ElPatron Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 This is only my second post so please be gentle. I live in Texas but travel to Utah quite a bit on business. since I'm traveling away from home I spend time in restaurants in the area at least two times a day. I moved to Texas 15 years ago and one thing that really stood out to me is how people pray over their meals in restaurants. I've even been at business meals where the person I'm eating dinner with will excuse themselves from a conversation we're having, bow their head and then pray over their meal. After being in Utah so much over the last couple of years, I can say that I have never seen this happen in a resraurant and I actively look for someone doing this. Now, I'm guilty of not doing this myself, but I'm wondering, what's up with us? Why don't I see this much from a people that are instructed to prayer over every meal (author of this post included). Not judging. Just wondering.
The Nehor Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 I do not know of any scriptural injunction to pray over every meal. It seems to be a tradition. Perhaps a good one but still just a tradition. 2
bluebell Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 When I do remember to pray over a restaurant meal (which isn't often. I need to get better) I do it in a way that people wouldn't notice.
Traela Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 Quote I seem to remember at some point Mormons were specifically counseled not to pray in restaurants, unless they could do so unobtrusively.
Glenn101 Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 It goes back to the scriptures about Christ condemning the Pharisees who prayed on the corner to be seen of men. I think that maybe there has been a generalization by some that any show of public piety is wrong. I happen to believe that such is only wrong when one does it to be seen as pious. That is my take, but each to his or her own. 2
Okrahomer Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) Going along with Traela: I took the missionaries out for a meal not too long ago, and they told me that their Mission President had advised the missionaries in his mission to bless the food--i.e., meals they would have outside their apartment--before they left their apartments in the morning. I also noticed this interesting blog post describing a Temple Open house where a sign was prominently displayed in the Temple cafeteria indicating: "This food has already been blessed." Edited January 14, 2016 by Okrahomer 2
Storm Rider Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 I agree with Glenn on this; it has to do with motivation and displaying beliefs before others. If it can be done without drawing attention or being seen of others I find it....better. I can argue the other side - it does not matter what others think I am going to talk with God as often as I can and that includes expressing gratitude for all the food eat. We as LDS may be a bit too sensitive to this issue of "others" and displaying our beliefs. Having grown up in the south I understand where ElPatron is coming from. It is very common to pray over food in restaurants.....and that is why I also don't do it today. I know those people and they could be raving hellions in private, but like to put the show on in front of others. Maybe if I were a more pious, holy man I would do it more often. I know what a hellion I am and thus would rather not put on any show for anyone. 1
mnn727 Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 Living in Texas for 16 years now, I agree: its much more noticeable in Texas than other places I have been. I have no issue with it unless someone is praying loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. As for me and my family, I'll say a quick one silently but I don't 'need my reward in public'
Ahab Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 I talk to God all the time and in restaurants I usually just prefer to pray a little more... how shall I put it, informally, yeah, that's the ticket I do join in with others if they want to formally pray in a restaurant, though, and will even be the external voice if I am asked or nudged. And I would certainly never tell anyone not to pray... anytime or anywhere. And I don't ever criticize how people pray, either. To each their own, though.
Nevo Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 Whenever I visit my in-laws in Utah (about every other year), we go to the Golden Corral in West Valley City and my in-laws always pray over their food. Not sure if it's out of habit or because the food there is a bit dodgy. 2
mfbukowski Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 Mormon customs about praying before meals are a total mystery to me as well. I remember someone telling me that you didn't have to pray in a temple cafeteria because they blessed all the food in the cafeteria every morning. 2
Okrahomer Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 58 minutes ago, Nevo said: Whenever I visit my in-laws in Utah (about every other year), we go to the Golden Corral in West Valley City and my in-laws always pray over their food. Not sure if it's out of habit or because the food there is a bit dodgy. Amen!!!
Ahab Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 Blessing food does seem kinda strange to me, actually, if truth be told. I think in terms of saying thanks for the food, rather than blessing the food itself. And it also seems a bit strange to me when people ask God to make them thankful for it But I think the intentions of most people who do it are good, even if they're really not, just because I prefer to think charitably about people.
