We recently received an email asking the question, “Is anorexia a sin?” This is a really important question and we’re glad it was asked. Here’s the email response we gave. We’re not experts on eating disorders and would welcome others to share thoughts, insights and other links.
This week we received the following question: “Why do we need to keep ourselves physically strong?” In the days of summer when we are a little more concerned about our biceps and waist lines, we thought it might be good to answer this question that is connected to our physical fitness.
We had a few questions come in this past week that were centered on the drinking of wine. One such was “Why can’t we drink wine if medical science says it is good for our health?” Another one was “Why don’t we drink wine for the sacrament if Jesus and his apostles did?” So, in honor of the fruit of the vine, let’s talk about WHY? and wine (hey, that rhymed. Stop rhyming I mean it. Anybody wanna peanut?)
Some have cited recent medical studies about the health benefits of wine as a justification to drink wine. The fact is, there are indeed a lot of medical benefits to drinking red wine. However, it isn’t the fermented alcohol in the wine that produces the benefits—it is the grape juice it is made from. Many studies have shown that grape juice produces the exact same benefits as drinking red wine, only better—your liver isn’t damaged by the alcohol. Below is a link to one article discussing this:
Ah…the big caffeine soda pop question. We knew this one was coming. Although the answer could get really technical, pharisaical, or get into some grey areas, we will try to keep it simple: The reason why we shouldn’t drink caffeinated drinks (soda, energy drinks, etc.) is simply because it violates the spirit of the word of wisdom (see D&C 89). But so does eating an entire package of Oreo’s in one sitting, and eating an entire cow at a barbeque, and eating fatty fast food every day of the week. It simply isn’t healthy, which is one of the purposes of the word of wisdom. However, caffeine poses another problem with the spirit of the word of wisdom: addiction. Although the Church has no official position on drinking caffeinated beverages, “The leaders of the Church have advised . . . against use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs”( Quoted in “Policies and Procedures,” New Era, May 1972, 50). Some of the side effects of caffeine-related medical conditions include jitteriness, agitation, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure, gastrointestinal disorders, osteoporosis, acid reflux, weight gain, and decreased blood flow (See Thomas J. Boud, “The Energy Drink Epidemic,” Ensign, December 2008, 49–52. See also Russell Wilcox, “Energy Drinks: The Lift That Lets You Down,” New Era, December 2008, 30–33).
The Word of Wisdom specifically forbids drinking “hot drinks” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:9), which has been defined by the Lord’s prophets as coffee and tea (easy tiger, you can still have your hot chocolate).
Elder Boyd K. Packer of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “Some young people…may not be acquainted with the revelation known as the Word of Wisdom. It is simply this, a law of temperance. In it we are counseled by the Lord to refrain from the use of alcoholic beverages—any of them, tobacco in any form, and from hot drinks—understood by the Church to mean those with habit-forming potential, specifically coffee and tea. (Conference Report, April 1963, Third Day—Morning Meeting, p. 107; emphasis added).
