| Subject: | How do self-declared devout Mormons who swig cola drinks get around this? |
| Date: | Nov 20, 2008 |
| Note: Thomas S. Monson and his drinking of Pepsi products in this thread | |
| Author: | steve benson |
| "I NEVER DRINK ANY OF THE COLA DRINKS and my personal
hope would be that NO ONE WOULD . . . . I quote from A LETTER FROM THE
SECRETARY TO THE FIRST PRESIDENCY, 'But the spirit of the Word of Wisdom
would be VIOLATED BY THE DRINKING or eating of ANYTHING THAT CONTAINED A
HABIT-FORMING DRUG.'" --President Spencer W. Kimbal (emphasis added) _____ " . . [T]HE PARTAKING OF COLA DRINKS . . . is in VIOLATION of the spirit of the Word of Wisdom. HARMFUL DRUGS OF ANY SORT are in a like category." --Apostle Bruce R. McConkie (emphasis added) _____ "There are plenty of other things you can get at the SODA fountains WITHOUT DRINKING THAT WHICH IS INJURIOUS." --President Heber J. Grant (emphasis added) _____ "SUCH SOFT DRINKS [i.e., those "advertised to 'give you a lift'" are drinks where "the 'lift' is likely to be caused by the drug which it contains"] and thus "are DECIDEDLY HARMFUL AND HABIT-FORMING, even though sold by the millions. SUCH CAFFEINE-CONTAINING DRINKS, offered by every soda fountain and most eating places, and consumed in large quantities, SHOULD BE KNOWN AND AVOIDED." --Apostle John A. Widstoe (emphasis added) _____ "And then there are SOME SOFT DRINKS which contain HARMFUL OR HABIT-FORMING INGREDIENTS. THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH . . . TEACH that in the spirit of the Word of Wisdom, if not in the letter, WE SHOULD AVOID ANYTHING WHICH CONTAINS INGREDIENTS WHICH ARE HARMFUL OR HABIT FORMING." --Apostle Mark E. Peterson (emphasis added) _____ "'Speaking of those who rationalize THE CHURCH'S STAND ON COLA DRINKS, Bishop Featherstone said, "We can find loopholes in a lot of things if we want to bend THE RULES OF THE CHURCH.'" --Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone (emphasis added) http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/health/cola.htm |
| Subject: | Well, a LOT of LDS around here drink colas. [Houston] |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:13 |
| Author: | JBug |
| I had a Bishop tell me in the 90's [when I still went]
that caffeinated sodas were OK and NOT against the WOW. Then he told me not to tell anyone he said that! Strange. |
| Subject: | And why would this Mormon bishop subsequently tell you not to tell anyone that . . . |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:22 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| . . . he had told you the consuming of cola drinks was "not against the Word of Wisdom"? |
| Subject: | Causes confusion in the UK. Some do, most don`t...... |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:28 |
| Author: | copolt |
| I suspect TSCC does not declare it`s a commandment from `God` because of the stink it would cause with the manufacturers. |
| Subject: | What about the highest leaders in the Mormon Church specifically declaring that . . . |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:33 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| . . . the consumption of cola drinks violates nothing
less than "the spirit" of the Word of Wisdom, on the grounds that harmful
and habit-forming drugs are found in cola drinks and thus should not be
consumed? Do devout Mormons not consider the views of Mormonism's prophets on what constitutes violation of the Word of Wisdom (in this case, with regard to cola drinks) worth heeding and following? |
| Subject: | Just mix cola drinks with beer-- Verse 17 says "mild drinks" made from "barley" is good!! |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:49 |
| Author: | mootman |
| "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." |
| Subject: | Same strategy as with other pecadillos, e.g. garment wearing rules. |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:37 |
| Author: | Romans house go |
| The strategy often employs rumors of what this or that
GA said or did. For garment wearing, despite the own-endowment temple
instructions (which vary in their strictness) and the temple recommend
question, there are always little anecdotes flying around about when it's OK
