What The Heck Just Happened?

[Bernard Gui]

I've been thinking how we acquired some of the things we do in church.

Anybody have some explanations? Anyone have any other questions?

1. Why do men take their hats off when we pray? At Scout camp or Father and Son outings, when it's

prayer time, someone always says, "Hats, hats!"

2. Why do we take the sacrament with our right hands?

3. Why do we fold our arms when we pray in church?

4. Why do some people walk to the front of the chapel during church to give the tithing envelope to the bishop?

5. Why does just about everyone say "bless this food that it will strengthen and nourish our bodies" in prayers before eating?

6. When did we start calling General Authorities "Elder Smith or Elder Young" instead of "Brother Joseph or Brother Brigham"?

7. Why do so many people say they were blessed for growing up on a farm and doing chores, but now they are professors, doctors, and lawyers?

8. Why do some people call BYU "The BYU"?

9. Why do some people say "fark" for "fork" and "born" for "barn"?

10. Why do deacons still "gather fast offerings" on Fast Sunday when virtually everyone uses the donation envelopes?

Edited February 16, 2013 by Bernard Gui

[wayfarer]

It's called "the unwritten order of things"

[emarkp]

1. Western custom

2. The right hand is the hand of the covenant. It's customary, but not required.

3. I typically clasp my hands. We teach kids to fold their arms to give them something to do with their arms (other than punching).

4. Because he's hard to track down during the rest of the block time.

5. Good one -- I actively avoid it, to try to make my mealtime prayers more meaningful to me (avoiding trite repetition).

6.

7. Learning to work hard is good.

8. I've mostly hear it called "The Y" and I'm told it's because so many can't spell BYU.

9. Ask a linguist (it's a Utah thing)

10. It's a sporadic thing. They're supposed to help with it according to D&C 20.

[Sky]

1. Why do men take their hats off when we pray? At Scout camp or Father and Son outings, when it's

prayer time, someone always says, "Hats, hats!"

As a token of respect and reverence towards Deity when we pray.

2. Why do we take the sacrament with our right hands?

Tradition? Although I don't know if there's anything that says it always has to be with your right hand, especially if you're left handed. It also may have some parallel and significance to the temple ordinances.

3. Why do we fold our arms when we pray in church?

To show respect and reverence.

4. Why do some people walk to the front of the chapel during church to give the tithing envelope to the bishop?

Because that's where the bishop usually is. And sometimes it's nice to shake the bishop's hand and get a warm, friendly smile from him.

5. Why does just about everyone say "bless this food that it will strengthen and nourish our bodies" in prayers before eating?

Mostly because that's what everyone else does. And as a way of expressing thanks for the food that Heavenly Father has blessed us with. Although I will admit that it doesn't make much sense to ask for this if what you are eating is really just a bunch of junk food.

6. When did we start calling General Authorities "Elder Smith or Elder Young" instead of "Brother Joseph or Brother Brigham"?

See here

I think it's simply a form of endearment, and a way to distinguish the leaders of the Church from the members.

7. Why do so many people say they were blessed for growing up on a farm and doing chores, but now they are professors, doctors, and lawyers?

Maybe because they were taught the value of hard work? I'm not sure.

8. Why do some people call BYU "The BYU"?

Never heard this one before. But I have heard the term "the Lord's university."

9. Why do some people say "fark" for "fork" and "born" for "barn"?

Local dialects?

10. Why do deacons still "gather fast offerings" on Fast Sunday when virtually everyone uses the donation envelopes?

To give the Deacons a service opportunity, and the opportunity to learn something. I think it's just as much for their benefit as it is for anybody else.

[Brant Gardner]

1. Why do men take their hats off when we pray? At Scout camp or Father and Son outings, when it's

prayer time, someone always says, "Hats, hats!"

There are probably a lot of reasons, but I suspect that there is a constellation of related customs. We remove hats when the flag goes by, when watching a funeral procession. We used to do it upon entering a building, but that is fading. It is still custom at a dinner table.

2. Why do we take the sacrament with our right hands?

General right/hand left hand dichotomy. Any tradition that might link to the Latin that used sinister as a reference to the left lets you know the symbolic associations of the left hand.

3. Why do we fold our arms when we pray in church?

Prayer has typically required some body-gesture to indicate what action is being performed. Ancient prayer would often be with two hands raised to the square, reaching to the heavens (a sign of supplication). Both folding arms and clasping hands are cultural descendants. The way we clasp the hands in prayer is also different. Interlaced fingers is a modern western tradition. Steepled fingers is an older way (also seen in India). I suspect that there is some reaction against a likely Catholic retention of the steepled finger pose.

