I hope you enjoy some insights from my Come, Follow Me for Doctrine and Covenants 89-92, If you missed last week’s insight, for Doctrine and Covenants 88 click here for it. Please share this with your friends or use this picture to save this pin to read later:
Is Caffeine against the Word of Wisdom?
“And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.”
Doctrine and Covenants 89:9
When the revelation now known as the Word of Wisdom was first given the saints were told to abstain from Alcohol, Tobacco and “hot drinks.” What the Lord meant by “hot drinks” became an issue of contention. It was Hyrum Smith who settled the matter once and for all on June 1st, 1841. Hyrum who at the time was the Assistant President of the Church said:
“And again, ‘hot drinks are not for the body, or belly;’ there are many who wonder what this can mean; whether it refers to tea, or coffee, or not. I say it does refer to tea, and coffee.”
Hyrum Smith (“The Word of Wisdom,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1842, p. 800.)
Joseph later confirmed Hyrum’s words when he said: “Tea and coffee … are what the Lord meant when He said ‘hot drinks.’” (In Joel H. Johnson, Voice from the Mountains [Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1881], p. 12.) (For more about Hyrum see this article 5 Things You Did Not Know About Hyrum Smith The Patriarch).
Whereas it has been clarified that the Word of Wisdom means tea and Coffee, the Lord has never declared “why” Tea and Coffee were singled out.
Where members start to miss the mark is when they try to figure out “why” behind tea and coffee. Members mingle their own opinions with scriptures. They speculate and oftentimes come to the conclusion that the only thing in common between the two is Caffeine. But the Lord has never declared that! It is speculation.
I wish that members of the Church would be a little more Jewish when asked why we don’t drink tea or coffee. What do I mean? Could you imagine a Jew being asked, “Why can’t you eat pork?” Replying with, “Well, pork has a lot of carcinogens” or “It is super fatty” or “It is high in cholesterol and is bad for your heart.” Even the thought of a Jew replying that way is laughable! They would answer, “It is not Kosher, and in the Law of Moses, we were commanded not to eat it.” They are not ashamed to be a peculiar covenant people.
I don’t drink Coffee or Tea because the Lord told me not to. It has nothing to do with tannic acid or caffeine, or even the heat. Even if Tea and Coffee were super healthy and would help me lose weight and get abs, I would still refrain, BECAUSE THE LORD THROUGH THE PROPHET TOLD ME NOT TO DO IT.
When God does not give the “why” behind the revelation to the Prophet, we as members of the Church would be wise to realize rarely does any good come from our speculating on the matter. Think of all the false ideas that have come from speculating on the commandments! God is not going to give us personal revelations on Churchwide commandments that He was not willing to give the Prophet. Instead, let us focus on what we know, we know what He wants us to do! In the words of Neil L. Andersen: “You don’t know everything, but you know enough—enough to keep the commandments and to do what is right.”
For more on this topic see “The mistake Latter-day Saints made with the Priesthood restriction and how we are repeating it.” Also, see the following video:
It is either Catholicism or Mormonism.
“Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come;”
Doctrine and Covenants 90:3
I recently listened to this story, I want to relay it:
“Many years ago a learned man, a member of the Roman Catholic Church, came to Utah and spoke from the stand of the Salt Lake Tabernacle. I became well-acquainted with him, and we conversed freely and frankly.
A great scholar, with perhaps a dozen languages at his tongue’s end, he seemed to know all about theology, law, literature, science and philosophy. One day he said to me: ‘You Mormons are all ignoramuses. You don’t even know the strength of your own position. It is so strong that there is only one other tenable in the whole Christian world, and that is the position of the Catholic Church.
The issue is between Catholicism and Mormonism. If we are right, you are wrong; if you are right, we are wrong; and that’s all there is to it. The Protestants haven’t a leg to stand on. For, if we are wrong, they are wrong with us, since they were a part of us and went out from us; while if we are right, they are apostates whom we cut off long ago.
