SACRAMENTAL PRAYERS—CHURCH SHOULD BE KNEELING DURING
Moroni said, “And they did kneel down with the church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ, saying:” (Moroni 4: 2)
The Lord said, “And the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this manner shall he administer it—he shall kneel with the church and call upon the Father in solemn prayer, saying:” (D&C 20: 76)
Discuss.
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October 20, 2007
Categories: Scriptural Discussions . Tags:Administration of the Sacrament, Book of Mormon, Christ, Church, Church History, Church of Jesus Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church of Latter-day Saints, Church of the Latter-day Saints, D&C 20, Doctrine and Covenants, Elder, God, God the Father, Holy Scripture, Holy Scriptures, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Kneel, Kneeling, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saints, LDS, LDS Church, Mormon, Mormon Church, Mormonism, Mormons, Moroni, Moroni 4, Name of Christ, Pray, Prayer, Priest, Priesthood, Religion, Sacrament, Sacramental Prayer, Sacramental Prayers, Scriptural Discussion, Scriptural Discussions, Scripture, Scriptures, Solemn Prayer, Standard Works, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Author: LDS Anarchist
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LDS Anarchy 
Wow, that’s interesting…I never noticed that before…I wonder if any congregations in the history of the church have done this before.
Your blog is very interesting…I was thinking of starting one called LDS Libertarian a couple years back…
I’m also interested to see where you go with your 2nd tithing post…I have my own personal interpretation of the Law of Tithing…It would be interesting to see your take.
I don’t know whether it’s been done before in the LDS church. I do know, though, that the Roman Catholic Church made their pews with padded knee rests so that you could kneel during the service in comfort, back when I was a Catholic.
Thanks for the compliment, comments and visit. Part two of tithing has already been written and will be posted soon.
We have the advantage of having a living prophet who decides such things. When he tells us to kneel, I’ll kneel. I think your post should have been, “The Nephites knelt during the Sacrament but we don’t today. Why the difference?” This would put the focus why we aren’t kneeling instead of on a absolute statement that we should kneel.
I grew up with a sort of surrogate grandmother named Hazel Campus. She co-authored the pageant that used to be performed in Independence, Missouri. I brought this to her attention about a year and half ago or more. She informed me that the Church did indeed use to kneel during the sacramental blessing. She said they changed the practice sometime in her adult life due to considerations of the elderly. She said it was a period in which not many people were joining the Church, and so the average age of the membership was increasing.
It is interesting to note that in the presence of Elders, the Aaronic priesthood is not supposed to administer the sacrament (the Scriptural preference is that Elders are supposed to bless/administer the sacrament). But this has been changed also. I think the change mostly boils down to wickedness, as do most of the changes in practice in LDS history, whether you’re looking at consecration or plural marriage or the kneeling and passing of sacrament.
In D&C 121:36-40, the doctrine of “many are called but few are chosen” is defined. I believe the Presidents of the Church have basically called out the Elders in their wickedness (unbeknownst to said Elders)… And this is why the Presidents defer to the Elders’ children passing the sacrament (presumably their children are more righteous of priesthood authority and not yet possessing the same “degree[s] of unrighteousness” as their fathers), even though scripture explicitly assigns the task to Elders, and only to Priests in the absence of (worthy) Elders.
I will cite the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith in response to Allen,
Address of the Prophet To the Relief Society
Beware of Excessive Zeal
Section Five 1842-43, p.237
President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel–said the Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish church–that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls–applied it to the present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints–said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall–that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves, envious towards the innocent, while they afflict the virtuous with their shafts of envy.
Apparently the occasion of late always requires that the priests administer the sacrament. I think your assessment of the reason for the modern requirement has merit.
Thanks, Derek, for posting that statement by Joseph Smith. I don’t have access to the whole sermon by the Prophet, but in reading the statement you gave, it seems to me he was referring to our individual salvation, that we are accountable for our own souls, that we can not put that accountability on our prophet. I don’t think he was referring to kneeling or sitting during the sacrament or which office of the Priesthood should officiate at the Sacrament table. Whether we kneel or sit during the Sacrament, whether Elders or Priests officiate at the Sacrament table is a matter of policy not a matter of eternal principles. Policies change according to the circumstances at the time — this is the value of having a living prophet, one who can adapt the policies of the church to fit the current conditions. When we, as a church, claim to have latter-day prophets, we’re not just referring to Joseph Smith.
