Posted on 07/14/2011 10:43:46 AM PDT by reaganaut
Perhaps I should start this post with a disclaimer: I believe (maybe that’s the wrong terminology here) that food prohibitions in religions are cultural — that is, not “of God” — and are used primarily to define the “in” group from the “out” group, so to speak.
LDS Food No-No’s
With that skeptical attitude, I come to the Mormon Word of Wisdom, the cornerstone of LDS prohibition. As interpreted in the current day, Latter-day Saints are prohibited from drinking alcohol, coffee, and tea as well as smoking. The Word of Wisdom is found in section 89 of the LDS scripture the Doctrine and Covenants.
Mormon leaders and laity have selectively decided which parts of the Word of Wisdom to follow. They emphasize certain parts and totally ignore other parts. Let’s take a tour through the scripture to examine the situation.
Nope to Alcohol and Smoking
LDS leaders advise Mormons not to drink alcohol or smoke. If Mormons do not follow these prohibitions, they are not allowed to remain in good standing in the church. Leaders point to the Doctrine and Covenants section 89 for the “rules”:
“That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good. …” (D&C 89:5) “And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. (D&C 89:7) “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.” (D&C 89:8)
Then Again, Upon Reconsideration, Maybe Some Alcohol is OK
Nevertheless, the Doctrine and Covenants seems to have some loopholes with regard to alcohol. Consider these passages:
“… Neither [wine or strong drink] meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him. And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.” (D&C 89:5-6) “Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.” (D&C 89:17)
Apparently, wine that Mormons make themselves for a sacrament is a-OK, and maybe beer is OK at anytime, as it could be considered a “mild drink.” However, these loopholes are not observed in LDS culture today. Mormons are not allowed to consume any alcohol.
Tea and Coffee: Caffeine Thou-Shalt-Nots?
Mormons also are not allowed to drink tea or coffee based on the scripture “hot drinks are not for the body or belly” (D&C 89:9). Though the passage does not specifically mention tea or coffee, Mormons deduced that these must be what the passage is referring to. I wonder why it’s OK to drink hot chocolate, non-caffeinated herbal tea, and other hot drinks.
Casting Aside All of God’s Suggestions
Next up in the Doctrine and Covenants are the food recommendations (as opposed to prohibitions). These are the suggestions that are typically set aside and totally ignored by Latter-day Saints. The guidelines have to do with eating fruit and meat:
“Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.” (D&C 89:11) “Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly; And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.” (D&C 89:12-13)
I was raised in Utah, grew up around Mormons, and my extended family and my husband’s family are LDS. I have never encountered any LDS folk who give a second thought to eating fruit out of season or eating meat sparingly. In fact, I have never attended a Mormon gathering where a vegetarian-only meal was served; meat is always the main dish.
Word of Wisdom Cultural, Not Divine
It seems to me that faithful orthodox Latter-day Saints should follow the Word of Wisdom exactingly. It seems disingenuous for them to pick and choose which parts to adhere to. If the guidelines are from God, as Mormons believe they are, shouldn’t LDS people follow all of the recommendations? Mormons pay lip service to the Word of Wisdom being divinely ordained, but in actuality I don’t think they really give it much thought. They follow the counsel of the leaders who have decided based on cultural influences which parts are important and which aren’t.
When I was Mormon, the focus was on avoiding caffine as well as coffee and tea. BYU only sold (and I believe still does) caffeine free sodas. However, a Coke truck was one of the vendors at one of the LDS pagents this year selling caffeinated sodas.
Furthermore, I was chastised by many LDS for drinking Herbal teas (no caffeine and not even really tea), yet Hot Chocolate is ok as this article points out.
The biggest issue here is the restriction on meat found in the text of the revelation. This is one very few LDS follow.
D&C 89: 12-13 - Yea, aflesh also of bbeasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly; And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be aused, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
In a pamphlet written in 1930 called The Word of Wisdom, Apostle John A. Widtsoe taught that refined flour was contrary to the Word of Wisdom. That has now changed.
