This is a response to the “Pork barba-Coca-Cola” letter of July 14. At first I thought it was a joke or something, but as I kept reading, I realized you were serious. I understand how you may feel surprised by Cafe Rio using real Coke in this recipe, but I don’t think you should be establishing your thoughts as if it were the words of the prophets thus corrupting the truth.
There’s no record whatsoever in all of the church’s official materials that state drinking real Coca-Cola is against the Word of Wisdom. None of the prophets have ever in all the history of the church said drinking real Coca-Cola is a sin. I think this is a topic that has caused confusion and controversy for a long time, but I think Jesus Christ is very clear about people speaking less (taking away) or more (making stuff up) of his doctrine.
“And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil.” By the way, I drink real Coca Cola sometimes.
David Perez
Queretaro, Mexico
Feeds 
I forgive you for being trolled, David. The sarcasm in the original article was completely devoid of humor, which is probably why you missed it.
It was a lame letter to the editor. It was full of poorly executed sarcasm, trying to satirize a tired debate. That said, it was a big mistake to write a rebuttal, and an even bigger one to attach your name to it.
I know Scott Gale personally. I know him very well. Rest assured that he wasn't even CLOSE to being serious.
Next time you may want to go with your first instincts. Since you're from Mexico, it may be that it's harder for you to identify the heavy doses of sarcasm that have become part of American culture. The cure: Watch the Colbert Report.
Also, thanks for the letting us know that you "drink real Coca Cola sometimes." I really appreciate it, more than you know.
It's not harder for me to identify sarcasm because I'm from Mexico. I think the real problem for my little Mexican mind is trying to identify sarcasm here in Provo (BYU) where you read letters from females asking for guys to stop being "polite" or "nice" because they start having "bad thoughts", or where you read letters from people "reporting owls to the police" and the police "communicates with them" to make them leave. I would think THATS satire.
Well said my friend, well said.
A smart, rational person posting about caffeine to the Daily Universe? Did hell just freeze over?
It's rare to see a dose of common sense in there letters. Indeed, drinking Coke is not a sin, drinking coffee is not a sin, drinking liquor is not a sin. The Word of Wisdom is not a set of commandments, but rather a principle with promise. Obey it and receive the promised benefits, or don't obey it and simply don't receive the promise.
The issue with David's letter is not whether the Word of Wisdom is a commandment or not. I think we can all agree that compliance to the Word of Wisdom is inquired of in a temple recommend interview. Whether it is technically called "commandment" may be debatable, but that argument will come to little value. The point is that caffeine is not included in the Word of Wisdom. It is a personal choice we all make that need not be imposed on other people.
Doesn't it say somewhere in the scriptures that it is not meet for the Lord to command in all things?
It was not originally a commandment, but it was since voted in as a commandment. Do you want proof? Everyone is asked in the temple recommend interview if they obey the Word of Wisdom. Try telling your Bishop that doesn't matter "cause it's not a commandment" and see what he says.
When I was a district leader in the Mission field, I was required to ask if everyone wanting to get baptized would follow the Word of Wisdom as well.
Yeah, the Word of Wisdom is a commandment... that is why it is listed in the commandment section of Preach My Gospel and missionaries are taught in the MTC to teach the Word of Wisdom as a commandment from God. When it was first revealed, it wasn't necessarily a commandment, but it certainly is now.
Membership in the Kingdom and acquiring a temple recommend require a separate set of rules that were loosely based on what was originally revealed.
Ask any bishop. Coke and Pepsi are fine.
Don't worry, when you graduate maybe you'll move outside Utah and we'll set you straight.
Actually pretty sure the word of wisdom is a commandment. When it was first revealed it was not necessary to follow to obtain a temple recommend, but for a long time now it has been, therefore making it a commandment. Great letter though, and you can still drink caffeine and attend the temple. Unlike drinking coffee or liquor.
I hate when people often compare breaking the word of wisdom to the law of chastity. Although it is a question asked in the temple interview, it is a personal worthiness question not clearly defined in the church manuals such as chastity issues. As a district leader and zone leader I was also required to ask if individuals were keeping the word of wisdom. If they weren't they had to wait a week to be baptized. Why? Because it is no more serious than not fasting or paying tithing. People need to get over it. You could drink coffee or alcohol and stop and go to the temple as soon as you personally feel it has been long enough. You don't have to confess it to a bishop or priesthood leader and I've been told that by my mission president who is a general authority as well as two bishops. To make a point after the word of wisdom became a commandment, it wasn't a temple question. It wasn't until a few years later in the 1930's that it became a temple question.
I drank some Pepsi the other day.
To claim that no prophet has ever said anything about Cola drinks is ignorant or dishonest. As recently as president Hinckley, prophets have said we don't drink caffeine. It obviously doesn't rise to the level of things that cause you to be unworthy to go to the temple, but to claim their silence on the matter is incorrect.