LDS Freedom Forum

What is the purpose of asking Heavenly Father to bless our food to nourish and strengthen our bodies? Is 'blessed' food better, and different than other food? What are your thoughts?

Perhaps it could be considered a bit of a vain repition at this point? I don't know. But we are commaned to pray over our flocks and herd, our household, our maid servants, our comings and goings etc. So perhaps this includes automatically praying over out food also.

Blessing the food, is just a component of prayer itself.

So the question could be asked, why do we pray?

Why do we close our eyes, bow our heads and vocalize like we do?

The answer is simple.

We pray to focus our minds.

Blessed food is not any different than un-blessed food.

By blessing our food our minds have consecrated that food for a purpose. As we do with all prayer, we focus our minds, our purpose, on the will of God.

God Bless,
Darren

Agreed. Nice perspective.

Although the food doesn't change, I would suggest that due to our consecration and focussing that our bodies ARE able to better utilize the food, we are able to become more healthy.

I also think there is a component of recognizing that we depend on God for all things. We depend on him to provide the nourishment to our bodies through the food.....we cannot produce that nourishment on our own. He gives the sunlight, the water, the soil and every other necessary element for the food to be produced.

Acknowledging that our food comes from God is an expression of gratitude. Asking for his blessing expresses our faith in his power to govern all aspects of our lives.

Just to quickly play devil's advocate here: What proof do you have that the food does not actually change? Can HF not actually change the food to bless us both physically and spiritually? That is, after all, what we ask Him to do, isn't it? If we're asking Him for something else, why don't we just ask Him for that or at least acknowledge that our minds are focused or that we are dependent upon Him or that we are consecrating the food for a purpose? I think that all of those things really do happen, but words have meaning. We ask Him to bless the food. I really think He does.

What proof do you have that the food does not actually change?

My evidence would be that saints still keep getting all the degenerative diseases from the junk we eat at about the same rate as the rest of the population (I assume). maybe when food is scarce, changing would occur. I am reminded of the incident if the widow's oil, and Corrie ten Boom's experience in the concertration camps with the bottle of vitamins, found in The Hiding Place.Great book.

I'm with PatriotSaint. I like to express gratitude for the food and the means to provide it. I also believe it's important to ask for the food to be blessed. Most often, it won't make a difference in the quality of the food, but I'm not certain that is always the case. Again, it's a matter of faith.

JD7, Erastus Snow, Submission to Divine Will wrote:His death has also opened up a door of repentance unto us, giving unto
us a hope of redemption through his blood. Has it given us a hope of
salvation in our sins? Not to me. I hope not to be able to eat fire
with impunity, and still prolong my days. I have no such promise that
I can have melted lead running down my throat instead of wholesome
diet, and expect it is going to be converted into life-giving food in
my system. I have no better grounds to hope that I shall, by the death
of Christ, be saved from the consequences of persisting in a wicked
course of life.

Apparently we've got to remove the bad from our lives whether that be food or otherwise.

I've always thought it strange to hear congregations ask a blessing on the refreshments. I'm not sure even Hevenly Father can enable junk and processed food to strengthen and nourish our bodies.

Is living the law of the fast different than starving or dieting? Is producing and providing wholesome nourishment, striving to live the law of health, different than over indulging, on fast, junk food.and meds. Are prayers given and answered differently, when we are diligently striving to live the law of health, and self sufficient food production. [I am discovering there is precious little food and drink available to buy, that is not contaminated in some way.] Producing and prayer go together like fasting and prayer. Praying over Dead food and Dead water, will not bring us to life. I am really getting into this production thing , instead of just talking about it. Our sincere prayers, are answered according to Gods will and our desire and works. Blessed food does then, become a blessing to us. Just like living any other eternal law, upon which the blessing is based. I'm just trying to figure out why I feel like I'm 21, again. I have been spending more time visiting , and less time posting. I am finding out every yes, everyone is SICK. One cousin showed me his 7 pills he takes for diabetes and bragged he outlived Larry Miller. I gave him some chia seeds and in three days his blood sugar dropped lower than "it had ever been. " Also FINDING so much depression I had to write a natural solution article on my other forum. Got to write another article on how our food and water, affect our brain and mood. I found a cure for chronic fatigue syndrome. And many other mental disorders.

