Purpose Of Blessing The Food?

[pogi]

I have often wondered where the practice of blessing of food started and what it's purpose is.  Let me preface this with, I am encouraged when people acknowledge the hand of the Father and Provider when we gather to eat and offer thanks for the blessings of the food.  However, do we ever stop and think what our intended purpose is in the blessing of food?

 

The only scriptural accounts of blessing food that I can think of is the sacrament (ordinance) and the when Christ blessed the loaves and the fishes to feed the thousands (miracle).  Why do we feel that we need to bless the food at every meal?  I can understand a blessing in time of scarcity, such as the pioneers crossing with little to eat.  It would make sense to bless the food to give us strength perhaps beyond what it normally would anyway in a case like that, but generally, I don't understand the practice. 

 

Traditionally, my family and most Mormons I hear bless the food in this way (or a slightly modified version): "Please bless this food that it will nourish and strengthen our bodies."  Doesn't food nourish and strengthen our bodies anyway?  Are these not just redundant and empty words?  Does the blessing make it more nourishing or strengthening?  Do people believe that by blessing the food that any unhealthy qualities of the food will be removed?  I really don't get it.

 

Any thoughts?

[strappinglad]

Some prayers contain ' vain repetitions'. The blessing on the food can be one of them. I thinks it is more important to remember the idea that in many religions it is called " saying Grace" . As such it should be a prayer of thanksgiving , of gratitude. I just googled gratitude and looked at the 380 quotes about gratitude. The blessing of food fills that bill.

Mind you, with todays genetically engineered and hormone infested food harvested from nutrient depleted land, a blessing for food to nourish us may be just prudent .

[Doctrine 612]

I have always looked at the blessing in many ways, a time to bless the food, a time to give thanks to The Lord for what he has provided and a time to stop and talk with The Lord.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

[canard78]

I was at an evening activity of a multi-faith group last night (I was the only Mormon). They had someone pray before the food was eaten. They said nothing but "thank you" statements.

I think that's a nice approach that I might adopt. There was a recent pot-luck dinner after sacrament where 200 members for food poisoning and cancelled. It was in a paper online somewhere.

[CV75]

I have often wondered where the practice of blessing of food started and what it's purpose is.  Let me preface this with, I am encouraged when people acknowledge the hand of the Father and Provider when we gather to eat and offer thanks for the blessings of the food.  However, do we ever stop and think what our intended purpose is in the blessing of food?

 

The only scriptural accounts of blessing food that I can think of is the sacrament (ordinance) and the when Christ blessed the loaves and the fishes to feed the thousands (miracle).  Why do we feel that we need to bless the food at every meal?  I can understand a blessing in time of scarcity, such as the pioneers crossing with little to eat.  It would make sense to bless the food to give us strength perhaps beyond what it normally would anyway in a case like that, but generally, I don't understand the practice. 

 

Traditionally, my family and most Mormons I hear bless the food in this way (or a slightly modified version): "Please bless this food that it will nourish and strengthen our bodies."  Doesn't food nourish and strengthen our bodies anyway?  Are these not just redundant and empty words?  Does the blessing make it more nourishing or strengthening?  Do people believe that by blessing the food that any unhealthy qualities of the food will be removed?  I really don't get it.

 

Any thoughts?

I take it as a dedication of sorts so that we use the sustenance we receive for doing, thinking, becoming good. Also as a meditation on what the Lord provides us and why, how generous He is, how precious our lives are and how dependent we are upon Him, the role of the Earth and our stweardshhip upon it, etc. I think people discover these and other reasons as they continue the practice in faith.

 

Of course we don't bless the food, we ask God to bless it, in other words, to allow it to ultimately serve its spiritual purpose to those who receieve it in the right spriit. He similarly blessed the seventh day (Genesis 2:3), and the land (Moses 7:17). When a thing is blessed (as in "Blessed be the name of God") it means it belongs to God and He prepared it especially for working righteousness in us (Alma 26:8 ).

Edited November 17, 2013 by CV75

[halconero]

I've changed up my prayers over food in a way that helps me feel the Spirit more. Usually I'll say something along the lines of "I pray for a blessing of increased thankfulness on this food, that I might remember the work, time and means thou hast provided me so that I can sustain myself."

[Stroopwafel]

This concern has been bothering me as well. Actually, you're spelling out my thoughts exactly! For me, when I bless the food, I seek to concentrate on being thankful, with an understanding that it is really a blessing to be able to have so much food available. When I don't bless the food I eat, I still keep an attitude of gratitude inside because, whether you put God in the picture or not, it really is just great to have food at our disposal like we do. I know I'm being redudant here, but that's what it's all about.

