According to the CDC, tobacco use, including cigarette smoking, cigar smoking, and smokeless tobacco use, remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking accounts for 1 out of every 5 deaths. With health statistics like these, it is no wonder that God would want His children to take care of their bodies by not using tobacco. The For Strength of Youth pamphlet states,
Never use tobacco products, such as cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco, cigars, and pipe tobacco. They are very addictive and will damage your body and shorten your life.
Over the last few decades, the medical community has made a major push against tobacco products due to the health concerns they present and the lives lost as a result. The Church has been giving this counsel over 175 years. In fact, the Church counsels against taking anything addictive into our bodies. Elder Russell M. Nelson stated,
We are free to take drugs or not. But once we choose to use a habit-forming drug, we are bound to the consequences of that choice. Addiction surrenders later freedom to choose. Through chemical means, one can literally become disconnected from his or her own will!
Along with not using tobacco, Mormons also do not use “any drug, chemical, or dangerous practice that is used to produce a sensation or high.” These drugs can destroy your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.