poptart Posted November 2, 2014 Posted November 2, 2014 Met the bishop, nice guy. Told him mom went to BYUH, married a terrible, abusive alcoholic, me having to take a restraining order and leave, and the hardships I've had both financial and mental. He refered me to the employment specialist first thing with no questions asked, all he cared about was my mental well being. Oh, way to go putting the kids to work handing out the sacrament, kids nowadays are lazy. 2
Buckeye Posted November 3, 2014 Posted November 3, 2014 Met the bishop, nice guy. Told him mom went to BYUH, married a terrible, abusive alcoholic, me having to take a restraining order and leave, and the hardships I've had both financial and mental. He refered me to the employment specialist first thing with no questions asked, all he cared about was my mental well being. Oh, way to go putting the kids to work handing out the sacrament, kids nowadays are lazy. Passing and administering the sacrament is a great ways to engage the youth in meaningful service. I find that, more than most anything else, this helps direct them towards Christ. However, under current church doctrine/policy it is an avenue available only to the young men.
Kenngo1969 Posted November 3, 2014 Posted November 3, 2014 Passing and administering the sacrament is a great ways to engage the youth in meaningful service. I find that, more than most anything else, this helps direct them towards Christ. However, under current church doctrine/policy it is an avenue available only to the young men.Hmmm. I'm not sure about that: I don't know of any policy barring someone who converts or recommits during adulthood from passing, or particularly from blessing, the sacrament. I would think, if any such policy exists, it is a de facto one aimed at sparing one the embarrassment of performing a duty that usually is the province of young men in the Church of Jesus Christ, rather than a de jure, Handbook policy.
Kenngo1969 Posted November 3, 2014 Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) Bishops, as a general rule are really nice guys: and if one happens to be called who isn't a graduate of Dale Carnegie's famed course in How to Win Friends and Influence People, the Holy Spirit can turn him into one. One of the things I've heard pretty uniformly from those who have been called to that position is that one of the things that comes with the calling is an overwhelming sense of love for those they serve (even people with whom they have but a passing acquaintance). Edited November 3, 2014 by Kenngo1969
Calm Posted November 3, 2014 Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) Hmmm. I'm not sure about that: I don't know of any policy barring someone who converts or recommits during adulthood from passing, or particularly from blessing, the sacrament. I would think, if any such policy exists, it is a de facto one aimed at sparing one the embarrassment of performing a duty that usually is the province of young men in the Church of Jesus Christ, rather than a de jure, Handbook policy.We get older guys doing passing and blessing whenever there is a youth activity that takes them out of town. But I think rock pond was more likely pointing out the lack of something similar for young women. When I was young, they had the YW involved in a lot of service projects both as a group and as individuals (not involved in the program so can't say what is happening now), but I do think it will be wonderful if/when they have a more organized 'rite of passage' calling for the young women as they do the young men. Edited November 3, 2014 by calmoriah 1
ERayR Posted November 3, 2014 Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) Passing and administering the sacrament is a great ways to engage the youth in meaningful service. I find that, more than most anything else, this helps direct them towards Christ. However, under current church doctrine/policy it is an avenue available only to the young men. In our ward men who convert to the church or reactivates are given the opportunity to participate in the performance of the sacramental ordinance as they progress. Edited November 3, 2014 by ERayR 1
Nofear Posted November 3, 2014 Posted November 3, 2014 There is no official policy at all against worthy adult priesthood holders participating in administering the sacrament. Nor is there any unofficial policy... except perhaps at a local level. If so, were a visiting general authority to become aware of it, I'd imagine that it'd be struck down pretty quick. 2
poptart Posted November 4, 2014 Author Posted November 4, 2014 Passing and administering the sacrament is a great ways to engage the youth in meaningful service. I find that, more than most anything else, this helps direct them towards Christ. However, under current church doctrine/policy it is an avenue available only to the young men.It's just impressive watching what looked like 8 year olds walking in an orderly fashion. I really don't see that in the USA anymore. Bishops, as a general rule are really nice guys: and if one happens to be called who isn't a graduate of Dale Carnegie's famed course in How to Win Friends and Influence People, the Holy Spirit can turn him into one. One of the things I've heard pretty uniformly from those who have been called to that position is that one of the things that comes with the calling is an overwhelming sense of love for those they serve (even people with whom they have but a passing acquaintance). Yeah, he seemed really concerned. No strings attached, no judgment, nothing, just concern. I was expecting the missionaries to be right there but no, he was mainly worried about my mental health more than anything. Think this was a good judgment call on my part going to the Bishop yesterday, beats anything I ever saw at a state funded mental health center. You know, I think the thing that he said most after I told him everything I had been through that made me feel better than anything, it wasn't my fault. I never felt guilty or anything, but I always wondered what I could have done differently in life, where I may have screwed up. It was a non stop struggle and after getting backstabbed and abandoned then the eventual mental breakdown no one ever bothered to say it wasn't my fault. Sure, I heard "i'm sorry you feel that way, what are you going to do about it?" Never anything meaningful, it was more like please don't blow your brains out and end up costing us our precious state funding.
Garden Girl Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 Hmmm. I'm not sure about that: I don't know of any policy barring someone who converts or recommits during adulthood from passing, or particularly from blessing, the sacrament. I would think, if any such policy exists, it is a de facto one aimed at sparing one the embarrassment of performing a duty that usually is the province of young men in the Church of Jesus Christ, rather than a de jure, Handbook policy. This is correct... the policy is not based on age per se, but on priesthood office (Deacons for passing; priests for blessing). In our ward we have only a handful of deacons, so when our numbers swell to 300 - 400+ during summer and holidays we have to have the adult men help in passing and blessing. Also, I notice that adult new converts will generally pass a time or two before they are advanced within the priesthood. Then they will bless the sacrament several times... and then occasionally as needed. In fact, many Sundays when we have an increase in numbers, we have young deacons who are visiting assist in passing the sacrament... We've had visitors play the piano in RS, lead music, etc. Visitors seem to enjoy participating... our ward is very special... GG
a1234lds Posted November 6, 2014 Posted November 6, 2014 in our ward we have the same problem / only a hand full of deacons teachers and priests / I being a very old man have helped pass the sacrament and I have truly enjoyed that calling. it is humbling that we have that opportunity to do so / I want to bless the sacrament but I am respectful to the one who is in charge. I would love to bless. I am pleased to even pass when I am asked. I have passed it several times already and we also have ask visitors to pass as well.
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