot drinks" "does not go beyond (tea and coffee)." They have specifically stated that Coke, Pepsi, and any other form of caffeine is completely fine as long as it’s not heated. The latter statement is technically correct when it says that D&C 89 does not mention caffeine; however, many past Mormon leaders strongly discouraged its use, referring to the stimulant as a poisonous drug that was habit-forming and harmful. "I can understand why the church is cautious," Jorgensen wrote in an email. I was born in Salt Lake City into a non-Mormon family. News; Tags . ©2021 Verizon Media. Caffeine is addictive, and while avoiding it has never been a commandment in Mormonism similar to the prohibition against alcohol, nevertheless, Mormons have been counseled to avoid it. Church-owned schools refrain from selling caffeinated beverages in their cafeterias. But this was a dietary shift for Joseph Smith’s contemporaries, the generation of Mormon Pioneers. The following quote is one of the few statements from leaders of the Church on the subject of caffeine: With reference to cola drinks, the Mormon 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. La cucaracha, la cucaracha, ya no puede caminar! We were always berated by Mormons for drinking caffeine so we believed that was their doctrine. The topic above has received a fair amount of attention this week and caused me to look back in my memory bank of being a Mormon. stating that caffeine was ok to consume. The idea of prudence is also important. Church spokesman Scott Trotter said the clarification was made to provide context to last week's NBC News hour-long special on Mormonism that stated Mormons don't drink caffeine. Rudger Clawson, a member of the First Presidency under Lorenzo Snow, stated in general conference, I distinctly recall going through bishop interviews to receive my temple recommends and being asked if I had refrained from drinking caffeinated sodas. One particular comment on the thread got me thinking about how many of these drinks stack up to some popular chocolate products on a caffeine per ounce basis. “I grew up thinking that it was the caffeine in coffee and tea that you needed to avoid – … Caffeine is not specifically mentioned as the reason not to drink these drinks. This week's clarification on caffeine "is long overdue," said Matthew Jorgensen, a Mormon and longtime Mountain Dew drinker. The scripture continues, “All these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:11). … Caffeine is addictive, and while avoiding it has never been a commandment in Mormonism similar to the prohibition against alcohol, nevertheless, Mormons have been counseled to avoid it. Tea is also referred to in this statement. The caffeine statement is important, not because of what it says about caffeine, but because of what Ben said in #5 “…the increasingly authoritative position the Newsroom has become as the arbiter of LDS doctrine and culture. Special vigilance is now required of Latter-day Saints, since super-caffeinated "energy drinks" have hit the marketplace, some containing alcohol. Several earlier LDS leaders, including apostle Bruce R. McConkie, considered imbibing Coke as a violation of the "spirit" of the Word of Wisdom. This week's clarification on caffeine "is long overdue," said Matthew Jorgensen, a Mormon and longtime Mountain Dew drinker. questionable.". The original post said "the church does not prohibit the use of caffeine" and that the reference to "hot drinks" "does not go beyond [tea and coffee]." Two teaspoons would be lethal to most adults. "We are constantly evaluating what those needs and desires are.". During that time in history the only "hot drinks" were tea and coffee. It says plainly that "the only official interpretation of'hot drinks' ... in the Word of Wisdom is the statement made by early church leaders that the term' hot drinks' means tea and coffee.". I drink Mt. From 1899 to 2006 the word “caffeine” is mentioned only eight times in the Semi-annual General Conference reports of the church. ", Caffeine, he said, "is the perfect, low-risk testing ground for members to make decisions for themselves. Following this interview, many Mormons immediately quit drinking caffeinated sodas. Official statement of policy from the First Presidency regarding cola drinks. If caffeine is ok, then what is it about coffee that is so bad? 4 Caffeine can also precipitate other conditions that can lead to further problems. Any beverage that contains ingredients harmful to the body should be avoided. It used to be thought that we were instructed to avoid coffee because of the caffeine. Well it is now 100 percent official - Mormon's are allowed to drink coke and more specifically caffeine, just not tea or coffee. Apparently, throughout the history of the church, it has been okay … Published by Trisha Briggs on September 17, 2012. The topic above has received a fair amount of attention this week and caused me to look back in my memory bank of being a Mormon. Mormons will soon drink coffee! Mormons are not permitted to consume anything that "that pollutes the body or affects the mind," which includes caffeinated tea and coffee. However, it is irrelevant what "most Mormons" claim as their reason for avoiding coffee and tea. Hi All, So I'm not a Mormon, never have been, never planning to be one, but I'm curious.I like to know things, try to understand. Journalists -- from The New York Times' columnist Maureen Dowd to The Associated Press -- have often stated that Mormons don't drink caffeine. This soon morphed into experimenting with other previously forbidden caffeine drinks such as the formerly evil Coke and Pepsi. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also called the Mormon or LDS Church, is a Christian sect established in the 19th-century United States. Headlining today’s “Getting It Right” are Rock Center’s evenhanded treatment of Mormonism and an interview with a Mormon scholar that clarifies misconceptions from The Book of Mormon musical. Although many think the LDS Church prohibits the use of caffeine, officially it doesn’t. Last week, NBC News' hourlong feature on Mormonism made the same mistake, prompting the church's initial statement on its website. They reaffirmed this in 2017. Early in the fall semester of 2012 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the dominant religion among Utah State students, released a statement that it does not prohibit the use of caffeine among its members. It is claimed that "most Mormons" feel that coffee and tea are prohibited because they contain caffeine. The topic above has received a fair amount of attention this week and caused me to look back in my memory bank of being a Mormon. Caffeine and Mormonism Bottoms up, it’s no longer frowned upon to have Pepsi if you’re a Mormon! There is a long standing debate among Mormons as to whether caffeine is permissible or not according the health code Mormons follow, known as the Word of Wisdom. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also called the Mormon or LDS Church, is a Christian sect established in the 19th-century United States. Today is National Voter Registration Day! The only official interpretation of this term is the statement made by early Church leaders that it means tea and coffee. Categories . caffeine statement; featured; Rachel Brutsch; the word of wisdom; Caffeine is an ingredient in many types of soda pop. Brigham Young University amends its policy after the church revised its stance on caffeine in 2012. … One teaspoon of synthetic caffeine powder contains as much caffeine as 28 cups of coffee—or more. Plus, I think members need opportunities to work through questions of right and wrong for themselves. Kids are kind of morbid. In 1937, Elder John A. Widtsoe and his wife, Leah, wrote the first major book on the Word of Wisdom, speaking strongly against caffeine, saying, “Whenever a drink is advertised to 'give you a lift,' the 'lift' is likely to be caused by the drug which it contains. Caffeine is most harmful because it is addictive. All rights reserved. So, while technically this is the result of a rule made by BYU's food service, the reality is that it was most likely influenced by the mormon cultural habit of avoiding caffeinated soft drinks which, in turn, is rooted in the conception many had that the offending portion of "hot drinks" is the caffeine. This discussion then segued into the Mormon taboo against coffee and tea. How some Mormons view caffeine. On Wednesday (Aug. 29), the LDS church posted a statement on its website saying that "the church does not prohibit the use of caffeine" and that the faith's health-code reference to "hot drinks" "does not go beyond (tea and coffee). Dew and I'm considered a "good Mormon… The idea of prudence is also important. It is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive drug. This includes caffeine. The church has never come out and said that caffeine is behind the prohibition of hot drinks mentioned in the Word of Wisdom. ", There has not "been a demand for it," Jenkins said Thursday. You can find super-devout Mormons who will tell you that since chocolate contains caffeine, using foods made with it is violating the WoW. Use of caffeine can lead to a decrease in cerebral blood flow in adults and could increase the chance of compromising long-term growth in infants. Summary. Last week, NBC News' hourlong feature on Mormonism made the same mistake, prompting the church's initial statement on its website. Caffeine-Induced Stress. Candy and sweets are not forbidden by the Word of Wisdom either, but it is wise and prudent to eat these sparingly. Even so, many outsiders and plenty of insiders get that wrong. The Word of Wisdom itself gives no indication of the reasons these substances are to be avoided—it only states that they should be. We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote. The Spokesman-Review Newspaper Local journalism is essential. Although the official magazine published opinion pieces in 1971 indicating that caffeinated sodas was a matter of personal interpretation, in 1972 the First Presidency had made a clear statement that consuming certain beverages (such as colas with caffeine) was a violation of the WoW. ", The same goes for the church's two-volume handbook, which LDS leaders use to guide their congregations. Top rumor: next weekend, … So many Mormons then will say well, we should not drink any caffeinated beverages. Part of HuffPost Religion. ", (Peggy Fletcher Stack writes for The Salt Lake Tribune.). They just don't bar members from, say, pounding a Pepsi, downing a Mountain Dew or sipping a hot chocolate. President Gordon B. Hinckley told "60 Minutes" that Mormons avoid caffeine, apostle Bruce R. McConkie wrote that it violated the spirit of the Word of Wisdom, and even BYU campuses don't sell it. However, once again, coffee and tea are the only things specifically proscribed, even though hot chocolate is both a hot drink and contains caffeine. The Spokesman-Review Newspaper Local journalism is essential. The Book of Mormon got a mention on Sunday Night Football; ... clarifying the statement made on caffeine. This page was last edited on 19 June 2011, at 18:10. The rules prohibit alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and coffee and tea. After Mitt Romney, a prominent member of the Mormon Church, attracted attention in 2012 for drinking Diet Coke, the church clarified that it has no rule against caffeine. But I've read here that many enjoy modern "Energy Drinks" that rely on caffeine for much of their punch. The purpose behind my coworkers statement was not a desire to persuade others to not drink caffeine but it was a focus of blame and persecution. Bottoms up, it’s no longer frowned upon to have Pepsi if you’re a Mormon! This made me even more confused! ", Part of the confusion stems from LDS church-owned Brigham Young University, which neither sells nor serves caffeinated drinks. Caffeinated Mormons I recently came across a post on the LDS blog By Common Consent that featured the caffeine content of a variety of popular drinks. But BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins explains that is "not a university or church decision, but made by dining services, based on what our customers want. Caffeine Introduced >> Increased Cortisol Hormone Levels >> Cravings for Carbs and Sugars >> Increased Abdominal Fat >> Further Increase in Cortisol and Exaggerated Responses to Stress >> More Cravings for Carbs and Sugars >> Worsening Obesity >> Risks of Heart Disease, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Osteoarthritic Problems My classmate’s statement was entirely right – at least, correct according to the interpretation I grew up with. Mormon-owned Brigham Young University decided to start serving caffeinated soda on campus, overturning a policy that’s been in place since the 1950s. However, since the punctuation was added by CNN, it is not clear whether President Hinckley was listing things we say no to, or whether he was clarifying the “no to caffeine” statement by adding the “coffee and tea,” in which there are lots of caffeine.