Quote:
Originally Posted by Hill-Billy
Yes, it has been done just like it says. Also, the priest is to administer to each person. That is he is to hand the broken bread to each person and the person hands it back to him. The person next to you does not hand it to you. What if the person next to you does not partake. You can't give an ordinance that you have not taken part of. Can't give what you dont have or hold. Next is the way we treat the unused bread and water. To toss it in the garbage to me is wrong. Way wrong. We need to drink all the water and eat all the bread. I hate it when these decons who are not supposed to pass the sacrament just toss the unused into the garbage.
Anyway that is the way it used to be. How do I Know this... My old dead Grandfather told me some 50 years ago. It is done the way it is most expediant.
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Perhaps it is of value to note that "administer" means to manage, supervise, or oversee. It's also important to remember the division of labor in the offices of the Aaronic Priesthood are somewhat arbitrary, and there have been a number of changes aside from this one. In fact, deacons used to be ordained at the age of 12; teachers at 15; and priests at 18. Changes get made from time to time when the prophets feel that the change will better prepare the young men to receive and exercise the Melchizedek Priesthood.
With regard to kneeling, it might have been reasonable to do that at a time when you had smaller congregations. But with congregations the size of what we have now, it becomes more of a disruption with all the up and down. We've been instructed to do everything we can to ensure the spirit is as strong as possible during the administration of the Sacrament, and the ruckus of 200 people getting down and then rising up again isn't exactly conducive with that instruction.
Then you also have problems with space. In most chapels I have been in, there isn't really enough space between pews to kneel between them.
Finally, old people have a hard time getting up and down. It's just a lot more kind to not make them feel like they're not able to meet the expectation. This was actually the impetus behind no longer requiring people to stand up to make oaths in the temple ceremony. When we think about ordinances, we need to remember that substance is more important than form.