to take them off your bod. I've heard the 'liberal' interpretations for both the cola and garment-wearing instructions credited to none other than Paul H. Dunn (doesn't he have a plaque or bust in Cooperstown or perhaps he's depicted in the Iwo Jima Memorial?). I expect Pepsi to make a big come-back in Mormondumb, despite recent warnings against "energy drinks". I guess the Corporation missed the boat. They could have made a fortune on B.Y. Lionade (with ginseng and sildenafil citrate). |
| Subject: | With regard to cola drinks, however, Mormons do not have "rumors" about what their leaders have said |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:39 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| Subject: | A friend of my father's... |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:48 |
| Author: | Drinks Coffee on the sly |
| and officially TBM, bought a coke right in front of
me. He was probably unaware that I'm an exie, and didn't care what he drank. Anyhow, as he drank it, he gave the old joke about the difference between Mormons and non-Mormons is the temperature of their caffeine. I have the feeling he's the tip of the iceberg, and MOST Mormons drink colas and caffeinated beverages. |
| Subject: | "MOST Mormons drink colas and caffeinated beverages"? |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:52 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| Assuming that is true, doesn't that therefore mean that MOST Mormons who claim to be devout are, in fact, deliberately disobeying their highest, chosen-by-God leaders? |
| Subject: | Then why doesn't Monson, as Mormonism's head prophet, simply say that? . . . |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:49 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| If he doesn't, then the criticism by Mormonism's
highest leaders of, and counsel against, consuming cola drinks arguably
still stands. And if it remains standing, then how do self-declared devout Mormons get around swigging what has been declared by Mormonism's highest leaders to be a violation (at least in spirit) of the Word of Wisdom? |
| Subject: | I don't know... I guess they feel guilty about it. |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:51 |
| Author: | adios |
| I chuckle every time I see my F in-law with his big
gulp sized coke, usually consumed in the morning. How the heck are mormons
going to get all that work done without a little pick-me-up? They probably
feel like shit and they deserve it. ha ha. Across the street from BYU, there used to be a gas station/convenience store, Harts, that sells a hell of a lot of caffeinated sodas in super size thermoses. I used to wonder how people could drink that much pop. No one ever said boo about it either. Lots of BYU students carried those things around. I bet they still do. |
| Subject: | Yes, Harts "mugs". I had one of the 64 oz. variety... |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:58 |
| Author: | Romans house go |
| These were lampooned once in the 7th East Press/Student Review as having many accessories like a compass, a bird whistle... |
| Subject: | Re: Yes, Harts "mugs". I had one of the 64 oz. variety... |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:37 |
| Author: | adios |
| I loved the Student Review... good stuff! |
| Subject: | Why would they feel guilty about it? Perhaps because of what . . . |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:06 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| . . . Kimball, Grant, McConkie, Widstoe, Peterson,
Featherstone, et al, have said against the consumption of cola drinks? Would devout Mormons who swig colas therefore feel guilty because they have (per historical Mormon doctrine and practice) sustained these men as God's inspired, chosen leaders--leaders whose teachings on cola consumption they have nonetheless chosen to defy? Indeed, how devout is that? Especically when General Authority Vaughn Featherstone, as noted in the LDS-owned "Church News," describes Mormon cola drinking as a way for Church members to rationalize, find loopholes in and bend the rules of the Mormon Church: "'Speaking of those who rationalize THE CHURCH'S STAND ON COLA DRINKS, Bishop Featherstone said, "We can find loopholes in a lot of things if we want to bend THE RULES OF THE CHURCH.'" --Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone (emphasis added) http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/health/cola.htm |
| Subject: | Not very devout, but maybe the (anti-Coke GA's) were speaking as men... |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:35 |
| Author: | adios |
| Then again wasn't it rumored that David O. Mackay
enjoyed a coke when he went to the movies? Besides he's old enough to have
