We assured her that herbal teas were fine.

I’ve never tasted coffee, and never really had the desire to. I like the smell though, and my great grandfather (this is probably why I like the smell) drank coffee (and he was a bishop for 20 some odd years) for his (really low) blood pressure (it was either coffee or really expensive caffeine pills).

I don’t drink coke either. I do occasionally drink a glass of inca cola (which has caffeine in it).

(did I use enough parenthesis?)

Note that I say all of this as an LDS convert who sorely misses sweet tea whenever I go to visit family in Alabama.

I just don’t get the religious banning of a substance such as coffee or alcohol (LDS or not). All things in moderation seems like some pretty sound biblical theology, to me. The ability to control oneself and not overindulge in anything, be it coffee, alcohol or even food, proves far more than not partaking in it at all, doesn’t it? I mean, how are you going to prove to whatever higher power you believe in that you are a good person, and would not kill anyone (or commit whatever other sin you want to bring up) if you’ve taken away all temptation or ability to commit the sin? Sure, a man won’t sin by lusting after a woman whose cleavage he saw if his society covers a woman head-to-toe so that he never sees the cleavage, but does that really prove anything?

I’ve never gotten any answer that makes sense to me on any religious ban of coffee or alcohol.

Back to my original point - wine is good for your health, too. As long as you don’t overindulge. Many, many things are, and finding a healthy balance to all things in life seems like much more of a fitting religious ideal than banning something to prevent an unhealthy balance.

Sorry if I’m rambling or don’t make sense - blame it on the cold medicine if needed.