Hi Derek,
Earlier this morning, I posted a reply to you, but it hasn’t shown up. This is a rewrite of the reply. I don’t have access to Joseph Smith’s sermon that was given to the RS, so I can’t check the full context of his statement. However, in reading your post, it seems to me that the Prophet was referring to our individual salvation not to general policies of the church. We are each responsible for our actions and can’t depend on others for our salvation. However, when we talk about kneeling or sitting during the Sacrament or which office of the Priesthood should officiate at the Sacrament table, we’re talking about policies of the church. We are not talking about eternal principles of the Gospel. One of the advantages of having a living prophet is that he can, under inspiration, adapt policies to fit the changing conditions of the environment in which the church exists. We shouldn’t be alarmed when policies change, for policies are meant to change as conditions change. When we claim to have living prophets, we aren’t just referring to Joseph Smith.
Allen,
Section 5 of the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith can be found here (if you don’t want to afford the Church’s current printing of $30+):
http://www.boap.org/LDS/Joseph-Smith/Teachings/T5.html
You might consider reading Ezekiel 14 (and beyond), which Joseph began the sermon with, as I think it places things in an interesting light. The thing is, we don’t have just one living prophet, we have a Church full of living prophets. We are all prophets and prophetesses, and if we deny this we prove ourselves to be false teachers (and ignorant of the order of the ancient and restored Churches). What we really have, or at least what you are talking about, are living Presidents of the Melchizedek priesthood, which is the head office of the higher priesthood, and even all the Church. I don’t doubt the validity of this office today. But when the Church as a whole misunderstands prophecy and prophets in general, then I tend to side with Joseph Smith, Jr., and the Lord on this one:
Ezekiel 14 —
7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself:
8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;
11 That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord God.
It isn’t a question of whether policies should or shouldn’t change, it’s a question of why they change.
I responded as I did because you seemed to me to “afflict the virtuous with … shafts of envy” and perhaps “in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon you” (such as scripture study). So the proprietor of this web site has done his studies and is trying to get to the truth of a matter, that should not open him up to persecution from his own kind. So he did not word this softly enough for a pansy like you, that is not his own fault.
PS: A pansy is a delicate flower. Pretty to look at, but fragile, and not containing much nutrient. Not to add insult to injury, please excuse my “flowery” language… 😉
I wonder what would happen if I knelt down in church while the sacrament was blessed next Sunday? Would I be asked to step into the bishop’s office afterward? Would I not be within my rights to comply with the scripture, or would it be such a distraction to others around me that the bishop or others would have a talking to me and tell me not to do that again? This discussion has gotten the anarchist in me tempted to break modern tradition and precedent and just fulfill the scripture myself…
The Church of Christ (Temple Lot) in Independence, Missouri, still kneels, I know. I haven’t been to a Community of Christ communion, so I don’t know if they kneel.
In the Platte Woods ward I was attending in Platte City, Missouri, the Elders administered the sacrament (admittedly there weren’t many youth). In the current ward I attend (Platte City 1st), there is usually one Elder sitting with the Priests blessing the sacrament, and the Elders close their quorum by kneeling in prayer, which is a good step towards kneeling in sacrament meeting.
I can’t imagine you’d have problems if you were to turn around and kneel into your pew… If the Bishop were to say anything, it would be a great missionary moment for you to spread the word of the restored gospel!
Perhaps if Mormon chapels were outfitted like Catholic chapels, as you’ve mentioned, kneeling wouldn’t be nearly as distracting as everybody turning around into their seats as in a Church of Christ (Temple Lot) service. And perhaps kneeling was done away with because the Church couldn’t afford to outfit their chapels like the Catholics have done to accommodate the needs and comforts of the feeble and the elderly.
Kneeling for prayer in an LDS Ward has already been tested in 1988. I was released that day from my position as first councilor to the Bishop, as was my wife from President of the Young Women. It was the beginning of the end for our 20+ year sojourn with the LDS Church. Naturally, anyone reading this is thinking there had to be something more to this than just kneeling for prayer. You’re right there was. I had prefaced and defended our actions with verses from the Book of Mormon.