formed his coke habit before the WoW was enforced. But then, caffeine isn't
exactly in the WoW, is it? My F in-law has admitted feeling guilty about his habit, but the guilt hasn't stopped him. I think he's confused. |
| Subject: | Rumors are not needed. Mormons have the on-the-record anti-cola statements of their highest leaders- |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:38 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| If these ranking Mormon leaders were merely speaking as men, then where is an overriding pro-cola statement from Mormonism's highest current leadership declaring that this "men-speaking" was incorrect and that it is not a violation of the Word of Wisdom (spiritually or otherwise) to consume cola beverages? |
| Subject: | Spiritually speaking their statements are sound... |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:48 |
| Author: | adios |
| but there's no scripture that explicitly prohibits cola beverages, that I know of. |
| Subject: | Not so. Mormon doctrine declares the words of the living prophet to be living scripture. ... |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:51 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| For Mormonism's living prophets to teach against the
consumption of cola drinks is, hence, to speak scripture--unless such
declarations have been denounced by the current head Mormon prophet as being
the inaccurate, non-applicable "teachings of men." Has there been any counter-veiling declaration from Monson, speaking as the Mormon God's mouthpiece, which says that is is OK in God's eyes to drink cola beverages? If not, the anti-cola declarations of Mormonism's highest leaders still stand. |
| Subject: | Re: How do self-declared devout Mormons who swig cola drinks get around this? |
| Date: | Nov 20 13:56 |
| Author: | Highland210 |
| If there's one thing we never-mos find puzzling, it's the LDS stance regarding cola/caffeine/coffee/whatever the heck. It simply makes no sense. |
| Subject: | In a word |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:15 |
| Author: | jacyn |
| Mainstreaming. ... just another word for "SURVIVAL." If LDS Inc. doesn't do it, they lose the multi-generational Mormons and reduce both the persuasion and the retention of converts. In other words, they lose tithing. This is why they pump so much $$$ into PR. It's not a good business decision to obey both the letter and the spirit when doing so means a decrease in revenue. It's not just about giving those with fragile spiritual digestion systems milk before meat. It's about the meat becoming milkier and milkier. Same way LDS Inc. has dealt with its embarrassing and damning history of racism, sexism, blood atonement, polygamy, Book of Abraham issues, etc.: quiet and subtle backpedaling, suppression, and denial. Thank gawd God is unchanging. |
| Subject: | I'm not talking about the LDS Inc. leadership's money-driven mainstreaming efforts . . . |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:21 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| Rather, I am referring to how devout Mormon members on the lay level get around not following the directions and teachings of their highest leaders against the consumption of cola drinks. |
| Subject: | Ah, but it's the chicken-or-the-egg theory |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:58 |
| Author: | jacyn |
| Which came first? Are devout members taking matters
into their own hands despite counsel from leaders, or are leaders inspiring
devout members to believe that God is okay with the indisputably harmful and
habit-forming ingredients in colas because the leaders themselves drink
them? I heard a story not too long ago about a bishop who was denying people temple recommends if they drank colas. The Big Boys got wind of it and a GA was sent on a mission of sorts to teach the crazy bishop a lesson. He went to lunch with the devout bishop and pointedly ordered a coke. Wow! Wasn't he wise. The bishop got off his high horse and his flock was saved from his misguided devoutness that bordered on fanaticism. I don't remember if I heard this story during SM or from one of my TBM relatives -- or perhaps during GC -- so I can't cite the source. But I do know I heard it. The point of the story was two-fold: (1) Aren't our GA's wise! They can teach a profound lesson without saying a word, merely with their inspired actions; and (2) the offending bishop was a fanatic (even