Learning Trust Early

My grandparents drank coffee. I was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and from a young age I was taught not to drink it—even though I didn’t fully understand why. I only knew it came from a revelation to Joseph Smith. Along with coffee, I was taught to avoid tea and alcohol.

Coffee was everywhere. At family reunions, iced tea appeared, and later, alcohol too. By the time I could make my own choices, I had already formed a habit of resistance. Even as a child—baptized at eight—I had learned that some things, however ordinary, were worth setting aside out of loyalty to God.

What I did not yet understand was that the Word of Wisdom was never meant to single people out, but to prepare a people for covenant life.

Obedience Before Understanding

The Word of Wisdom (Doctrine and Covenants 89) guides the Saints to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and “hot drinks,” eat fruits and grains in season, and use meat sparingly. But it also explains why this revelation came:

“In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you” (D&C 89:4).

This is more than a health code. It is a warning about a world shaped by substances and systems that profit from dependency and dull spiritual sensitivity. Abstaining from coffee, tea, or other substances is not about judgment—it is a quiet act of resistance—not against people, but against patterns that undermine agency and spiritual attentiveness.

The revelation was introduced “not by commandment or constraint” (D&C 89:2). God invited growth and trust rather than immediate compliance. This mercy shows that the Word of Wisdom is meant to transform the heart, not enforce rules.

The Saints were not given modern science to justify the revelation. They were asked to trust God. Scripture shows this same pattern:

• Abraham offering Isaac (Genesis 22)

• Naaman washing in the Jordan (2 Kings 5)

• Jericho’s walls falling after marching and trumpets (Joshua 6)

• Israel healed by looking at a bronze serpent (Numbers 21; John 3:14–15)

In each case, the blessing came through obedience rooted in trust. Coffee is no different—the action itself is secondary; the heart is primary.

Lessons From Jesus

Jesus said, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink” (Matthew 6:25). He was not dismissing discipline or daily choices; He was teaching trust in God’s care and timing. Every decision—no matter how ordinary—carries the potential to shape the heart.

At the same time, Jesus fasted, observed dietary practices, and instituted the Last Supper. He showed that even ordinary acts—eating, drinking, or abstaining—can become sacred when guided by faith. These practices cultivate self-mastery, sharpen spiritual awareness, and train the heart to prioritize God’s will over immediate desire.

By following His example, we see that small choices are never trivial. Abstaining from coffee or other substances, like fasting or mindful eating, is not about restriction; it is about discipline, clarity, and readiness for covenant life. The Word of Wisdom is a modern extension of Jesus’ teaching: obedience in small matters prepares us for greater spiritual responsibility, invites revelation, and strengthens our connection to God in the last days.

Beyond Coffee

The Word of Wisdom was never intended as a simple checklist of do’s and don’ts. Its principles extend far beyond beverages. They teach discipleship through everyday choices:

• Avoid harmful or addictive substances

• Treat the body as a temple (1 Corinthians 3:16–17)

• Live with gratitude, temperance, and spiritual attentiveness

Energy drinks, vaping, or overindulgence are not specifically named in the revelation, but the principle applies: what we consume shapes our mind, our choices, and our ability to hear God. The Word of Wisdom encourages stewardship over appetite, not legalistic compliance. It shows that even ordinary decisions—what we eat, drink, or abstain from—can either train the heart toward agency or subtly weaken it.

Small Choices, Lasting Preparation

Temple worthiness is not a finish line—it reflects a life already being lived through humility, repentance, and alignment with God’s will. The Word of Wisdom fits within this pattern. Abstaining from coffee is not about exclusion or moral superiority—it is about preparation and training. Each small act of obedience strengthens spiritual sensitivity, reinforces trust in God, and nurtures the habits that make covenant life possible.

Jesus said, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). Each seemingly minor decision—saying no to a drink, choosing moderation, or exercising restraint—trains the soul to be faithful in greater matters. This is how ordinary acts become extraordinary instruments of covenant living.

From Beverage to Covenant

It’s important to remember that coffee is just one example among many. The Word of Wisdom also mentions alcohol, tobacco, tea, and moderation in meat. These instructions are not about picking favorites—they illustrate a larger principle: small choices matter, they shape the heart, and they prepare us for covenant living.

In the last days, discipleship will increasingly require quiet, consistent resistance. Not loud defiance, but steady choices that preserve agency, sharpen discernment, and invite the Spirit. A simple “no” to coffee or other indulgences is not a rejection of others; it is a daily yes to God.

These choices are about more than obedience—they are about shaping character, cultivating clarity, and preparing for spiritual responsibility. Like fasting, prayer, and temple worship, they transform routine actions into acts of devotion, aligning body and spirit.

As Paul wrote:

“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God…” (Romans 12:1).

The Word of Wisdom is not about being better than anyone else. It is about becoming ready—for revelation, for covenant, and for the work of God in a world that increasingly asks us to surrender clarity for comfort. Through small, faithful choices, ordinary life becomes a school of holiness, and covenant living becomes a lived reality rather than a distant ideal.