Can Mormons Drink Herbal Tea?
The answer to whether Mormons can drink herbal tea is not a simple one. In general, Mormons are discouraged from drinking tea and other hot beverages, including herbal tea. That said, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the official name of the Mormon Church) does not have an official stance on herbal teas specifically. While members are discouraged from drinking tea, they are not forbidden from drinking herbal teas should they decide to do so.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Position on Tea
Mormons are guided by the Word of Wisdom, a set of health-related rules laid out in revelation in the Mormon Church. It says:
- Hot drinks are not for the body or belly
- All wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man
Based on this, Mormons are traditionally discouraged from drinking tea and other hot beverages. This is mainly due to the first statement, which is interpreted to mean that hot drinks are bad for your health. While this does not explicitly refer to herbal tea, it is seen as a rule against all hot drinks.
Drinking Herbal Tea
Despite this, there are Mormons who do choose to drink herbal tea. While it is not a widely accepted practice, some members of the Church have stated that they feel it is permissible to drink herbal teas because of the second statement, which could potentially be interpreted to mean that herbal teas are acceptable.
Ultimately, the decision to drink herbal tea (or any hot beverage) is an individual one, and should be prayerfully considered. The Church does not have a clear-cut stance on herbal teas, so it is up to each individual to decide if it is something they are comfortable with or not.