though, as you pointed out, he was literally following prior leaders' guidance). Funny how doctrine one day is fanaticism the next. That seems to happen a lot around here. I also heard GBH tell the membership to "lighten up." Further, the Doctrine Against Coke had to fall by the wayside in light of TSM's (and no doubt other GAs') nasty little habit. It's kind of analogous to community standards re. obscenity. The definition, i.e. "I know it when I see it," changes as standards change. The truth is, Steve, true-believers ultimately follow their leaders. As a TBM, I knew cola drinks were okay because my Dad (a former bishop and SP) drank a ton of Pepsi to help him stay awake on long drives. The chain of that example goes all the way to the top. P.S. I don't drink sodas of any kind because I think they're all unhealthy. |
| Subject: | God's word comes first via LDS prophets, then the Mormons are told to follow.... |
| Date: | Nov 20 15:01 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| Mormons have the word from the top against cola
consumption, in the form of on-the-record statements cited in this thread. These statements have remained on the record unchallenged, with no subsequent from-the-top contradiction. |
| Subject: | It Is But a Short Slide From Swilling Cola Drinks . . . |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:23 |
| Author: | Boyd K. Puckerhead |
| To falling treacherously and perhaps irretrievably
into the worse sin of masturbation, which faithful Saints all know can lead
to promiscuous fornication or even worse, homosexuality . . . Cola drinks, after all, are known to travel though the body quickly (and caffeine is a known diuretic), so one may be forced to spent excess time in the bathroom creating additional temptation to engage in forbidden factory work . . . |
| Subject: | "We don't believe in dead profits." n/t |
| Subject: | Has the current LDS head prophet publicly declared it OK for Mormons to drink colas . . . |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:28 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| . . . and, contrary to the prophetic utterances of previous Mormon prophets, now said it is not a violation (spiritually speaking) of the Word of Wisdom to consume cola drinks? |
| Subject: | YES!... No.. Maybe....Who cares, these guys are DEAD!! And they didn't say "Thus saith the Lard!!"nt |
| Subject: | The current Mormon head prophet is not dead. Any pro-cola statement from him ... |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:44 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| ... that invalidates the anti-cola statements of
previous top Mormon leaders? Keep in mind that the Mormon-owned "Church News" has reported, in noting Bishop Vaughn Featherstone's anti-cola teachings, that Mormons who drink colas are rationalizing, searching for loopholes and bending "the rules of the Church." http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/health/cola.htm Have "the rules of the Church" on cola drinking been officially changed by a statement from the current First Presidency or from the current head prophet himself, speaking in behalf of God? Has the current head prophet of the Mormon Church publicly declared that previous anti-cola statements made by Mormonism's highest leaders are not to be accepted as standing LDS doctrine because they were not specifically prefaced by the phrase, "Thus saith the Lord"? |
| Subject: | No, but PRESIDENT MONSON has not said it's wrong, so I'm not stopping!!! |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:54 |
| Author: | mootman |
| (The preceding has been my dramatic caricature of a follower of Mormon-dumb. The characters and events depicted herein are purely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.) |
| Subject: | President Monson has also not specifically said it is wrong to drink Coors Lite. nt |
| Subject: | Re: How do self-declared devout Mormons who swig cola drinks get around this? |
| Date: | Nov 20 14:39 |
| Author: | Fedelm |
| I don't know, but I knew many TBM's who drank cola
drinks, often instead of water. My TBM ex thought that someone said in a
meeting that cola drinks were not violating the WoW, but I think it was his
way of rationalizing his cola habit. I also think that there's a "don't ask,
don't tell" policy when it comes to cola drinks and interviews because
temples would be empty. |
| Subject: | More on cola drinks |
| Date: | Nov 20 15:33 |
| Author: | CA girl |