It's always been my feeling that the primary reason for the food prayer is to express gratitude for the food rather than ask for a blessing, especially in the case of refreshments.

Great thoughts. So many things affect our physical bodies in this world that I think it would be difficult to establish an exclusively causal relationship between the food that we eat and the diseases that we experience. Can what we eat make us sick? You'd better believe it! Is it the only thing that makes us sick? Not by a long shot! Personally, I believe that HF really does bless us more as we gain more knowledge and as we consecrate that knowledge in doing what is right. That's true in every principle in the gospel. As I've made a diligent effort to seek to know what foods are best for me and what foods are not worth a second glance at the grocery store, I feel more worthy to ask HF for a true blessing on the food that I eat. What great blessings are the vehicles for our spirits in this life that we call our bodies!! When I go to HF in prayer, knowing that I have done everything in my power to prepare a meal that is full of nutrition for my body, I fully expect Him to bless it. On the other hand, I no longer feel comfortable asking a blessing on food that is poor in nutrition (yes, standard ward refreshments generally fall into that category) because I know that I haven't exerted any effort on my part to provide adequate nourishment to my body.

Hopefully, I can help out a little bit on this topic; I actually never ask for the food to be 'blessed' or use the phrase "strengthenourish" myself. I'm not trying to be some kind of spiritual elitist, I've just found a more appropriate approach for me personally. At home, family gatherings, with friends or at church I simply thank Heavenly Father for the meal or whatever food has been provided and then ask for a blessing for those kind enough to put forth the effort to prepare or provide it for us.

So I might say something like: "...we are all grateful unto thee that we are able to enjoy the wonderful meal that has been prepared for us and pray for thy blessings to be upon all who helped in it's preparation"

I have felt like that is a more appropriate approach and I have never had anyone come up to me and say "Hey, you forgot to BLESS the food (or donuts)".

Even donuts are worthy of being blessed, especially apple fritters (though being as delicious as they are, they are already more blessed than most other pastries, like a glazed donut or even a cream filled maple bar).

holyhabanero wrote:It's always been my feeling that the primary reason for the food prayer is to express gratitude for the food rather than ask for a blessing, especially in the case of refreshments.

I completely agree...we pray over our food to express gratitude. Think of the verse in the Word of Wisdom which say that flesh of beasts and fowls are to be used with thanksgiving.

One thing that bothers me, and even I am guilty of it, when someone asks another person to say a prayer before a meal and asks the person to "bless the food." It's the Lord who blesses it, not the person who says the prayer. How it is blessed I don't know, but there have been some very interesting thoughts shared in this thread.

Homeroom mentioned that the way in which it is blessed is unknown. I dare to suggest that like all other blessings they are predicated upon a commandment or law and are receptive upon faith. We are asked to bless the food, thus we are rewarded with a blessing by our obedience. If we are faithful and in faith ask for a sincere blessing than I see that our Father would do as our righteouss desires dictate by our faith. I say this because sometimes I feel it may be by faith and indeed Fathers blessing that I can eat my MOL's cooking and not die

But seriously, it is a commandment and I feel as though there can be an actuall physical change in the food we partake and in the way we more importantly spiritually receive it.

The sacrament has no additional physical nutritional content to it by blessing it but we are commanded to pray on it. There should be the same correlation to "treats" at a function. When we gather together in prayer Father is pleased. I am thankful that we are commanded to pray on our food since that is the most common time we are together as Saints and siblings.

shadow wrote:Even donuts are worthy of being blessed, especially apple fritters (though being as delicious as they are, they are already more blessed than most other pastries, like a glazed donut or even a cream filled maple bar).

Surely you don't mean a "still warm from the oven, glazed Krispy Kreme donut". Yummmmmm I'm temped to drive down to Provo right now!

god bless this pizza and cordial which i will put into my morbidly obese sugar filled body replete with tooth cavities while they tell their bishopric member they keep the word of wisdom
if i were god id be insulted if a lard ar*e asked me to bless the twinkie while tens of thousand die from starvation every SINGLE day


morons bless food they've already been blessed by god to receive
christians give thanks

tell me do you bless your toothpaste?
how about your insulin or jelly baby?

Aussie, you're showing your "Aussieness." I'm not sure you can get jelly babies in the U.S. except in specialty stores (although I could be wrong), and cordial is not a typical drink to go with pizza here in North America. Just "food" for thought.

