Children Taking the Sacrament - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

BigFatMeanie · 08-20-2007, 09:51 PM

POLL: Do you allow/encourage your children under age 8 take the sacrament?

Mike's post in the excommunication thread got me thinking a bit. I would like to know what others do in this regard.

Personally, I've always allowed/encouraged my children to take the sacrament. They are taught to be reverent and to take it reverently and respectfully (e.g. only take one piece of bread - not just grab a handful, only take one water, don't play with the cup afterwards, etc.)

I've only known one family where the kids don't take the sacrament. I don't know if the parents don't let the children or if they simply don't encourage it and the children don't care enough to ask for it. The have 3 kids in the 4-7 year old range. Their kids generally just loll around, draw, read, etc. when the Sacrament goes by. It's actually kind of wierd to see - it's like the Sacrament doesn't even exist for the kids. They don't even pass the tray - the parents just hand it to the next adult while the kids go on playing and don't pay any attention.

Another interesting facet is primary. In primary the children are taught all about the sacrament, its significance, etc. at a very young age. I wonder what the kids who are either prevented or not encouraged think when we have lots of primary lessons talking about it?

Obviously it's a parental decision and I can't fault a parent if they have a good reason for preventing/not encouraging a kid to take the sacrament. I would at least hope the parents would teach the kids about the sacrament and to be reverent and have respect.

Anyway, what do y'all do?

creekster · 08-20-2007, 09:53 PM

We enoucraged it once they were coordinated enough to do it themselves.

marsupial · 08-21-2007, 12:38 AM

When my son was a toddler, definitely pre-nursery, I was at church in my parents' ward. I didn't offer him the Sacrament. It wasn't because I thought he shouldn't have it. I just hadn't thought to give it to him before. Anyway, after church my mom lectured me. She couldn't believe I hadn't given him the Sacrament. It made me feel stupid.

MikeWaters · 08-21-2007, 12:44 AM

up until a few years ago, I still played with the cup.

UtahDan · 08-21-2007, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

up until a few years ago, I still played with the cup.

What prompted you to stop?

MikeWaters · 08-21-2007, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UtahDan

What prompted you to stop?

the advent of the plastic cup. There is only so much you can do with the plastic cup.

View Poll Results: Do you let your children under age 8 take the sacrament?
I allow and encourage them to take the sacrament	13	81.25%
I allow them to take the sacrament but don't encourage it	1	6.25%
I neither encourage nor discourage it - they can do what they want	1	6.25%
I discourage them but don't prevent it	1	6.25%
I prevent them from taking the sacrament	0	0%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

08-20-2007, 09:51 PM	#1
BigFatMeanie Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Jordan Posts: 1,725	Children Taking the Sacrament POLL: Do you allow/encourage your children under age 8 take the sacrament? Mike's post in the excommunication thread got me thinking a bit. I would like to know what others do in this regard. Personally, I've always allowed/encouraged my children to take the sacrament. They are taught to be reverent and to take it reverently and respectfully (e.g. only take one piece of bread - not just grab a handful, only take one water, don't play with the cup afterwards, etc.) I've only known one family where the kids don't take the sacrament. I don't know if the parents don't let the children or if they simply don't encourage it and the children don't care enough to ask for it. The have 3 kids in the 4-7 year old range. Their kids generally just loll around, draw, read, etc. when the Sacrament goes by. It's actually kind of wierd to see - it's like the Sacrament doesn't even exist for the kids. They don't even pass the tray - the parents just hand it to the next adult while the kids go on playing and don't pay any attention. Another interesting facet is primary. In primary the children are taught all about the sacrament, its significance, etc. at a very young age. I wonder what the kids who are either prevented or not encouraged think when we have lots of primary lessons talking about it? Obviously it's a parental decision and I can't fault a parent if they have a good reason for preventing/not encouraging a kid to take the sacrament. I would at least hope the parents would teach the kids about the sacrament and to be reverent and have respect. Anyway, what do y'all do?

08-20-2007, 09:53 PM	#2
creekster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: the far corner of my mind Posts: 8,711	We enoucraged it once they were coordinated enough to do it themselves. __________________ Sorry for th e tpyos.

08-21-2007, 12:38 AM	#3
marsupial Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I... Isn't it so fun to spell? Posts: 1,701	When my son was a toddler, definitely pre-nursery, I was at church in my parents' ward. I didn't offer him the Sacrament. It wasn't because I thought he shouldn't have it. I just hadn't thought to give it to him before. Anyway, after church my mom lectured me. She couldn't believe I hadn't given him the Sacrament. It made me feel stupid.

08-21-2007, 12:44 AM	#4
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	up until a few years ago, I still played with the cup.