ChristopherMills

One thing that got me wondering about the extract is a health shake that has it as an ingredient along with many other herbs, vitamins and antioxidants. It is a shake designed to lower cholestoral, prevent heart disease, prevent acid reflux and also keep one regular. :) I have high cholestoral (hereditary) and also high triglycerides. I am searching for ways to lower it naturally. Along with exercise, I have been trying fish oil, flax seeds, oatmeal, and almonds. I'm looking for anything I can find to lower it rather than taking the harmful prescriptions available for this condition. My cholestoral and triglycerides have gone down but both are still higher than normal. If indeed it is possible to extract the health benefits from the plant and leave the harmful substance behind, and God has given us the knowledge to do so, then I think that it could be of importance. It could be a simple matter of how the plant is processed. After all, the only difference between wine and grape juice is the way it is processed. I have prayerfully considered this and decided that it is probably best not to drink the shake for now. Nevertheless, I am curious as to what is actually in the extract and if anyone is aware of General Authority statements made on Green Tea Extract as opposed to actually drinking the tea. I haven't been able to find much information on the extract and nothing on official statements. Thanks for your comments.

That may be the case with some but I think that there are a lot of others that do consider us to be Christians and use the term "Mormon" simply to distinguish us from the other sects like Baptists, Methodists, or Catholics who are also Christian. Mormon is not a bad word and neither is Mormonism. lds.org actually states that both of these terms are acceptable when referring to the people or the religion as a whole. Style Guide - LDS Newsroom Additionally, let us not forget the talk from our late President Gordon B. Hinckley who said (actually quoting Joseph Smith who first said this): “if there is any name that is totally honorable in its derivation, it is the name Mormon. And so, when someone asks me about it and what it means, I quietly say—‘Mormon means more good." adding to this President Hinckley also said: "While I’m thankful for the privilege of being a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Church which bears His name, I am not ashamed of the nickname Mormon.” and "We may not be able to change the nickname, but we can make it shine with added luster." source: LDS.org - Ensign Article - <i>Mormon</i> Should Mean “More Goodâ€

Your EQ President was way out of line. The bishops conduct also seems unbecoming. Try not to hold a grudge though. We must try to maintain a forgiving heart no matter how difficult it may be. Remember that we are all human regardless of our callings. Even in the Bible prophets and apostles made humanly mistakes and had to learn from them. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly (as your story suggests) I would take your issues to the next authority and discuss it with them. If you cannot talk to your bishop about it then the next guy is the stake president. The thing to remember is that the gospel is true but the members are human. Simply because a member has done wrong does not make the Church and its doctrine wrong. This was true in Christ's day and it is true in ours. I have never had an experience like yours but I have had to remind myself of this from time to time.

First and foremost, seek guidance from the Holy Ghost. Read. Ponder. Pray. All else will fall into place. Just to comment on the anti-mormon lit on the last 2 posts, I have found that a great number of "anti's" simply have a misunderstanding of our beliefs but at the same time don't really care to understand. Others just have a lot of hate and could care less if the truth was staring them in the face. Pretty sad really, that some people have nothing better to do than criticize others.

I'm in no position to condemn anyone. :) Thanks for your comments.

Wingnut, I do not disagree.

Sure, I have actually been doing further research on this and have found some more information. Mostly, I have only heard and read from other LDS members that believed that "tea" refers to "black tea" simply because the "hot drinks" of Joseph Smiths day were in fact coffee and black tea. For example, herbal tea is acceptable and it is a hot drink and a tea. Green Tea has recently become popular and I have heard some of my LDS aquaintances classify it as an herbal tea and that it is "healthy". The issue that I have with green tea is that it comes from the same plant as black tea. Here are a few references that I came across that specify black tea: On a BYU website, the Word of Wisdom is defined as follows: word of wisdom - a name given to Joseph Smith’s revelation on health, contained in D & C 89. Past and present prophets of the church have clearly stated that the following are proscribed by this revelation: alcohol, tobacco, coffee, black tea, and illegal drugs. Following the word of wisdom is a requirement for obtaining a temple recommend as well as for being baptized. source: Glossary A few other of many sources: Teas | Times & Seasons, An Onymous Mormon Blog LDS FAQ: Fulfilled Prophecies of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet JENNIFER DIANE Mormon Family The Freelance Observer: Breaking Rules or Breaking Babies: LDS vs. FLDS Mormon Church As of yet, I have not read any official statement from a prophet defining "tea" as "black tea" but it is obvious that many members have interpreted it to be so under the fact that "black tea" was the tea of Joseph Smith's era and herbal teas are ok. I have also found a quote from Victor L. Ludlow, a BYU religion professor who states: “The Word of Wisdom counsels against drinking “hot drinks,” which have been identified by early Church leaders as coffee and tea. “Tea” refers to the standard tea derived from the tea plant, sometimes called black tea or green tea. The Word of Wisdom has not been interpreted as proscribing herbal teas, stating that “all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man (D&C 89:10)” (Victor L. Ludlow, Principles and Practices of the Restored Gospel, p.434). As it seems, there is some confusion among LDS members regarding this matter (As evidenced in others blog comments). This was what inspired me to post this blog.

Carbonated drinks are absolutely ok. However, I do not think it would be healthy to only drink sodas or to overdo it. I have never heard that colas are against the Word of Wisdom. Some people mistakenly think that caffienated beverages are against it but as I understand, we are only advised to avoid them (for addictive purposes) but it is not forbidden. I know a lot of LDS who drink caffeine and a lot who avoid it. Personally, I do not drink caffeinated sodas but I do love a caffeine free cola every now and then. Living in Utah is quite an advantage because almost everything is available in caffeine free (including Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper). Seriously, caffeine has no flavor so you don't even miss it unless you are addicted. The only caffeine I ever consume is whatever small amount is in a Snickers bar or the occasional asprin. :) Herbal Tea is ok to drink. Black Tea is not and I believe that Green Tea is also not ok because it is from the same plant.