The Nehor Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 I have never understood why food needs blessing. It does not seem to lower the calorie count.
Calm Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 I see it as consecration as well as expressing of gratitude. Not always done that way, but I think that is why someone else can pray over food for one even if one isn't present as long as one is aware of the ritual being done.
VideoGameJunkie Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 (edited) I will confess I never pray over meals. We never did that when I was growing up with a non member dad and so I never picked up on the habit of praying over meals. In fact only until a few years ago I only prayed once a day and went sometimes many months without praying. Edited January 14, 2016 by VideoGameJunkie
Scott Lloyd Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) I remember our mission president's wife advising us, when taking meals in public, to eat them "with a thankful heart" rather than praying over them. I still think that's sound advice. Edited January 15, 2016 by Scott Lloyd
Scott Lloyd Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 6 hours ago, The Nehor said: I have never understood why food needs blessing. It does not seem to lower the calorie count. Someone in my past -- don't remember if it was on my mission or a roommate in college -- would facetiously refer to it as "taking the curse off."
Avatar4321 Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 The old testament actually teaches us to pray after a meal to give gratitude to God. Not sure where, I just remember Rabbi Lappin discussing it
mfbukowski Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 8 hours ago, Ahab said: Blessing food does seem kinda strange to me, actually, if truth be told. I think in terms of saying thanks for the food, rather than blessing the food itself. And it also seems a bit strange to me when people ask God to make them thankful for it But I think the intentions of most people who do it are good, even if they're really not, just because I prefer to think charitably about people. In pioneer days, when all you have to eat is some salt pork that has been on the back of a mule for a month or two, I can understand praying that this hunk of old meat may nourish you and strengthen you instead of killing you. I usually just bow my head and thank God for the food.
mnn727 Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) Quote Lord, we cleared this land. We plowed it, sowed it, and harvested it. We cooked the harvest. It wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be eating it if we hadn't done it all ourselves. We worked dog-bone hard for every crumb and morsel, but we thank you Lord just the same for the food we're about to eat, amen. Jimmy Stewart as Charlie Anderson in the movie Shenandoah. I just love this quote. have since the first time I saw the movie. Edited January 15, 2016 by mnn727 1
Scott Lloyd Posted January 15, 2016 Posted January 15, 2016 26 minutes ago, mnn727 said: Jimmy Stewart as Charlie Anderson in the movie Shenandoah. I just love this quote. have since the first time I saw the movie. Quote For what we are about to receive, O Lord, make us truly thankful. -- David Niven as Bishop Henry Brougham in "The Bishop's Wife." Regarding Charlie Anderson, what he forgets is that it was God who created the seed, warmed the soil for it to germinate, caused the rain to fall, etc. Charlie Anderson was, at best, a facilitator.
sdc999 Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 On 1/14/2016 at 0:08 PM, Okrahomer said: Going along with Traela: I took the missionaries out for a meal not too long ago, and they told me that their Mission President had advised the missionaries in his mission to bless the food--i.e., meals they would have outside their apartment--before they left their apartments in the morning. I also noticed this interesting blog post describing a Temple Open house where a sign was prominently displayed in the Temple cafeteria indicating: "This food has already been blessed." With that notion, couldn't someone just arrive home from the grocery store, put away their food and say a blessing over the pantry and fridge? Problem solved. No more meal time prayer.
strappinglad Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 There is something odd about giving a typical " strength and nourish " prayer over a snack of chips and pop. By the way, where did the idea of ' saying grace ' tie into a blessing on the food ?
sdc999 Posted January 16, 2016 Posted January 16, 2016 12 minutes ago, strappinglad said: There is something odd about giving a typical " strength and nourish " prayer over a snack of chips and pop. By the way, where did the idea of ' saying grace ' tie into a blessing on the food ? It didn't. "Saying grace" begins with, "I pledge allegiance to the flag...." Love me some Christmas Vacation.
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