It all started like this; Someone once told me the Book of Mormon implied we should kneel during the blessing of the sacrament. I set out to determine the validity of that assertion one way or the other and looked up every occurrence in the Book of Mormon for the words pray, prayer, kneel, bow, humble, etc. What I soon noticed was something I never expected. The Book of Mormon does not always describe the posture or bodily position of a person when they pray, but when it does, a wicked person, that is pretending to be righteous, is always standing and a truly righteous and humble person is always kneeling (3Nephi 13:5).
Now that may not be enough to convince some people but if the Lord always set a perfect example, then his ministry before the Nephites is most important. He commands them to kneel for prayer and it tells us that, “He Himself Also Knelt” (3Nephi 17:13-15). In every case when their bodily position is described, they were kneeling and never standing during Christ’s visitation to them after the resurrection. (3Nephi 27:21)
The real problem with our actions was relying on the scriptures instead of the arm of flesh, which challenges the supreme authority of SLC as having the only scriptural insight (2Nephi 28:5). What I learned from this experience is that a wicked person wants to find a loophole to justify noncompliance, while the honest of heart see it as a great find and hidden treasure of the Lord’s teachings.
God be with you,
CTC
CTC-
I hope by “beginning of the end” you don’t mean you left. The church is not perfect, it never has been, the church is sometimes detrimental to people’s spiritual progression. That is because the church is built up of people, people make mistakes, they do things because they think they are correct, not necessarily because the spirit dictates. The gospel is what the church is built on and that is what we all need. In a discussion about this with a trusted friend a few months ago he made the comment:
I am with him all the way. A lot of what they do is because they are intelligent men that counsel together, not because they feel the spirit told them to do it. I mentioned in another comment about one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had. I was on my mission and becoming increasingly aware of the major differences between the church I was attending (and recruiting for) and the one Joseph Smith Jr. was inspired to restore. The church today is about as close to the one restored as the USA is to what the Founding Father’s founded. I was confused, not sure what to do, should I keep teaching the gospel and recruiting for a church that was different from what I was proclaiming was restored or not. I did not know. I spent many hours studying, pondering, and praying. I fasted many times, and finally was given an answer. The church is not perfect, it has strayed (somewhat) but I was not to leave for any reason. The Lord is still in control and would not put up with me leaving just because I saw some discrepancies.
I take what I hear from local leaders as opinion, even all the up through the apostles. I pray about it and do as I feel is appropriate. There are times where what I was told to do by church leaders was wrong, I knew it, the Lord knew it, but I did it anyway, because they were my leaders. The Lord will sort it all out in the end.
I do not see any reason for people to get so stuck on the letter of the law they leave the gospel behind. The best advice I was ever given was:
Seems simple but the more you think about it the more complex it gets and the more it rings true. Is the spirit going to stay with you when you leave the church because they didn’t want you to kneel for the sacrament? Or is it going to stay with you when you take the sacrament every week without kneeling? No matter what you are doing, if the spirit stays with you, you are in the right. I was told in that experience I referred to earlier, the spirit would not stay with me if I let the differences effect my church service. Everything that was available to the saints in Joseph Smith’s day is still available, but you have to work harder for it. He restored the priesthood of God, you can not get that anywhere else and you can not keep it if you leave. Plain and simple.
PallasAthena,
Thanks for your comments and concern. I too held the same opinion. While the church is not perfect, it’s principles are. This sustained me through many years of witnessing some terrible events and acts among the membership from adultery, to incest and even a brutal murder. These were actions of individuals that were punished by ecclesiastical or civil authority as required by law. I saw it as the church purging itself of bad elements and the process while imperfect was at least working.
What had always concerned me since the earliest days of my membership was the impression that the Book of Mormon is not studied much in the LDS Church. I knew many people during my 20+ years in the church and most read the Book of Mormon infrequently and I often heard people say they really didn’t understand parts of it. I hated to admit, but I often felt the same way and would not know why until many years later. Nevertheless, the Book of Mormon was primarily the cornerstone of my conversion and that of my wife.
During most of my years as a member, I held the office of a Seventy, which as you know was a missionary and proselytizing position. I helped the full time missionaries assigned to our area and acted as a liaison to investigators by visiting in their homes and helping them to identify with someone of local origin and not just the missionaries. We taught many people of various faiths. Some became members and others did not.