If we have the apostolic succession from St. Peter, as we claim, there is no need of Joseph Smith and Mormonism; but if we have not that succession, then such a man as Joseph Smith was necessary, and Mormonism’s attitude is the only consistent one. It is either the perpetuation of the gospel from ancient times, or the restoration of the gospel in latter days.’”
Elder LeGrand Richards (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder [Deseret Book Co., 1950], pp. 3–4.)
Elder Gary E. Stevenson taught that “Never, ever again do we have to question, ‘Where are the keys?'” I want to add my testimony to both Elder Richards and Stevenson. In terms of Priesthood Authority, it is either the Catholic Church or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I testify that Peter, James, and John really did appear to Joseph Smith conferring upon him all the priesthood powers of the holy apostleship that they held.
Interpolations of man.
“There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men.”
Doctrine and Covenants 91:2
While Joseph Smith was translating the Bible he came to the Apocrypha, when he was asked if he should translate it God said no, and this is one of the reasons He gives. Now today we don’t use the word interpolations, but we do see it happening. I jokingly call it “the Gospel according to them.” IE if my teacher brother Johnson starts to teach his opinion as doctrine I call it the gospel according to brother Johnson. More or less, that is interpolations. Inserting our opinions as if they were official doctrine.
In the Church today, I see this most often happening as someone picks a gospel hobby, like the last days or other “deep doctrine.” They pick a note or two on the gospel piano so to speak, they then focus solely on it, repeatedly pounding it, theorizing about it, and eventually speculating on it. Whereas this is dangerous itself, it becomes worse when they start to teach their speculation as if it is truth. At that point, they are doing the same thing as the writers of the Apocrypha! President Packer warned of this, in Oct 1971 General Conference, he taught:
“Some members of the Church who should know better pick out a hobby key or two and tap them incessantly, to the irritation of those around them. They can dull their own spiritual sensitivities. They lose track that there is a fullness of the gospel and become as individuals, like many churches have become. They may reject the fullness in preference to a favorite note. This becomes exaggerated and distorted, leading them away into apostasy.”
Boyd K. Packer
How Socialism and Communism are Satan’s counterfeit Gospels.
” Verily, thus saith the Lord, I give unto the united order, organized agreeable to the commandment previously given, a revelation and commandment concerning my servant Frederick G. Williams, that ye shall receive him into the order. What I say unto one I say unto all.”
Doctrine and Covenants 92:1
Many church members mistakenly think that Consecration and Socialism are the same things, and the United Order and Communism are the same, they are wrong. Consecration is the economic model of the Kingdom of Heaven. One WILLINGLY consecrates all he has to God and then is given a stewardship back.
One VITAL difference between Consecration and Socialism is Private property. When the Lord gives us a stewardship it is ours, we own it, and we will be accountable for how we act. Under Socialism the means of production are communally owned, under consecration it is privately owned. Now Socialism as an economic model is often followed by Communism as a political model.
One glaring difference between Communism and the United Order is the fact that the United Order is completely based on agency, whereas Socialism and Communism are based on taking agency away…Hmmm, sound familiar? Well, it has been Lucifer’s plan from the beginning.
Satan always plants counterfeits. His plan was a counterfeit of Heavenly Father’s plan. He holds up the Trinity as a counterfeit of the Godhead. And he holds up Socialism as a counterfeit of Consecration, and Communism as a counterfeit Gospel.
That means that Communism and Socialism are as damning and dangerous to our souls as Satan’s plan in the War in Heaven. He will if you let him deceive you into forfeiting your exaltation.
Multiple Prophets have warned us against these dangers. See this quote collection: The Ultimate Collection of Latter-day Saint Prophets and Apostles Denouncing Socialism and Communism: Over 50 Quotes From More Than 10 Prophets and Apostles. See also Why So Many Members Are Falling For Satan’s Counterfeits of the United Order