Why the Word of Wisdom Warns us to Avoid Coffee and Tea

​My personal opinion (not doctrine) is that the prophetic interpretation of the Word of Wisdom that declares we should avoid ingesting coffee and tea has nothing whatsoever to do with caffeine. In other words, we should also avoid decaffeinated coffee and tea. I think the reason hinges on the designs of conspiring men in the last days.

“Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation …” (see Doctrine and Covenants 89:4)

I think there is an element of pridefulness that accompanies the consumption of coffee and tea, and it seems evident in all cultures. When I served in the military, I noticed that those who used coffee, in particular, but also tea, to some extent, walked around with mug in hand as if they were better than others, or as if their mug of coffee or tea were some sort of unspoken status symbol that elevated them above the common man. I am sure many were not even aware they were creating such an impression or assuming such a posture. Nevertheless, it was discernible. Many could not even begin a functional work day until they had their mug of coffee in hand or positioned prominently on their desk.

I also believe there is a vulnerability that exists in the predictable pattern of behavior that often accompanies the use of coffee and tea. Any conspirator could easily use the predictable behavior surrounding coffee and tea to plan a mass poisoning, or distribute biological or chemical agents to a large demographic who would never suspect it, never see it coming. It would be virtually undetectable until after the fact. History and scripture both give examples of such a notion, one being an unjust cause, the other being a just cause but one that could easily be adapted into an unjust operation in the last days.

Before 9/11, the general public had never imagined anyone would use airliners as weapons of mass destruction. Those who orchestrated the tragic events of that day caught the world completely off guard. Everything changed, literally over night. And not for the better. We will never go back to the way it was before 9/11 (at least not until the second coming of Jesus Christ).

Around 63 BC, Captain Moroni freed all the Nephite prisoners in the city of Gid by administering strong wine to the Lamanite troops guarding the city. After the Lamanite troops were drunken, Moroni was able to free his people and take back the city without bloodshed (see Alma 55:3-24).

Moroni’s cause was just, but one can imagine how easy it would be for conspiring men in the last days to employ such a tactic using coffee and tea as transmission vectors for any number of harmful or fatal agents (viruses, bacteria, chemicals, nanotechnology, etc.) No one would see it coming. Except God. And he has already warned and forewarned us to avoid ingesting coffee and tea.

Whatever the case, I am certain the Lord has other reasons, known only to him, for warning us and forewarning us to avoid coffee and tea. He would not have his prophets declare this warning to us without reason, or without consequence. And we should remember that the Word of Wisdom is designed so that even the weakest among us can live by it. It is not something that is impossible to follow.

“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 89:3).