Taking the Sacrament with Your Right Hand

[Anonymous]

Heber13 wrote:

(Hi Katzpur! Good to see ya :wave: )

Thank you! I didn’t think anybody here even knew me. You know, I’ve been posting for six years, but don’t have all that many posts. I do love this site, though. Sometimes when I get feeling so frustrated with the Mollies and Peters, and get to thinking that I must be a really bad person to feel the way I do about things, I know I can always stop by StayLDS and will find support from other “bad people” like me. I love you guys. :thumbup:

[Anonymous]

Katzpur I totally remember you. I can even name off topics you have brought up – nylons, beards, Wow. It’s always great when you drop by. You bring good discussions to the table.

[Anonymous]

mom3 wrote:

Katzpur I totally remember you. I can even name off topics you have brought up – nylons

Yup me too! Nylons were what came to my mind. Outdated rules about bare legs not being modest (as opposed to legs in nylons). Thankfully that is not the norm now.

We love you right back Katzpur! Keep keepin it real at church.

[Anonymous]

You didn’t think anyone here even knew you?

It’s terrible to have a bad memory. :silent:

[Anonymous]

I suggest we forego hands altogether and just bury our faces in the tray like bobbing for apples.

[Anonymous]

hawkgrrrl wrote:

I suggest we forego hands altogether and just bury our faces in the tray like bobbing for apples.

Yes, but only on the right side of the tray. 🙂

[Anonymous]

I remember you Katzpur. I remember the interview with your bishop about gay marriage because our views on the subject match.

On topic, and as you point out in your OP, I wouldn’t be shy about the general handbook not saying anything about a proper way to partake of the sacrament. It only talks about blessing and passing it, it does not describe anything specific about taking it.

[Anonymous]

Also, the D&C says that it matters not what you eat or drink for the sacrament as long as you do it with an eye SINGLE TO HIS GLORY. If it doesn’t matter what you eat or drink for the sacrament, when they heck does it matter which hand you use? Does not the “eye single to his glory” apply to the manner in which you take the sacrament?

This kind of thing bothers me. Once, in sacrament meeting, our Bishop made a Young Man say the prayer TEN TIMES. I was ready to stand up and walk out. At some point, you just accept the kid’s attempt and move on for the good of the congregation and the experience.

[Anonymous]

Not to dismiss or disagree with anyone else’s point in this thread, but just as another thought I have…some people really find value in EXACTNESS for special or sacred things to be important to them. It raises their commitment levels and efforts and spirituality. It is a conservative approach in not letting things become commonplace or lose meaning. I often hear it told in church with stories like steadying the ark, that even with good intentions…if the commandment was to not touch the ark, then you don’t touch it even if common sense says the thing will fall and break.

While I have my differing views…I try to recognize that others in the church will find value in telling stories and taking things so serious, that they will even teach their children which hand to use, what color shirt to wear, how many ears to pierce, or how many hours to refrain from eating or drinking while fasting and which sodas are approved and which are sin. That is how they choose to teach others.

I think I am trying to work on how to handle myself so I don’t belittle the way they choose to worship, even while I simply won’t repeat some proclamation about the “right hand is right” because I don’t believe it, or other exactness “good ideas or intentions”.

Quote:

Articles of Faith 1:11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

There may be times to stand up to some comments and challenge them openly so incorrect “doctrine” is not perpetuated. Other times, it can be productive to simply ignore it when people (even leaders) share their opinions on what is important, because it often just goes away when it isn’t practical.

Just my 2 cents on how I try to process it along with my connection to God. (and of course…I find it helpful to come here and vent about it…helps me get through it when I think others are being dingbats).

Are there other ways you can see make sense why others feel the “right hand” is so important that can help me understand them more? Or do you think they’re just wrong?

[Anonymous]

I like the thought of using AOF 11 as a response. Thanks for suggesting that Heber. I will need to make sure I have it memorized well so I can recite it at a moment when I need it.

I would then add that this is not just for the church talking about non-members. I think the church would be a better place if everyone wasn’t trying to fit themselves and everyone else into the same mold. I like this quote I just saw:

Mother Teresa wrote:

If you judge people, you have no time to love them

The trick to making more space is to say, “Please allow me more space” without having the other person feel like they are having to give up space.

[Anonymous]

LookingHard wrote:

The trick to making more space is to say, “Please allow me more space” without having the other person feel like they are having to give up space.

And yet, I think that they are having to give up space. In thinking about the overton window effect that Hawkgrrrl has mentioned – at any given time there is a range of what is taught and accepted. As we creep towards progress in some areas that makes the church less conservative and eternally unchanging in others. Generally this creep happens over generations and is hardly noticable to members. Still there are some that feel that the church is compromising its principles and become fundamentalists of some sort. I personally feel that the power of the internet as sped up this process.

[Anonymous]

Just to add to what has been said in recent comments, I never argued with my father-in-law when he would say what he did. It just wasn’t worth it, and I wasn’t aware of him saying it in any setting where it would be damaging to others.

[Anonymous]

SilentDawning wrote:

Also, the D&C says that it matters not what you eat or drink for the sacrament as long as you do it with an eye SINGLE TO HIS GLORY. If it doesn’t matter what you eat or drink for the sacrament, when they heck does it matter which hand you use? Does not the “eye single to his glory” apply to the manner in which you take the sacrament?

Wow! What an excellent point!

Quote:

This kind of thing bothers me. Once, in sacrament meeting, our Bishop made a Young Man say the prayer TEN TIMES. I was ready to stand up and walk out. At some point, you just accept the kid’s attempt and move on for the good of the congregation and the experience.

That poor kid. Not trying to be judgmental, but honestly, what kind of a bishop would do that?

[Anonymous]

I won’t answer that last question, as much as I’m tempted to

[Anonymous]

A bishop that believes the words have to be spoken exactly as written otherwise the ordinance doesn’t count. The bishop is probably more concerned with the congregation being able to participate in a legitimate sacrament than he is about the feelings of the kid trying to bless the sacrament. It really hinges on the faith of the bishop and I’m guessing many members are very letter of the law when it comes to the sacrament prayer.

It’s a tough spot to be in. If the bishop were to let it slide he might have to face complaints from people in the congregation afterwards. I know I’ve certainly heard times where the prayer wasn’t said correctly but it made it past the bishop. I wonder if someone that had the attitude of complaining noticed as well?

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