D&C 89

Recently, as part of ward conferences, I have participated in a brief period of questions and answers with the youth our stake. A portion of the questions continue to evolve around the "Word of Wisdom" -

"A WORD OF WISDOM, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—
2 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—
3 Given 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." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 89:1 - 3)

This Word of Wisdom was initially given "not by commandment or contraint" to allow the saints adequate to overcome physical uses and habits. But in September 1851, Brigham Young proposed that the saints formally covenant to abstain from tea, coffee, tobacco, and whiskey and the motion was accepted unanimously and became a commandment for all Church members from then on. Several of these questions related to "hot drinks" and drinks with caffiene where the Lord said -

"...hot drinks are not for the body or belly." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 89:9)

The Prophet Joseph Smith clarified -

"...there are many who wonder what this can mean; whether it refers to tea, or coffee, or not. I say it does refer to tea, and coffee.” (“The Word of Wisdom,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1842, p. 800.)

Brigham Young also said coffee and tea in 1851 where tea was black tea or English tea. Many of the questions evolve around herbal type teas. Herbal teas are teas that extract vitamins out of natural herbs that are not addicting or privide physical stimulation. On the topic of drinks with caffiene and other stimulants such as cola drinks, kava, some health or sports drinks, or other drinks containing stimulants, an official statement by the Church states -

"With reference to cola drinks, the Church has never officially taken a position on this matter, but the leaders of the Church have advised, and we do now specifically advise, against the use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs under circumstances that would result in acquiring the habit. Any beverage that contains ingredients harmful to the body should be avoided." (Priesthood Bulletin, Feb. 1972, p. 4.)