While I find the insistence on use of the right hand to be non-doctrinal, I don’t want to call it “utter nonsense.” I believe there can be value to order and tradition — the organization and routine taught to deacons passing the sacrament ensures its passing to everyone in the chapel (and foyer, perhaps) without fuss and distraction, which allows members of the congregation an undistacted few minutes of reflection; without that order, confusion and fuss and distracting hand signals or voices would interrupt reflection. I think minimal standards of dress for deacons adds to that, and I don’t see any harm at all in helping deacons think about the effect their dress has on a congregation by discussing the symbolism of white clothing. The problem only comes when attention to dress changes from dignity to rigid uniform, or when violation of traditional patterns leads to people condemning “rule breakers” for sinfulness or sacrilege.

Likewise, if an individual considering his own behavior, or parents teaching their children, find value in associating the right hand with covenant making, thereby causing them to better understand what they’re doing when they take the sacrament, I think that’s fine. I think, though, that we should recognize that that’s a layer of tradition and culture *added on* to the ordinance, and that suppression of — even awareness of — others’ “violation” of those traditions causes more harm than following the tradition causes good.

I realize I am joining the conversation rather late. I was taught this by my parents and my Jr. Sunday School teachers in the 70′s. I remember being taught this in the 80′s as well in Provo Utah.

BUT it was also taught to me as an adult in the 90′s In the Mid 90′s I was taking classes at UVSC in Orem, Utah. One of my Institute teachers, who was a big McConkie and Joseph Fielding Smith fan, spent a lot of time on this. He used this statement on an overhead (yeah, we were still using those back then) from “Answers to Gospel Questions” that was also in “Doctrines of Salvation” (all of Joseph Fielding Smith’s books have such serious, life and death titles):

“In one case we are informed that some brethren were advocating the partaking of the sacrament with either hand. … Therefore, it is expedient that something be said about the use of the right hand in performing ordinations and partaking of the sacrament.

The performing of ordinances with the right hand in preference to the left is a well-established custom universally and is not confined to the Church. In various governments where oaths are administered, the candidate for office is asked to raise his right hand. There are occasions when he is sworn to give truthful testimony by placing his right hand on a copy of the Bible. This custom has come down from the beginning, and from many scriptural passages we gather that it has always received divine sanction. (He then quotes several passages of scripture)

The showing favor to the right hand or side is not something invented by man but was revealed from the heavens in the beginning. (He then quotes Isaiah and Psalms and Matthew)

A Symbol of Righteousness

There are numerous passages in the scriptures referring to the right hand, indicating that it is a symbol of righteousness and was used in the making of covenants. (Quotes Matthew again)

(And this part always amused me the most, does he think “Lefties” are less righteous?)

The right hand or side is called the dexter and the left the sinister. Dexter connotes something favorable; sinister, something unfavorable or unfortunate. It is a well-established practice in the Church to partake of the sacrament with the right hand and also to anoint with the right hand, according to the custom which the scriptures indicate is, and always was, approved by divine injunction. –Answers to GQ V. 5 p. 158

I AGREE with you 100% Ardis, this is all utter nonsense, but it is nonsense that many have taught. I did a quick check and I found this passage quoted in Daniel H. Ludlow, “A Companion to Your Study of the New Testament”, Daniel H. Ludlow, “A Companion to Your Study of the Old Testament”, Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet, “Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon”, Joseph Fielding McConkie and Donald W. Parry, “A Guide to Scriptural Symbols”, and Bruce A. Van Orden and Brent L. Top, eds., “The Lord of the Gospels: The 1990 Sperry Symposium on the New Testament”.

I did a quick check on Deseretbook.com and they still sell quite a few of these volumes so I am sure that there are a lot of “old timers” and JFS/McConkie dogma type fans out there that still push this line of thinking.

Thanks!

Right Hand or Left?

Alvin F. wrote to ask if there were a rule about pouring the oil with the right hand when administering to the sick. Answering the question, Joseph F. took occasion to warn his son against excessive attention to details that tend to obscure the true meaning of the ordinances.
December 16, 1905

>The question you ask about anointing seems very simple to me. I think it is the general practice to pour the oil with the right hand. I suppose because most people are right-handed. But there is no law or rule against anointing . . . with the left. We shake with the right hand. In the endowments the signs and tokens are made and given with the right hand. When we lay but one hand on the sick it should be the right. We take the Sacrament with the right hand. The practice makes the rule. But always remember that it is not the rule, or practice, which gives life or force, but the true spirit. There is no good in splitting hairs nor in tickey-technical rules. “The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.”<

- Joseph F. Smith, From Prophet to Son: Advice of Joseph F. Smith to His Missionary Sons, compiled by Hyrum M. Smith III and Scott G. Kenney [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981], 93.

In Italy on my mission, sacrament trays were not passed, except in the military units.

Anyhow, as a left-hander myself, and being somewhat contary in nature, I take the sacrament with my left hand at every possible opportunity!

http://www.lds.org/liahona/1983/07/questions-and-answers

Several people in my “mission field” ward growing up taught the “right hand as covenant hand” explanation that Russell M. Nelson gives there.

(I don’t have current evidence on this, so I may be passing on information that is out of date. So much has changed among our semi-co-religionists.)