4. Why do some people walk to the front of the chapel during church to give the tithing envelope to the bishop?

Doing alms to be seen of men.

5. Why does just about everyone say "bless this food that it will strengthen and nourish our bodies" in prayers before eating?

We learn set phrases and repeat them in contexts. This one is sufficiently engrained that many find it hard to find other words. It is the same mental phenomenon that produces cliches.

6. When did we start calling General Authorities "Elder Smith or Elder Young" instead of "Brother Joseph or Brother Brigham"?

I don't know the timing on this one. I suspect that it had to do with increasing distance from them. The greater the opportunity for personal interaction, the more "brother" was appropriate. Physical distance enhanced social distance.

7. Why do so many people say they were blessed for growing up on a farm and doing chores, but now they are professors, doctors, and lawyers?

Horation Alger syndrome?

8. Why do some people call BYU "The BYU"?

The Donald might know. Actually, it comes from the mental difference between seeing BYU as a name and seeing it as an abbreviation. "The BYU" mentally uses the abbreviation, referencing it as it would be if it were fully stated.

9. Why do some people say "fark" for "fork" and "born" for "barn"?

Old New England accent that was transported to Utah and isolated there from the forces that caused it to be changed in New England where it came from. It was once pretty typical of most Utah Mormons, but shifted farther south as the north came into more frequent contact with outsiders whose accents began influencing the Utah accents.

I had an acquaintance in NY who had grown up in Southern Utah. He was well aware that the "fark" accent was considered rural and backward, so he consciously avoided it. He also over-corrected. I couldn't convince him that the flower was really a carnation and not a cornation.

10. Why do deacons still "gather fast offerings" on Fast Sunday when virtually everyone uses the donation envelopes?

At the pleasure of the Bishop. The typical reason combines providing a task for the Deacons and the apparent fact that there are some who will give offerings who don't ever show up at church. It gives those people an opportunity to have some contact with the church and to renew a connection (I really don't think the amount of money collected is the actual reason).

[gkearney]

In the case of item 9 on the list. This comes from the Nordic and in particular Icelandic settlers of American Fork, Utah.

[bcuzbcuz]

9. Why do some people say "fark" for "fork" and "born" for "barn"?

The same reason they say "harse", I'm"sarry", up on the"ruff" and paper"raoht".

[Nathair/|\]

#2. I'm told that some cultures use their left hands for personal hygiene and their right hands for food. I have no idea if that's relevant or not.

[blackstrap]

Oh, look at Dawrthy in her gawrgous awrng awrgandy farmul ! Don't forget to pray the the Lard after you spread lord on your samwitch.

The saints of southern Alberta have a distinct accent which apparently comes from our Utah roots.

Also, working on a farm entails doing some unpleasant tasks at some unearthly hour with no respite until the job is done. Good training for almost any career.

Edited February 17, 2013 by blackstrap

[Freedom]

I had no idea I was supposed to take the sacrament with my right hand. Oh dear.

[smac97]

1. Why do men take their hats off when we pray? At Scout camp or Father and Son outings, when it's prayer time, someone always says, "Hats, hats!"

==It's long been a sign of respect to take one's hat off, including during prayers. This is a tradition both in and out of the Church.

2. Why do we take the sacrament with our right hands?

==Probably a derivative tradition associated with raising one's hand to the square when performing certain priesthood ordinances (the "right" hand has a long and storied symbolism). However, as there is no doctrinal basis for that I know of, I occasionally deliberately take the sacrament with my left hand (even though I am right-handed) as a small means of avoiding the elevation of tradition to the level of doctrinally-required practice.

3. Why do we fold our arms when we pray in church?

==Longstanding tradition. I don't fold my arms. Not out of defiance or because I dislike the tradition, I just don't feel like it.

4. Why do some people walk to the front of the chapel during church to give the tithing envelope to the bishop?

==Because that's where the bishop sits, I suppose. I am in my ward's bishopric, and I am given tithing wherever people encounter me in the building. But since the only guaranteed location of the bishopric is on the stand during Sacrament Meeting, it makes sense people would use that moment. I honestly do not think it is done out of pride (to be seen of men and all that).

5. Why does just about everyone say "bless this food that it will strengthen and nourish our bodies" in prayers before eating?

==Longstanding tradition (though I don't hear this much - and I live in Provo).

6. When did we start calling General Authorities "Elder Smith or Elder Young" instead of "Brother Joseph or Brother Brigham"?

==Dunno.

7. Why do so many people say they were blessed for growing up on a farm and doing chores, but now they are professors, doctors, and lawyers?

==My mission president once mentioned, in what was perhaps an unguarded moment, that he wished all missionaries could be Idaho farmboys. He said they have faith, the work hard, and they follow the rules.