Finally, it should be pointed out that although the revelation was given in 1933, it was not considered a commandment until the 1890's and was not enforced in any real way through the 1840's and 1850's, including liquor stores in Utah owned by the LDS church. Most LDS today believe that the Word of Wisdom has been a commandment since the revelation was given.
For more information on the problems of when the Word of Wisdom became a commandment can be found here.
https://dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V14N03_68.pdf
2To 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—
3Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.
4Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—
5That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
7And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
8And 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.
9And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
10And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
18And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.
A Mormon friend of mine drank Mountain Dew in gallons. She was never without one in her hand. MD has one of the highest content of caffeine of most sodas.
pick & choose? like Christians?
oh, that’s right... don’t mention that.
sorry reaganaut, didn’t mean to disrupt your religion bashing. please, continue
Why do Mormons pick and choose which parts to follow?
One might ask then, why do members of any religion pick and choose which parts to follow?
I’m pretty sure that most folks who claim to be members in good standing of ANY religion, ignore the parts of the Ten Commandments.
pick & choose? like Christians?
- - - - -
Not bashing, pointing out inconsistency in a religion whose members brag about ‘following all the commandments’ and whose salvation depends upon works.
And show me where Christians pick and choose? Your statement, PROVE IT. Show me where Christians have a health code?
The LDS cannot claim this is a revelation from God yet ignore parts of it.
At least Christians are Christians . . . Mormons are NOT Christians.
When I lived in Utah, my returned Mormon missionary boyfriend used to down JOLT cola (’all of the sugar twice the caffeine’) all the time. Like your friend, always had one in hand. And he loved Hot chocolate and postum.
Yet, he was one of the ones who complained that I used herbal teas.
Hey Sten, do you eat meat all year long?
What’s to INTERPRET??
Just READ the SCRIPTURE and OBEY!
Ya THINK?
1 Timothy 4:1-3
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from certain foods , which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Respectfully, portions of the Old Testament book of Leviticus are a health code.
Why try to compare?
We KNOW that them Christians are Apostate and Ab ominable: who CARES what they do or don't?
We MORMONs, OTOH, are members of the TRUE church of Jesus - the ONLY one on Earth that obeys GOD's commands.
--MormonDupe(Well; SOME of them anyway...)
Couple of points...
First, Christians are no longer under the Law, Christ gave only two commandments - Love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. A close look at the 10 commandments will show that all of them (and so much more) is covered by the 2 commandments.
Second, I don’t and I don’t know any Christian who does pick and choose which commandments to keep. Do I sin? Of course but I don’t pick and choose. I do my best to show my faith and to honor God by keeping the two commandments.
Also, I am not going around (like the LDS) claiming I KEEP ALL commandments (which would be like trying to keep the WHOLE law - not just the decalogue). I don’t claim that I have done ‘ALL I CAN DO’ in order to work for godhood. The LDS make these claims often on here.
Finally, this is an LDS commandment, one that can lead to disfellowshipment, so why are they ignoring part of it? Why focus on only part of it. That would be like someone claiming that murder is ok, but coveting is not.
See above...
Show me where Christians are bound by Leviticus? They aren’t, John even had a revelation about that and Paul goes into detail.
BTW, do you keep kosher?
I can't, Reaganaut. It seems to me that everything started anew for Christians with Jesus, and that the Old Testament then became a historical work pointing toward the coming of The Christ.
However, that doesn't keep people from quoting from the Old Testament to make a point, even the Ten Commandments.
And it doesn't keep some denominations from using the Old Testament or quoting parts of the Old Testament and building on them as relevant Scripture. I worked on a hospital joint venture once to rescue a failing Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital. One of the requirements was that the cafeteria be operated according to certain dietary standards that were derived from Leviticus.
No, reganaut, I don't. And I'm not Jewish, by the way.
I was not trying to be offensive by my post about Leviticus and hope that you did not take it that way.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.