Word of Wisdom

Word of Wisdom

The Word of Wisdom for Mormons is a “health code” that Mormons live by; or at least are supposed to live by.  The modern day Mormon Church tells us that we are not to drink coffee, tea, alcohol, or use tobacco or any harmful substance to our body.  Ok, I can agree with not using anything that is harmful to our body.  However, I was always taught until recently that caffeine was part of the list if items that Mormons are not supposed to take into their body because it is a stimulant.  As I would meet or talk to people who were not Mormon, they always assumed that we don’t drink coffee because of the caffeine and be surprised I like cola drinks.  I never wanted to try and explain the hot drink and caffeine issue because the Mormons have changed hot drinks to only some hot drinks, and the BYU the Mormon university now sells caffeinated drinks.  i.e. Hot Chocolate is okay to drink, and hot soups or broth is okay.  Anyway, back on the caffeine issue…….  Recently, the Mormon Church announced they are now selling caffeinated drinks on the BYU campus.  For those of you reading this and don’t know, the Mormon Church owns BYU which is a private university in Provo, Utah.  And it is actually a very good university.  But, always being taught that we don’t drink caffeine, and now the Mormon Church says it is now selling caffeinated drinks at their private school was a bit of a shock.  Don’t get me wrong, most Mormons I know have always consumed caffeinated beverages, and it was not uncommon to be at a church function to see a particular brand of rootbeer and orange soda, both which contain caffeine.  I never really saw the cola drinks because everyone knows they contain caffeine.  But many people assume rootbeer and other sodas don’t contain caffeine.

The Word of Wisdom also says to eat meat sparingly.  Really??? Why is that always left out of Word of Wisdom discussions at church?  As I already stated, the Word of Wisdom that is talked about in church and various talks in the modern days only addresses coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco and other harmful substances to our bodies.  As I sit in church, I feel the lessons that teachers give (the teachers use manuals provided by the church on the topics to discuss and even questions to ask the class.)  but I feel like the lessons pick and choose certain items not to talk about or bring up.  Of course someone often enough will raise there hand to bring up something about the Word of Wisdom that has been left out of the lesson.  But after a few comments, it gets brushed over because no one can give a definitive answer regarding church policy and teachings as to why something is left out or why current practices are different than the early days of the church.  For example…. Why is eating meat sparingly never brought up?  At least in any church lesson I’ve sat in, eating meat sparingly is a part of the Word of Wisdom that has not ever been answered with any real clarity.  It seems to me that there are some pieces of Mormon teachings that are taken at face value, and others that are brushed over or not brought up because the teachings have changed over the years.

I have raised questions over the years with a small handful of fellow Mormons about certain teachings and I am sincerely looking for an answer as to why certain teaching have changed.  Responses I have received are as follows:

You shouldn’t read that.  (Why not? I find all these changes in Mormon leaders talks and Mormon publications.)

You’re reading anti-Mormon literature, and shouldn’t do that.  (ummm….. no, I’m reading the words of Mormon church leaders)

I’ve never heard that. (Fair enough response I’ve received. But the individuals who respond that way, seem to brush it off and not care. That’s fine by me, some people just don’t care about the history of the church that goes beyond what they learn in weekly church meetings.)

Don’t tell me stuff like that. (No matter what responses I receive when I look for answers, I never raise any more questions to people that don’t want to hear anything that is contrary to what they are taught.  I am not looking to change anyone’s view they hold regarding Mormonism and the Mormon church.)

These are the main responses I get when I find something that is contradicting, or is being taught differently or not fully.

The Word of Wisdom is found in the Doctrine and Covenants section 89. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89?lang=eng  It says in verse 5: “That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good….”

Mormons teach that “strong drink” means alcohol.  It goes on in verse 7 to say that strong drinks are not for the belly.  Verse 8 says tobacco is not good for the body or the belly.  Verse 9 tells us that “hot drinks are not for the body or belly.”  Verses 12  and 13 tell us about using meat sparingly and should only be used in times of winter, cold, or famine.  There are also verses that talk of grains, wholesome herbs, and fruit.

We learn from Mormon Apostle George Q Cannon https://archive.org/stream/JoDV12/JoD_v12#page/n227  Begin reading on page 221, about half way down the page of the journal and you will find the following:

“We have heard considerable of late, especially since twelve months today, on the subject of the Word of Wisdom. Almost every elder who has spoken from this stand has felt the necessity and importance of calling the attention of the people to this subject. We are told, and very plainly too, that hot drinks—tea, coffee, chocolate, cocoa and all drinks of this kind are not good for man. We are also told that alcoholic drinks are not good, and that tobacco when either smoked or chewed is an evil. We are told that swine’s flesh is not good, and that we should dispense with it; and we are told that flesh of any kind is not suitable to man in the summer time, and ought to be eaten sparingly in the winter.”

“We must prevent the use by them of every article that is hurtful or noxious in its nature. We must not permit them to drink liquor or hot drinks, or hot soups or to use tobacco or other articles that are injurious.”

Let me summarize my blog post.  The modern Mormon Church only talks about staying away from alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco, and anything else harmful to the body (generally meaning illegal drugs).

Early Church lead George Q Cannon taught that hot drinks include coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, and hot soups.  He also tells us that the flesh of swine is not good, and “…that flesh of any kind is not suitable to man in the summer time, and ought to be eaten sparingly in the winter.”

I can tell you that in all of the Sunday school lessons I have been in that discuss the Word of Wisdom, that none of them have ever talked about hot cocoa, chocolate, or hot soups are to be avoided. Lessons have never taught about not eating swine, and that any kind of flesh should not be eaten in the summer, and only sparingly in the winter.

When I sit in a Bishops interview to determine if I am a good Mormon, I am asked if I follow the Word of Wisdom.  That is a yes or no answer.  I have had a few Bishops ask specifically if I drink alcohol, tea, or coffee, or use tobacco or drugs.  Drinking hot chocolate or having hot soup or eating Swine and eating meat sparingly only in winter months is never asked.  I am sure if the last items were asked, most Mormons would have to say the don’t follow the Word of Wisdom.

I can tell you that meat is a Mormon staple in most Mormon diets.  Go to any church function where food is served and you will see spaghetti with meat sauce, hamburgers and hotdogs are common, bacon and sausage on campouts is generally served for breakfast, and soups are very common.  Any time I am invited to a Mormons  house for dinner, I am always served meat. Even in the summer time.  So Mormons consume lots of meat, hot chocolate in the winter time, and soups. If we follow the teachings of early church teachings, I would guess that most Mormons do not live the Word of Wisdom.  But modern teachings leave a lot out.  I love hot chocolate, meat, and hot soup all year long.  I guess I don’t know if I am considered a good worthy Mormon to enter the Temple.  But I am especially confused about early teachings vs modern teachings.