[NotSure2008]

Oh my! This is all very complicated 😆 Tea being tea or not!

Hang on – I thought green tea was herbal? I think I need to read up on my “teas” slightly more! 😆

Is red bush tea OK?

It would be even more confusing if it was Tannins to be honest as they are in fruit juices, chocolate, beef and many legumes.

[NotSure2008]

hawkgrrrl wrote:

Quote:

Could someone who drank herbal teas still say they followed the word of wisdom because they believe they were and were being truthful for instance?

Herbal tea (such as camomille, mint tea, raspberry, etc.) is not prohibited. Only so-called “black” teas – those typically prepared with tannin – are prohibited.

Oh Ok – I have not heard of tannin or the term “black teas” before. See now that I can handle! I much prefer herbal teas to normal English breakfast anyway!

[NotSure2008]

I can see how someone who has been raised in the Church sees the WoW as something which is relatively easy. I have never been keen on alcohol or smoking anyway and can easily give those up (well I am not a smoker anyhow!)It is definitely about breaking old habits. The same can be said for Tithing – I remember one member saying it is easy if you have done it all your life – it is more difficult if you have to suddenly start paying! It is rather amusing, I can see how Tea and Coffee shouldn’t be such a big deal – but for some reason it is, its almost like I feel less English for not drinking it! One step at a time though for me I think!

I think the Word of Wisdom is great from a health perspective and I love the way the Church is concerned with its members welfare – I guess my problem lies with my habit of seeing everything in black and white and that every member has a different interpretation of the doctrine. For example, one member says its tea and coffee, one says its hot drinks which would include hot chocolate, one says its tea and coffee but herbal teas are allowed

By the way – what is everyone’s opinion on herbal tea here? for example redbush.

Is the most important thing to believe that whichever way you interpret it, you believe it to be true i.e. for when answering temple recommend questions. Could someone who drank herbal teas still say they followed the word of wisdom because they believe they were and were being truthful for instance?

My apologise if I am going over something again – I just find them all slightly confusing with different ideas! Maybe I analyse too much?

Thanks for all your replies so far!

[NotSure2008]

whimsey wrote:

I live in a secret world too. 😮 Mine is different, however. I hide the fact that I attend a Mormon church from my family. My husband and child are aware and don’t mind, but my mother and siblings and extended family have no idea. I keep it that way for fear of heart attacks and strokes. I would blame myself eternally if that were to happen, especially when they find out I’m actually joining “that church.” I don’t like having to keep so secretive. At my age it seems sort of silly, especially since I don’t participate in weird satanic rituals, hang a witches broom in my doorway and wear a black cape and walk a black cat with me every where I go. Although I do have to admit I love jello in all sorts of flavors and in a variety of ways.

Whimsey

I think if and when I go back to Church – I will be exactly the same as you! The last two times I attended (only for a short time) my whole family knew – a boy did I get some opposition from it. The arguments in the house increased and Mum would just use being a Mormon against me so many times. I have finally come to the conclusion that while I live with my parents and my life is not my own (it is of course – but I hope you know what I mean) that I can not attend the Church. It may be the cowards way out and I am sure many LDS would not approve of this way – but I like to keep everyone happy and I think keeping my Mum and family in the dark is the only way. I wish my family could be more like my friends (non member) who are all supportive of me whatever I decide. Everytime I have told them I am going back to Church or leaving – there response has been “Ok, so what you got planned for the weekend?”. I love my friends!

[NotSure2008]

That just shows how stupid the UK can be at times! (I am British so can say that! lol)

It isn’t like the Nurse forced her beliefs on the woman who gave her a lecture on how she should repent her sins before death or anything. She ASKED her if she would like her to.

I had a lovely elderly lady once in one of the nursing homes I was working in, as me if she could pray for me when I was doing my exams. At the time I was completely atheist, but gladly accepted her offer as I was very appreciative of the concern she was showing for me. People show their “love” or care for one another in different ways. I have friends I hug, friends I give a peck on the cheek – I also have a friend who is very uncomfortable with this and so we wind each other up – but it is our way of showing our care for each other…..

I was wondering if she could sue as wouldn’t it breech the equality laws of work – ie where you don’t discriminate against religion? which they clearly have done! It would be like asking a Muslim woman to remove her hijab when treating patients to not offend non-Muslims! Its just ridiculous!

[NotSure2008]

Thanks for replying to my post. There were some interesting points made. I do accept that the Church has a wonderful system and that it does indeed help those that are in need or trouble financially. I have a friend who is in the church and his family got into some problems a few years back and they were given money so that they could feed themselves. On one hand I was thinking that is really good of the church and on the other hand I was thinking well if they hadn’t of paid the tithing they would have been able to pay for their own food in the first place. I cant seem to get past my overly critical mind and the way I analyse absolutely everything. It started back in school when I was told by a teacher in English that I had to be more analytical – I seem to have taken it to the extreme.

Another doubt I have with the Church is the Word of Wisdom – specifically Tea and Coffee. I can get my head around alcohol – I have never drank much anyway, so it never bothered me, but I don’t see what Tea has got in it which is so harmful. I would have said something like chocolate would be more harmful than tea. Part of me wonders if it is because the religion is considered “American” and at the time in the 1800s, there was that problem with Tea etc – cant remember the details exactly, so I wonder if it was more of a political more than a divine issue.

Another doubt I have is the endowment ceremony. I accept that it is sacred and this is why members do not discuss the specifics and that most of the ceremony is symbolic – however with the help of the internet and have read about the ceremony through a reliable source (i.e. wasn’t a critical or completely accepting article) and the whole ceremony just seemed a little weird (I don’t mean to be offensive, I am just trying to iron out my doubts and need to be honest with how things make me feel to do that).

If you could offer help with these few doubts I would be very grateful. Thanks

[NotSure2008]

magicmusician wrote:

Hi there NotSure

My how your story kinda echos mine

Different timeframe but still there

I am thankful that there is a place like SLDS for us to come and talk through issues without coming across angry hateful ex-members with nothing but bad things to say about the Church

I hope that you, like I , can slowly start working out your problems

Be well,

Hi, May I ask how you began to overcome the problems? Do you still have doubts now? Thanks

[NotSure2008]

Thanks for the welcome both of you.

I guess I have always been an all or nothing sort of person. Even my Mum would agree with this in non-religious circumstances saying I tend to see things in a black and white scenario, when it is not always the case. I guess this is the reason I left so soon, whenever I had doubts, I felt bad for not believing in everything and didn’t want to mess the other members around (at least this is what I felt like I was doing) as I do have a great deal of respect for my friends and the Church I do have some doubts/questions and thank-you for offering to tackle these for me. In time I will ask some questions regarding some doubts I have.

Ray – thanks for the quote, it certainly brings home some of the feelings I have at times. My heart sometimes shouts out to me, only problem is my heart often wants to take the uncharted waters territory which can be rough and dangerous and my head wants to go with the calm, easy option which isn’t always the correct one.

Thankyou once again for your welcome

[NotSure2008]

I just wanted to say hi, as you sound very much like me, except the fact that I actually got baptised into the Church. I am currently inactive, but still cant shake this bizarre feeling I have and the fact that every where I look now, something reminds me of the Church. But anyway, the point of me posting on your thread was I know a few good forums with some wonderful LDS members who first introduced the faith to me, they are very good at answering questions, so if you wanted me to give you some, to use in conjunction with this one of course, I can do. Hope you decide which side of the fence you want to be in the end.

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