8. Why do some people call BYU "The BYU"?

==I have lived in close proximity to BYU for over thirty years. I have never heard this phrase used.

9. Why do some people say "fark" for "fork" and "born" for "barn"?

==This is a Utahn thing, and it is diminishing rapidly. My Dad suggested it is derived from speech patterns and affectations from church members who originally hailed from Scotland and northern England.

==I grew up in American Fork in Utah County, but the only time I heard "American Fark" was from people not from Utah who were making fun of Utahns.

==The glottal stop "t," on the other hand, is very much alive in Utah (though clearly not exclusively so), and it is a pet peeve of mine.

10. Why do deacons still "gather fast offerings" on Fast Sunday when virtually everyone uses the donation envelopes?

==Probably for the same reason we do many other things in the Church which could be handled in more "efficient" ways: It gives the young men an opportunity to serve.

Thanks,

-Smac

Edited February 17, 2013 by smac97

[Scott Lloyd]

8. Why do some people call BYU "The BYU"?

I heard this quite often in the past -- but it was when I was much younger, and it was from people who were really old.

I suspect it's a convention that is fast dying out.

[smac97]

I heard this quite often in the past -- but it was when I was much younger, and it was from people who were really old.

I suspect it's a convention that is fast dying out.

OTOH, I frequently hear the University of Utah referred to as "the U." I wonder if "the Y" is a juxtaposition of the reference to its rival ("Are you planning to go to the U or the Y?"). I have heard "the Y" used in conversation (though not "the BYU").

Thanks,

-Smac

Edited February 17, 2013 by smac97

[tyler90az]

I've been thinking how we acquired some of the things we do in church.

Anybody have some explanations? Anyone have any other questions?

1. Why do men take their hats off when we pray? At Scout camp or Father and Son outings, when it's

prayer time, someone always says, "Hats, hats!"

2. Why do we take the sacrament with our right hands?

3. Why do we fold our arms when we pray in church?

4. Why do some people walk to the front of the chapel during church to give the tithing envelope to the bishop?

5. Why does just about everyone say "bless this food that it will strengthen and nourish our bodies" in prayers before eating?

6. When did we start calling General Authorities "Elder Smith or Elder Young" instead of "Brother Joseph or Brother Brigham"?

7. Why do so many people say they were blessed for growing up on a farm and doing chores, but now they are professors, doctors, and lawyers?

8. Why do some people call BYU "The BYU"?

9. Why do some people say "fark" for "fork" and "born" for "barn"?

10. Why do deacons still "gather fast offerings" on Fast Sunday when virtually everyone uses the donation envelopes?

The only thing I do on that list is 1 and once in awhile I do 5 to please my wife. None of that is required to be part of the gospel. Not too big on people pleasing.

[volgadon]

Steepled fingers is an older way (also seen in India). I suspect that there is some reaction against a likely Catholic retention of the steepled finger pose.

I've done so since childhood, I suspect I had seen the nuns at the Mt. of Beatitudes do so.

[volgadon]

As a token of respect and reverence towards Deity when we pray.

The question is more why this particular form of respect and reverence. In Israel it is the exact opposite- men cover their heads as a token of respect and reverence.

[smac97]

The question is more why this particular form of respect and reverence. In Israel it is the exact opposite- men cover their heads as a token of respect and reverence.

It's a Western thing.

Meanwhile, Latter-day Saints adopt the alternative expression of respect - the covering of one's head - in certain instances.

Thanks,

_Smac

[cdowis]

We send our tithing and contributions electronically directly to the church thru e=pay. If interested, I'll give you the details.

[Stargazer]

I've been thinking how we acquired some of the things we do in church.

Anybody have some explanations? Anyone have any other questions?

1. Why do men take their hats off when we pray? At Scout camp or Father and Son outings, when it's

prayer time, someone always says, "Hats, hats!"

In the Western culture derived from Christian tradition, removing one's headgear is a sign of respect, making oneself more open, humble or vulnerable, much like bowing or kneeling.

2. Why do we take the sacrament with our right hands?

Who knows?

3. Why do we fold our arms when we pray in church?

Because we were taught to do so as Primary children, who do so in order to teach them to keep their hands to themselves as a sign of reverence. In our ward, the Primary children line up to go to class and do so while keeping their arms folded -- presumably the also keep them from poking other kids and causing havoc. I frequently don't fold my arms in prayer, but then I am not a child.

4. Why do some people walk to the front of the chapel during church to give the tithing envelope to the bishop?

Maybe some of them want everyone to see that they are paying their tithing. I have done so sometimes because I was afraid I would forget if I didn't do it right away.

