March
8, 1949
President George Albert Smith
Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
47 East South Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah
My dear President Smith:
An advertisement in
tonight's Deseret News (Page F-6) has me a bit puzzled. Ever since I could
remember, the Church has frowned upon and even forbidden the use of
"Cola-Cola." I have heard that President Grant denounced he use of
this drink in Conference right after it was put on the market. I believe that
Apostles Merrill and Widtsoe have in their writings warned the Church against
the use of it. During the last war I remember the Service Men's Edition of the
Church News stating in answer to the question, that the use of "coca-cola"
was against Church standards.
I remember also that the Deseret
News has never carried an advertisement for tea, coffee, tobacco, any form of
alcohol, or any "Cola-Cola" or "Cola" drinks. The statement
has been made that the Desert News represents in its general policy the
"policy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
If the above statements are true,
them why have "Cola-Cola" advertisements appeared at least twice this
year in the Deseret News? Has the policy of the Deseret News and the Church
changed toward this drink? It is not permissible for the Church members to
drink "Cola-Cola"? What is the official position of the Church in
regard to this matter?
These are problems I would
appreciate your answering for me at your convenience.
Sincerely
yours brother,
David
O. Lloyd
Box
191, Stn. 1, B.Y.U.
Provo,
Utah
DESERET
NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY
Phone
4-5521 P.O. Box 1257
March
22, 1949
Bro. David O. Lloyd
Box 19, Stn. 1. B.Y.U.
Provo, Utah.
Dear Brother Lloyd:
Your letter addressed to
President George Albert Smith, under state of March 8, has been referred to me.
May I say at the outset, that for
thirty years that I know of, the Deseret News has regularly advertised Cola
Cola and other cola drinks. It is nothing new, although some people seem to
think so. At no time within this thirty years that I know of, and I have been
here for about twenty-five years myself, have the authorities of the Church
ever requested the Deseret News to discontinue the advertising of cola drinks.
Misunderstanding have arisen
among many of our people concerning cola drinks, chocolate, and similar things.
The General Authorities of the Church had advised against their use because of
the manner in which certain substances within them injure health. The advice,
however, has been strictly on a basis of health and not on the basis of a
violation of the commandments of God.
We do not understand that the use
of cola drinks is a violation of the Word of God in the Word of Wisdom. Cola
drinks, it is admitted, contain certain substances which are alleged to be both
injurious and habit forming. Therefore, from a common sense health standpoint,
probably an individual would be wise not to drink them. The same thing is true
with various other things which contain alcohol and other types of substances
known to be injurious to our health.
However, there is a distinction
between the use of these products and items which are specifically mentioned by
name in the Word of Wisdom. The Church has never included cola drinks, nor
chocolate, nor other things which it is claimed contain injurious substances,
within the prohibitions of the Word of Wisdom. Therefore we do not place a
spiritual significance upon their use. In other words, we do not say that a
person is breaking the commandments of God if they take a cola drink. We simply
say they are drinking something that contains an injurious ingredient. The
reason I point out this "spiritual significance" phase of the
question is this: some people have wondered whether they should be denied a
Temple recommend for instance, if they take an occasional drink of cola, or eat
a chocolate bar. Naturally we say that they are not breaking the Word of Wisdom
because these things have not been placed within the prohibitions of the Word
of Wisdom. So, when you give consideration to this subject, look at it from
that standpoint. The fact that we advertise various commodities should not be
regarded as an endorsement of these commodities. As a daily newspaper we are in
no position to give endorsements to any of the things that are advertised, in
our papers. We make a serious effort to eliminate advertising which would
defraud people, or which would promote schemes that are not sound. We also
attempt to eliminate advertising for "quack" medicines, etc. In this
way we try to protect the people.
On the basis of the Word of
Wisdom, we eliminate Liquor, Tobacco, Tea and Coffee advertising. This is done
strictly on a religious basis. You mention Sanka Coffee. We have carried
advertising for Sanka because we have been assured by the manufacturers, that
the harmful ingredients have been 98% eliminated. We did not think that such
advertising would be objectionable to anyone. However, we are glad to get your
reaction.
Yours
sincerely,
(signed)
Mark E. Petersen