 

Fun thing to do: when asked to bless the food at a gathering (even better at a linger longer), give your most sincere prayer thanking God for the food, but "forget" to bless it and see what happens.

[AndyDnom]

like in avatar where they pray over the deer before eating it?

[Rivers]

The Book of Mormon tells of the Lord making raw meat sweet for Lehi's family.  So the Lord could also make an assortment of sweets nutritious.

[Freedom]

I make a point at church activities, when the refreshments are loaded with sugar, to instruct the person giving blessing to not ask that the food strengthen and nourish us.

[Calm]

Why not say something along the lines of blessing our bodies so they are capable of making the best use of the food for the purposes of God?

[The Nehor]

It is a remembrance of gratitude. A prayer on the food should in my opinion be no more then two sentences. I do not generally worry about "vain repetitions" in public prayers. Then again I think all public prayers should be short and general. It always seemed to me to be cheeky to pray publicly for things the group is not all dedicated to or even know about.

[Hamba Tuhan]

Having lived where the call to pray comes at 4:45 in the morning and is repeated four more times during the day, and also having lived where the church bells are rung to remind everyone of their devotions, I really appreciate any regular opportunity we're given to remember the Lord and turn to Him.

[CV75]

Having lived where the call to pray comes at 4:45 in the morning and is repeated four more times during the day, and also having lived where the church bells are rung to remind everyone of their devotions, I really appreciate any regular opportunity we're given to remember the Lord and turn to Him.

Yes, and how refreshing! Especially opportunities that are not prompted or punctuated by danger, loss, fear, temptation, etc.!

[pogi]

It is a remembrance of gratitude. A prayer on the food should in my opinion be no more then two sentences. I do not generally worry about "vain repetitions" in public prayers. Then again I think all public prayers should be short and general. It always seemed to me to be cheeky to pray publicly for things the group is not all dedicated to or even know about.

 

Having lived where the call to pray comes at 4:45 in the morning and is repeated four more times during the day, and also having lived where the church bells are rung to remind everyone of their devotions, I really appreciate any regular opportunity we're given to remember the Lord and turn to Him.

 

I agree with both of you.  I sincerely believe and am grateful for the opportunity to offer gratitude and acknowledge God's hand in all things.  I always offer thanks before meals, and I still bless my food out of habit.   I am just curious as to why people feel the need to bless the food, or rather, ask God to bless the food.  I would bet that most people would feel guilty for not blessing the food, in fact, they would probably be reminded by another family member that they forgot to bless the food.  Why should we be reminded.  Are we supposed to bless the food?  Where did this practice begin? Should I feel guilty for offering thanks only while not blessing the food?  Because I have never seen it commanded in scripture, I have never heard commanded from the prophets.  I would just be curious to know the history behind the cultural practice. 

Edited November 17, 2013 by pogi

[JLHPROF]

I was talking about this with my wife.  To my mind there is scriptural precedent for giving thanks to God for our food/provision, but I have found no real precedent beside the sacrament for asking the food to be blessed/purified.

That said, I don't think there is any fault in doing so.  With as many food issues as have occurred through time why wouldn't we bless it.

[pogi]

That said, I don't think there is any fault in doing so. 

 

Agreed, I think it is perfectly appropriate if someone feels the desire to ask a blessing on the food.  I wonder, however, if the blessing that the majority of us ask for is empty words, in that we are asking for nourishment and strength that the food will give us independent of a blessing.  It seems kind of like asking a blessing on the water to hydrate me.  I don't mean to offend anybody's practice, I wonder though if it is out of habit and cultural expectation rather than a divine expectation and sincere purpose.  Aren't we just doing it because we think we are supposed to for the most part?   

 

It was a curious experience I had yesterday that started this thread.  When offering the blessing on the food, I felt the gratitude in the thanks, but felt an emptiness in the blessing.  It was weird, I almost felt guilty for asking for something that I knew that I would get anyway.  That was the first time this has happened to me.  It was as if God was saying, I have already blessed all food for nourishment and strength, both for the righteous and the wicked, a thanks will suffice. 

 

 

With as many food issues as have occurred through time why wouldn't we bless it.

Does the blessing really remove the contamination?  I was terribly sick from food poisoning when entering the MTC after pronouncing a blessing on the food the night before. 