5. Why does just about everyone say "bless this food that it will strengthen and nourish our bodies" in prayers before eating?

Habit. Try coming up with something original three times per day!

6. When did we start calling General Authorities "Elder Smith or Elder Young" instead of "Brother Joseph or Brother Brigham"?

No idea.

7. Why do so many people say they were blessed for growing up on a farm and doing chores, but now they are professors, doctors, and lawyers?

Because they were blesded to learn how to work hard, but would just prefer not to work THAT hard.

8. Why do some people call BYU "The BYU"?

Inadequate education?

9. Why do some people say "fark" for "fork" and "born" for "barn"?

Why do some people say "ya'll" instead of "youse guys"?

10. Why do deacons still "gather fast offerings" on Fast Sunday when virtually everyone uses the donation envelopes?

Because youth leaders want to give them a significant service opportunity as part of their training.

[urroner]

9. Why do some people say "fark" for "fork" and "born" for "barn"?

http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=2957

Common Utah vowel mergers like fail–fell (“Did you fell your test?”), cord–card (“Flarida Arange Bowl”), and feel–fill (“It’s the rill dill.”) also show up in the Northeast and South. “New Yorkers right now say ‘harrible,’ which is a cord-card merger,” says Smemoe. “But because we have positive feelings about the Northeast, we don’t think it’s weird.” Eddington adds, “I’ve tried to look for a characteristic that’s just in Utah, and I haven’t found one yet.”

Just where did the so-called “Utah-isms” originate? Some, like pro-predicate do (“You ski much?” “I used to do.”), came from English immigrants. Former BYU professor David F. Bowie was one of the first to research the Utah dialect in great depth and says Utah’s mix of northeastern vocabulary and southern accent are also remnants of the LDS migration. “The way you speak reflects a connection with where you’re from and how you grew up,” says Bowie. “People should be unafraid to talk however they want to.”

At work, here in Flarida, People hassle me because in my world the followihg words sound exactly like each other in their grouping.

• Whale, well, wail
  
• Cell, sell, sail, sale
  
• Dale, Dell
  
• Hale, hell, hail
  

They also poke fun at me when I say "purdy."

[Stargazer]

http://magazine.byu....act=view&a=2957

At work, here in Flarida, People hassle me because in my world the followihg words sound exactly like each other in their grouping.

• Whale, well, wail
  
• Cell, sell, sail, sale
  
• Dale, Dell
  
• Hale, hell, hail
  

They also poke fun at me when I say "purdy."

My Georgia step-son was highly annoyed with me when I joked that in the South the wise men in the nativity scenes wore fireman helmets because they came from "afar".

[volgadon]

My Georgia step-son was highly annoyed with me when I joked that in the South the wise men in the nativity scenes wore fireman helmets because they came from "afar".

It took me about 5 seconds to understand that when the caller from Georgia said "Ma Pear went out today," she was actually saying "my power went out."

[ERayR]

It took me about 5 seconds to understand that when the caller from Georgia said "Ma Pear went out today," she was actually saying "my power went out."

I was really confused when they came into the service station and wanted the all changed the when they left the said y all come see us now.

[omni]

6. When did we start calling General Authorities "Elder Smith or Elder Young" instead of "Brother Joseph or Brother Brigham"?

I love this one because I've always wondered why it's completely appropriate to refer to Joseph Smith by just his first name or "the prophet Joseph", then from prophets Brigham Young to Lorenzo Snow we refer to them by their first and last names. All of remaining prophets we use first and last names along with the middle initial. Just try saying "Thomas Monson" without the "F"... it almost sounds disrespectful.

[changed]

How about why do people close their eyes during prayer?

I was celebrating the Shabot with some Jewish friends the other day, and they did kind of a funny thing, they were not supposed to light candles on the Sabbath (or I think they were only supposed to light one?)so they lit their candle before the sabbath started, so that it would not be counted as kindling a fire on their day of rest... but then there was the problem of saying a blessing on it after it was lit, instead of before (like saying a blessing over the food after you eat it instead of before or something?). So they lit it but then closed their eyes so they would not enjoy the light until after it was blessed - so

- light the candle (but don't look at it) before the sabbath starts so you are not kindling fire in the sabbath

- then say the prayer to start the sabbath

-then open eyes, and enjoy the light of the now blessed candle (that was not lit during the sabbath so no sabbath rules were broken)

I'm not quite sure I understood it all, perhaps someone who is Jewish here could enlighten me on it, but I thought maybe closing our eyes during prayer might have come from this? That we need to bless things first, before we look at and enjoy them?

Edited February 17, 2013 by changed