Questions about WOW

[JPL1234]

I have some questions in regards to the WOW. It seems from what I have been reading, many LDS members vary in regards to their interpretations about certain things.

The big one seems to be drinks.

Alcohol - Ok, this one is pretty easy and I understand it. What I ask is it ok to cook with wine or beer (I use wine for several of my favourite dishes - I believe most of the alcohol dissolves (usually 1 cup is required). What about non-alcholic beer????

Coffee - I understand regular coffee..what I wonder is why not decaffinated coffee? Is is not the caffeine that is the problem? Or other ingredients?
How about coffee subsitutes like the Barley Grain drinks? (it tastes pretty much like coffee and even looks like it...)

Caffeine in general - are you allowed to consume? All soda (not just coke) has caffeine unless stated otherwise (see this link :How Much Caffeine in Drinks -- Coffee, Tea, Soft Drinks -- Caffeine Content) How about hot chocolate or chocolate of any sort...

The other question is Tithing - some pay 10% of Net, others pay 10% of gross. Note there can be a HUGE difference in this payments. Where do you all stand on this???

Garments - do you have to sleep with them on?????

[prospectmom]

When my parents joined the church postum was a big thing, a grain alternative to coffee.... cooking evaporates the alcohol so no problems there. Non Alcoholic beer is just like non alcoholic wine in my eyes just fine.....
I do think we all miss the point when trying to live the Word of Wisdom....... to not do anything in excess..... to eat healthy and live a healthy life.... We need to look at our whole life and see and change the things that effect our well being whether it is on the official list or not.......

Just my humble thoughts

[pam]

Keep in mind that decaffeinated coffee does not mean it's totally free of the caffeine. According to standards a coffee must be 97% free of caffeine to be considered decaf.

The question of tithing. We are asked to pay 10% of our "increase." To me that means 10% of our gross income.

There is no official Church stance on the drinking of sodas whether caffeinated or not.

[pam]

Also there have been many discussion on all of these topics. You might try doing an advanced search of the site and reading what some of the past comments have been. That might also help you with some of your answers.

[Godless]

Cooking with beer and wine can have some magnificent results if you use the right stuff. And the alcohol evaporates, so no worries there. And personally, I'd leave non-alcoholic beer alone. Sure, it's kosher, but it's also incredibly gross.

When I was growing up, I was taught that it's tannic acid that makes coffee and tea unhealthy, not the caffeine. Not sure if that's the official reason, but it makes sense.

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by JPL1234

I have some questions in regards to the WOW. It seems from what I have been reading, many LDS members vary in regards to their interpretations about certain things.

The big one seems to be drinks.

Alcohol - Ok, this one is pretty easy and I understand it. What I ask is it ok to cook with wine or beer (I use wine for several of my favourite dishes - I believe most of the alcohol dissolves (usually 1 cup is required). What about non-alcholic beer????

I cook with wine frequently. As long as you cook your meal sufficiently enough that you retain the flavor of the alcohol without the alcoholic content, I don't see the problem. As for the non-alcoholic beer? What's the context? Are you going out to the bar with your friends and drinking it with them so that you can both hang out and keep the WOW? I would say that you need to consider "the appearance of evil" and avoiding it.

Coffee - I understand regular coffee..what I wonder is why not decaffinated coffee? Is is not the caffeine that is the problem? Or other ingredients?
How about coffee subsitutes like the Barley Grain drinks? (it tastes pretty much like coffee and even looks like it...)

The WOW indicated that "hot drinks" are not for the belly. It has been interpreted/clarified by modern prophets to mean coffee and tea.

Caffeine in general - are you allowed to consume? All soda (not just coke) has caffeine unless stated otherwise (see this link :How Much Caffeine in Drinks -- Coffee, Tea, Soft Drinks -- Caffeine Content) How about hot chocolate or chocolate of any sort...

For this question, I would echo Pam's advice that you use the advanced search functions of the website, as this topic has been discussed ad nauseum. The short version: some people interpret the WOW to mean that we should not drink caffeinated beverages of any sort, and so they don't. However, the Church has never officially sanctioned that line of thought.

The other question is Tithing - some pay 10% of Net, others pay 10% of gross. Note there can be a HUGE difference in this payments. Where do you all stand on this???

I pay on my gross. Some people who pay on their net also pay on their tax refund when they get it back. Since I pay on my gross, I've already paid on my tax refund. We are taught to tithe on our "increase" -- some people have different interpretations of that, but I think most LDS you talk to will probably generally agree that tithing should be paid on gross income.

Garments - do you have to sleep with them on?????

Yes. Endowed LDS members make a covenant to wear the garment always. There are very few limited exceptions to "always": sex, swimming, sweating, bathing. Even the "sweating" one is debated by many...some people don't wear their garments when they are doing heavy duty workouts, some do.

[Jim108]

With regard to beer and wine, some of the founders of the LDS church consumed alcohol. Joseph Smith and BY are included. Jesus is on the list too. So is Noah and many more. So what gives?

