So you are wondering if Mormons can drink soda, probably because you know that Mormon don’t drink coffee.
Mormons don’t drink Coffee and tea because these are strictly prohibited in a code of health called the Word of Wisdom.
Because caffeine is present in Coffee and this has been linked to health issues in the past, some members of the Church might have voiced an opinion which is not based on the doctrine.
When I says that members of the church have voiced an opinion against drinking sodas, I include leaders of the church.
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Mission Presidents
When I was a missionary, my mission president ordered Pizza for us but the delivery came with Coca-Cola.
The mission president ordered his assistants to give them away.
I think he bought the Pizzas with his own money so he had the right to do whatever he wanted with the sodas.
I was 19 years old so I am not sure if I got the impression that drinking sodas was prohibited or discourages but I see how somebody might reach that conclusion and propagate it in their religious communities.
Gordon B. Hinckley, LDS Prophet
The Mormons believe in prophets, when I got baptized, the prophet of the LDS church was Gordon B. Hinckley.
Prophet Hinckley was open to the idea of being interviewed by Mike Wallace in 60 Minutes.
Gordon B. Hinckley nodded when Mike Wallace said that Mormons didn’t drink sodas.
Official Statement by the LDS Church
The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints released an official statement stating explicitly that caffeinated soda is allowed under church doctrine. Still, many Mormons will not consume caffeinated drinks.
The official church website says the following:
In Doctrine and Covenants 89:8–9, the Lord forbids our using tobacco and “hot drinks,” which, Church leaders have explained, means tea and coffee.
Vaping, Coffee, Tea, and Marijuana
In another publication in the church official site we read the following:
Doctrine and Covenants 89:9 says we shouldn’t drink “hot drinks.” The only official interpretation of this term is the statement made by early Church leaders that it means tea and coffee. Caffeine is not specifically mentioned as the reason not to drink these drinks.
Is there anything wrong with drinking sodas with caffeine in them? Is caffeine bad? The Word of Wisdom doesn’t mention it.
More about Mormonism
These are some posts about Mormonism that you might find interesting
- Things Mormon Missionaries Can’t Do
- Where are the Golden Plates Now?
- Can Mormons Marry Non-Mormons?
- How Many Wives can Mormons Have?
- Do Mormons Eat Pork?
- Do Mormons Believe in Reincarnation?
- Do Mormon Bishops get Paid?
- Do Mormons Drink Coffee?
- Do Mormons Read the Bible?
