White Bread for Sacrament

Throughout history, “white flour” had (still has I believe) an additional bleaching step that makes it more visually appealing and “posh”.

In this case, it was more of “the higher status bread” being used. it is likely an outdated way to “bring forth the best for God” because bread-making times have changed considerably.

Now, it’s likely a mix of whatever gets grabbed and a nod to the probable sensibilities of the congregation at large more likely to expect and prefer the taste of white bread over wheat bread.

A few years ago, one of the more vocal sisters at church went on a gluten-free diet and started bringing her commercial bread substitute to church to be included on tray. There was a lot of social distrust and confusion about that bread – because it wasn’t expected as “supposed to be there” and yet, fulfilled a medical need. I think she moved and/or COVID hit before our congregation got really used to seeing that “special bread” on our trays in limited quantities.

I have heard stories of harried parents having to alternate about “who acquires the sacrament bread” on behalf of their son’s assignment. Some family grocery-list-makers seem to just stock up on extras of whatever the family gets and take one from the stock as needed. Sometimes the responsibility gets booted back to the parent-son duo who “break the Sabbath” to pick up bread on Sunday.

I have heard of YSA wards where there is a “back to basics” approach and the RS sisters are charged with making the sacrament bread (because they know how to bake, of course) for the priesthood to bless and pass.

I had never heard the white bread thing before. It’s probably akin to only taking the sacrament with the right hand and wearing a white shirt to bless or pass the sacrament – not official policy but believed by the more “righteous” among us.

Right! I heard it from a thirdhand report that was supposed to have originated with current President Nelson from around 2019. Someone that purports to have been in the bishopric at the time reports that President Nelson visited the ward to witness the blessing of a great-grandchild. After the meeting, the bishop asked if President Nelson had any advice and the only advice given was that they should use white bread instead of wheat bread. In consequence, the bishop later tasked the bishopric member with telling the sister that had been baking the sacrament wheat bread every week that it was no longer necessary.

Assuming this report is accurate, I’m willing to give President Nelson the benefit of the doubt that he was probably not aware that a sister was lovingly baking the bread.

When my wife was a primary president a Stake President said offhand that it really bothers him to see cartoonish depictions of Jesus. Many of the helpful handouts that we had for primary had such cartoonish depictions. For several years after this comment, whenever there was a depiction of Jesus in the helps, my wife would take the extra step of finding a not cartoonish depiction of Jesus, cut that out, and then glue it over the cartoonish depiction before making copies. I assume that the Stake President never had the intention of making that much additional work for my wife.

Likewise, I do not know the full situation with President Nelson. It could have been that he meant if you are in the grocery store trying to decide on white or wheat then go for the white for the symbolic connotation. Maybe President Nelson was just caught off guard by the bishop’s request for advice and just said the first thing that he could think of.

Symbolically you can make anything fit… or not fit.

White bread: The color white is the go-to symbol for purity. It uses refined flour, which could also translate to ridding it of impurities (sinless). It’s bleached for appearances (whited sepulchre) and doesn’t have as many nutrients as whole wheat, so the purification process strips the bread of some of its benefits.

Wheat bread: Includes the whole part of the wheat, not just a portion. It’s more perfect (complete), has more fiber, is better for the heart (symbolic) than white bread. Oh, but it’s not as white so… and the kids in the congregation think it’s icky and complain to their parents, who in turn complain to the bishop.

Unleavened: It’s funny to me that anyone that would be a stickler for using white bread only takes the symbolism/rules partway. If we’re going down the stickler path, shouldn’t we be using unleavened bread?

Sliced bread: Another “I thought we were being sticklers” consideration, the policies lean towards starting with unbroken bread. If we’re using presliced bread from the bag there’s really no point in being sticklers about other points of the unwritten rules. A slice is a break, or not? I can’t say I’ve ever seen the sacrament done with mini-loaves of bread (not sliced at all) being broken but it would be neat if we did it every once in a while.

Right! It’s interesting the things that we collectively or individually adhere to or discard based on symbolism. Sometimes it feels like an exercise in self justification. Our way or my way is so much better because “symbolism.” I am thankful that this preference for white bread has not been institutionalized the way that the preference for white shirts has been.