What I often noticed and was later affirmed to me in some of our stake training sessions, is that most people convert to the LDS church as a result of their gaining a testimony that the Book of Mormon is authentic and not a hoax. They begin to feel something in the very marrow of their soul that witnesses to them the book has a special divine nature about it. There is simply a good spirit within the text. You can feel honesty in every sentence, even when you don’t fully understand it. That spirit of honesty sustains you beyond understanding. (Ether 12:23-29)
My wife and I gained a trust in the Book of Mormon and it sustained us throughout the years of our membership and even now. What happened to us was that we stopped trying to rationalize the teachings of the Book of Mormon within the framework of LDS teachings. This is why it makes no sense to someone that is under that mindset. It’s like fitting a square peg in a round hole. Once I was finally willing to risk taking an alternative view and put my trust in the promptings of the spirit instead of men, many things began to come in focus. Some came slowly and very naturally while others were almost too much to bear and were a real shock.
We started with a very benign subject, like kneeling for prayer. While it is such a simple topic, we eventually found it was only the tip of a huge iceberg that would eventually undermine most of the major tenants of the LDS Church, that set it apart from Christian professing religions. When we were finally confronted by leadership sent from SLC to have us denounce our study concerning kneeling for prayer and knuckle under their authority, we could not go against what we had been so blessed to learn. We wanted to stay around the people we were friends with and the society that was so much a part of our lives, but we were at an impasse and a decision had to be made. The bottom line was this; The Book of Mormon is either true or it is not! It is either a 19th century fraud and a deception or it is an authentic document. If the text is a fraud, then so were Joseph Smith and the church he lead. Since we don’t believe it is a fraud, then we must take the Book of Mormon very seriously.
The Prophets from the Book of Mormon saw our day and knew our civilization would mirror theirs. At God’s direction they recounted the portions of their history that would be most meaningful in helping us avoid the errors they stumbled into. The Lord then went to great pains to get their writings into our hands without errors. He was unwilling to let it come through centuries of translations under corrupt priests and Popes, as did the Bible. He therefore engraved the text on Gold, a material that will not rust or rot but stays inert for centuries. He had it buried and hidden so it would not be discovered and plundered for its wealth in precious metal. He chose an obscure person with no religious affiliations to translate and publish it while enduring great hardships. The end result of a huge pre-Columbian civilization, including their many untold sacrifices; sacrifices we can never fully comprehend or appreciate, are held in one volume called the Book of Mormon.
Joseph Smith was told by the Lord that nothing was more important than getting the Book of Mormon published (D&C 5:4) . Joseph later said the Book of Mormon was the most correct book on the earth and a person would get nearer to God abiding by it than any other book.
A few years later the Lord himself proclaimed the LDS Church was under condemnation for its disregard of the Book of Mormon and that the church would remain under that condemnation until they remembered it (D&C 84: 54-57). Do you think that condemnation has been lifted; when active LDS members say they don’t study or understand the Book of Mormon all that much?
Again, thank you for your concern. It is good to speak to members again after such a long silence. I hope what I have said will not offend anyone. It is simply the only story I have to tell and the only manner I know in which to tell it.
All the Best,
CTC
Indeed he will, but I fear for those who trust in the arm of flesh.
RWW,
How true concerning the arm of flesh. I for myself have met with one General Authority preceding my excommunication 20+ years ago. In that meeting the mask slipped off and I saw he was not set on following the teachings of Christ as found in the Book of Mormon. Instead he was protecting the status of the General Authorities as the last word in all church matters. I will never forget his statement, “The scriptures are not relevant to the restoration.” In other words, God does not give members any unique insight into the scriptures and these writings are superfluous in any event. We have been given the Priesthood and the keys to the kingdom of God. The rules are what we say they are, regardless of what is taught by the scriptures.
2 Ne. 28: 5-6 And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;
RWW-
Me too, I try not to trust in the arm of the flesh, only do what the spirit says. I did not mean to imply blind faith, only that occasionally the spirit has confirmed I should do something I would not normally do because I had been counseled by a leader. I have in the past deliberately disobeyed direct orders due to the spirit and had amazing results.
CTC-
That is a terrible story. I feel so bad and almost angry as I watch the church get seemingly disassembled brick by brick around me, sometimes by leaders in high places. Ezra Taft Benson said on many occasions that the church was still under condemnation for its attitude toward the Book of Mormon. I hear you echo Jeffery R Holland word for word and use that against the very General Authority who was so out of touch as to give you an ultimatum. I appreciate your dedication and am in no place to judge, if you were following the spirit and a GA kicked you out, I pity him when he faces the Lord.
