What you should do really depends on how your family feels about caffeinated drinks. As has already been stated in http://www.answerbag.com/c_view.php/1121#q_128 the Church does not teach that all caffeinated drinks are to be avoided specifically. It teaches that coffee and tea, which both happen to have caffeine, should be avoided, but it gives no specific ingredients as the reason for abstinence. It should be noted that the Church does counsel its members to avoid all harmful substances, but this is left open for interpretation. Some members have chosen to interpret that to include caffeine. In short, it is highly unlikely that the Church would make any effort to discipline you for drink a caffeinated energy drink. However, how your family will react will really depend on how your family feels about caffeine.

My concern with your question is that you seem to feel afraid of your family. Do you think they would react harshly to you if they found out you did such a little thing wrong? (that is, wrong in their eyes) I'm guessing your family loves you and wouldn't disown you or hurt you for such a small mistake, so you probably should go ahead and talk to them about it. If you try to hide all your mistakes from your family, you only end up denying yourself any help or advice they can provide in those situations, as well as any opportunity for them to show their love and forgiveness towards you when you need it. Of course, if you do feel that your family will act harshly towards you for making a simple mistake, I urge you to talk with your bishop, school counselor, or another trusted person who can help.

I don't think it's a big deal. I had a bottle of Vault (I've been LDS for eight years) a while ago. I won't do it again (man that was a freaking rush), but I'm not going to worry about the fact that I drank one. However, if you feel the need to talk to your family about it, go right ahead. I know they'll understand. Mine would (and my dad's a disabled veteran, ex-smoker, ex-drinker, convert training to be a cop!). You're good. But I like that you want to know if something's wrong here.

First of all you act like you killed somebody. So what... you had a caffinated drink on accident... if you are honestly scared to tell your family that you made such a small mistake then maybe you should get out of that cult now! I mean did you do anything stupid while you were "high" on red bull? No? then get over it! You control your actions and it didn't kill you!

Don't worry about it. You didn't know. It's cool...

As a rule, I wouldn't drink anything whose ingredients I didn't know first. That's just being safe. The doctrine on avoiding caffeine is not absolute. Unknowingly consuming caffeine is pretty far down on the list of transgressions, too. If your family will overreact to your minor mistake, then it's the zealousness of your family that should be addressed. But chances are they'll be fine with it. Try not to get caught up in the minutia of your religion.

I think you will be forgiven, since you did not do anything intentional. Why tell your family at all? You didn't do anything, now you know not to drink Red Bull, it was an accident - let it go!

Are you not allowed to drink heavily caffieneted beverages?

The LDS Church has ABSLUTELY NO POLICY on caffeinated beverages. You are specifically forbidden to drink coffe and drinks made from tea leaves. Many people choose to interpret this as forbidding caffeinated beverages, but again, that's not the offial policy of the church. You parents may interpret it this way, and if so, you should follow their rules, but the church itself will not consider you in violation of the Word of Wisdom for drinking Red Bull.

Let's look at the last part first -- you didn't know what it was. Regardless of whether Red Bull is against the Word of Wisdom, you didn't know what it was when you drank it. On my mission, I swallowed a couple mouthfuls of a spiced drink before finding out it was alcoholic. I think we both can honestly say we obey the Word of Wisdom. I personally avoid Red Bull because I can't stand the taste. I'm sure it's foolish to put that much caffeine into your system at once, but it's not specifically mentioned in the Word of Wisdom.

If caffeine is a mortal sin then surely God is the one who can forgive and family and church should show the compassion that Jesus showed to sinners.

If you didnt mean it,it doesnt matter.Anyway caffein is good for your brain,it wakes you up.So dont be so religious,think for yourself.That religion is man made. Anyway Mormans wont let you join their church unless you give then money.

This question further strengthens my resolve to stay away from organized religion.

You should go on with life. Nobody that matters (God, your bishop) is going to be overly concerned if you drink a Red Bull. That said, I don't recommend making a habit of it. Energy drinks provide a temporary lift, but the taurine and other ingredients can be hard on the body, the caffeine makes you jittery, it doesn't hydrate, and when they wear off you'll be more tired than you were to begin with. The Word of Wisdom as current understood is pretty straight forward - tobacco, coffee, tea, alcohol, harmful drugs - and some people have an irresistible urge to improve upon that. If your parents choose to enforce a no caffeine rule they are perfectly within their rights to do so and you do well by honoring their rules while under their roof. (It's not that unusual, many people do this completely independent of the Church or Word of Wisdom.) But in the big picture an accidental sip of Red Bull isn't sinful, and I hope and pray my own teens' concerns are similarly limited to such things.

four years and six months ago this question was written....

Dude. Sit down. Hit a joint. Chill out. Anything that can get you this worked up over drinking some caffeine once is just not healthy. You've lost all sense of proportion.

Wow, I can't imagine living a life in fear of crap like this.

I have a morman friend, she says its "caffine in moderation".

Confess and take a vow to kick the habit.

Joseph Smith "defined 'hot drinks' as tea and coffee, the two common household beverages of the day. Joel H. Johnson, with whose family the Prophet was intimate, relates that on a Sabbath day in July (1833) following the giving of the "Word of Wisdom," when both Joseph and Hyrum Smith were in the stand, the Prophet said to the Saints: "I understand that some of the people are excusing themselves in using tea and coffee, because the Lord only said 'hot drinks' in the revelation of the Word of Wisdom. Tea and coffee are what the Lord meant when he said 'hot drinks.' " [John A. Widtsoe and Leah D. Widtsoe, The Word of Wisdom: A Modern Interpretation (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1937), 85-87.] This obsession with caffeine is the most ridiculous thing that we mormons could be talking about. You should stop talking in your family about how bad caffeine is, and start studying the scriptures.

