Do you HAVE to give up coffee or can you choose it away?

[NightShift]

I have been addicted to.
Cigarettes, Cigarillos, pipe, chewing tobacco, snuff, And now I take snus (a swedish tobacco you put under your lips).

I can live without nicotine and alcohol, but I will have a hard time giving up coffee, I drink around 12 cups a day.

Do you HAVE to stop drinking coffee or is that a choice? You wont go to Hell if you do, right?

[Wingnut]

Technically, everything is a choice. No one is holding a gun to anyone's head at the time of baptism. But coffee is against the Word of Wisdom.

[BenRaines]

So when asked are you willing to live the Word of Wisdom and do you live it then you would answer "No I do not and I can't" and that would keep you from being baptized.

Snus would be a no also.

Ben Raines

[richlittell]

Before coming into the church, I smoked, chewed, dipped and drank one pot (minimum) of coffee every day.

First, you will NOT go to hell. The Word of Wisdom is primarily a health code, although now it is a condition for entering the Temple, and I can't remember, but I'm sure Ben is right that you probably can't get baptized. The Lord has found this a good measure of one's commitment to his gospel, and if one can't conquer this before Baptism, then one would probably soon begin to have much larger issues with the gospel later (or sooner rather than later). The Lord loves all his children, but doesn't want to burden anyone with living standards and principles for which they are not ready. It's like not forcing a child to ride a bike when they are too young and not ready or they could get seriously hurt.

If you are not interested in joining the LDS church, by all means, keep your coffee habit, that is your choice--I would hope you give up the tobacco because there is nothing but universal agreement that tobacco is bad for the body. Coffee, from a non-LDS perspective, has research that makes claims to both its benefits and detriments that are not yet in agreement. So it would be hard for an LDS to convince a non-LDS to quit the habit for health reasons, so I never even try. Of course, we LDS would say God knows best, but that is a spiritual argument based on faith and modern revelation.

[NightShift]

So I have to give it up? Cause I have a strong and good feeling that I should join the LDS. Much stronger than the desire of coffee.

[KrazyKay]

IMHO, I think you should give up the coffee. If it is hard because of the caffeine addiction - perhaps you can go to drinking coke or pepsi for awhile then slowly wean yourself off the caffeinated sodas.

Before my husband and his family joined the church, they drank coffee and ice tea all the time, but stopped when they joined. But my husband went to drinking coke heavily and still drinks diet coke a lot. We are working on weaning him off slowly - 8 years ago he draink 2 liters, and sometimes 3 liters in one sitting by himself and now he is down to 2 or 3 12-oz cans a day. Very slowly getting it down to where he doesn't need the caffeine, lol.

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by richlittell

The Word of Wisdom is primarily a health code, although now it is a condition for entering the Temple, and I can't remember, but I'm sure Ben is right that you probably can't get baptized. The Lord has found this a good measure of one's commitment to his gospel, and if one can't conquer this before Baptism, then one would probably soon begin to have much larger issues with the gospel later (or sooner rather than later).

First, let me apologize if I sounded insensitive above.

The commitments required for baptism are willingness to live the various laws (tithing, fasting, chastity, WoW, etc.). The commitments required for ordination to the Priesthood (and eventually a temple recommend) are demonstration of living these same laws. I've known a number of new converts to the Church who continue to struggle with various WoW-related habits (although usually smoking and drinking) for a year or more after baptism. I also know that they were not able to advance in the Priesthood, and the one person in particular that I'm thinking of never held a calling before he eventually fell away from the Church after less than two years.

It is important upon committing to baptism that one also commit to the lifestyle outlined by the Lord's laws. When such a commitment is made and taken seriously with honest desire, the Lord will help. I've seen it happen.

As well, there are resources and programs set up within the Church to help with various addictions, whether WoW-related, chastity-related, or anything else. There is a 12-step style program in the Church called the Addiction Recovery Program. It is similar to the basic AA format, but focuses on scripture/doctrine, and overcoming addiction and living a righteous life, as opposed to focusing on the addiction itself. It is very confidential. I believe that most stakes now operate at least one group. If there isn't one active in your stake, there should be one in a neighboring stake.

[Prodigal_Son]

Originally Posted by NightShift

So I have to give it up? Cause I have a strong and good feeling that I should join the LDS. Much stronger than the desire of coffee.

It sounds like you have your answer. And the Lord will bless you for your efforts. The Lord NEVER asks anything of us without a reward being doled out. Our "Word of Wisdom" can be found in The Doctrine & Covenants, Section 89 Here are excerpts:

A Word of Wisdom...Given for a principle with a promise...

...Inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father...

And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly...

And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man...

And again, hot drinks [COFFEE/TEA] are not for the body or belly...

...all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man...

Flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly...

All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine...

[AND IF WE OBEY THIS COMMAND, HERE IS WHAT THE LORD PROMISES:]


And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments:

- shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
- shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
- shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
- And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them

===================

The promises are WELL worth the sacrifice.

[Justice]

A bishop once visited the house of a less active member. As he entered his house, the bishop immediately noticed the coffee cup sitting on the table and the coffee maker across the room. This man made no attempt to hide his coffee drinking. During their conversation the bishop asked the man how long he had been drinking coffee. He said he had been drinking it for about a year or so. He commented how it calmed his nerves and how he loved the smell and flavor. He said, "Everyone has sins and addictions." He jokingly added, "Besides, a little coffee won't keep me out of the Celestial Kingdom, will it?"

The bishop responded, "No, but the disobedience will."

[semodex]

There are some great fake coffees out there...Roma is one and I just got a new one from Amazon called Oskri. They are made with barley and can be used to ease away from real coffee. I was a huge coffee drinker before I was baptized and the fake coffee really eased my desire to drink something warm in the morning.

It is wonderful that you are ready to make the change!!