Exceptions to the Word of Wisdom Requirement?

[Dr Exiled]

Coffee, porn, and breaking the sabbath lead one down forbidden paths. So, your coffee drinking could very well have led to a lackadaisical attitude toward covenants and acceptance of transgression. It was only a matter of time before your wife left.

[Dr. Sunstoned]

Coffee is a slippery slope. It is a gateway drug. So what is a TBM to do? Well in Utah County, everyone drinks mega doses of caffeinated cola. This is in keeping to the letter of the law, but maybe no so good health wise.

Last year I attended a conference in Utah County, hosted by the university where I teach. Many of my out of state colleagues commented on the very large soda cups that they kept seeing. They had not seen this before. They were also perplexed by the fact that a university hosted breakfast did not have coffee or tea available, but instead had a variety of caffeinated soft drinks to choose from.

ETA: I teach at a public university, not BYU.

[Moksha]

Too bad LDS people got swept up in a silly diet code in order to be extra pious. A Church-wide Office of Silly Walks could have provided a good exercise regimen for members and definitely raised the visibility of members and missionaries as they traveled around the world preaching the gospel. Tea and vodka prohibitions may have been barriers in England, Asia, and Russia, but all potential converts could all have embraced silly walks. A company like Toyota may have used that for their 10 minute morning exercise regimen. The BYU ballroom dance team could have won awards featuring the Mormon Double Upper-Bumper.

Just keep that in mind as you consider Word of Wisdom requirements.