Answers to Questions: Administering the Sacrament

EDITORS TABLE. 473 family — embracing several branches — that are working themselves out of the Church by it. They persist in judging all other doc- trines by their interpretation of that. That, and their construction of it, is the paramount issue. Being subject to the Priesthood, and learning wisdom from its power, is considered as nothing. The whole work of God is "out of joint" because this new inter- pretation— no matter what it is — remains unheeded or neglected. And so one might go on enumerating hobbies that people in the Church are riding. Boys, work diligently, study zealously, keep the commandments, but don't ride a hobby; however, if you must have one, let it be so broad, so great, so magnificent, so general, that it shall cover the whole plan of salvation, the whole scheme of human ethics, the whole truth, "all that God has re- vealed, all that he does now reveal," and the "many great and im- portant things pertaining to the Kingdom of God" that he will yet reveal. Joseph F. Smith. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. On Administering the Sacrament. Is it proper, according to Church laws, in administering the sacra- ment when two or more are officiating, for two to kneel together; or should only one kneel at a time? The reader is referred to the Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 20: 75-79, and to the Book of Mormon, Moroni 4: 1, 3; 5: 1,2. It is customary and proper for the two who officiate in the administra- tion of the sacrament to kneel together while the prayer is being said. In the early part of the history of the Church, when the congregrations were not so large as they are now, it was not un- usual for the congregation also to kneel, but it is now both cus- tomary and proper for those two who administer the holy sac- rament to kneel with the congregation; and it is also in conform- ity with what would seem to have been the custom of the ancient inhabitants of this continent, as declared in Moroni 4: 2: "And they did kneel down with the Church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ saying," etc.