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If you're new to the
Church or been a lifetime member I'm sure you've heard the cola/caffeine
debate over and over. Some say to keep the Word of Wisdom you shouldn't
drink cola drinks, others say it doesn't matter. So what's the Church's
stand on cola drinks? Here you'll find what the LDS Church has published
about cola drinks, caffeine, and the Word of Wisdom.
In 1975 The New Era's
Question/Answer section asked, "Is
it against Church standards to drink cola beverages or any other beverage
containing caffeine?"
Bishop H. Burke Peterson, who was the First Counselor in the Presiding
Bishopric at the time answered:
"'And
again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained
for the constitution, nature, and use of man.' (D&C
89:10)
"We
should notice the word wholesome and always consider the things that
we take into our body as to whether they are wholesome or not. The scripture
continues, 'All these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.' (D&C
89:11) Consider
the word prudence. Would eating a whole apple pie or a cake or watermelon
at one sitting be prudent? It is contrary to the principles embodied
in the Word of Wisdom to take an excess of anything into our bodies.
"Two
of the tests we can employ as we question the use of any food or beverage
are: Is it wholesome? Is it prudent? As we know, some of us need more
rest than others. These same principles imply that we should not tax
our bodies beyond good judgment. Finally, remember that the Lord has
counseled:
'For behold, it is
not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled
in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore
he receiveth no reward.' (D&C
58:26)
"We
know that cola drinks contain the drug caffeine. We know caffeine is
not wholesome nor prudent for the use of our bodies. It is only sound
judgment to conclude that cola drinks and any others that contain caffeine
or other harmful ingredients should not be used."
("Q&A:
Questions and Answers,"
New Era, Oct. 1975, 34 NOTE: Scroll down to Bishop Peterson's
question/answer section about cola drinks.)
Is the above quote
still valid since it was published over 25 years ago? Here's what the
Ensign printed about caffeine and cola drinks in 1988:
"Apparently,
the potency of caffeine is related to body weight. To a 150-pound adult,
'a cup of instant coffee or a can of cola beverage could give about
1 mg caffeine per kilogram of body weight. In a very young child, a
cup of chocolate or a candy bar would give the same proportion of stimulant
to body weight. When this child drinks a can of cola, … caffeine
intake is comparable to an adult drinking four cups of instant coffee.
… Restlessness, irritability, sleeplessness, and nervousness are
some of the symptoms.'
"According to a statement in the Priesthood
Bulletin of February 1972 (volume 8, number 1), 'There has been no official
interpretation of [the] Word of Wisdom except that which was given by
the Brethren in the very early days of the Church when it was declared
that ‘hot drinks’ meant tea and coffee.
'With reference to
cola drinks, the 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.
Any beverage that contains ingredients harmful to the body should be
avoided.'" (Clifford J. Stratton, "Caffeine—The
Subtle Addiction,"
Ensign, June 1988, 60)
So does this mean we
shouldn't drink cola drinks? I think we need to be wise in our choice
of foods and drinks. To obey the Word of Wisdom we can't use tobacco,
drink coffee or tea, or use drugs, but we must individually decide for
everything else. We know what the scriptures say, what the Church's counsel
is, and we must choose. If we feel we wouldn't be obeying the Word of
Wisdom by drinking cola drinks, then don't drink them, if we feel that
we shouldn't eat a chocolate bar or other dessert every day then don't
do it and you will be blessed. If we become addicted to a substance we
are being controlled by the substance and are not obeying the Word of
Wisdom.
I believe drinking
a cola drink now and then just as eating a chocolate bar every once in
awhile is fine. Drinking a cola drink or eating a chocolate bar every
day would not be healthy and in my opinion if I did this I would not be
obeying the Word of Wisdom, but that would be my opinion and my choice,
that would affect me and no one else.
To learn
how much caffeine there is in coffee, cola drinks, chocolate, medications,
and diet pills see Part Two: Common
Sources of Caffeine
Find out how caffeine
can affect your health, sleep, pregnancy & fertility, anxiety, headaches,
and much more in Part Three: Caffeine and Your
Health
Next page >
Common
Sources of Caffeine
> Page 1, 2,
3
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