Dear Gramps, I appreciate the advice you gave in your previous letter. The last couple of weeks my sister has stayed away and I talked to the Bishop about our financial situation. I am now concerned about one particular issue that you may be able to help me with.

Gramps, I have a couple of questions that I have been thinking about for a while.

Hi Gramps, Ever since joining the church five years ago, I have wondered about the issue of drinking caffeinated pop. The missionaries that taught us, said we should drink 7up, sprite, etc . . . without the caffeine. Upon joining, we gave up all cola's. Within a few months, I noticed many members use Cola drinks frequently.  When my daughter went on a youth trip and rode with the Bishop she came home and told us he drank Coke all the way there and back. Shortly after that my family gradually began using cola's again. I have to admit, I felt better and more spiritually in tune while abstaining from caffeine. But, I wonder what is the church's standard on this issue? Thanks, Sherry Chiles, aol.com [answer]

Dear Gramps, As a fairly new member of the church, I've always wondered about the Word of  Wisdom as it relates to the eating of meat. As I understand it, it sounds to me like we should be vegetarians, that meat is for times of famine. Since we, at least in the United States, have such an abundance of food, other than meat, at our disposal, shouldn't we be refraining from eating meat? Larmour, aol.com [answer]

Dear Gramps, Thank you for the enlightenment you offered on the Word of Wisdom. Speaking of the Word of Wisdom, I have another question for you. In verse 17, where it says, "Nevertheless, 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," what exactly does this mean? It seems to me that we're told that wheat to eat and barley for mild drinks are best for us " . . . all grains are good for the food of man . . . nevertheless (except) wheat for man, and corn for the ox . . ." etc. Are these other grains mentioned not good for us? Also rice and millet are just a few grains that aren't mentioned at all, and it seems to me that these would be part of "all grains" that are good for man because we don't see an "exception" made for them. Am I way off? I've always wanted to know what was meant by all of this. Thanks, Gramps. Katie, @mormontown.org [answer]

Ok dear Gramps, Since we are to be eating meat any time sparingly, what would be sparingly? Small portions at each meal? Once a week? Every other day? Only if other grains are low in access? It seems to me that it is mostly the American diet that centers most main meals around meat. There seems to be a large percentage of Americans suffering from colin cancer and heart disease. Roland Phillips Adventist Health Study proved this. Perhaps many of the early converts to the church ate less meat than we do today. It would be interesting to find out just how much meat the early Latter-day Saints actually consumed during each month. Also, nothing seems to be mentioned about the fish of the sea. Was fish even considered a meat when the Word of Wisdom was written? What do you know about these things and what would be your suggestions? Sheri [answer]

Gramps, We all know that the Word Of Wisdom pertains to Hot Drinks and has been defined as tea and coffee. We all know that tea and coffee contain caffeine and the use of either would prevent receiving a Temple Recommend. I have two questions: 1. Could the use of decaf. coffee and herb tea be in violation of the Word of Wisdom? 2. If containing caffeine is the problem how about Cola drinks? There are many other things that contain caffeine, such as chocolate and many other soft drinks. Bill, from Utah [answer]

Gramps, I have a question for you. We as Mormons have the Word of Wisdom to guide us. I am talking about the tea and coffee part. My family does not have a problem with that, we all obey that commandment. My question is why do they have Herbal Tea in the Temples to serve and some members think it alright to drink the tea made with herbs. I have been taught that even the very appearance of things wrong we shouldn't do or partake of. It is really hard to try to explain this to converts that are going to the Temple and have been taught that they have to stop drinking tea and coffee so they can become a member of the church. I am looking forward for an answer. Thanks, Coastal Girl [answer]

Gramps, My question is concerning the Word of Wisdom. Section 89 reads as though it was not a commandment at that time. When did it become a commandment and how did it come about? Also when it speaks of Jesus drinking wine in the bible, was it like the wine of today? Cindy, from Arizona [answer]

Dear Gramps, Another Word of Wisdom question. I recently traveled to a stake meeting with a Sister from my branch. She and her husband are both faithful, long time members and hold callings in the church.  They also attend the temple. During our conversation, she told me that her husband drinks a lot of coffee, but only decaf and that she enjoys tea, and will occasionally drink tea so as not to offend a hostess. She also uses herbal tea at home. Once again, I am quite confused by the word of wisdom concept. Coffee is coffee, whether it is decaf or not, right? And tea is tea, correct? Since joining the church six years ago, I have not taken so much as a sip of coffee or tea (nor do I have any desire to). I just wonder how others in the church view the use of de-caffeinated coffee or tea. Thanks, Sherry, from Colorado [answer]

