The Nehor Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 Okay, I get why we are commanded to say prayers before eating. It makes the act of eating a little more sacred and brings to remembrance God who gives us our daily bread. That's fine and I think a good idea. What I don't get is why we bless the food. The food is not truly sacred. Why do we make it so? And why do LDS fall into the "nourish and strengthen" bit. I have seen more then a few meals so blessed that make that request the equivalent of blessing moonshine before drinking it. There is no way the Word of Wisdom is okay with this. So is there a precedent for blessing the food or is this a false tradition of our fathers? Thoughts? 2
JLHPROF Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 Okay, I get why we are commanded to say prayers before eating. It makes the act of eating a little more sacred and brings to remembrance God who gives us our daily bread. That's fine and I think a good idea. What I don't get is why we bless the food. The food is not truly sacred. Why do we make it so? And why do LDS fall into the "nourish and strengthen" bit. I have seen more then a few meals so blessed that make that request the equivalent of blessing moonshine before drinking it. There is no way the Word of Wisdom is okay with this. So is there a precedent for blessing the food or is this a false tradition of our fathers? Thoughts? I have wondered the same thing for years. Giving thanks is commanded/precedented, but blessing our meals has no precedent I can find. 1
JAHS Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 One I don't get is when someone blesses refreshments (cookies, brownies, etc.) to nourish and strengthen. A prayer on the food should really only be one of thanks, but if it's with the family it gives us the opportunity to pray for the success of the family and its individual members.
CCRW Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 (edited) And why do LDS fall into the "nourish and strengthen" bit.a I wonder if rote prayers with various the acceptable required list of things for that prayer (food, various Church prayers, family etc) don't lead to bad habits and bleed over into personal prayers. Edited April 24, 2015 by CCRW 1
Calm Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I see it as consecrating the food and efforts preparing it to God or rather his work (we become his tools and the food allows us to accomplish it). 2
The Nehor Posted April 24, 2015 Author Posted April 24, 2015 I wonder if rote prayers with various the acceptable required list of things for that prayer (food, various Church prayers, family etc) don't lead to bad habits and bleed over into personal prayers.I do not worry about that. I think prayers at meals can be more formulaic. We have prophetic guidance not to make them long. I imagine this is so children do not come to hate God for making them wait in hunger. 1
The Nehor Posted April 24, 2015 Author Posted April 24, 2015 I see it as consecrating the food and efforts preparing it to God or rather his work (we become his tools and the food allows us to accomplish it).What if the food is more likely to make you sluggish, obese, and less able to do any productive work? 1
BlueDreams Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 (edited) Okay, I get why we are commanded to say prayers before eating. It makes the act of eating a little more sacred and brings to remembrance God who gives us our daily bread. That's fine and I think a good idea. What I don't get is why we bless the food. The food is not truly sacred. Why do we make it so? And why do LDS fall into the "nourish and strengthen" bit. I have seen more then a few meals so blessed that make that request the equivalent of blessing moonshine before drinking it. There is no way the Word of Wisdom is okay with this. So is there a precedent for blessing the food or is this a false tradition of our fathers? Thoughts? Oh nehor, you are obviously not a foodie. Just saying. I do think the food is sacred....but I definitely am a foodie and a health nut. I take (uchtdorf) pride in my food. The problem is that our societies have often become removed from the the process of making food. Some of us don't cook much and when we do, it's not the best...or even really all that good for us. Often, our "cooking" comes from a box (or three) that you just need to stir a little on a stove with some water and oil. It's then supplimented with pre-packaged day snacks that are also heavily processed. We're also removed from the process of raising food of any sort: gardens, farming, animals...you name it, many haven't done it. When we're more close to it, I think some of the preciousness of food becomes more apparent (as seen in this youtube video - warning, chickens die, there is some blood). It's a lot of work, whatever you choose to eat and it's a direct reaping from the earth. All of that so we can live another day in health and good care. (most of us are also removed from food scarcity, but that's another story for right now). That said i think some of the things we ask to "nourish and strengthen" us is silly....like over an ice cream social or over a meat lovers dominoes pizza...or both together. Half the time, I feel like those prayers over our favorite snacks should go "please bless the food, so that it does not give any of us heartburn or kill us after we gorge on this" or that praying over this is somehow going to change the nutrient content of the meal. I think often, some of our food prayers become rote and so in that way...yeah it's moved from anything actually meaningful to tradition. To me, I feel like it should be a reminder that eating is supposed to nourish and strengthen us and should probably give us a moment of pause. And that food is something to really treasure. With luv,BD Edited April 24, 2015 by BlueDreams 2
Rain Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I stopped saying a blessing on the food years ago. I felt it was a vain repetition for me to bless it because I didn't have any idea what that meant. I've had many people try to give meaning for it to me, but nothing has made sense. Now I just express gratitude for my food. Even when asked to pray at a church function. That really bothers some people. I gardened as a youth and later after we were married. We had peach, nectarine, apricot, plum and cherry trees and now have orange and grapefruit. We also had several berries, onions, zucchini, tomatoes etc in the garden. And chickens. FIL raised sheep with his sons. We have food storage, grind grains and make bread, granola and even on occasion yogurt. And all that makes me grateful, but doesn't get me closer to understanding why we bless it.
