LDS Freedom Forum

I was just wondering what the ranks thought about the custom of feeding the sacramental emblems to babies and small children like they were food. And don't anybody say, "It teaches them to take the sacrament". The youngest babies do not need to be trained on Sundays to put bread and water in their mouths. I have given this some thought. It would seem to me to be right up there with baptizing infants.. an abomination. They have no need to repent. So why not make them wait until they are baptized. Seems like it would be a good lesson learned to wait until they are prepared and then put the baptism and the sacrament together for greater understanding. What say you?

I had the same question once. Elder McConkie explained the appropriateness of children taking the sacrament as "being a symbol or foreshadowing of the baptismal covenant they will eventually make." You should probably do a bit of research before labeling things like this as "an abomination."

"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." - Luke 18:16

"Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world." - Moses 6:54

Until "sin conceiveth in their hearts," (Moses 6:55) they are partakers of Christ's atonement and are part of the Kingdom. When I see children partaking of the sacrament I think, "Am I as worthy as this child to partake of these emblems?" I often shed a couple tears seeing small children in sacrament meeting in their parents' arms as they give them the bread and water. It makes me think of myself in Father's arms and His gift to me of His Only Begotten Son.

This is what I believe, but it is quite possible that I am wrong.

captainFreedom wrote:I had the same question once. Elder McConkie explained the appropriateness of children taking the sacrament as "being a symbol or foreshadowing of the baptismal covenant they will eventually make." You should probably do a bit of research before labeling things like this as "an abomination."

Elder McConkie's words are not gospel doctrine unless he speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost. Perhaps Reggie hasn't received a testimony of that brother's words on the subject - it is a sincere question and if you would have asked my thoughts regarding the subject a year ago I probably would have described it as abomination as well.

My personal approach was to not bother giving it to my children until they were old enough to start reaching for it. I believe it's similar to investigators where they can choose to take it or not because the covenant was not yet in effect.

Sounds like the O.P. doesn't have kids.

They can't drinketh damnation to their souls because they are innocent. To be honest, I would be more worried about so called "worthy" latter day saints who have broken their covenants while still partaking of the sacrament. Suffer the little children.

Isn't their a scrpiture about training up a child in the way he should go. So that when he is older he will not depart from it. Prov I think.

InfoWarrior82 wrote:Sounds like the O.P. doesn't have kids.

They can't drinketh damnation to their souls because they are innocent. To be honest, I would be more worried about so called "worthy" latter day saints who have broken their covenants while still partaking of the sacrament. Suffer the little children.

We had two boys. We never gave them the sacrament as infants, and by the time they were about three we explained what the sacrament represented. We then left it completely up to them. The oldest chose with no pressure from us to wait until he was baptized to take the sacrament. The younger one chose to take the sacrament. I know for a fact the younger son received no condemnation for doing so, but I do think the elder son got a different perspective by choosing to wait.

I don't think it is something we need to be too concerned about either way. I felt really good about the approach we took though.

I have seen mothers WRESTLING with small children that have their lips firmly pressed together and turning their heads away, and the mother was going to get the sacrament down their throat if she had to use a crowbar to get their mouth open. That was both sad and amusing. Mostly sad.

Ferg wrote:Isn't their a scrpiture about training up a child in the way he should go. So that when he is older he will not depart from it. Prov I think.

With all due respect and trying to avoid the spirit of contention, I don't think that getting children to mechanically take the sacrament by habit was what was being talked about - AT ALL. And I really hope you comprehend that. And if you do feel that falls under training up a child in the way they should go...well, I will just shut up now.

I don't think it's quite accurate to compare this to being baptized. The reason it was such an abomination to have children baptized was because the ordinance was being performed forcefully. A priest sprinkles a baby. We don't see infants clamoring to jump in the baptismal font when they are watching someone be baptized. As for the sacrament, it is being passed in front of their faces. It is not evil if they reach out and grab a piece of bread and some water in an adorable little cup.

The words of the sacramental prayer have no reference to baptism, neither do they refer to any baptismal covenant - which doesn't exist anyways.

I won't deny that there was a point in time where this question occurred to me, but it never rose to a level of importance where I felt it was my place to say anything to anyone about anything they were doing, either way. I'm not the bishop, after all.

