Ready Always / Everyday questions / Food & drink

You’ve never even tried a drink? Not even once?

1

The hallway answer

About 15 seconds

“Nope, and I’m planning to keep it that way. It’s a commitment I made to God, and it means I’ll never have to wonder what I did last night. I’m still happy to come and be the designated driver.”

Then ask them: What’s the best part of the party for you, the people or the drinks?
I want the real answer ↓
2

The real answer

About 5 minutes

Latter-day Saints don’t drink alcohol, use tobacco or vape, and that includes recreational marijuana. The Topics and Questions page on the Word of Wisdom lists vaping, prescription-drug misuse and recreational marijuana as violating Church teachings, because prophets teach us to avoid anything that impairs judgment or is highly addictive.

For the Strength of Youth asks youth not to take part in “anything that dulls your judgment or sensitivity to the Spirit, such as violence, alcohol, and harmful drugs.” It also gives permission to leave: “Have the courage to … walk out of a movie or dance.” You never need to stay somewhere that’s pressuring you.

The promise is freedom. Nobody gets addicted to something they never start. Teens who decide ahead of time, before they’re at the party, find that the moment itself is much easier.

Scriptures to know. Tap to read.

D&C 89:5-7Wine and strong drink are not good
5That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him. 6And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make. 7And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies. Read in Doctrine and Covenants, Connected →
Proverbs 20:1“Wine is a mocker”
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Read in Old Testament, Connected →
1 Corinthians 10:13God provides a way to escape
13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Read in New Testament, Connected →
3

Go deeper

Research room

What’s behind the question

For a lot of teens, trying alcohol feels like a step into growing up. When someone says “not even once?” they’re usually curious, or sometimes a bit defensive about their own choices.

OfficialTopics and Questions: Word of Wisdom ↗Vaping, marijuana and drug misuse are addressed directlyOfficialFor the Strength of Youth: Walk in God’s light ↗OfficialFor the Strength of Youth: Your body is sacred ↗OfficialNew Era (Aug 2019): Vaping, Coffee, Tea, and Marijuana ↗

Source labels: Official = published by the Church. Scripture = the standard works. Faithful scholarship = independent Latter-day Saint researchers. Helpful, but not official.

4

For me

Think it through
  1. What’s my plan before I’m in a situation with alcohol or vaping?
  2. Who is a friend I can text to get picked up, no questions asked?
  3. How has keeping this commitment helped me feel the Spirit?
Act in faithWhat do I already know and believe here?
Eternal perspectiveHow does God’s plan change how I see this?
Good sourcesWho could I ask: a parent, a leader, the scriptures?

Notes stay on this page while it’s open and aren’t saved or sent anywhere.

5

Practice this one

Pick a reply

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Weak Things is an independent site, not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Answers are written to match the Church’s published teachings, and every answer links to its sources.

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