Leave the Mormon church and stop living in fear and guilt

I think it's really sad you are afraid to tell your family that you accidentally had a caffeinated beverage. I don't even know what to say beyond that.

If you want to tell your family, you can. It's certainly not an unforgivable thing.

FOr heavens sake get over it and tell them if you think you must! You did not kill anyone and if it was a mistake, repent and eb done with it. there are much more important things in this life to worry about!

Confess your sin to Joseph Smith with some pain. My 2 cents.

The word of wisdom does not necessarily apply to caffeinated beverages. This has been an interpretation of the word of wisdom. When it was written, no one knew of the existence of caffeine. What you are really worried about, is how serious is my sin and how to tell my parents that I am sorry. Well, you can only be held accountable for sins you knowingly commit. You didn't know there was caffeine in there. Even if you did, caffeine or the violation of the word of wisdom especially accidentally will not bar you from the temple if you had a recommend. My suggestion is that if it bothers you speak to your parents and sit with the bishop. Gain from the experience and move on.

As a person who was born and raised in S.L.C and at one time a member of the L.D.S church, I have 2 points one the drinking of caffenine is not forbidden anywhere in the bible.2nd if the mormon church is so against caffenine in there beverages then why does the church own major shares in both Coca Cola,and Pepsi cola.Pray to God if God tells you not to do something dont do it,read Romans chpt.14 it might help.

what's wrong with a redbull? besides the obvious cardiostress. So you had a redbull, if your family is going to disown you because of that, id get out. lol

Oh, no, you're going to hell!

GET A LIFE !!!

HOW DUMB ARE THESE ANSWERS? I doubt that th Mormons have a policy aginst caffeinated beverages, but more importantly, look at the askers moniker! THis person is the antithesis of someone concerned about Mormonism. The asker is a troll. -5

Mt 15:17 "Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.

Caffeinated beverages are not specifically against the word of wisdom. The word of wisdom is more of a type against addiction, and it also lists some things that we should eat. There was an article in the ensign and new era a few months ago that dealt with energy drinks, and caffeine amounts in different drinks. What it comes down to is that you can drink energy drinks (Like Red Bull), even though it's not the wisest thing to do... Just don't get addicted to them. For example: Drinking an energy drink to stay awake while driving at night. This is perfectly acceptable. Drinking an energy drink to become functional in the morning. This is not, because you become dependent on the caffeine. In the end it will just mess your body up. Personally I choose not to drink caffeinated beverages, or even carbonation. As an athlete, I can feel the difference in my physical ability after drinking carbonation, and I just don't want any non-prescribed drug in my body anyways.) Just trying it is fine. Just don't make a habit of it, because it could be problematic to you in the future. I don't think it's something you either have to tell, or not tell your family. Don't worry about it. (also you said you didn't know what it was before drinking it. There you go. No problems if it comes up anyway and your parents have a problem with it, because you didn't know.)

absolutely nothing

What the heck do you THINK is in Red Bull. You don't live in a cave do you? What can Mormons drink anyway? Water?

Have a beer, smoke a joint, and relax and don't worry about it :-)

Oh dear! You'd better turn in your Temple Recommend, confess to your Bishop in and wait for the "Court of Love" hearing letter to arrive in the mail! Just kidding. Chill out man - if you read D&C 89 it was more of a suggestion that anything else. It says: "2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the aword of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days— 3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints." http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/89 The modern LdS Church has turned it into something it was never meant to be: a Commandment. So chill out, the modern LdS Church is WAY off base on D&C 89.

Don't worry, you'll pee it out in 24 hours or less and it will be out of your system. So, with that being said, get it out of your head.

The Word of Wisdom is much more than abstaining from Coffee, tea, tobacco and alcohol. The Word of Wisdom also gives us good advice on eating a healthy diet. The Word of Wisdom was not accepted as a commandment in the Church until President Brigham Young proposed it be accepted as a commandment in General Conference in 1851. Even then, the only parts that are acceptable as a commandment pertain to using the above mentioned four substances. . The word of wisdom can be a personal thing. A person can resolve to personally avoid certain substances and live a healthy lifestyle. Because you unknowingly partook of a substance you felt unhealthy, you shouldn't feel that you have betrayed God, family and yourself. Things happen. I'm sure there will be no recourse for your having done this thing. If you feel a great burden because of this thing, remember that you have the opportunity to partake of the sacrament each week to renew your baptismal covenants. Not that I am saying this is a terrible thing you have done, because I feel it is not. However, God gave us the sacrament to help us renew our baptismal covenants and resolve to keep His commandments and remember Him. I'm sure your family will understand, if they are anything like mine. My parents always taught me to avoid caffeinated drinks when I was growing up, but I indulge once in awhile. Too much sugar can be bad for you also. I know soda drinks contain a lot of sugar. I also understand that chocolate contains caffeine. I also drink A & W Cream Soda, which contains caffeine. Many different brands of Root Beer (i.e. Bargs or however you spell it) also contain caffeine.

Forget it - if you didn't know what it was then it was an accident and I'm sure your God knows that already. And really - don't waste your families time on this - it's so trivial that it's not even worth mentioning.

Dont worry about it youv not murdered some one it was only a drink and by the sounds of it unintentional :) forget it

You should now go get drunk! Heck you've already broken the rules, now just go and smash them! Have fun, and enjoy your life. Old Russian Adage... He who doesn't smoke nor drink dies healthy.