mfbukowski Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 Okay, I get why we are commanded to say prayers before eating. It makes the act of eating a little more sacred and brings to remembrance God who gives us our daily bread. That's fine and I think a good idea. What I don't get is why we bless the food. The food is not truly sacred. Why do we make it so? And why do LDS fall into the "nourish and strengthen" bit. I have seen more then a few meals so blessed that make that request the equivalent of blessing moonshine before drinking it. There is no way the Word of Wisdom is okay with this. So is there a precedent for blessing the food or is this a false tradition of our fathers? Thoughts?If yo had to eat molding bread and salt pork that had been out in the sun for a month or two as the pioneers did, you would bless it too.I recall someone telling me when I first joined the church, that you did not have to bless the food in the temple cafeteria because they already blessed it all every morning.I thought that was really, really weird.
mfbukowski Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I stopped saying a blessing on the food years ago. I felt it was a vain repetition for me to bless it because I didn't have any idea what that meant. I've had many people try to give meaning for it to me, but nothing has made sense. Now I just express gratitude for my food. Even when asked to pray at a church function. That really bothers some people. I gardened as a youth and later after we were married. We had peach, nectarine, apricot, plum and cherry trees and now have orange and grapefruit. We also had several berries, onions, zucchini, tomatoes etc in the garden. And chickens. FIL raised sheep with his sons. We have food storage, grind grains and make bread, granola and even on occasion yogurt. And all that makes me grateful, but doesn't get me closer to understanding why we bless it.I have always also given thanks, and anything else strikes me as odd. 1
Rain Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 Wait. I lied. We said a blessing on food about a month ago. We decided to live dangerously and eat take out from a restaurant. We are not so observant right off and by the time I realized that this wasn't the greatest restaurant we also realized there were drug deals going in around us. We had them make it take out. Then we prayed over the food, asking for confirmation that it was safe to eat and a warning and/or blessing on it if it wasn't. I didn't leave a review, though DH doesn't think this was the kind of place that would care about a review, because we didn't want retaliation. Why did we eat the food? Well we did have peace about it, but I just got up in the adventure of doing it. I've done that now. Next time we will just dump the food at home if we are ever in a place like that again.
CV75 Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 Okay, I get why we are commanded to say prayers before eating. It makes the act of eating a little more sacred and brings to remembrance God who gives us our daily bread. That's fine and I think a good idea. What I don't get is why we bless the food. The food is not truly sacred. Why do we make it so? And why do LDS fall into the "nourish and strengthen" bit. I have seen more then a few meals so blessed that make that request the equivalent of blessing moonshine before drinking it. There is no way the Word of Wisdom is okay with this. So is there a precedent for blessing the food or is this a false tradition of our fathers? Thoughts?From Alma 34, “Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks… Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.” And then he immediately gets into our responsibility for “the needy, and the naked, and …the sick and afflicted” and imparting of the very substance we rely on ourselves. I think it is good to remember and ask for these blessings at the time of their using and in remembrance of our need to share, “that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.” I think it also has to do with 2 Nephi 32:9, “But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.”
HappyJackWagon Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 One I don't get is when someone blesses refreshments (cookies, brownies, etc.) to nourish and strengthen. It's better than blessing the food not to make us puke or kill us with botulism. Still, I like the idea that the blessing she be more an offering of grattitude.
