I've heard it said a number of times that Mormons think it is wrong to consume caffeine. This would seem to naturally require abstinence from a number of beverages, such as coffee, black teas, and some soda/pop/coke. But other foods have caffeine in them as well, like chocolate, which, from what I can tell, are regularly consumed by Mormons.
Some years ago (15–20?) a Mormon friend explained that the caffeine in chocolate is somehow different chemically than the caffeine in coffee, and that this was why Mormons eat chocolate but don't drink coffee. I have no idea if this is true, and I don't really care, but it seemed to confirm a prohibition on caffeine by the LDS Church.
However, after a bit of research, the basis for this restriction seems to be the following line in the Doctrines and Covenants, §89, which makes no reference to caffeine:
9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
Has the LDS Church officially expounded on the meaning of this text, or of any other texts that may relate to caffeine? That is, officially, does this text forbid:
- Hot black tea (hot drink, caffeinated)
- Hot milk (hot drink, not caffeinated)
- Iced black tea (not hot drink, caffeinated)
- Soda/pop/coke (not hot drink, caffeinated)
- Chocolate (not hot drink, caffeinated)
What is the recent and current teaching of the LDS Church on this matter? Has there been any change or clarification in the last 50 years or so? A brief historical overview would help me put my Mormon friend's chocolate comments into context.