Tea is not just a drink in Persian culture—it’s a sacred ritual, an offering of love and respect. As an Iranian-American, and as someone who has traveled the long road from Islam to Christianity, and eventually to the restored gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have found immense beauty in both my cultural heritage and my Christian faith. But there are some hard truths we need to confront, particularly within the modern LDS Church—truths that, if left unaddressed, risk alienating converts, driving members away, and betraying the very vision Joseph Smith had when he founded the church.
In Persian culture, tea is an extension of hospitality. When you visit someone’s home, you must drink tea—it is an ancient custom, just as sacred as it is in Russia, Japan, India, China, or the Arab world. Refusing tea when it is offered is considered deeply offensive, a rejection of the host’s friendship and goodwill. Offering tea is part of our soul as Persians; it transcends religion. I grew up seeing this hospitality in both Muslim and Christian homes across Iran and the diaspora. It has nothing to do with drugs or addictive substances. It is a tradition of peace, kindness, and social bonding.
And yet, the modern LDS Church has taken what was once an optional health suggestion—the Word of Wisdom—and turned it into a rigid law that bars members from temple worship. Joseph Smith never intended for the Word of Wisdom to be a commandment. When it was received in 1833, it was explicitly described as a "greeting; not by commandment or constraint" (Doctrine and Covenants 89:2). It was a wise guideline, a counsel for healthy living, not a temple worthiness test.
Even the earliest Saints understood this. The Prophet Joseph himself drank tea, coffee, and wine. Church historian Thomas G. Alexander notes, "The Word of Wisdom was not enforced as a commandment during the early years of the Church. Joseph Smith and many early leaders, including Brigham Young, consumed substances later interpreted to be forbidden" (Alexander, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol. 14, No. 3, 1981).
To put it plainly: I will not give up my tea or coffee for a misinterpreted health code. Nor will I attend the temple until the Word of Wisdom, compulsory tithing, and enforced chastity are restored to their original, optional form as intended by Joseph Smith.
Let me be clear: I believe in Christ. I believe in the Restoration. But the Church today, in its obsession with commandment-keeping and worthiness checklists, has become more like a Pharisaical synagogue than a grace-filled Christian fellowship. Jesus never turned away someone because they didn’t follow a dietary code. He welcomed all—tax collectors, sinners, and Samaritans—not based on their outward performance, but because of their inward faith.
Likewise, tithing in the New Testament was never about being compelled to pay 10% or lose your temple recommend. Paul writes, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). The same can be said for chastity: purity is a matter of the heart, not of arbitrary dating rules and worthiness interviews.
I have seen a few Persian Latter-day Saints give up tea, coffee, and even wine to be considered "worthy" in the eyes of the modern institution. But I also know many like myself who refuse to betray our Persian identity and the Christian tradition of liberty for man-made commandments.
And ironically, if the LDS Church is serious about being the "restored" church of Christ, then perhaps it needs to be restored again—back to the freedom and original structure given by Joseph Smith. Joseph’s church was full of visionary thinkers, mystics, and Christians who were led by grace, not obsessed with law.
I’m not alone in this frustration. Many Latter-day Saints—particularly converts and international members—have quietly left the church but stayed Christian. Why? Because the heart of the gospel is being eclipsed by rigid policies that were never meant to be salvific. And unless we change course, many more will follow.
If this church is truly led by Christ, then it must reflect His love and grace—not just in word, but in deed. And until that happens, I, for one, am prepared to remain a Christian in exile. I would rather walk the ancient path of my Crusader and Persian ancestors—whether Orthodox or Catholic—than trade in my tea and my soul for a gospel of bureaucratic worthiness.
The LDS Church must ask itself: Are we following Christ—or have we started worshiping the handbook?
Citations:
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Doctrine and Covenants 89:2 – https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89
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Alexander, Thomas G. “The Word of Wisdom: From Principle to Requirement.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol. 14, No. 3, 1981. https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/the-word-of-wisdom-from-principle-to-requirement/
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2 Corinthians 9:7 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+9%3A7
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