| Steve asked how Mormons justify drinking colas when
there are quotes from GAs saying it was against the Word of Wisdom. In my
opinion, they get around it the exact same way they get around all the other
irrational crap that earlier prophets and apostles have shoveled out: They don't know their own teachings. After 30-some years in the church, I had not heard those quotes until today. I heard "of" those quotes but I never really did any research to see if they were true or not because I didn't want to know. I like my Dr. Pepper (i.e. Mormon coffee). I didn't want to have to give it up so I didn't look very hard at what the real truth was. A parable for all of Moism, if you will. |
| Subject: | Exactly! |
| Date: | Nov 20 15:38 |
| Author: | Smiling Dog |
| I know a few cola drinking sheep who would quit cold
turkey, drive to the Bishop's house and repent if they read those
statements. You don't see those statements in church, though. Hmmm...maybe
too weird for the un-baptized masses. Kind of like blood atonement,
Adam-God, we can become gods, etc. The church suppresses the info (I say this knowing that it is out there, but to a sheep, if it is not in a manual printed within the last year, it is suppressed) to keep another weird doctrine from reaching potential tithe payers. The don't want to seem TOO peculiar... |
| Subject: | Leave it to the church to... |
| Date: | Nov 20 15:44 |
| Author: | Hap E. Heretic |
| give people guilt complexes over soft drinks. As if a god in heaven would give a hoot. The whole cola controversy is so stupid, and yes, I worried about it, too, when I was a Morgbot. I remember when BYU wouldn't stock their vending machines with cola. The whole "avoid the appearance of evil" thing was in full force then. No wonder people think Mormons are so weird. With all their ticky rules, they are. |
| Subject: | Absolutely - don't ask, don't tell n/t |
| Subject: | My brother works at the COB... |
| Date: | Nov 20 20:29 |
| Author: | ShocknAwe |
| and he says that they all flock across the street to
get their cold caffeine every lunch hour and break b/c they can't get any in
their own building. I agree with Steve, this is so insane. My BIL drinks one of those 64 oz.ers of Mountain Dew (do you know how many calories are in that!!?) every single morning to wake up. He justifies it by saying that it won't keep him out of the temple. |
| Subject: | Re: More on cola drinks and other topics of "importance" |
| Date: | Nov 20 21:07 |
| Author: | confused |
| The general rule is that if someone in authority over
*you* says so, that is the rule. Like all the various rules and
accepted/unaccepted practices, it is up to your direct superior, who on any
given day may change his mind, or apply the same rule differently based on
mood or recipient. The only non-variables are: The First Vision (easily refuted ) The PH Restoration ( easily refuted ) The Book of mormon ( easily refuted ) |
| Subject: | Tom Monson's Daughter Ann Reveals Her Father's "Nasty Little Habit" (TLC post, deserves own thread) |
| Date: | Nov 19 10:32 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| "I Dated Tom's Daughter Ann" ("Recovery from Mormonism," bulletin board post, 18 November 2008, 23:57, by "TLC") _____ "Steve [Benson] shared this story from me anonymously but I'm retelling it here; owning it and attaching my name to it and making it real for those who might have had their doubts when Steve told it. "I started at BYU in the fall of 1972 and in the first couple of months one of the girls I dated was Ann Monson. Absolutely stunningly gorgeous and way out of my league. I asked her out and she said yes and I took her to the Homecoming Ball in the Fall of 1972. Showed up at her dorm to pick her up and I'm pretty sure it was both Thomas and Frances that were there to greet me. They'd both come down to help Ann get ready for the big shindig. "I walked in and there was Ann looking like a stunning replica of Ann Margaret circa 1965. I will never forget what a vision she was standing there in her spaghetti-strap dress that was for all the world a most blatant violation of BYU dress code. But who was going to argue with her daddy about it, huh? "Not me. I was into girls with an edge. :-) "I took Ann to the dance and watched as people's heads swiveled around ala Linda Blair all night long trying to see who this gorgeous bitch was in the immoral ball gown. It was kind of like being with Cinderella only I don't think Ann was wearing a tiara that