Recently, the Mormon church produced an official clarification regarding the stance of consuming caffeine. For a long time, members of the LDS church have had varying opinions regarding whether it was permissible to drink colas or other caffeinated beverages. I have listened to passionate exchanges regarding the exact wording of section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants (which is known as the Word of Wisdom to Mormons) and the implication of Gordon B. Hinckley's words in the CBS program 60 Minutes where he implied that faithful members of the church avoid caffeinated soft drinks.
On the one hand of the debate, I have heard people in favor of drinking caffeinated beverages ask "where does sit say caffeine in the Word of Wisdom?" True enough, the word cannot be found there. On the other hand, the word "heroin" or the phrase "huffing markers" and a variety of other practices seem to be missing, although the church openly condemns addictive and/or illegal drugs. (http://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/ForTheStrengthOfYouth-eng.pdf?lang=eng pp 25-27)
On the other hand of the debate, I have heard people interpreting "addictive" such that it applies to almost anything. While pain killers and stimulants may be described by those that use them as needful, the need for food and water obviously does not represent an addiction to be avoided.
Along with a list of prohibitions, the Word of Wisdom also contains a list of practices that are encouraged. These items also spark controversy among Mormons... particularly those that believe in the divinity of vegetarianism.
I recall a time when I was proclaiming my affinity to meat (I believe I was referencing delicious Memphis-style pulled pork barbecue) when I was rebuked by another member who pointed out passages from the Word of Wisdom. The actual verses that describe the concern expressed read as follows: "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. All 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; And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger." (D&C 89:12-15)
There was an individual with whom I spoke that was convinced that this was the most important element of the Word of Wisdom. They believed that the reason these lines were present was to warn us of the evils of farming cattle. The wide-eyed, sincere explanation I was given indicated that cattle produced a large amount of methane gas, and that if we allowed all that methane to be produced the ice caps would melt and life as we knew it would end.
While I have heard many theories about events and actions that might lead to the end of civilization, that was the only occasion of which I know where cow farts were suggested.
I have also heard arguments that were better crafted in favor of vegetarianism. Many of them quote prominent church leaders. Bruce R. McConkie said in his The Millenial Messiah " Isaiah gives us these poetically phrased particulars about animal life during the Millennium. ‘The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,’ he says, ‘and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock.’ Implicit in this pronouncement is the fact that man and all forms of life will be vegetarians in the coming day; the eating of meat will cease, because, for one thing, death as we know it ceases. There will be no shedding of blood, because man and beast are changed (quickened) and blood no longer flows in their veins.” (p 658) George Q. Cannon stated "We should by every means in our power impress upon the rising generation the value of life and how dreadful a sin it is to take life. The lives of animals even should be held far more sacred than they are. Young people should be taught to be very merciful to the brute creation and not to take life wantonly or for sport. The practice of hunting and killing game merely for sport should be frowned upon and not encouraged among us. God has created the fowls and the beasts for man’s convenience and comfort and for his consumption at proper times and under proper circumstances; but he does not justify men in wantonly killing those creatures which He has made and with which He has supplied the earth” (George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon p 24)
Certainly these statements gain credibility from members who recognize the names of Apostles. I have read that Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, and Joseph Fielding Smith were also proponents of eating meat only very sparingly in accordance with the Word of Wisdom.
Why then do modern leaders seem to place such an emphasis on avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and harmful drugs instead of echoing the words in the scriptures themselves? I submit it is because they are privileged to give interpretation of the scriptures (not just the Word of Wisdom, but all scriptures) that is both currently prudent and generally applicable to all people. In other words, prophets are authorized to prophesy. The current emphasis as spoken through general conferences and general statements constitutes authoritatively the will of God himself.
To illustrate the need for current interpretation of the scriptures (even more modern scriptures such as the Doctrine and Covenants), here is a scripturally based argument that drinking beer is consistent with the Word of Wisdom:
"That 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. And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make. And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies." (D&C 89:5-7) This passage implies that wine is permissible to drink only if it is home-made and used only in Sacrament services. The conclusion is that not all alcohol is bad. Further on, the Word of Wisdom reads "All 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— 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 89:16-17, emphasis added) In this passage, the use of grains for mild drinks is approved. Barley is particularly used in the brewing of beer, which is not necessarily a "strong" alcoholic beverage. Since other grains can be used in the starch source for beer, the clause at the end of verse 17 seems to permit beer that contains other grains. The conclusion based on this reading of the scriptures themselves is that it is ok for Mormons to have a cold one!
Of course, the argument that beer is ok is tongue-in-cheek. Modern prophets are very clear on the current standards necessary to show compliance with the Word of Wisdom. President Thomas S. Monson said "Hard drugs, wrongful use of prescription drugs, alcohol, coffee, tea, and tobacco products destroy your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Any form of alcohol, including beer, is harmful to your spirit and your body. Tobacco can enslave you, weaken your lungs, and shorten your life." (http://www.lds.org/new-era/2008/10/standards-of-strength?lang=eng, emphasis added)
The truth is that the scriptures, while vitally important, are only one tool to learning the will of God. God called circumcision an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:10-14), yet later, the Apostle Paul said "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God." (1 Corinthians 7:19) These scriptural points seem to be mutually exclusive. While some of the law of Moses including animal sacrifice was fulfilled with the coming of Christ, Paul was clear that works of the flesh, most of which being at odds with the law of Moses, would prevent entrance to the Kingdom of God: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galations 5:19-21)
Even the laws of health given by God have changed over time. Through Moses, God declared the laws for animals which were and were not permissible to eat. (Deuteronomy 14:3-20) Through Peter, God declared that this law had been changed. (Acts 11:2-18)
The ultimate conclusion that Latter-Day Saints should draw is that if God really had a problem with caffeine, he would probably tell us through prophets. If God's biggest worry was the low number of Mormon vegetarians, we would hear General Conference talks on it frequently. Based on recent conference addresses, it seems that generally he is far more worried about the use of tobacco, alcohol, and harmful drugs than he is about burgers and Mountain Dew. That is not to say that individually, he may want certain people to be more healthy, and it is possible on an individual basis that people may be moved to change their diets or exercise habits, but this is not the doctrine to be preached to all members from the pulpit or in Sunday School.
God may be the same yesterday today and forever, but the things he asks his followers to do may change. Taking into account only one source of truth will never result in a complete understanding. Those that only look to the scriptures, or only look to prayer, or only look to a prophet may miss out on truths of God that can be found elsewhere. Being stuck on a few words in scripture that are resolved by modern prophets can turn the Word of Wisdom into the Word of Foolishness.
When everything is visible, when all truth is known, the concepts that may seem to mutually exclude one another will no longer be seen as contradictory. Mormons should not limit their search for truth to any one source. President Joseph F. Smith said "We believe in all truth, no matter to what subject it may refer. No sect or religious denomination in the world possesses a single principle of truth that we do not accept or that we will reject. We are willing to receive all truth, from whatever source it may come; for truth will stand, truth will endure.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1909 p 7)