Gray Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 Whenever I pray alone at least, I limit prayer over food to an expression of gratitude.
Traela Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I remember a story about a missionary in a very poor area, who was chided when he blessed the food because he didn't ask that there would be enough. "Strengthen and nourish our bodies" probably dates back to when food was limited in quantity or type. 1
Okrahomer Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I stopped saying a blessing on the food years ago. I felt it was a vain repetition for me to bless it because I didn't have any idea what that meant. I've had many people try to give meaning for it to me, but nothing has made sense. Now I just express gratitude for my food. Even when asked to pray at a church function. That really bothers some people.I gardened as a youth and later after we were married. We had peach, nectarine, apricot, plum and cherry trees and now have orange and grapefruit. We also had several berries, onions, zucchini, tomatoes etc in the garden. And chickens. FIL raised sheep with his sons. We have food storage, grind grains and make bread, granola and even on occasion yogurt. And all that makes me grateful, but doesn't get me closer to understanding why we bless it. You and Jimmy Stewart have something in common!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzzyZ1M-kVU 1
CV75 Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I have wondered the same thing for years. Giving thanks is commanded/precedented, but blessing our meals has no precedent I can find.I’ve often felt the same way, and emphasized giving thanks over asking for anything, but then… Through priesthood ordinance we ask God to bless and sanctify bread and water to the souls who partake of it in remembrance, witness and willingness, etc. that we may always have his Spirit to be with us. Likewise, but on another level, on our own we ask God to bless our food to the souls who partake of it in gratitude, etc. that we may always have the Light of Christ (in the form of physical nourishment and strength—D&C 88:11-13) with us.
ERayR Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 What I don't get is why we bless the food. The food is not truly sacred. Why do we make it so? Some times it is just to make it edible.
mnn727 Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 If yo had to eat molding bread and salt pork that had been out in the sun for a month or two as the pioneers did, you would bless it too.I recall someone telling me when I first joined the church, that you did not have to bless the food in the temple cafeteria because they already blessed it all every morning.I thought that was really, really weird.Signs are up in the Temple cafeterias saying this also
CV75 Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I thought that was really, really weird. Signs are up in the Temple cafeterias saying this alsoOne perspective is having faith in the power of others to bless food in our behalf, just like we have faith in priesthood holders blessing our sacrament emblems, except in this case we have faith in others accessing the Light of Christ. In any case, I'm sure everyone is grateful for their food and would like to have the Light of Christ operate fully in their nourishment and strength.
Boanerges Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I'm sure someone more orthodox than I am will know thew answer to this. I have actually been studying prayer lately, but I have only gotten through the Old & New Testament scriptures regarding prayer, and I have read the Bible Dictionary entry. Even the BD notes that no where in the Bible are we commanded to pray, althoug it is clear people did pray. So, where is it that we are commanded to pray over our food? FWIW, simply mentioning something happened in the scriptures is not enough to make it a commandment for me.
Gray Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I'm sure someone more orthodox than I am will know thew answer to this. I have actually been studying prayer lately, but I have only gotten through the Old & New Testament scriptures regarding prayer, and I have read the Bible Dictionary entry. Even the BD notes that no where in the Bible are we commanded to pray, althoug it is clear people did pray. So, where is it that we are commanded to pray over our food? FWIW, simply mentioning something happened in the scriptures is not enough to make it a commandment for me. The BOM teaches that we should pray over various and sundry things, but I don't recall that food was specifically mentioned. It's just a tradition - seems like a reasonable one.
ERayR Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I'm sure someone more orthodox than I am will know thew answer to this. I have actually been studying prayer lately, but I have only gotten through the Old & New Testament scriptures regarding prayer, and I have read the Bible Dictionary entry. Even the BD notes that no where in the Bible are we commanded to pray, althoug it is clear people did pray. So, where is it that we are commanded to pray over our food? FWIW, simply mentioning something happened in the scriptures is not enough to make it a commandment for me. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18New International Version (NIV)16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
CCRW Posted April 24, 2015 Posted April 24, 2015 I like it when on some special occasion, maybe a ward party, extended family dinner or some such, that the person gets into a more personal prayer and actually forgets to bless the food, or rushes it in as an afterthought ... "in the, oh and nourish and strengthen, name of ..." Of course if they miss that afterthought, everyone looks at each other and questions "do over?"
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