It is worth remembering here that we are an open communion faith, that is we do not place limits on who can take the sacrament/communion in our church, unlike the Catholic which technically limit communion to baptised members who have been confirmed and who are supposed to have been to confession prior to the rite.

Our sacrament works at many different levels. for the very young child it may simply serve to remind them of Christ and to make them feel a part of the communal gathering of their family's faith. To older children and adult member it should recall the baptismal events. To a Christian of another faith, their commitment to Christ and so on.

captainFreedom wrote:I had the same question once. Elder McConkie explained the appropriateness of children taking the sacrament as "being a symbol or foreshadowing of the baptismal covenant they will eventually make." You should probably do a bit of research before labeling things like this as "an abomination."

:ymapplause:
Ya, it's a great way to start off a conversation, is it not?

embryopocket wrote:"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." - Luke 18:16

"Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world." - Moses 6:54

Until "sin conceiveth in their hearts," (Moses 6:55) they are partakers of Christ's atonement and are part of the Kingdom. When I see children partaking of the sacrament I think, "Am I as worthy as this child to partake of these emblems?" I often shed a couple tears seeing small children in sacrament meeting in their parents' arms as they give them the bread and water. It makes me think of myself in Father's arms and His gift to me of His Only Begotten Son.

This is what I believe, but it is quite possible that I am wrong.

I think not!

icebiker wrote:My personal approach was to not bother giving it to my children until they were old enough to start reaching for it. I believe it's similar to investigators where they can choose to take it or not because the covenant was not yet in effect.

If I remember correctly, investigators are supposed to be forbidden to partake of the Sacrament.

28 And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall minister it;
29 For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall forbid him.

http://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-princi ... -sacrament" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From here we read the opposite. I disagree with this statement because investigators are not necessarily redeemed from sin. And I don't think it complies with Christ's words above.

Here is the statement:
Partaking of the sacrament by non-members is permissible, but has no significance.
SEE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrament_%28LDS_Church%29" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thoughts?

InfoWarrior82 wrote:I don't think it's quite accurate to compare this to being baptized. The reason it was such an abomination to have children baptized was because the ordinance was being performed forcefully. A priest sprinkles a baby. We don't see infants clamoring to jump in the baptismal font when they are watching someone be baptized. As for the sacrament, it is being passed in front of their faces. It is not evil if they reach out and grab a piece of bread and some water in an adorable little cup.

I think you are correct.

Read what the Savior thinks of children. It's in 3 Nephi 17:

21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.
22 And when he had done this he wept again;
23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.
24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.

Original_Intent wrote:

Ferg wrote:Isn't their a scrpiture about training up a child in the way he should go. So that when he is older he will not depart from it. Prov I think.

With all due respect and trying to avoid the spirit of contention, I don't think that getting children to mechanically take the sacrament by habit was what was being talked about - AT ALL. And I really hope you comprehend that. And if you do feel that falls under training up a child in the way they should go...well, I will just shut up now.

Well why wouldn't it fall under training a child in the ways they should go. Why make it something foreign to them. Then expect them to just go with it. Line upon line maybe? By allowing them to partake the emblems now they will have a greater understanding of the covenants that they will take at baptism. Didn't Adam build an alter and offer up sacrifices when he himsef didn't understand why. Only that he was commanded to?

Ferg wrote:

Original_Intent wrote:

Ferg wrote:Isn't their a scrpiture about training up a child in the way he should go. So that when he is older he will not depart from it. Prov I think.

With all due respect and trying to avoid the spirit of contention, I don't think that getting children to mechanically take the sacrament by habit was what was being talked about - AT ALL. And I really hope you comprehend that. And if you do feel that falls under training up a child in the way they should go...well, I will just shut up now.

Well why wouldn't it fall under training a child in the ways they should go. Why make it something foreign to them. Then expect them to just go with it. Line upon line maybe? By allowing them to partake the emblems now they will have a greater understanding of the covenants that they will take at baptism. Didn't Adam build an alter and offer up sacrifices when he himsef didn't understand why. Only that he was commanded to?

It also teaches them the purpose and intent of following Christ.