night. And I kind of don't think that squirrels and birds dressed her either. Could be though - strange stuff goes on at BYU. "Ann was and probably still is, a gorgeous woman. Why she invested any time with me I'll never understand, but it's widely known that us gay boys in hiding can be quite appealing to the ladies. Suck it up straight boys and get over it. You may have my spoils if you wish. "Homecoming was followed by General Conference or vice-versa. Ann showed me around temple square and the underground tunnels and then we sat in those big cushy chairs in the tabernacle behind the big kahunas during a couple of sessions of conference and ate with the mormon giants in a special dining room somewhere there on Piazza Tempio. I was having lots of fun and Ann was was at least pretending to be into me and stuff. Can you imagine if I had just not chosen to be gay I might be mormon royalty right now??? "Yeh, like that was ever gonna happen. "On another visit to Salt Lake Ann took me to her home in one of the privileged hillside neighborhoods. On the way out the back door to show me the gardens we passed a long stack of Pepsi crates full of empty Pepsi bottles. Ann pointed at them as we were going out the door and with a laugh said, 'Dad's nasty little habit.' "Now you gotta put this in context of the early 70s when most mormons were still laboring under the weight of the urban legend that said the Coke and Pepsi were 'against the word of wisdom.' (If mormons stopped drinking Coke today the company would go out of business.) I thought about Ann's words: 'Dad's nasty little habit' and decided right then and there that it was OK for me to masturbate more and be a little gayer than I'd ever been before. If Tom Monson could have his nasty little habits then surely it was OK for me to have mine. "I mean no disrespect towards Ann in telling this story. I'm justifiably angry at her daddy for declaring war on me and my community, but Ann isn't her dad and who knows, she might actually disagree with what he did as well. All I can tell you is that back then she was beautiful, she was extremely intelligent and aware and that dating her was a lot of fun. All these years I have secretly gloated about the fact that I'm probably one of the few guys ever, if not the only one, in BYU's history that's taken a girl to Homecoming who was wearing a revealing spaghetti-strap dress. Somehow there's just some really wonderful irony in that. "Gay boys rule!!" https://www.exmormon.org/boards/w-agora/view.php?bn=exmobb_recovery&key=1227070675&replies=0 ***** Further evidence that Tom Monson plays fast and loose with the Mormon God's revealed word, ignoring the inspired counsel of modern-day LDS prophets and instead living by his own retrobate rules: "'Drinking Soda (cola)' by W. John Walsh "While it is not a technical violation of the Word of Wisdom, Latter-day Saints are encouraged by Church leaders to avoid caffeinated drinks. It is believed that caffeine in large quantities, such as found in caffeinated soft drinks, is not good for the body and therefore violates the spirit of the Word of Wisdom. "While many Latter-day Saints drink decaffeinated cola drinks, some people have suggested that we should avoid the empty calories of those beverages in favor of something more nutritious. It is well established that many people are overweight and yet also do not receive enough nutrition in their diets. The popularity of cola beverages has been linked to both problems in recent studies (See CNN Report on 2/15/01) Counsel from Church leaders on this subject is as follows: "President Spencer W. Kimball taught: 'Generally when we speak of the Word of Wisdom, we are talking about tea, coffee, tobacco, and liquor, and all of the fringe things even though they might be detrimental are not included in the technical interpretation of the Word of Wisdom. I never drink any of the cola drinks and my personal hope would be that no one would. However, they are not included in the Word of Wisdom in its technical application. I quote from a letter from the secretary to the First Presidency, "But the spirit of the Word of Wisdom would be violated by the drinking or eating of anything that contained a habit-forming drug." With reference to the cola drinks, the Church has never officially taken any attitude on this at but I personally do not put them in the class as with the tea and coffee because the Lord specifically mentioned them [the hot drinks]. I might say also that strychnine