Hot Drinks

What is Meant by ’Hot Drinks’ in the Word of Wisdom

After the revelation called the Word of Wisdom was given the prophet Joseph Smith said that, ‘hot drinks’ refer to tea and coffee. There is no question that the chemicals contained in tea and coffee are harmful to most people.

The temperature of the drink is another issue. Usually coffee and tea are served boiling hot which increase the chance of one burning the inside of his mouth or throat. Coffee is setting in coffee pot that is kept hot all of the time. It is pored into a mug or cup that has a handle on it so the drinker can hold the mug comfortably without burning his or her fingers. That mug also keeps the drink hot for a longer period of time. Some people drink coffee from a boiling pot all day long which can cause burn damage to the mucus membranes in the mouth. Other hot drinks such as coco, postum, hot cider, and hot soup, etc. can burn the mouth as well. Years of drinking hot coffee will damage nerve endings somewhat, where they are not as sensitive to the temperature of the hot drink, therefore one can drink hot drinks without feeling the high temperature. Allowing even more damage to their mouth and throat.

One might say that ice tea, and cold coffee would be okay. They are prohibited by the Word of Wisdom because of their chemicals. Some cola drinks may contain more caffeine than coffee or tea. The church has not taken a position on cola drinks; however, Bruce R McConkie stated that the drinking of cola drinks was in violation of the spirit of the Word of Wisdom. A cup of tea contains about half the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. One should abstain from un-prescribed drugs, thought not mentioned in the Word of Wisdom.

There are some herbal teas that are not prohibited by the Word of Wisdom. The water from the cooking of spinach would be called and herbal tea, spinach tea. But if they are boiling hot when drunk, then one would be subject to burn damage in the mouth.

The bottom line is: Avoid the use of hot drinks (tea and coffee) as mentioned in the Word of Wisdom.