Coffee vs. Chocolate: A Guide to the Word of Wisdom

[_Darth J]

The current teachings of the LDS Church regarding the Word of Wisdom have led to much confusion and speculation---and, if I may say, folklore.
One question we sometimes come across is why coffee is forbidden by the modern LDS interpretation of D&C 89, but chocolate is not. The assumption is that caffeine is the reason coffee is proscribed. And yet chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine. So why is coffee not permitted, but chocolate is, when both of these foods contain stimulants that arguably interfere with our ability to sense the promptings of the Holy Ghost?

Coffee, we must understand, comes from Africa. We do not know the exact reasons why the Lord has forbidden us to consume beans that come from Africa. In fact, we have no direct evidence that Joseph Smith instituted the ban on coffee. Rather, it was his successors who decreed that coffee cannot be consumed if we want the blessings of the temple. Even if we mix other beverages with it, coffee is still coffee. Although coffee can be mixed with white and delightsome milk, such as in a caffe' latte ("latte" is the Italian word for "milk"), the coffee may appear to become lighter in color, but it is still coffee. Thus, a beverage with even one drop of coffee is not permissible if we are really following the Word of Wisdom.

Having said that, we must understand that the ban on coffee is because of its African heritage, not its color. The Church does not teach that the coffee ban is based on the color of the beverage. The idea of "black coffee" is simply a modern leftist construct.

Chocolate, although dark like coffee, is somewhat different. The cacao plant originates in Mesoamerica. Although scientists have not yet found any genetic link between the cacao plant and plants grown by the ancient Israelites, this does not preclude the possibility of cross-pollination between cacao beans and a small number of bean plants from Jerusalem. The DNA signatures coming from the small amount of Israelite beans could easily be missed because of genetic drift and bottleneck and Punnett squares and stuff like that.

Recent cacao scholarship has found intriguing parallels between Mesoamerica and ancient Israel. Some researches have found that:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobroma_ ... ultivation

The Maya believed the kakaw (cacao) was discovered by the gods in a mountain that also contained other delectable foods to be used by them. According to Maya mythology, the Plumed Serpent gave cacao to the Maya after humans were created from maize by divine grandmother goddess Xmucane.

Note that the Maya attributed the gift of chocolate to Quetzocoatl, who uncannily resembles Jesus Christ. Indeed, the gospel of Jesus Christ is often described as sweet and desirable, which would fit neatly with associating chocolate with the Christlike Quetzocoatl. Chocolate also has pleasurable effects on our brain chemistry and can act as an anti-depressant, very much resembling the "mighty change of heart" and lifting of our burdens experienced by those who convert to the gospel, as with the people of King Benjamin or Alma the Younger. Thus, it is a very intriguing parallel that the Mayans would associate chocolate with Quetzocoatl/Jesus Christ and the joy we receive from chocolate and/or the gospel.

Note also how the goddess Xmucane figures prominently in the Mayan imagery. This is another intriguing parallel, as the ancient Israelites also believed in the goddess Asherah, who we can pretty much assume is Heavenly Mother.

Another intriguing aspect about chocolate in ancient Mesoamerica is this:

The Maya celebrated an annual festival in April to honor their cacao god, Ek Chuah, an event that included the sacrifice of a dog with cacao-colored markings, additional animal sacrifices, offerings of cacao, feathers and incense, and an exchange of gifts.

Note the similarity between "Ek Chuah" and "Elkenah," a pagan god referenced in the Book of Abraham. Considering the Egyptophile roots of Lehi and his party, this similarity deserves careful scrutiny. Additionally, we are told that the Nephites practiced the Law of Moses, which involved animal sacrifices, at the same time they were practicing the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we find in ancient Mesoamerica the practice of animal sacrifice related to chocolate, which is an analogue to the gospel.

Intriguing also is the fact that dogs were sacrificed, since dogs are considered unclean in many Middle Eastern cultures.

In summary, which types of beans are acceptable for temple-going members of the Church to consume is related to their origins, not simply their color. The dark foods produced by the cacao bean from Mesoamerica has many parallels with the gospel. The dark foods produced by the coffee bean, on the other hand, have African roots, and while we do not know the reasons for the coffee ban, we may one day be blessed with further revelation so that the blessings of the temple are available to all members of the Church, regardless of the origin or color of the food products of which they partake.

[_Bob Loblaw]

That is fantastic. Well done.

[_Cicero]

The dark foods produced by the coffee bean, on the other hand, have African roots, and while we do not know the reasons for the coffee ban, we may one day be blessed with further revelation so that the blessings of the temple are available to all members of the Church, regardless of the origin or color of the food products of which they partake.

The cocoa beans must have been much more flavorful and valiant in the pre-existence.

[_CSA]

As noted in a previous discussion started by myself http://mormondiscussions.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20215, the church keeps silent on these issues. Those who do drink or partake of products that have caffeine should be able to recognize the negative effects of such products on their spirituality and make adjustments to correct them on their own.

[_sock puppet]

The dark foods produced by the coffee bean, on the other hand, have African roots, and while we do not know the reasons for the coffee ban, we may one day be blessed with further revelation so that the blessings of the temple are available to all members of the Church, regardless of the origin or color of the food products of which they partake.

The cocoa beans must have been much more flavorful and valiant in the pre-existence.

Cocoa beans more valiant than coffee beans? Perhaps.

More flavorful? No way.

[_Tarski]

Awesome!

[_Cylon]

Thank you, Darth J. Your brilliant apologetic scholarship has revived my faith is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. And I'm gonna go eat some chocolate.

[_DrW]

Well done, DarthJ.

Still trying to sort out the implications of your research with regard to my morning drink of choice: Arabic coffee mocha latte.

(Perhaps I'm simply headed for outer darkness.)

[_moksha]

Chocolate is great. Had the Greeks known of the Nephite connection to the New World, surely they would have treated the words ambrosia and chocolate as being synonymous.

The original coco plant grew well away from the fence during the Heaven War.

[_bcspace]

So I can safely take pure green coffee bean extract?