and sleeping pills and opium and heroin are not mentioned in the Word of Wisdom and yet I would discourage them with all my power.' ("The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball," p. 202) "President Heber J. Grant taught: 'I am not going to give any command, but I will ask it as a personal, individual favor to me, to let coca-cola alone. There are plenty of other things you can get at the soda fountains without drinking that which is injurious. The Lord does not want you to use any drug that creates an appetite for itself.' ("Conference Report," April 1922, p. 165) "Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: '. . . [T]here are many other substances which have a harmful effect on the human body, though such particular things are not specifically prohibited by the Word of Wisdom. Certainly the partaking of cola drinks, though not included within the measuring standard here set out, is in violation of the spirit of the Word of Wisdom. Harmful drugs of any sort are in a like category.' ("Mormon Doctrine,} p. 845) "Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone taught: 'Speaking of those who rationalize the Church's stand on cola drinks, Bishop Featherstone said, "We can find loopholes in a lot of things if we want to bend the rules of the Church."' ("The Church News," Conference Issues 1970-1987, p. 9) "Elder Samuel O. Bennion taught: 'I heard President Grant say, recently, that he would consider it a favor to him, if men and women would abstain from the use of tea and coffee, tobacco, liquor, and coca-cola; that they would have power given them to establish themselves in the faith, and save themselves from debt, sickness, and disease. And he read from the revelations, that the destroying angel would pass them by; and he is a prophet of God.' ("Conference Report," April 1922, p. 140) "Elder John A. Widtsoe taught: 'Whenever a drink is advertised to "give you a lift," the "lift" is likely to be caused by the drug which it contains. Such soft drinks are decidedly harmful and habit-forming, even though sold by the millions. Such caffeine-containing drinks, offered by every soda fountain and most eating places, and consumed in large quantities, should be known and avoided.' ("The Word of Wisdom: A Modern Interpretation," p. 97) "Elder Mark E. Peterson taught: 'And then there are some soft drinks which contain harmful or habit-forming ingredients. The leaders of the Church have not attempted to add to the list of prohibitions in the Word of Wisdom to include all such items, but they teach that in the spirit of the Word of Wisdom, if not in the letter, we should avoid anything which contains ingredients which are harmful and habit forming.' ("A Word of Wisdom," p. 15) http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/health/cola.htm You go, Tom! Hypocritical Mormon prophets rule! :) |
| Subject: | It is very true that women are attracted to gays |
| Date: | Nov 19 11:17 |
| Author: | cl2 |
| Mail Address: |
| AND then put us in a group of mormon men and gays
become even MORE attractive. Gay men SHOW FEELINGS. They are sensitive and
caring. They like a lot of the same stuff that women do (although my ex
doesn't). My ex is an exception in that category--BUT my ex has much MORE
depth than any mormon guy I ever dated. He is extremely intelligent. In comparing my BILs and my ex, my ex is the better man. People wonder why I ended up with a gay man--believe me, when dealing with choosing in the mormon community, my ex stood out. I tried until I was age 27 to find a good mormon man to marry. I think I picked the best one. |
| Subject: | I knew it! |
| Date: | Nov 20 06:36 |
| Author: | Jon-D |
| A little "flame" makes men more attractive to women and other men with homosexual tendencies... |
| Subject: | Ann Monson Dibb is now a quasi-GA ... |
| Date: | Nov 19 11:37 |
| Author: | Dude |
| Well, as much a GA as females can be in the LDS Church. At the April 2008 Gen'l Conference she was called as the 2nd counselor in the Young Women Gen'l Presidency. And, yes, she's still hot! (at least for a 54-year old mother). |
| Subject: | The Lord said "coca-cola" not Pepsi! Tommy did nothing wrong. NT |
| Subject: | Thomas S. Monson loves the Episcopal |
| Date: | Nov 20 03:32 |
| Author: | Baura |
| The subject-line contains an anagram. |
| Subject: | Re: Thomas S. Monson loves the Episcopal |
| Date: | Nov 20 05:54 |
| Author: | Episcopal in Copán |
| Yes, nice anagram: EPIScoPal = PEPSI cola |
