Children And Sacrament

[miztrniceguy]

My wife and I are struggling. We know children don't need the sacrament, as they are innocent until the age of accountability.

The problem: my wife doesn't want our almost 3 yr old to partake since she doesn't need it. I agree, but it is getting to be a struggle keeping her out of the trays as they are passed. My problem....I am afraid that my daughter will feel excluded as she sees all the other kids her age partaking. I am afraid she will think she is being punished, as she is too young to understand she doesn't need it.

any suggestions?

[Palerider]

I encourage all Parents with small children to give their children the Sacrament.....its a teaching opportunity......even at the age of 3yrs.......

[Josh M]

I would have to agree with Palerider even tho i dont have kids.

[BenRaines]

I agree with Palerider. You are teaching and can use the partaking of the sacrament as a teaching experience. We partake of the sacrament to always remember the Lord. To remind us to keep his commandments.

To me thinking that they don't need to partake of the sacrament would be like saying they do not need to attend church until 8 after they are baptized.

Ben

[Josie]

I remember years ago, when we had jr Sunday School, the children being given Sacrament in there. All of the children regardless of age. If we don't teach a child from the time they are small what they should do, they will not want to when they are older. They need the opportunity to partake, not because they need it, but to teach them, not only that they should take it, but what it is for. We teach the children about the sacrament in primary, even the very young ones. Why would Heavenly Father have us teach the children about something he did not want them to do. We teach the children about being very reverent during sacrament and taking this time to remember Jesus and what he did for them.

Maybe you could have a family home evening dedicated to teaching her about the sacrament and that you think she is now old enough to partake of it and remember what it is for and make it a special thing for her. Let her feel like this is something very special and important to her. <Just a thought>

[ALatterDaySaint]

What I get annoyed with are those that try to force their 4 year olds to take the sacrement. You know the ones, the sacrement is going so smoothy, so revrently and actually quietly...then that parent two rows up and 9 people over starts trying to force-feed the bread down their 3 or 4 year old's throat...then the kid gets mad and starts screaming...the parent refuses to stop and wont pass the tray until the kid is either choking on bread or a minimum of 2 min has passed. Then they sit there with a screaming kid for the remainder of the passing instead of taking them out into the hall.

If you want to teach your child, thats GREAT but dont drive away the spirit from the rest of us for the sake of feeding your child some bread that they litterally do not need to take yet. Practice at home a few times if your kid is prone to freaking out. That would be awsome if some parents did that.

[miztrniceguy]

thank you all for your input. i will share these thoughts with my wife

Yes, its great to allow children to partake of sacrament if they wish to.

Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

However, if they dont want to participate, let them be. They arent understanding the full meaning of it yet.

[kymmy]

no need to partake
but it is not wrong to partake
under 8 innocent

[prisonchaplain]

thank you all for your input. i will share these thoughts with my wife[/b]

I'm assuming (perhaps wrongly) that the Sacrament is similar to the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion). If so, I'm a bit surprised at all the "Go ahead, they'll learn from it," approach. My tradition treats the elements as symbolic, and we're hardly a "high church" movement. Nevertheless, the ceremony is one of very few sacrements we have. There are biblical warnings about not partaking in a casual or unworthy manner--that some have become sick or even fallen asleep (a euphemism, me thinks) for doing so. If I'm not mistaken, we generally would not encourage children who have not been baptized to participate. They can learn by watching, and approach it when they are old enough to understand and willfully join in. Just my humble opinion, though.