Prayers in Sacrament Meeting - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Tex · 02-24-2008, 11:41 PM

Had an interesting policy question come up last week. A friend of mine who is the Exec Sec in his ward set up prayers for Sacrament meeting and just by chance, asked a woman to say the invocation and a man to say the benediction. One of the counselors (the one conducting) approached him and asked him to switch the order, indicating the church custom that a Melchizedek priesthood holder should open Sacrament meeting.

It's been a long time since I'd heard this little nugget, so I cross-checked it in the Handbook. Not there. I asked our bishop about it, and he indicated we too follow that policy, and it's one of President Packer's "unwritten rules." I went and referenced Packer's "The Unwritten Order of Things" and it's not in there (though he could've said it in a local visit, I suppose).

I'm curious, how many of your wards follow that policy, and do you think it's one of those little (incorrect) traditions we've built our doctrine around? Personally, I see nothing wrong with a worthy sister opening Sacrament meeting, I don't like the implication that it should be otherwise.

il Padrino Ute · 02-24-2008, 11:48 PM

Perhaps it's the interpretation of particular Bishops to do that. I've never heard of that custom.

In my ward, on several occasions, a Sister has offered the invocation.

creekster · 02-24-2008, 11:51 PM

OUr ward most certainly does not follow that custom. This is not a type of rebelliojn, however, I just don't think we ever thought we were supposed to do so.

scottie · 02-24-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tex

Had an interesting policy question come up last week. A friend of mine who is the Exec Sec in his ward set up prayers for Sacrament meeting and just by chance, asked a woman to say the invocation and a man to say the benediction. One of the counselors (the one conducting) approached him and asked him to switch the order, indicating the church custom that a Melchizedek priesthood holder should open Sacrament meeting.

It's been a long time since I'd heard this little nugget, so I cross-checked it in the Handbook. Not there. I asked our bishop about it, and he indicated we too follow that policy, and it's one of President Packer's "unwritten rules." I went and referenced Packer's "The Unwritten Order of Things" and it's not in there (though he could've said it in a local visit, I suppose).

I'm curious, how many of your wards follow that policy, and do you think it's one of those little (incorrect) traditions we've built our doctrine around? Personally, I see nothing wrong with a worthy sister opening Sacrament meeting, I don't like the implication that it should be otherwise.

Our ward doesn't follow that, a woman said our opening prayer today. Did it bother you that your bishop referred to something that's BKP's opinions as a "policy"?

Tex · 02-25-2008, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottie

Our ward doesn't follow that, a woman said our opening prayer today. Did it bother you that your bishop referred to something that's BKP's opinions as a "policy"?

I don't remember his exact phrasing; those are probably my words, not his.

I don't really have a problem with a bishop who chooses to adopt this convention as his personal preference. He presides and is entitled to direct the ward as he feels inspired (within reason, of course). I just take a little exception with it being taught as "the way things ought to be." People find strange things to take a stand on sometimes.

SteelBlue · 02-25-2008, 12:05 AM

Tex, I've heard this one both ways. The most common version is the one you described but I've also heard people say that a priesthood holder should close the meeting. I have never been able to find any evidence to support it and our ward does not follow any such policy. I would say that it probably comes from some outdated leadership training from decades ago and some folks have just passed it on.

scottie · 02-25-2008, 12:11 AM

Women should be lucky we even let them pray in sacrament meeting right? Anyone here know the background re: why the LDS Church hasn't always let women say prayers in sacrament meeting? When did that ban start and end? (I'm too lazy to use the CG search feature).

il Padrino Ute · 02-25-2008, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottie

Women should be lucky we even let them pray in sacrament meeting right? Anyone here know the background re: why the LDS Church hasn't always let women say prayers in sacrament meeting? When did that ban start and end? (I'm too lazy to use the CG search feature).

Was this directed at Tex? He didn't give any indication that he believed this.

If it was for Adam, you missed the healthy dose of sarcasm.

scottie · 02-25-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

Was this directed at Tex? He didn't give any indication that he believed this.

If it was for Adam, you missed the healthy dose of sarcasm.

Obviously my first sentence was sarcastic (not directed at anyone). You know the LDS Church hasn't always allowed women to pray in sacrament mtgs right?

il Padrino Ute · 02-25-2008, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottie

Obviously my first sentence was sarcastic. You know the LDS Church hasn't always allowed women to pray in sacrament mtgs right?

I didn't know that.

I recant my post, but still think you were oversensitive.

02-24-2008, 11:41 PM	#1
Tex Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 8,596	Prayers in Sacrament Meeting Had an interesting policy question come up last week. A friend of mine who is the Exec Sec in his ward set up prayers for Sacrament meeting and just by chance, asked a woman to say the invocation and a man to say the benediction. One of the counselors (the one conducting) approached him and asked him to switch the order, indicating the church custom that a Melchizedek priesthood holder should open Sacrament meeting. It's been a long time since I'd heard this little nugget, so I cross-checked it in the Handbook. Not there. I asked our bishop about it, and he indicated we too follow that policy, and it's one of President Packer's "unwritten rules." I went and referenced Packer's "The Unwritten Order of Things" and it's not in there (though he could've said it in a local visit, I suppose). I'm curious, how many of your wards follow that policy, and do you think it's one of those little (incorrect) traditions we've built our doctrine around? Personally, I see nothing wrong with a worthy sister opening Sacrament meeting, I don't like the implication that it should be otherwise. __________________ "Have we been commanded not to call a prophet an insular racist? Link?" "And yes, [2010] is a very good year to be a Democrat. Perhaps the best year in decades ..." - Cali Coug "Oh dear, granny, what a long tail our puss has got." - Brigham Young

02-24-2008, 11:48 PM	#2
il Padrino Ute Board Pinhead Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the basement of my house, Murray, Utah. Posts: 15,941	Perhaps it's the interpretation of particular Bishops to do that. I've never heard of that custom. In my ward, on several occasions, a Sister has offered the invocation. __________________ "The beauty of baseball is not having to explain it." - Chuck Shriver "This is now the joke that stupid people laugh at." - Christopher Hitchens on IQ jokes about GWB.

02-24-2008, 11:51 PM	#3
creekster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: the far corner of my mind Posts: 8,711	OUr ward most certainly does not follow that custom. This is not a type of rebelliojn, however, I just don't think we ever thought we were supposed to do so. __________________ Sorry for th e tpyos.

02-25-2008, 12:05 AM	#6
SteelBlue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Norcal Posts: 5,821	Tex, I've heard this one both ways. The most common version is the one you described but I've also heard people say that a priesthood holder should close the meeting. I have never been able to find any evidence to support it and our ward does not follow any such policy. I would say that it probably comes from some outdated leadership training from decades ago and some folks have just passed it on.

02-25-2008, 12:11 AM	#7
scottie Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 525	Women should be lucky we even let them pray in sacrament meeting right? Anyone here know the background re: why the LDS Church hasn't always let women say prayers in sacrament meeting? When did that ban start and end? (I'm too lazy to use the CG search feature).