You probably are, but make sure it is him and not you that was in error.
Be confident that the Lord will cleanse His church before He takes over.
God Bless.
-PallasAthena
Kneeling for the sacrament?
The real issue here is an understanding of ordinances.
All kingdoms have a law given;
And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.
And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.
All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified.
D&C 88:36 – 39
Spaces are dimensional coordinates defined by ranges or octaves of resonant frequencies. Kingdom as used in this verse refers to the Father’s blueprint of creation. His kingdom resides in all of the dimensions. Foundational principles and governing laws define the kingdom structure within a given space. The 3rd dimensional space occupied by mortals has a range of 64 octaves from the ultra-violet, gamma and beyond in one direction to infrared and ELF in the other.
Because of veils that surround us, not to mention our limited capacities for accessing higher dimensional inputs, we display very limited perceptions of our world, the heavens, and dimensions. In general, we have very limited access to multidimensional kingdom structures. To give a more accurate view of these structures, temples (or high mountains) have been utilized by higher dimensional beings to transmit requisite knowledge. One manner of doing this is by the use of ordinances.
There are ordinances that give physical, visual, and intellectual understanding of the higher dimensional realities. As we assimilate this higher understanding, or as our resonant frequencies are quickened, we begin to move thru the dimensions by the means of the Holy Spirit and thru covenant relationship with our “God family.”
Ordinances are outward expressions of inner realities, multidimensional and eternal realities. Without the inner processing, commitments, faithfulness, and ensuing synchronicities with higher dimensional frequencies, the ordinances are mere shells without substantive meaning. The symbols contained within a given ordinance are designed to convey a plethora of information. To the extent that symbols are absent, limited, changed or otherwise altered or eliminated, we lose a great deal of the meaning and therefore the purpose of the ordinance.
As we gain understanding thru learning and thru faith, we make continual covenants with God:
And that you might more fully keep yourself unspotted from the world, you shall go to the house of prayer and offer up your sacraments upon my holy day;
For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay your devotions unto the Most High;
Nevertheless your vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, you shall offer your oblations and your sacraments unto the Most High, confessing your sins unto your brethren, and before the Lord. D&C 59:9 – 12
The sacrament is the only ordinance (church administered ordinance) that takes place on a weekly and recurring basis. This is because we are continually processing and making vows and covenants and formalizing them with the Father during the sacramental ordinance.
The dynamics of the sacrament experience are conveyed to us thru the symbolism of the ordinance. The more accurate and pervasive the symbols, the more richly endowed the ordinance with kingdom structure and hence, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.
The scriptures (or word of the Lord) give us fantastically abundant symbols to convey a profusion of structural kingdom information. It must be kept in mind that as the symbols decrease, so do the dynamics of the ordinance. For example, lets consider some of the symbolisms of the sacrament:
1. Sacramental prayers given exactly for the bread and wine (water?)
D&C 20:75, D&C 20:38,40, Moroni 6:6, 3 Nephi 18:1, Genesis 14:18,
2. The unleavened bread signifying the purity and structural soundness of Christ who is the bread of life. (slices of white bakers bread with yeast?)
Exodus 12:8, Exodus 12:17, 1 Corinthians 10:17, Matthew 26:17, Luke 22:1, Luke 22:6-8, Mark 14:1, Mark 14:12, Matthew 16:12 (this differs from the leaven of Israel among the nations 1 Corinthians 5:6-8), Luke 12:1
3. The wine. Wine is consistent throughout all of scripture. There is one exception: D&C 27:2-3. This given during a time of severe persecution. Even in this revelation and all subsequent ones, wine is always the prescribed juice.
D&C 88:140-141, D&C 89:4-6, D&C 27:4-5, D&C 20:78-79, Moroni 4:1, Moroni 5:1-2, 3 Nephi 18:8, Psalms 75:8, Matthew 26:26-29
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing
John 15:5
4. The common cup. (small separate plastic or glass cups? Where did that come from?)
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it John 18:11
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ
1 Corinthians 10:15-16 see also: 1 Cor 11:25, Mark 14:22-24, Mark 14:35-36,
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves Luke 22:17
3 Nephi 18:8, Matthew 26:38-42, Matthew 20:22-23,
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also Matthew 23:24-26
But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another.