 

The greatest food related problems are not related to contamination but are related to unhealthy diets leading to heart disease.  I don't think a blessing on crap food will remove the food related issues or make it any more nourishing. 

Edited November 17, 2013 by pogi

[Tacenda]

I've evolved in my way of blessing the food, I tend to focus on our blessings and give thanks, plus thank the hands that provided and prepared for it. In my family sometimes, we'd forget to ask a blessing on it and as soon as we'd say amen, the person saying it would keep speaking to ask for it to be blessed because they didn't dare not include it.

[pogi]

In my family sometimes, we'd forget to ask a blessing on it and as soon as we'd say amen, the person saying it would keep speaking to ask for it to be blessed because they didn't dare not include it.

 

Curious isn't it?

 

It has become nigh unto a commandment.  We almost fear not asking a blessing the food. 

 

I like your approach to prayer over the food.  It feels right to me to acknowledge the blessing that has already been given and offer thanks to all involved. 

Edited November 17, 2013 by pogi

[Robert F. Smith]

I have often wondered where the practice of blessing of food started and what it's purpose is.  Let me preface this with, I am encouraged when people acknowledge the hand of the Father and Provider when we gather to eat and offer thanks for the blessings of the food.  However, do we ever stop and think what our intended purpose is in the blessing of food?

 

The only scriptural accounts of blessing food that I can think of is the sacrament (ordinance) and the when Christ blessed the loaves and the fishes to feed the thousands (miracle).  Why do we feel that we need to bless the food at every meal?  I can understand a blessing in time of scarcity, such as the pioneers crossing with little to eat.  It would make sense to bless the food to give us strength perhaps beyond what it normally would anyway in a case like that, but generally, I don't understand the practice. 

 

Traditionally, my family and most Mormons I hear bless the food in this way (or a slightly modified version): "Please bless this food that it will nourish and strengthen our bodies."  Doesn't food nourish and strengthen our bodies anyway?  Are these not just redundant and empty words?  Does the blessing make it more nourishing or strengthening?  Do people believe that by blessing the food that any unhealthy qualities of the food will be removed?  I really don't get it.

 

Any thoughts?

Since my grandad and uncle were both Methodist ministers, I can recall many times joining hands around a very wide table and repeating the 1741 blessing by Wesleyan John Cennick,

 

Be present at our table, Lord;

Be here and everywhere adored;

Thy creatures bless, and grant that we

May feast in paradise with Thee.

 

We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food,

For life and health and every good;

By Thine own hand may we be fed;

Give us each day our daily bread.

 

We thank Thee, Lord, for this our good,

But more because of Jesus’ blood;

Let manna to our souls be giv’n,

The Bread of Life sent down from Heav’n.

 

You will note that it is not a blessing on the food, but gratitude and a prayer for spiritual blessings.

Among the Jews, one similarly does not bless the food, but rather blesses God:

"Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth."

A similar blessing accompanies the fruit of the vine.

Edited November 17, 2013 by Robert F. Smith

[Tiki]

1 Nephi 16:32

Mosiah 4:19

Matthew 15:36

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/the-divine-gift-of-gratitude?lang=eng

“And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And [the disciples] said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

“And [Jesus] commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

“And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.”

Notice that the Savior gave thanks for what they had—and a miracle followed: “And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.”

--------------

By the way, Thanksgiving is coming up.

[Stargazer]

I make a point at church activities, when the refreshments are loaded with sugar, to instruct the person giving blessing to not ask that the food strengthen and nourish us.

So... in your opinion, blessing the sugary food does not make it healthy?

My, what a heathen!!

[Stargazer]

Why not say something along the lines of blessing our bodies so they are capable of making the best use of the food for the purposes of God?

That happens to be my particular vain repetition, yes.

[Palerider]

In his letter to Timothy, Paul gives direction regarding what foods are acceptable to the Lord and us and how they should be received:

l Timothy 4:4-5

"4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

Edited November 19, 2013 by Palerider

[pogi]

"4. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

 

The question is, is this passage referring to the sanctification of all meat through the fulfillment of the mosaic law, where that which was previously unclean was made clean by "the word of God", or is it a call to sanctify all food by prayer at every meal?  Both?

 

This passage specifically mentions thanksgiving, but blessing of food is not mentioned.  It seems to me, by this passage, that it is sanctified through the "word of God" (previously) and the reception of it with thanksgiving (daily).  In other words, the word of God has sanctified all food for those who receive it with thanksgiving.

 

Were you thinking along these lines?