[ADoyle90815]

Actually, tannins are found in tea, red wine, and even on grape skins. That means that when you eat raisins or grapes, as well as drink purple grape juice, you're getting that. Tannic acid is only found in leather when it's tanned. There might be some other reason that tea made from the tea leaf is not allowed, but I'm not sure since I'm not LDS.

[Faded]

Originally Posted by JPL1234

I have some questions in regards to the WOW. It seems from what I have been reading, many LDS members vary in regards to their interpretations about certain things.

The big one seems to be drinks.

Others have shared the gist of it. The underlying key is this: Why don't we drink coffee, tea and alcohol? Because alcohol is bad for you? Because it has caffeine in it? No, neither reason is correct. We do no drink them because the Lord commanded it and we want to obey Him when he commands us to do something. If the Lord commanded us to never eat potatoes, we would show our obedience to him by not eating potatoes. Making assumptions as to why the Lord commands something is missing the whole point. The point is obedience to what He HAS commanded.

The Jews fell into a similar trap. The Lord said not to seethe (cook) a kid (calf) in it's mother's milk. Orthodox Jews feel they demonstrate their absolute obedience to this command by never letting any Dairy item touch any Meat item. They even use separate dishes, which are likewise not allowed to touch. That is just one example. Their notions of all Kosher foods go WAAAY beyond the rules outlined in the 5 Books of Moses, and they are doing so to demonstrate their absolute obedience. But by getting so caught up in overdoing it in every aspect of their religious observance, they missed the whole point and they missed the Messiah as a result of their obsessively overdoing it.

We know where the letter of the law is. If you choose to live above and beyond it, just be careful that you are not becoming obsessive in the same manner as the Jews. And don't try to enforce living above and beyond upon other members of the Church.

The other question is Tithing - some pay 10% of Net, others pay 10% of gross. Note there can be a HUGE difference in this payments. Where do you all stand on this???

The letter of the law says, "10% of all increase." That means 10% of everything you gained that you didn't already have. Some would say that their Net income better fits that description because they will never see a dime of the money taken in taxes until they get their tax return. When they get their tax return, they pay tithing on that as well. Some would say that 10% of all increase would include the money that is taxed because they receive the benefit of services those taxes pay for. I've often heard the statement, "Do you want Gross blessings or do you want Net blessings?" I think it is a valid point, but it doesn't really establish any certainty. The letter of the law says, 10% of all increase. If you are paying 10% of your Net income, I think you're still living the Law of Tithing and I do not think it is appropriate to try to enforce an "above and beyond" approach on others. More than that, I think it's disgraceful that some people might feel it makes them better than others if they pay tithing on Gross income instead.

The short answer: You decide for yourself what the Law of Tithing means to you and from there it's between you and your Heavenly Father.

Members of the Church have more struggles with paying Tithing at all, so quibbling over Net vs Gross is just silliness. How about we focus on just paying Tithing?

Garments - do you have to sleep with them on?????

Yes, that much is perfectly clear when you are instructed in the temple on them. There should have been additional instruction stating that there are certain activities that you remove it for. Sex, certain sports, swimming, bathing, showering, etc. Once those activities are done, you put it back on. If you would be wearing underwear for any given activity, then you should be wearing the garment of the Holy Priesthood. You should only take it off when it is obvious or it is impossible to wear without it showing.

[tubaloth]

What I ask is it ok to cook with wine or beer

I’m actually surprised to hear other people say they have used this for cooking. The reason isn’t because its burned off. The reason is because you would end up buying Wine or beer. As far as I know we don’t even purchase those items.

Coffee

Its Coffee, then No! Doesn’t matter what type of coffee it is!

How about coffee subsitutes like the Barley Grain drinks?

I have never heard of this. I would probably lean towards a No, but really this is something you should be asking your bishop.

Caffeine in general - are you allowed to consume?

What I wrote up recently in another post is about the whole spirit of the Law or Letter of Law.
Some people want a full list of all the dues and don’ts of the Word of Wisdom.

(Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27.)
26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

So this is where different members can disagree. Some members feel because they don’t have a full list of the don’ts they are free to use there agency and interpret things as they can. There is really nothing wrong with this, because in the end Temple worthiness is determined by the letter of the law.
Others feel that caffeine (and probably the other things you listed) is part of the spirit of the law. That even though the Word of Wisdom doesn’t say it specifically, you can tell that would be included. Caffeine some feel is a drug; it can be an addictive substance.
For me this is how I see it. If the Caffeine in a drink is something you depend on, then that would classify it more as a drug. If you drink coke at the barbeque once a month, then it’s not a drug.
To each there own. The key to me is, are you trying to get a way with things with God? Or are you trying to find the answers so you well be in good standing with God. Trust me we can always go the extra mile with being on the right side!

The other question is Tithing - some pay 10% of Net, others pay 10% of gross. Note there can be a HUGE difference in this payments. Where do you all stand on this???

I think a talk with your bishop about this would be good. As long as you are paying 10% of your increase you are fine. Its really a matter do you want Gross blessings or Net Blessings.

Garments - do you have to sleep with them on

Yep, again another question for your bishop!
Doctrine and Covenants 89