Yesterday I was reading an Ensign article about caffeine and energy drinks. I thought it was pretty interesting that an article about this would be in a Church magazine. The article was written by an LDS doctor, and I liked his handling of this sometimes touchy subject. I remember in high school that the only thing some people knew about my religion was "Mormons don't drink caffeine." While this is true for many Mormons, it is by no means some sort of tenant of our religion. I like how Dr. Boud put it:
"While we are counseled against taking addictive substances or harmful drugs, the Word of Wisdom does not specifically prohibit caffeine. However, I believe that if we follow the spirit of the Word of Wisdom, we will be very careful about what we consume, particularly any substance that can have a negative impact on our bodies. This is true regarding any drug, substance, or even food that may be damaging to one’s health. This includes caffeine."
The Word of Wisdom Dr. Boud mentions is found in Doctrine and Covenants 89. It is the Lord's code of health as He revealed it to His prophet Joseph Smith in February of 1833. I'm grateful for this revelation that has helped me to better take care of my body and avoid lots of pain. Seriously, I've had the strength to get this far without abusing any drugs or alcohol, which would in turn abuse my body, and, judging from experiences others have had, could have plenty of other negative side effects. You can go here to check out the text of the Word of Wisdom.
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