The "M" word. lol. I think that the majority of people who use it are not motivated by bigotry. I think that most don't even know. In some areas "LDS" is not a known term and Mormon is just easier to say.

According to lds.org, it is ok. source: Style Guide - LDS Newsroom The official name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This full name was given by revelation from God to Joseph Smith in 1838.— While the term "Mormon Church" has long been publicly applied to the Church as a nickname, it is not an authorized title, and the Church discourages its use. When writing about the Church, please follow these guidelines: In the first reference, the full name of the Church is preferred: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Please avoid the use of “Mormon Church,” “LDS Church” or “the Church of the Latter-day Saints.” When a shortened reference is needed, the terms “the Church” or “the Church of Jesus Christ” are encouraged. When referring to Church members, the term “Latter-day Saints” is preferred, though “Mormons” is acceptable. "Mormon” is correctly used in proper names such as the Book of Mormon, Mormon Tabernacle Choir or Mormon Trail, or when used as an adjective in such expressions as “Mormon pioneers.” The term “Mormonism” is acceptable in describing the combination of doctrine, culture and lifestyle unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When referring to people or organizations that practice polygamy, the terms “Mormons,” “Mormon fundamentalist,” “Mormon dissidents,” etc. are incorrect. The Associated Press Stylebook notes: “The term Mormon is not properly applied to the other ... churches that resulted from the split after [Joseph] Smith’s death.”

I apologize for the misunderstanding. My reference to "Black Coffee" was intended to be directed towards the product itself (whether with or without the sugar and cream). "Black Coffee" as opposed to the not so popular Green Coffee or Green Coffee Extract. I did not mean to imply that drinking coffee in any form is acceptable according to the Word of Wisdom. When the Word of Wisdom was given, black tea and coffee were the popular "hot drinks". Recently, Green Tea has become quite popular and there are some LDS who feel that it is ok to drink because of the advertised health benefits. To me, coffee is coffee and tea is tea if it comes from the same plant. However, Green Tea is not the same product as Black Tea, due to the processing that takes place. So, is it the plant or the product that we should abstain from? That is the question.

I am really interested in getting some feedback on this. This thread is inspired from the recent popularity of Green Tea and its health benefits that are advertised. From what I understand, "hot drinks" in Doctrine and Covenants 89:9 has been interpreted specifically to be coffee and tea. I have heard and read from other LDS members that believed that "tea" refers to "Black Tea" simply because the "hot drinks" of Joseph Smiths day were in fact coffee and Black Tea. Herbal teas have been deemed permissible. I have spoken to a few LDS who were under the assumption that Green Tea is classified as an herbal tea and that drinking it does not violate the Word of Wisdom. A fact that some may not be aware of is that Green Tea is produced from the Camellia Sinensis, which is the same plant that Black Tea is produced from. White Tea and Oolong Tea are also products of this plant. The difference from one Camellia Sinensis tea to another is dependant upon how the leaves are processed. Although each come from the same plant, they are not the same product. My question is this: Should we avoid Camellia Sinensis altogether or only the Black Tea that is produced from it? I am not aware of any statement from a General Authority on this issue. I am curious if anyone else could shed some light on this. Another topic in question is Green Tea Extract. I have done a limited amount of research on this product. As I understand it, there are various methods of obtaining the extract. Would certain extracts be a permissible way of consuming the antioxidants, vitamins and obtaining other health benefits associated with Green Tea (some use it as a weight loss supplement)? On a BYU website, the Word of Wisdom is defined as follows: word of wisdom - a name given to Joseph Smith’s revelation on health, contained in D & C 89. Past and present prophets of the church have clearly stated that the following are proscribed by this revelation: alcohol, tobacco, coffee, black tea, and illegal drugs. Following the word of wisdom is a requirement for obtaining a temple recommend as well as for being baptized. source: Glossary A few other of many sources defining "tea" as "Black Tea": Teas | Times & Seasons, An Onymous Mormon Blog LDS FAQ: Fulfilled Prophecies of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet JENNIFER DIANE Mormon Family The Freelance Observer: Breaking Rules or Breaking Babies: LDS vs. FLDS Mormon Church As of yet, I have not read any official statement from a prophet defining "tea" as "Black Tea" but it is obvious that many members have interpreted it to be so under the fact that "Black Tea" was the tea of Joseph Smith's era and herbal teas are ok. I have also found a quote from Victor L. Ludlow, a BYU religion professor who states: “The Word of Wisdom counsels against drinking “hot drinks,” which have been identified by early Church leaders as coffee and tea. “Tea” refers to the standard tea derived from the tea plant, sometimes called black tea or green tea. The Word of Wisdom has not been interpreted as proscribing herbal teas, stating that “all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man (D&C 89:10)” (Victor L. Ludlow, Principles and Practices of the Restored Gospel, p.434). As it seems, there is some confusion among LDS members regarding this matter. This was what inspired me to post this blog. I have been curious of the health benefits associated with Green Tea Extract but have decided to avoid it simply because it is produced from Camellia Sinensis. Until an official statement is made, I feel that tea is tea if it comes from the "tea plant". I am intersted in any facts, quotes, opinions, etc. on this subject. Thanks, Chris