At Sego Lily Foundation Seminars, I get a lot of questions about the Word of Wisdom and, most specifically, the prohibition against “hot drinks.” For the purposes of this post, let’s answer two questions: (1) What is the Word of Wisdom? And (2) how born-again Christians should interact with it.
What is the Word of Wisdom?
As recorded in Doctrines and Covenants 89, the Word of Wisdom is “a commandment for the physical and spiritual benefit of [Heavenly Father’s] children.” D&C 89 gives some helpful context: “Revelation given through Joseph Smith … as a consequence of the early brethren using tobacco in their meetings.” In fairness, spittoons were a nationwide controversy in 1800s America. Some churches provided communal spittoons, while others banned them altogether. I don’t know about you, but I would agree that copper bowls teeming with brown saliva don’t jive with “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2).
But, the Word of Wisdom goes far beyond tobacco in worship. It counsels Latter-day Saints to avoid alcoholic beverages (5-6), tobacco (8), and “hot drinks” (6). It commends the consumption of herbs (10), grains (14,16), and limited quantities of meat (12). Added to that, the Word of Wisdom promises great rewards for following it: “health,” “wisdom,” “great treasures of knowledge,” and the promise that “the destroying angel shall pass by” (18-21).
Since its publication, the LDS Church has clarified its meaning. For example, the Word of Wisdom is now applied to “harmful substances” like illegal drugs. Most famously, prophets like Heber J. Grant, Spencer W. Kimball, and Boyd K. Packer define “hot drinks” as caffeinated tea and coffee (as does the 2010 Church Handbook of Instructions). As you might imagine, the use of cold, caffeinated beverages like cola and energy drinks has caused quite a debate among LDS Church members.
It’s important to note that Latter-day Saints generally follow the Word of Wisdom for its spiritual benefits. Latter-day Saints are well-aware that the Word of Wisdom was never intended to be a comprehensive dietary plan, but divine guidelines for bodily stewardship. Now that we know what the Word of Wisdom is, let’s tackle our second question.
How should Christians interact with the Word of Wisdom?
I’d like to answer this question in three points. First, born-again Christians must remember that “the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). It’s imperative that born-again Christians keep their conversations limited to significant matters. Why get side-tracked about coffee when the cross of Christ could be extolled? On the rare occasions that LDS friends have asked me about the Word of Wisdom, I try to turn the conversation back to the gospel as quickly as possible, for Paul says, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
Second, the Bible advises caution when crossing another’s conscience. For example, Jesus didn’t need to pay the Temple Tax but did so to avoid offense (Matthew 17:27). Paul says that, when possible, he followed Jewish customs among Jewish people and Gentile customs among Gentiles (1 Corinthians 9:20). Does that mean born-again Christians should never have a cup of coffee while in the state of Utah? Hardly (see 1 Corinthians 10:29). I would simply encourage all Christians to avoid needless violations of conscience. Rather than inviting an LDS friend to your local grind for a deep-bodied, medium roast with citrus notes, offer soup and salad from your favorite bistro.
Last, Latter-day Saints are accustomed to scorn from outsiders on topics like plural marriage, Temple garments, and the Word of Wisdom. But Paul says to “let love be genuine” (Romans 12:9). Peter says that “brotherly affection” and love are two of the essential qualities for effectiveness in God’s work (2 Peter 1:7-8). The writer of Hebrews commands us to “strive for peace with everyone” (Hebrews 12:14). Simply put, expressing scorn on matters as banal as coffee undercuts the primary virtues of the gospel.
Final Thoughts
The Word of Wisdom is an easy target for shallow thinking. It is not the cause of LDS theology but the result. As such, we need to target LDS thinking as we accomplish our commission to be “ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).