In this Foundations episode of Postmormon Postmortem, Hannah and Jess unpack a culturally revealing aspect of Mormonism: the Word of Wisdom.

Ever wonder why your Mormon coworker powers through Red Bull but won’t touch coffee? Or why basements across Utah are filled with uneaten wheat? This episode is your crash course. Tracing the Word of Wisdom from its origins as 19th-century health advice, explicitly given “not by commandment or constraint,” to its later transformation into a strict worthiness requirement tied to temple access, we unpack the logic (or lack thereof) behind prohibiting decaf coffee while allowing unlimited Diet Coke, discuss Mormon prepper culture and basement food storage, and examine how beverage choices become markers of spiritual worthiness.

You’ll learn about the surveillance culture that monitors compliance, the economic side-effects of Mormon dietary loopholes, and why Utah leads the nation in both antidepressant use and ice cream consumption. Plus: why BYU started selling Diet Coke only after Mitt Romney was photographed drinking it, and how Lisa Barlow sells tequila while her son serves a mission. If you’ve ever been confused by Mormon dietary rules—or if you grew up Mormon and want to understand the deeper implications of the Word of Wisdom—this episode is for you.