P.S. I love those Violet Crumble bars. Can't get them here. I also grew up on Vegemite and Marmite and loved both until I recently learned that they're almost 100% MSG.

Members of my family are also fond of those musk sticks, but I'm not fussy for them.

AussieOi wrote:god bless this pizza and cordial which i will put into my morbidly obese sugar filled body replete with tooth cavities while they tell their bishopric member they keep the word of wisdom
if i were god id be insulted if a lard ar*e asked me to bless the twinkie while tens of thousand die from starvation every SINGLE day


morons bless food they've already been blessed by god to receive
christians give thanks

tell me do you bless your toothpaste?
how about your insulin or jelly baby?

I wonder if we converted your cynical judgements (evil speaking of Gods children that are annointed) into sugar just how fat you would be. Pick your poison mate
With what ye measure

homeroom wrote:

holyhabanero wrote:It's always been my feeling that the primary reason for the food prayer is to express gratitude for the food rather than ask for a blessing, especially in the case of refreshments.

I completely agree...we pray over our food to express gratitude. Think of the verse in the Word of Wisdom which say that flesh of beasts and fowls are to be used with thanksgiving.

One thing that bothers me, and even I am guilty of it, when someone asks another person to say a prayer before a meal and asks the person to "bless the food." It's the Lord who blesses it, not the person who says the prayer. How it is blessed I don't know, but there have been some very interesting thoughts shared in this thread.

Yes, priests are also asked to bless the sacrament, and we also bless the sick and afflicted. We open meetings with invocations, I wonder if people really think about what that word means. We have often been told that we are God's hands through whom he blesses others and through whom miracles are performed. So certainly though we should recognize from whom all blessings flow, I think we should also recognize that we have been BLESSED with the opportunity to be active participants in giving blessings.

I'm pretty sure there is a reason why even the prophet would not call on someone to say a prayer while in someone else's house, and perhaps that reason is beyond just a courtesy. Is it possible that the father (or mother if father is not present) calling on someone to give a blessing, that perhaps there are priesthood keys involved? I'm not saying there are, but it at least seems possible. Maybe if we looked at it that way and taught it that way there would be more prayers and blesssings and less vain repetition.

The sacrament has no additional physical nutritional content to it by blessing it but we are commanded to pray on it.

Doctrine & Covenants 84

65 And these signs shall follow them that believe—

66 In my name they shall do many wonderful works;

67 In my name they shall cast out devils;

68 In my name they shall heal the sick;

69 In my name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf;

70 And the tongue of the dumb shall speak;

71 And if any man shall administer poison unto them it shall not hurt them;

72 And the poison of a serpent shall not have power to harm them.

73 But a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak them before the world; for these things are given unto you for your profit and for salvation.

Having only pure well water to drink for many years, we were stunned by the toxic fumes & taste of the Sacrament water the first time we attended church after moving to North Dakota. I guess the Sacrament water in Oregon was pure because we certainly didn't have such an experience in our Ward there.

Later on the way home, I commented on the strong chlorine in the Sacrament water. Our 16-year old son exclaimed, "Oh, so it wasn't just me who tasted something awful in it?! I thought I had done something wrong!!!"

Perhaps we do need to petition for protection from what we are sometimes forced to take into our bodies - including the universal use of bromide as a 'dough enhancer' in almost all bread products - whole wheat or white. Bromide is a halogen - extremely toxic - and is known to cause hypothyroidism and mental illness.

We are unwittingly in continuously dangerous circumstances these days. We do need divine protection in every aspect of our lives, including eating, drinking water, and even breathing.

I thank the Lord each meal, for being able to eat.

I had an idea come as I read OI's comment on the possibility of keys involved. Well here is another idea. God entrusts us to act in His name and to do as He does. He could just bless our food without a word involved. Maybe He is teaching us how to be Gods and to perform as He does. There is no coincidence that the patriarch of the home is given the opportunity to call on someone. We learn from praying and we most importantly learn how to be like our Father in Heaven. Do as He does and we may return to where He dwells. He organized everything so I would confidently assume He blesses it as well. He is ever teaching us isn't He. He organized it all and blessed it. I worked to organize that meal and now I ask for it to be blessed. Or course all glory to God but you can see how He is teaching us in every aspect of Christ's Gospel and commandment? Awesome!!