 | 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 |
Dear Coastal Girl,
Many herbs and plants have been provided by the Lord to be used for restoring
health. Both Frankincense and Myrrh, that were given by the Wise Men to Jesus at
his birth, are oils distilled from herbs. At the time of General Moroni, about
72 B.C., the Book of Mormon account mentions the beneficial effects of plants
and roots in controlling fevers-- "And there were some who died with
fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land--but
not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many
plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to
which men were subject by the nature of the climate--" (Alma 46:40).
Also, in the Doctrine & Covenants we are counseled to use herbs for
medicinal purposes-- "And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith
to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs
and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy" (D&C 42:43).
And the Lord states that herbs "are made for the benefit and use of
man". "Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth,
whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards,
or for gardens, or for vineyards; "Yea, all things which come of the earth,
in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to
please the eye and to gladden the heart" (D&C 59:17-18).
It is well and appropriate to keep ourselves from the very appearance of evil.
But, of course, partaking of the good things of the earth is not evil. Perhaps
we could help the newer members to see and rejoice in the goodness of God in
providing for "the benefit of man" . . . "both to please the eye
and to gladden the heart."
If we were to have a cup of herbal tea in a public restaurant, where it would be
served in a regular tea cup, it could be assumed by others that we were drinking
conventional tea. In such a case it might be prudent to avoid drinking the
herbal tea to prevent the possibility of giving others a wrong impression. But
no one could ever assume that regular tea would be served in the temple, and
those who go there are undoubtedly mature enough in the gospel not to think
otherwise.
Gramps