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by Glenn Blaylock on November 12th, 2005
Nothing in the word of wisdom specifically mentions caffeine. The relevant portion of that revelation says, "And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly." (Doctrine and Covenants 89:9) "Hot drinks" has always been interpreted as meaning coffee and certain teas. It has been assumed by some that the reason for this prohibition was the caffeine in these drinks, but that has never been given as a reason. Decaffeinated coffee is also forbidden under this revelation. So, it must be something else.
Chocolate has never been mentioned in connection with this revelation. However, as poster has pointed out, it does contain a significant amount of a caffeine-like substance. (It is my understanding that it is not really caffeine but some very similar chemically.) Therefore, I think that it falls in purview of verses 10-11 of the revelation:
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
Chocolate is something to be used with prudence. It should not be a staple of your diet. However, there is nothing wrong with consuming it occasionally.
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"yoho05: Good answer. Just curious - what would be the 'season' for tobacco?"
Doctrine and Covenants 89:8 "And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill."
Tobacco is for use in treating bruises. When you understand one of the effects of nicotine, then you can understand how it could be used to treat bruises. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor. What this means it that it causes blood vessels to constrict. So, a poultice of tobacco that would allow the nicotine to be absorbed through the skin above a bruise would deliver the nicotine into the damaged area where it would cause the blood vessels to constrict, helping to stop the bleeding into the damaged area. A nicotine patch should also work as a more modern alternative.
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"Grandma Roses: If tobacco is 'not for the body', how can it be used on bruises which are clearly 'on the body?'"
That phrase means that tobacco is not for regular consumption. As a general rule, we are not to use tobacco. This is then followed up with the exception that tells the purpose for which tobacco was created, "but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle." Finally we are told that it is to be used with "judgement and skill." So, the general rule is that we are not to use tobacco regularly; it is intended for use as a medicine to treat bruises and sick cattle. When you think about it, this is something that applies to all medications. They should only be used to treat the conditions for which they are intended. They should not be taken by people who have no need of them.
by Debbie on June 21st, 2009
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have never heard of the reason we do not drink "hot drinks as they were referred to in the 1830's" (coffee and tea). The Lord we feel has commanded his children not to partake of these. Coffee and Tea have considerably more mgs of caffiene than hot chocolate per 8 ounces. People mostly likely would drink 2 - 4 cups of coffee a day rather than 2 - 4 cups of hot chocolate a day. These are just my thoughts. Debra
by Anonymous on February 16th, 2006
Chocolate does not contain caffeine. http://www.xocoatl.org/caffeine.htm
Hot chocolate is chocolate milk served hot. Chocolate milk is mostly milk, with some chocolate for flavoring. There is not much chcocolate in chocolate milk, so even if chocolate did contain a lot of caffeine (which it doesn't), chocolate milk would not contain very much at all.
In any event, it's a myth that Mormons are forbidden to use caffeine. See http://www.answerbag.com/a_view.php/1893
by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on June 22nd, 2009
I think that the bigger question is, "Why do Mormons treat D&C 89 (aka "The Word of Wisdom") like it's a command when it clearly states: "To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days"
(D&C 89:2)
I would think that if it were observed like it was presented a lot of this hypocritical nonsense - and the ensuing judgment that follows - would end.
After all Joseph Smith just stole it from the Seventh Day Adventists (aka "Millerites") of his day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church#Health_and_diet) and never personally followed it himself (http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changech18.htm http://www.faithandreasonforum.org/index.asp?PageID=32&ArticleID=194).
So say what you will about Joseph Smith - at least he knew the difference between good advice and a commandment - apparently Modern Mormonism doesn't.
by Richard the Anonymous on November 18th, 2009
All hot drinks were once banned by the prophets in the early church (I have quotes from authorities stating this - hot drinks meaning not just tea and coffee). It was sometime ater the 1960's that the LDS Church decided to advise about not drinking cola drinks and no reason was given for why - later articles in church publications started talking about caffeine. A good friend of mine who was in the LDS Church for 43 years always thought cola drinks were advised against because of the phosphoric acid that was the most harmful ingredient - as other things such as chocolate have caffeine in them so it couldn't be the caffeine that was an issue. When the articles about caffeine started to appear he abstained from cola drinks. No part of the Word of Wisdom, historically or in the present day talks about abstining from caffeine or even cola drinks.
by John Cox on November 18th, 2009
The main chemical stimulant in Hot Chocolate is Theobromine not Caffeine as many mistakenly believe.
Theobromine though related differs from caffeine in some significant ways, for instance it is not addictive.
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"Chocolate contains a variety of substances, some of which have an effect on body chemistry. These include:
Sugar
Theobromine, the primary alkaloid in cocoa and chocolate and partly responsible for chocolate's mood-elevating effect
Tryptophan, an essential amino acid and precursor to serotonin
Phenethylamine, an endogenous alkaloid sometimes described as a 'love chemical; it is quickly metabolized by monoamine oxidase-B and does not reach the brain in significant amounts
Caffeine, present in smaller amounts"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate#As_a_stimulant
So Phenethylamine does not reach the brain in significant amounts and Cafeine is present in even smaller amount than that.
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There is debate over whether chocolate contains caffeine at all:
http://www.xocoatl.org/caffeine.htm
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Cyanide is a deady poison and we don't need a revelation to tell us we shouldn't eat that, but there are trace amounts of cyanide in apples, mangos, and peaches but we don't avoid those, because there is nota signifcant amount to cause damage to the body.
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At any rate it is not yet a requirement for baptism or a temple recomend to avoid caffeine. It is for now left to each individual to decide.
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As for chocolate what is there to decide? It is called the Theobroma, the food of the gods, for a reason.
;^)
by Thriftymaid on November 18th, 2009
Don't know, don't care. Why do you?
Incidentally, hot cocoa only has about 14 milligrams which is hardly anything -- a Diet Pepsi has 36 and a cup of coffee has around 100.
by Lets Go Sharks on November 18th, 2009
Because they are all hypocrites.Just like all religions.
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Comments
“Hot Chocolate” is really just chocolate-flavored milk, served hot. It doesn't contain much actual chocolate.
by Anonymous on January 9th, 2006
Good answer. Just curious - what would be the 'season' for tobacco?
by yoho05 reminds you to DYOH on November 24th, 2005
If tobacco is 'not for the body', how can it be used on bruises which are clearly 'on the body?'
by Grandma Roses - my avatar is my real dog on February 6th, 2006
Whether coffee, tea, or chocolate, they are all HOT drinks. Why would Hot Chocolate be permitted, if "And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly." (Doctrine and Covenants 89:9)
Does not add up :(
by Kimberly_L on August 24th, 2010
When the revelation was given, 1833, hot chocolate was no where near as commonly consumed as coffee was. That still holds true today. How many people sit around drinking multiple cups of hot chocolate every day? How many people do that today? How many people say that they can't get their day going until they have their first cup of hot chocolate? However you cut it, coffee is much, much more widely abused than hot chocolate is. Hot chocolate is something the most people have occasionally as a treat. Coffee is something that most who drink it, do so regularly and often to excess. The particular type of tea that we are told to avoid is the same as coffee in this respect. However, now a days, I think it is more likely to be served cold, as ice tea, than is is hot. Ice tea is something that can be hard to avoid and many gatherings around here, any way. So, once again, coffee and tea are not so often used with prudence. They are more often used to excess. Hot chocolate is not so often used to excess. However, if it is used to excess, then it would become something that the individual using it thus should reconsider.
by Glenn Blaylock on August 25th, 2010