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The great Mormon God has changed his mind again.
Now the Mormon Jesus says it's OK to drink Coke,
Pepsi and other caffeinated drinks.
The last time I remember the Mormon God changing his mind is when he decided that Blacks were no longer second class citizens and that they could go to the same heaven that White folks go. Chug a Diet Coke? Mormon church clarifies stance on caffeine Posted: Saturday, September 1, 2012 1:52 pm Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY — Mormons are free to down a Coke or Pepsi. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has clarified its position on caffeinated soft drinks, noting the news media often incorrectly states that its members don't drink caffeine. On Wednesday, The Salt Lake Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/O7qcBy) the church posted a statement on its website saying it "does not prohibit the use of caffeine." A day later, the website wording was changed, saying only that "the church revelation spelling out health practices ... does not mention the use of caffeine." Church spokesman Scott Trotter says the clarification was made to provide context to last week's NBC News hour-long special on Mormonism that stated Mormons don't drink caffeine. But church leaders say that doesn't mean they view caffeinated drinks as healthy.
OK, Mormons, drink up — Coke and Pepsi are OK Church posts statement clarifying — again — that caffeinated sodas are not off-limits. By Peggy Fletcher Stack The Salt Lake Tribune First Published Aug 30 2012 03:53 pm Maybe now, reporters, bloggers, outsiders and even many Mormons will accept that the Utah-based LDS Church does not forbid cola drinking. On Wednesday, the LDS Church posted a statement on its website saying that "the church does not prohibit the use of caffeine" and that the faith’s health-code reference to "hot drinks" "does not go beyond [tea and coffee]." What the LDS handbook says “The only official interpretation of ‘hot drinks’ (D&C 89:9) in the Word of Wisdom is the statement made by early church leaders that the term ‘hot drinks’ means tea and coffee.” A day later, the website wording was slightly softened, saying only that "the church revelation spelling out health practices ... does not mention the use of caffeine." Same goes for the church’s two-volume handbook, which stake presidents, bishops and other LDS leaders use to guide their congregations. It says plainly that "the only official interpretation of ‘hot drinks’ (D&C 89:9) in the Word of Wisdom is the statement made by early church leaders that the term ‘hot drinks’ means tea and coffee." That doesn’t mean church leaders view caffeinated drinks as healthy. They just don’t bar members from, say, pounding a Pepsi, downing a Dew or sipping a hot chocolate. Even LDS presidential nominee Mitt Romney has been seen drinking an occasional Diet Coke, and Mormon missionaries in France routinely imbibe caffeinated colas — without embarrassment or consequences. This week’s clarification on caffeine "is long overdue," said Matthew Jorgensen, a Mormon and longtime Mountain Dew drinker. Jorgensen, who is doing a two-year research fellowship in Germany, grew up "in a devout Mormon household, in a small, devout Mormon town," where his neighbors and church leaders viewed "drinking a Coca-Cola as so close to drinking coffee that it made your worthiness ... questionable." That view was magnified when LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley offhandedly told "60 Minutes" that Mormons avoid caffeine. Several earlier LDS leaders, including apostle Bruce R. McConkie, considered imbibing Coke as a violation of the "spirit" of the Word of Wisdom. It was dictated in 1833 by Mormon founder Joseph Smith and bars consumption of wine, strong drinks (alcohol), tobacco and "hot drinks," which have been defined by church authorities as tea and coffee. Even so, many outsiders and plenty of insiders get that wrong. Journalists — from The New York Times’ columnist Maureen Dowd to The Associated Press — have often stated that Mormons don’t drink caffeine. Last week, NBC News’ hourlong feature on Mormonism made the same mistake, prompting the church’s initial statement on its website. That blog post was later tweaked, according to church spokesman Scott Trotter, "to clarify its intent, which was to provide context to the NBC piece." Part of the confusion stems from LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University, which neither sells nor serves caffeinated drinks. But BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins explains that is "not a university or church decision, but made by dining services, based on what our customers want." There has not "been a demand for it," Jenkins said Thursday. "We are constantly evaluating what those needs and desires are." Indeed, fully caffeinated colas are available in the church’s Joseph Smith Memorial Building restaurants and in the Lion House Pantry next to the faith’s headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City. In the end, it’s up to individual Latter-day Saints to decide what to drink. "I can understand why the church is cautious," Jorgensen wrote in an email. "Saying that caffeine is OK might sound like saying that caffeine is healthy, maybe even an endorsement of caffeine. Plus, I think members need opportunities to work through questions of right and wrong for themselves." Caffeine, he said, "is the perfect, low-risk testing ground for members to make decisions for themselves." pstack@sltrib.comTwitter:@religiongal |