I took my Mormon friends out to lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant today.
Me: Sorry about inviting you to coffee yesterday. That was pretty funny.
Elder M: That was funny.
Me: I don't drink coffee, either. Are you allowed to drink decaf?
Elder M: No. It's not because of the caffeine, it's the tanic acid. Tea also has tanic acid.
Me: You can't drink tea, either?
Elder M: No.
Me: Can you drink soda?
Elder M: There's a story that someone went fishing with the prophet and asked him if he was allowed to drink a Pepsi and the prophet said, "You may drink it, but God prefers that you not."
Me: So it's on your own conscience?
Elder M: Right. But we know that there's something in soda that causes damage to your bones.
Me: So this is all a health thing?
Elder M: Yes. We are supposed to take care of our bodies and be as healthy as possible.
Me: Elder J, how's that chimichanga?
Elder J: It's good.
They have it partially right.
ReplyDeleteHealth is important, but the Word of Wisdom, a revelation forbidding consumption of alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco, and other harmful drugs, was given "In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days..." D&C 89:4
The main principle is addiction, along with a warning about people (and corporations) who will prey upon your addictions for profit.
Best to be free of them.
What Do Mormons Believe?
What about chocolate?
ReplyDeleteNo, seriously.
If it's a serious problem for you, dump it.
ReplyDeleteThe Lord provides principles to govern our lives by. Some things he will expressly forbid, but most of the time we need to use our free will to make good decisions that are informed by godly principles.
Nah, I don't even like chocolate. Or coffee or tea or soda. I guess my tastebuds tend naturally toward the Mormon tastes or something. I was more curious, because I think that chocolate has the same basic issues as the others, but it's not expressly forbidden.
ReplyDelete