My daughter may have a future as a lawyer.

We were on the way to Elizabeth’s music lessons. She takes piano and voice lessons from a local college student. We live in Utah, so we are the minority that we’re not LDS. Elizabeth and I have often expressed confusion over the LDS practice of drinking hot chocolate while eschewing coffee, tea, and soda. We thought out loud about the fact three are hot drinks, all often have caffeine, three originate from tropical climates, all could be sweet or flavored. So, why is chocolate or cocoa ok?

What do the LDS have against coffee or tea? God gave the Hebrews their dietary laws in the Old Testament. Those laws are pretty straightforward. Muslims have their Qadaahul Haajah, Hindus have theirs. (Thank God I’m a Christian for the eating habits alone!)

I’ve researched LDS teachings and all their doctrine states: “hot drinks are not for the body or belly” Doctrine and Covenants. I’ve found that their leaders teach that “hot drinks” only refer to coffee and tea. So, coffee and tea are not permissible whether hot, cold, or lukewarm, while hot cocoa and hot apple cider are ok…but they’re…HOT. Maybe the words should be updated to be more clear? And no one who is LDS can explain this satisfactorily.

So, after her lessons, 11-year-old Elizabeth asked her 20-year-old music teacher about the hot chocolate thing. The teacher told my daughter she didn’t really know; they should ask her mother. (Lessons are held in the teacher’s parents’ house because her mother also gives piano lessons and they share a studio.) Said parents both started conversing with Elizabeth about the hot chocolate issue…it was never really explained to satisfaction. This family has lived all over the States and are very kind and open to questions. Some LDS are not so friendly to interrogation.

Not to lose an opportunity, Elizabeth asked them how do they know that the Book of Mormon is true? They said the Holy Spirit reveals it as truth to LDS believers. They countered with how do we know the Bible is true? Elizabeth said that the Bible is inspired by God (this led to a later explanation by me of the First Council of Nicea). She asked them what exactly they believe about sin and Jesus? Then they start asking Elizabeth questions about her faith. Elizabeth realized discrepancies and showed them the Roman road to salvation. Then they discussed the verses in James 2 about works. They came to a stalemate about then.

I hope she gave them some things to think about this week!

An hour later, as I was starting to worry wonder why Elizabeth wasn’t coming out of their house…she bounded down their porch steps all aglow and told me this whole witnessing story. I am a proud mama!