Summary: Everyone is always wondering if the General Authorities have ever condemned caffeine, which they clearly have, no matter how people try to justify it, in order to feel better about their addiction to it. There is a reason people, that you can't buy caffeinated drinks on BYU's campus. If it was allowed, you could buy them at BYU, plain and simple. In this talk, Dallin H. Oaks says: "We should avoid any behavior that is addictive. Whatever is addictive compromises our will. Subjecting our will to the overbearing impulses imposed by any form of addiction serves Satan's purposes and subverts our Heavenly Father's. This applies to addictions to drugs (such as narcotics, alcohol, nicotine, or CAFFEINE), addiction to practices such as gambling, and any other addictive behavior. We can avoid addictions by keeping the commandments of God." If this isn't clear, then I don't know what is? Summarizing this clip, Dallin H. Oaks clearly says that anything addictive, "compromises our will." Also, that anything addictive "serves Satan's purposes and subverts our Heavenly Father's." Now that's powerful, isn't it? Do we really want to subject ourselves unto Satan? I hope not. Also, he clearly refers to CAFFEINE as a DRUG, which it is and a highly addictive drug of Satan, to try and hook us and take away our will and free agency. So, the next time you want to drink a Pepsi or Coke, or drink some hot chocolate or even eat a chocolate candy bar; please remember the pleadings of Dallin H. Oaks, an inspired Prophet, Seer and Revelator of God, to avoid anything "addictive" or you will find yourself subject unto the devil. Try to always find yourself "keeping the commandments of God" and you'll be just fine and be able to overcome the temptation and/or addiction, if you already have it. This talk was originally given at a fireside address at Brigham Young University on October 11, 1987.