| Subject: | we are CO-eternal in the Kingdom Eternally, IS my Inspired Testimony . . . |
| Date: | Nov 20 11:47 |
| Author: | steve benson |
| Mail Address: |
| In other words, brothers and sisters, COKE IS IT. |
| Subject: | You realize of course... |
| Date: | Nov 20 09:58 |
| Author: | TLC |
| ...that ultimately this boils down to my word against
hers or theirs. But here's something for what it's worth: I have been
writing the stories of my life for as long as I can remember. I don't make
this up - I just go back occasionally and edit the stories so that they're
less emotional and more factual. In the heat of the moment the stories can
take on some emotional weight that they don't really need in order to be
compelling and interesting. Whether anybody believes me or not I really don't care. I've lived a really crazy and sometimes outrageously out of control life. In context of who I know myself to be my stories are tame. And completely truthful. Some of the more unbelievable stories remain in my personal inner vaults and quite possibly will die with me. No worries, the stories I feel comfortable telling are being told. Tom Monson's Pepsi consumption is no secret for gawd's sake. I wrote about this story in my journal shortly after it happened. The fact that the Pepsi crates and bottles were in such clear sight in their home meant that a lot of people besides me saw them. Duh. That's one of the dangers of mormon insistence on keeping journals - for some of us a lot of stuff goes into them that the church would rather we not remember or talk about. You should see my mission journals. Wowsers!! Anyway, for what it's worth, the story is 100% true and not embellished in any way. |
| Subject: | The spirit of the Word of Wisdom |
| Date: | Nov 20 10:37 |
| Author: | jacyn |
| I don't know any mo's who obey it. According to that
last quote in the OP they are supposed to avoid things with "harmful or
habit forming ingredients." They don't. Think of all those highly processed
"foods" with transfats and other ingredients that no one can pronounce.
Don't get me started on prescription and over-the-counter meds. (I could
also tell stories about TBM college kids charged criminally for
manufacturing ecstasy in the Bell Tower at BYU using common substances
available at any drugstore. But I digress.) When I was a TBM I really got into eating healthy foods -- buying organic whole foods and avoiding high calorie/low nutrition density processed "food." I learned that what I call "real food" really does taste 100x better than the processed sh**. I remember sitting many times in RS, listening to obese and/or visibly undernourished women condemn the evils of drinking coffee, tea, and alcohol, and realizing that these judgmental women were less healthy than my non-mo friends who imbibe in those purportedly evil substances but live healthy lifestyles. If mo's obeyed the WoW, they would eat whole grains, fruits and veggies "in season," and eat meat "sparingly" in times of winter or famine. They would avoid habit-forming prescription meds. They don't. They would not drink hot cocoa or Postum or spiced cider. The fare at ward socials would not be ham, funeral potatoes, green jello mixed with that abomination called "non-dairy whipped topping," and desserts loaded with empty calories and fat. But they do. And then they respond in the affirmative to the TR question: Do you obey the WoW? Obviously, they haven't read it. Well, this has all been fun to contemplate while drinking my morning java. Mmmmmm. And I also have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed discovering the effects of alcohol (in moderation) this past year. Cheers! |
| Subject: | I was disciplined at church because I told the 2nd counselor's daughter... |
| Date: | Nov 20 11:41 |
| Author: | Punky's Dilemma |
| That although there was no formal prohibition for
caffienated sodas, there had been some GAs that suggested not to use it. I was teaching a YWs lesson, and answering the girl's question on this issue. I answered it correctly. But a week later I was "invited" to a meeting about it by her Dr. Pepper guzzling father. I had to have a member of the bishopric monitor all of my lessons for a year after that. When I tell that story now, it's like another lifetime...who would be so petty about stuff like that? Oh, yeah, that's right...conflicted mormons. ;) |
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Recovery from Mormonism - The Mormon Church www.exmormon.org |