Question
Gramps,
The Spirit has warned me against tobacco and alcohol, but I have never felt a warning from coffee or tea. I still feel the Spirit when I drink coffee. The Lord has revealed to me that there are spirits in the Spirit world waiting for me to do their work. I prayed and asked God to help me fully understand His will regarding coffee. I had a dream that night and I’ve never experienced anything like this before, but on a sheet of paper I read, “Blessed art thou, drink it warm.” Now what?
Kristin
Answer
Hi Kristin,
Thank you for your question and I commend you on your desire to help in the work of redeeming the dead.
Commandments are ultimately given to us for our benefit. Commandments help us live happier, healthier and more productive lives. In addition, and more importantly, the commandments help us live in such a way that we invite the Spirit to be our constant companion, helping us return to our Father in Heaven someday. The guidance found in the Doctrine & Covenants, relating to the Word of Wisdom, is also there for our benefit.
Like all commandments, we each must choose whether or not we want to receive the blessings associated with obedience to said commandments. We are not forced into obedience, but rather given agency to decide for ourselves. In your case it appears you are conflicted between:
1. Do I follow the Word of Wisdom as outlined in the scriptures
or
2. Do I adjust/customize said counsel to fit my own personal tastes or desires.
One of the reasons that we are constantly counseled to read the scriptures is so that we can read answers, already given by our Father in Heaven, to many of life’s questions. Once a clear answer has been given in the scriptures and/or by the Prophets it is beholden upon us to follow said answer rather than seek out an exception to the rule. Often, the natural man wants us to believe that the commandments of God may ‘generally’ be correct and wise, but when it comes to our specific details or personal circumstances we may some how be exempt.
Our mission is to align and harmonize our will with that of the Father rather than search for a loophole that may fit our personal desires or weaknesses. The scriptures and Prophets have already been clear on the subject of “hot drinks”. D&C 89:9 reads:
And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
On the Church’s website it states:
Tea and coffee (see D&C 89:9; latter-day prophets have taught that the term “hot drinks,” as written in this verse, refers to tea and coffee).
When people purposefully take anything harmful into their bodies, they are not living in harmony with the Word of Wisdom.
One of the blessings we receive by obeying the Word of Wisdom is we can:
19 …find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
If your true desire is to serve those in the spirit world, you will need all of the help you can get to unlock hidden treasures as you try to piece together the lives of those who came before us. If life is ‘good’ while drinking coffee, then I promise you your life will be ‘better’ without it. If you feel the Spirit while drinking coffee, then I can also promise you will feel the Spirit more often without it. The choice is yours. The promised blessings are yours if you truly want them.
Thank you again for your question Kristin.
Gramps
