Chocolate and historical Word of Wisdom interpretations

Has chocolate ever been against the word of wisdom?

Yes—some Church leaders and Church-published periodicals did treat chocolate or cocoa as contrary to the Word of Wisdom’s broader “spirit,” or as included among prohibited “hot drinks.” But the canonical text of Doctrine and Covenants 89 does not name chocolate; it prohibits wine/strong drink, tobacco, and “hot drinks.” [1]

1868: George Q. Cannon, then an apostle, said in a sermon that “hot drinks—tea, coffee, chocolate, cocoa and all drinks of this kind are not good for man.” [2]

1938–1952: Improvement Era material associated with John A. Widtsoe extended the prohibition on stimulating beverages to chocolate and cocoa. A 1949 Widtsoe article said that some leaders and research had treated “hot drinks” as including “tea, coffee, chocolate, and all other beverages” containing drugs; a 1952 article called theobromine in chocolate and cocoa a near relative of caffeine and said such drinks were harmful. [3] A 1944 Primary article went further, warning that “The use of chocolate milk by school children should cease” and urging Saints to avoid anything injurious as contrary to the Word of Wisdom’s spirit. [4]

But this was not the uniform official rule for worthiness. In Mormon Doctrine (1966), Bruce R. McConkie wrote that the Church’s worthiness standard concerned tea, coffee, tobacco, and liquor; he said local officers could not add other items, and explicitly stated, “There is no prohibition in Section 89” on “cocoa, chocolate” or other listed foods. [5]

So chocolate has at times been condemned by prominent leaders and Church periodicals under an expansive health-based interpretation of the Word of Wisdom. The 1833 revelation and the later four-item worthiness standard, however, did not specifically prohibit it. [1][5]

Edition and source differences

Contradiction

George Q. Cannon’s 1868 sermon included chocolate and cocoa among “hot drinks” said to be not good for man, whereas Bruce R. McConkie’s 1966 discussion explicitly said Section 89 contained no prohibition on cocoa or chocolate and rejected adding items to the Church’s worthiness standard.

hot drinks—tea, coffee, chocolate, cocoa and all drinks of this kind are not good for man

Word of Wisdom—Fish Culture—Dietetics, George Q. Cannon, Journal of Discourses, Volume 12, 1869, JD 12:221–226

There is no prohibition in Section 89, for instance, as to the eating of white bread, using white flour, white sugar, cocoa, chocolate, eggs, milk, meat, or anything else

Word of Wisdom, Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966 Second Edition (post-1978 revised printing), 1966, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. (digital reprint), pp. 593–594

The sources show that expansive leader and periodical interpretations existed alongside a later statement limiting the formal Word of Wisdom prohibition and worthiness measure to tea, coffee, tobacco, and liquor.

Sources

1. Doctrine and Covenants 89 — Doctrine and Covenants, Current Edition, 2013, Section 89 — Canon
2. Word of Wisdom—Fish Culture—Dietetics — George Q. Cannon, Journal of Discourses, Volume 12, 1869, JD 12:221–226 — Leader
3. Evidences and Reconciliations: CXXXVIH — What Is the Meaning of the Word of Wisdom? John A. Widtsoe — The Improvement Era, Volume 52, Number 9 (September 1949), 1949, Improvement Era 52, no. 9 (September 1949), p. 577 — Periodical
4. Primary Activity — The Improvement Era, Volume 47, Number 10 (October 1944), 1944, Improvement Era 47, no. 10 (October 1944), pp. 627–628 — Periodical
5. Word of Wisdom — Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966 Second Edition (post-1978 revised printing), 1966, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. (digital reprint), pp. 593–594 — Leader