Church Says E-cigarettes, Green Tea, and Coffee-Based Products against Word of Wisdom

Contributed By Valerie Johnson, Church News staff writer

  • 16 August 2019

The exterior of the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City Monday, September 18, 2017. Photo by Adam Fondren, Deseret News.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently released a statement regarding its stance on the use of vaping or e-cigarettes, coffee-based products, marijuana, and opioids. 

The Word of Wisdom, a revelation given through Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio, in February 1833, is a “law of health for the physical and spiritual benefit of God’s children,” according to the August 15 statement. Found in Doctrine and Covenants 89, the Word of Wisdom prohibits the use of several substances, such as “wine or strong drink,” “tobacco,” and “hot drinks” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:5, 8–9).

Church leaders have provided additional instruction since then “and have taught that substances that are destructive, habit-forming or addictive should be avoided,” the statement read.

Among these substances that are prohibited by the Word of Wisdom are vaping or e-cigarettes, green tea, and coffee-based products.

Additionally, the statement listed substances such as marijuana and opioids, which Church leaders have cautioned “should be used only for medicinal purposes as prescribed by a competent physician.”

Read the full statement on Newsroom.

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