Sacrament disposal

I can't find anything in Handbook 1 or 2 concerning the disposal of Sacrament bread. I suspect there is no standard policy, so we are free to toss it in the trash or give it to the birds. We do not have any policies concerning consecrated host, as other churches do.

Did you ever receive an author active reply. I was considering this matter today.

I'm wondering this same thing. It seems disrespectful to me when I see young men taking leftover sacrament bread and eating it by the handfuls after sacrament meeting like it's just a snack. After the bread and water are blessed, they are sacred and represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Just because the sacrament meeting is over, that doesn't null and void the blessed bread and water, does it?

If there were a Church-wide policy, it would almost certainly be in the handbook. Absent that, instruction is likely to vary by ward/stake/... Just one recollection: during my AP days or perhaps more recently, one bishop instructed that once the ordinance is over any sacredness of the edible physical objects is gone. If a youth feels it would be disrespectful for him to consume leftover bread by the handful, he can abstain.

GHB 18.9.4 is pretty thorough in the steps to administer the sacrament. The last bullet simply states that after sacrament meeting, the unused bread should be removed. I agree that if there was a desired Church-wide policy, it would be included here to ensure the policy was followed.

I expect that even when a Bishop's local policy may allow for the eating of the bread after sacrament meeting, he can also instruct the Aaronic Priesthood holders to give proper respect to the other church members around them, who may feel quite strongly about the sacrament emblems if they were eaten in public after the meeting. I know when I was a teenager I wasn't as aware as I should have been, and discretion wasn't my strongest suit...

I had this same question, because ive always believed we are supposed to dispose of extra bread. And have looked everywhere I could to find an answer and I just found it. In the family guidebook - priesthood ordinances and blessings - sacrament it says "The sacrament should be cleared from the table as soon as possible after the meeting. Any bread that remains may be used for food."

In the family guidebook...

I note that while the Family Guidebook is indeed referenced as an official resource in a few places (for example, in the Additional Resources section of the "My Calling as an Elders Quorum President" webpage), I think that not everything in this guidebook is necessarily current. For example, in the "family guidebook - priesthood ordinances and blessings - baptism" section, it states the witnesses must be two priests or men holding the Melchizedek Priesthood, which as we all know is not current policy.

I'm not saying the quote you referenced about the sacrament is incorrect, just my perspective that what's listed in this particular guidebook may not be as official as other materials the Church has available.

I think the operative word from the Family Guidebook is "may". It simply extends an option. I don't see it as closing off any other options.

BrianEdwards wrote: Sun Nov 19, 2023 10:31 pm

In the family guidebook...

I'm not saying the quote you referenced about the sacrament is incorrect, just my perspective that what's listed in this particular guidebook may not be as official as other materials the Church has available.

The guidebook says what was in the General Handbook of Instructions at the time it was originally published many years ago, but is no longer in the newer handbooks.

I know the books not as official, and for sure is a bit outdated, but has really the only information I've been able to find on it. So I feel like until the church makes another book with more info on this, this is really the information we have to go off of.

I have actually gone through the bishop to the stake president to the area 70 to the first presidency on this subject.
The handbook says you may use the unused portion of the bread as food. The big question is what does the church considered unused? I personally believe once it is been broken it is considered used. The leftover bread in the bag is unused and could be eaten as a common snack but not the bread that has been blessed.
The information I have gotten back from all these other resources is it is left up to the bishop's discretion but everybody feels strongly that once the bread is broken it has been used and should be disposed of properly ie garbage can.

I have gone through the bishop. I have gone to the State high council. I have gone to the area 70 and have gotten a very clear position on this subject. The sacrament It should be cleared from the table as soon as possible. That's one of the reasons they have the 10-minute gap between the end of sacrament and your first class is so that the boys can get that cleaned off from there. Plus teachers can gather extra stuff for their classes. Start. Number two the handbook says that the bread should be disposed of properly unused bread. That does not mean that the blessed sacrament is unused. At this point it is used. It has been made for a purpose and should not be used as a common snack. It should be disposed of properly. Leftover bread that has not been broken or blessed can be used in any way, shape or form for food. The blessed bread cannot be used for food.

andrureid wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:22 am I have gone through the bishop. I have gone to the State high council. I have gone to the area 70 and have gotten a very clear position on this subject. The sacrament It should be cleared from the table as soon as possible. That's one of the reasons they have the 10-minute gap between the end of sacrament and your first class is so that the boys can get that cleaned off from there. Plus teachers can gather extra stuff for their classes. Start. Number two the handbook says that the bread should be disposed of properly unused bread. That does not mean that the blessed sacrament is unused. At this point it is used. It has been made for a purpose and should not be used as a common snack. It should be disposed of properly. Leftover bread that has not been broken or blessed can be used in any way, shape or form for food. The blessed bread cannot be used for food.

I'm a little uncertain about your recent post, and I'm not sure how it relates to your February post. The Handbook language about the sacrament remains unchanged from the earlier discussion, and only states that after the meeting "... remove any unused bread". Any additional information (or interpretation) you may have received, should not be considered authoritative for general membership, if it cannot be referenced by general members or leaders. It definitely may be considered authoritative for your local leadership if that's what they decide, of course.

Look in the bible dictionary under “shewbread”. This means “face bread”, or “presence bread”, referring to the presence of Jesus / terrestrial kingdom .

It specifically says that priests were to actually “eat the shewbread in the holy place”. Jesus Himself addressed this in the new testament about David eating the shewbread. It is clearly sanctioned by Jesus to do it . Also the Salt covenant in Numbers 18:19 says the offerings of the people were “given to the priests”, in practice they could not only eat it but even sell it for their support : meat and bread and wine .

Notice it says this salt covenant is a “standing law forever”, similar to the sabbath, it is actually observed today and that’s why the handbook cannot prohibit eating the sacrament bread afterwards.

“Shewbread
(Literally bread of the face or presence bread.⁠) The name given to 12 unleavened cakes placed in two piles on the Table of Shewbread, which was made of acacia wood and stood on the north side of the altar of incense in the holy place (⁠Ex. 25:23–30⁠). Frankincense was put upon each row (⁠Lev. 24:7⁠). The shewbread was changed every Sabbath day and the old loaves were eaten by the priests in a holy place (⁠Lev. 24:9⁠). In the shewbread the 12 tribes were perpetually presented before God; yet it was wholly consumed by man; thus it provided both a sacrifice and a communion. On one occasion the shewbread was given to David to eat (⁠1 Sam. 21:6⁠); the Lord drew from this incident the lesson that the law of charity overrides every ritual law (⁠Matt. 12:4⁠; Mark 2:26⁠; Luke 6:4⁠).”

Numbers 18:18-19 “18 And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine.

19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord⁠, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee and to thy seed with thee.”