Kneeling during sacrament?

[SailorJohn]

When talking about how the Elders are to administer the sacrament both D&C 20: 76 and Moroni 4: 2 say "...kneel down wth the church..."

These scriptures don't say kneel down for the church, before the church, infront of the church, or any thing like that they say "... kneel down with the church..." to me this indicated that the congregation and the elders are to kneel down together.

I am wondering has this ever been the method in the history of the LDS church and why don't we do this now?

[Maxgreen1]

Kneeling is symbolic of reverence and humility. We are encouraged to be reverent and humble during the administration of the sacrament.

[pam]

I could be wrong but my take on it is a matter of symbolism. When a Priest or an Elder gives the sacrament prayer on the bread and water, he's not giving it just for him, but giving it for all of us. The kneeling is a symbol of reverence and humility as Maxgreen mentioned. Therefore the one kneeling is actually kneeling for all of us as proxy per se to show our reverence and humility before taking the Sacrament. Therefore wth the Church makes sense to me if I look at it in this way.

[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.

[pam]

Where does it say that the priest is to administer to each person? My thoughts are that the word "administer" doesn't necessarily mean "pass" to each person. That would be the role of the Deacon. Basically the Priests and/or the Elders are administrators of the Sacrament under the direction of the Bishop.

Administering to me would be the breaking of the bread, the prayer and the passing of the sacrament trays to the Deacons who then pass to each of the members.

[Moksha]

Pam, another way of looking at this, is that everyone involved the the process of getting the symbolic communion to the supplicants is involved it its ministration.

[Moksha]

If kneeling was required for everyone, someone would undoubtedly declare that touching down with the right knee first shows proper respect and reverence.

And no more than one pair of kneepads!

[MarginOfError]

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.

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.

[pam]

Originally Posted by Moksha

Pam, another way of looking at this, is that everyone involved the the process of getting the symbolic communion to the supplicants is involved it its ministration.

I realize that. I was addressing the words administer and passing and what the difference could be.

[pam]

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.

Curious what you would propose is done with it? Have the teachers who clear off the sacrament table have a little feast on the left over bread? That seems even worse to me as it has been blessed and not to be used just to feast on to keep from wasting.