Why is the Bishop served the Sacrament first?
Question
Gramps,
If Heavenly Father is no respecter of persons, why does the bishop get served sacrament first before the rest of the congregation?
Debra
Answer
Dear Debra,
As the president of the Aaronic Priesthood in his ward, the bishop has been given the responsibility to oversee the administration of the sacrament. For example, if the priest officiating at the sacrament misstates the sacramental prayer and does not catch and correct his error, it is the bishop’s duty to correct him. (Note that when a stake presidency member or General Authority sits in sacrament meeting, it is he, not the bishop, who presides and assumes control over the meeting, including the sacrament.)
So when the administration of the sacrament takes place, it is reasonable that the bishop (or other higher authority with responsibility over the meeting) be served first, so that he can either approve the administration or instruct that it be redone. While this is not the only way such an end could be reached, it is the one common in the Church today.
Gramps
That makes no sense and I believe that it’s a man made rule. God is no respecter of person.
In the Church, things are done through the Priesthood order; that’s why in General Conference, we wait until the Prophet and the 12 have arrived before starting. The presiding figures have certain roles to play. Also, just because someone else gets it first doesn’t make them more important or higher up than you. The Doctrine & Covenants goes into detail about the administration of the Sacrament and how Christ wants it done. I recommend you read that and pray about it. 🙂
Geez. The church has policies and procedures set up, and they have reasons for them. This in no way is showing that the presiding authority is “more” or “better” than the congregation present, and I honestly cannot see Heavenly Father having an issue with this. Have a good day!
It makes total sense. Gramps didn’t say it was God’s rule. Jesus gave the exact wording for the sacrament prayers and they need to be given verbatim. This certainly is a man-made solution to approve the priesthood to proceed with the administration of the sacrament. In fact, it’s not a rule at all. But it’s reasonable and it works.
I believe it is just out of respect,,,this does not to turn into a big thing…goodness~
Thank you. It makes perfect sense.
It is not part of the ordinance, but rather part of the method in which the ordinance is carried out today. It is also instructed by those who hold the keys of the priesthood in Handbook 2 Administering the Church, Chapter 20 Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings, Section 4 Sacrament.
I do not think it is doctrinal, I think it is part of church culture now as a sign of respect.
Sorry guys it is doctrine as stated in Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood: Basic Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B, (2000), 41–48
“After the prayer, deacons or other priesthood holders pass the bread to the congregation in a reverent and orderly manner. The presiding officer receives the sacrament first.”
https://www.lds.org/manual/duties-and-blessings-of-the-priesthood-basic-manual-for-priesthood-holders-part-b/priesthood-and-church-government/lesson-5-performing-priesthood-ordinances?lang=eng
That hardly proves “doctrine”. There is nothing scriptural to back up this claim.
If God is no respecter of persons, and all are alike in His eyes, why are the front rows on the ground floor at General Conference reserved for stake presidents and other prominent authorities? Shouldn’t all have an equal shot sitting anywhere? With no favoritism or preferences?
I think there is a huge misunderstanding or misconception for many as to what “no respecter of persons” really means.
The presiding authority in a sacrament meeting is appointed to serve the church, as Christ did, by administering the ordinance of the sacrament to the people, and to provide an example, as Christ did, for them.
One of the primary purposes of the sacrament (and any true ordinance, really) is to point us to Christ. It is even explicitly stated in the sacrament prayers that one purpose of the ordinance is to witness that we “do always remember him.” With that being said, the ordinance itself, as well as the “pattern” used for administering the ordinance, is an emblem, token, or type of Christ.
When Christ administered the sacrament, he first gave it to his disciples and they were commanded to give it unto the people. He instructed them, “Behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name. And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you.” (see 3 Ne. 18:1-12)
The pattern is really quite beautiful. The presiding official in a sacrament meeting represents Christ. The official is given power (or priesthood keys) over the administration of the sacrament. Those who bless the sacrament also represent Christ, as do those who pass the sacrament. In this manner, the covenants and promises of the Lord are extended to his church through his priesthood. Those who hold the priesthood act as both messengers of the covenant and as an example for the people of Christ’s church.
Finally, the members themselves represent Christ, and even covenant to take upon them his name. We when receive the emblems from the priesthood, we pass them row by row, one by one to each other, representing the way we all must serve one another and extend the covenants and promises to each other.
The sacrament teaches us in both word and deed that we must “take upon [us] the name of [the] Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he has given [us].”
As often happens in the Church, we can devise lots of things we gain from a specific policy. But the reason David O. McKay gave when the policy was instituted in 1946 was comparatively utilitarian: to help the Aaronic Priesthood learn about the organization of the Church.
{quote}
PRESIDING OFFICERS TO RECEIVE SACRAMENT FIRST
Rather should that young man carry the sacrament to the presiding officer, not to honor him,
but the office, as you honored our President tonight. That presiding officer may be the bishop
of the ward; if so, let the young man carry the sacrament first to the bishop. After that pass it
to one after the other who sit either on the left or the right of the presiding officer; not going
back to the first and second counselors and then to the superintendent. The lesson is taught
when the sacrament is passed to the presiding officer. The next Sunday, the president of the
stake may be there, who is then the highest ecclesiastical authority. Do you see what the
responsibility of the deacons and the priests is? There is a lesson in government taught every
day. It is their duty to know who is the presiding officer in that meeting that day. Next
Sunday there may be one of the General Authorities. Those young men will have in mind the
question, “Who is he today, and who is the presiding authority?”
{end quote}
“The Lord’s Sacrament”
President David O. McKay, Second Counselor in the First Presidency
David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1946, pp. 111-117
http://scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=236