Comments on: Administering the Sacrament

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:50:27 +0000

Ha! I don’t suppose the Plan of Salvation would collapse if just one time somebody who didn’t know better did something as scandalous as playing a hymn at the wrong time!

By: Cameron

Cameron — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:32:40 +0000

I remember the 2 1/2 minute talks and the Sacrament Gems when I was little. Also the round water trays, we used one in our small branch in Illinois with paper cups, later plastic. In regards to practices that creep in sometimes, I remember one branch pianist that had recently joined the church. She thought we needed music while the sacrament was passed. I thought the branch president was going to break a leg getting up to tell her to stop.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:24:27 +0000

Oh, and those Bishops all mentioned that the directive came from the Brethren – written or unwritten order, I’m not sure.

Justin, you around to wave your magic wand and give us the authoritative answer?

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:22:55 +0000

Alex, I don’t recall a specific statement by any particular prophet or apostle, but I have had multiple Bishops who have taken that stance for that exact reason – and I personally agree with it, not that my opinion matters at all.

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:55:58 +0000

I remember hearing Truman Madsen suggest once that we read Moroni 4:2 carefully and note that it says that the priest “did kneel down with the church” when blessing the sacrament. But I’ve never seen it happen.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:39:14 +0000

I don’t recall ever hearing anything like that, Alex. Anybody?

By: Alex Maynez

Alex Maynez — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:25:35 +0000

Does anyone recall a comment by, I believe it was Gordon B. Hinckley, which admonished us to not thank the deacons for the sacrament. That it was because it was their duty. Maybe I was just dreaming. I thought that it was directed to the bishoprics since they always say “we’d like to thank the deacons for the reverent way in which they passed the sacrament.” I’ve researched this but can’t come up with anything. any help would be greatly appreciated. A. Zenyam

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:14:34 +0000

PeaJay, that was never a standard LDS practice, although alot of variations were tried briefly in the earliest days of the church.

By: PeaJay

PeaJay — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 05:48:32 +0000

I joined the Church in the 70′s and remember a lot of these practices that disappeared with the consolidated meeting schedule. The Sacrament Gems, practice hymns and 2 1/2 minute talks were all only in Sunday School. I have heard that in the past the entire congregation used to kneel with the priest. Anyone know more about that?

By: Anthony E. Larson

Anthony E. Larson — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:19:21 +0000

My grandmother told me that when she was young, those priests offering the sacrament prayer stood with one arm or both arms to the square as they did so. She told me this in the 1960s sometime, when she was in her late 70s. Additionally, I’ve read of this practice in some very old journals.