Dear Gramps, In a PEC meeting recently one member stated that he drinks de-caffinated coffee, and he says that according to David O. McCay this practice does not violate the Word of Wisdom. Please provide your thoughts on this subject. Thank you. Scott, from Arizona [answer]

Dear Gramps, I know that the word of wisdom was given to us through Joseph Smith to keep our bodies clean and free from disease. I also know that wine and strong drink are not good for the body.  If this is so, why did Jesus drink wine? Kristi @deseretonline.com [answer]

Gramps, As a convert to the Church, married in the Temple, and now facing a divorce, can I be sealed to another wife? Or is it for time only? Bob, from Utah [answer]

Dear Gramps: Just one more question: What about something like Coke? (Which the Church has never formally come out against, as I understand it).  I agree with your "rule of thumb" that you don’t need to check the caffeine content not to drink coffee.  Do I detect a “double standard” when it comes to soft drinks?  (I know of some members who refuse to drink hot chocolate because the D&C said, “hot drinks are not for the stomach.”)  Thanks for your consideration. Regards, Dale [answer]

Dear Gramps, There are people in the church who would suggest that eating meat is something the Lord prefers we as Latter Day Saints not do. My question is: why is it that we serve meat dishes in the temples everyday, why does every ward social include meat in one form or another, why does the church own one of the largest cattle farms in the world, why does the church includes meat as part of their welfare food deliveries? I have come to see that the word sparingly as found in the 89th section of the D&C, is open to much interpretation among church members. Will there ever come a time when the church will officially declare that sparingly means almost none at all? Myra, from Florida [answer]

Dear Gramps, Another Word of Wisdom question. I was bothered by the suggestion that the member in question “had the right Spirit” when she is obviously placing herself as a judge over others. My question is “Where can we draw the line on things like de-caf and herbal tea?  (Both of which I would have considered okay by the Church.) In Japan, green tea, for example, is considered a health drink and members are commonly ridiculed when we refuse to drink it for “health reasons.” Dale, from Japan [answer]

Dear Gramps, Lately there seems to be a lot of questions about the Word of Wisdom. Tea and coffee drinking in particular. I enjoy herbal teas, I do not drink coffee. The teas I make are example: orange/apple, peppermint, spearmint, lemon grass and cinnamon. Each of these I make by boiling the leaves of the plant therefore making herbal tea. Any herb, boiled makes a tea. I’ve been told the tea we need to avoid is “black or peaco tea.” So where do we draw the line? I know the “teas” I drink aren’t usually discussed as being teas, but... are they also against our beliefs? These have many curative qualities. I would like your view on this...thanks Kami [answer]

Dear Gramps, I joined the church 23 years ago and gave up coffee and tea. At that time our Stake President and his councilors were not issuing temple recommends to anyone who was drinking cola soft drinks.  So, because I wanted to be worthy to go to the Temple, I gave them up. That was 22 years ago.  Well, now I have a Stake President who tells me that drinking cola soft drinks cannot keep anyone out of the Temple. I’ve noticed that many Temple-going Saints including my bishop and his children drink cola drinks. Well, here is my problem. I have three children that my husband and I have raised to avoid cola drinks. They now are looking around at the Bishop’s children (their peers) and telling us that drinking cola drinks is OK and that they can’t keep them out of the Temple. I realize that they must choose for themselves, but I seem to remember a Priesthood Bulletin from sometime in the 1970s that addresses this issue. Could you find that bulletin and then give me your opinion on how I might talk to my teens about this? I have read many of your answers, and I have a lot of respect for your wisdom. Thank you, Karen, from Washington [answer]

Dear Gramps. My husband likes to drink non-alcoholic beer, which you could say is carbonated hops, a soothing herb. He told the stake presidency and the stake presidency (counselor) said, “Well, if you don’t have a problem with it, neither do I.”  What do you think the prophet would say or has he said anything about this? Maybe he needs a shirt that says, “Don’t worry, it’s non-alcoholic.” Also, in regards to green tea, it is supposed to be a highly beneficial herb. Is it in the same class as black tea? I have some in my cupboard but have not opened it while awaiting an answer. Suzanne, from Tennessee [answer]

Gramps, What is the Church's stand on Green Tea. I've read that it has many healing properties.  I've asked several leaders but no one knows for sure? Thanks. Deb [answer]