For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he pours out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them Psalms 75:7 – 8
THE manner of administering the wine—Behold, they took the cup, and said:…..
Moroni 5:1
5. Sacrament administered by one having authority. All of the scriptural accounts are singular.
D&C 20:46, D&C 20:76, Moroni 4:1-3, 3 Nephi 18:5, 3 Nephi 20:3-4, Luke 24:30, Mark 14:22-23, Matt 26:26
6. Kneeling down as a church body. In the scriptures kneeling down is done for primarily for 2 reasons: Praise (Hebrew- barak), and worship (Hebrew – shachah & Greek –proskuneo). The very idea of sitting casually on our back-sides while making covenants with the Lord violates the dynamics of the symbolism.
And the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this manner shall he administer it—he shall kneel with the church
D&C 20:76
THE manner of their elders and priests administering the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church; and they administered it according to the commandments of Christ; wherefore we know the manner to be true; and the elder or priest did minister it—
And they did kneel down with the church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ,… Moroni 4:1-3
7. Sacrament administered by one person. There is one exception in scripture:
3 And when the Disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the Disciples and commanded that they should eat. 3 Nephi 18:2-3
In all other accounts, only one person prepares, blesses and administers, and this by the direct instruction of Christ. 3 Nephi 18:5,6
6 And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you.
3 Nephi 18:6
8. Teachers and Deacons not to administer the sacrament.
But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands D&C 20:58 What does it really mean to administer the sacrament? See 3 Nephi 18:6 above.
9. Sacraments offered up with specific vows and oblations. (Renew our baptismal covenants?)
And that you may more fully keep yourself unspotted from the world, you shall go to the house of prayer and offer up your sacraments upon my holy day;
For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay your devotions unto the Most High;
Nevertheless your vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, you shall offer your oblations and your sacraments unto the Most High, confessing your sins unto your brethren, and before the Lord D&C 59:9-12, Deut 23:21-23,
10. Sacrament taken until filled. (a small piece of bread and a small cup of water?)
And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude.
And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, …..
3 Nephi 18:4-5, Mark 26:27, 3 Nephi 20:5-9, Acts 2:4
11. Sacrament is really a time for praise, worship, rejoicing, and spiritual gifts to manifest. (The sacrament simply ends?)
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles Acts 2:42 – 43
Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the Spirit; and they did cry out with one voice, and gave glory to Jesus, whom they both saw and heard
3 Nephi 20:9
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance
Acts 2:4
12. Sacrament a time for praising, confessing sins, manifesting spiritual gifts. (sitting quietly reverent? – where did that come from?)
Assemble yourselves upon the land of Zion; and hold a meeting and rejoice together, and offer a sacrament unto the Most High D&C 62:4
And let the lower part of the inner court be dedicated unto me for your sacrament offering, and for your preaching, and your fasting, and your praying, and the offering up of your most holy desires unto me, saith your Lord D&C 95:16
But he truly gave unto them bread to eat, and also wine to drink.
And he said unto them: He that eats this bread eats of my body to his soul; and he that drinks of this wine drinks of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled.
Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the Spirit; and they did cry out with one voice, and gave glory to Jesus, whom they both saw and heard 3 Nephi 20:7-9
13. Do not partake of the sacrament if unworthy.
For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep
1 Corinthians 11:23 – 30
See that ye are not baptized unworthily; see that ye partake not of the sacrament of Christ unworthily; but see that ye do all things in worthiness, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God
Mormon 9:29
There are of course many other issues pertaining to the sacrament, but I feel that I may have overstepped some bounds already. The point is, the sacrament is dynamically rich in symbolism. Each essence of that symbolism gives us amazing insight into the kingdom structures of the atonement that pertain to the “space” in which we live. As you can see, much of the symbolism designed to be part of the sacrament experience has been changed, or eliminated, or things have been added which were never part of the scriptural accounts. Not kneeling with the church is but a tip of the iceberg.
We always kneel for sacrament. I cannot imagine not kneeling for it! As a matter of fact in our church services oftentimes we will have people get up from their seats and kneel for opening and closing prayers. Whatever the spirit dictates and no one looks at anyone else with anything except maybe”the spirit impressed on them to kneel down” but for sacrament? Everyone kneels. I am so thankful right now that I’m not in the church.