Women never say the prayers in General Conference?

[SteelBlue]

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.js...____&hideNav=1

Just found this which likely led to what you quoted. I have no way to verify these. How does one get access to a 1967 Handbook of Instruction? But the fact that the 1978 statement was required tells me that a priesthood prayer only policy was likely in place to some extent:

It was established by a 1967 Priesthood Bulletin and was included in the 1968 General “Handbook of Instruction (no. 20, pg. 44):

L. Prayers in Church Meetings
Prayers in all Church meetings should be brief, simple, and given as led by the spirit by the one who is voice. Their content should pertain to the particular matter at hand.

Brethren holding the Melchizedek or Aaronic Priesthood should offer the prayers in sacrament meetings, including fast and testimony meetings. Those praying should use the pronoun forms of Thy, Thee, Thine, Thou in addressing the Lord.

(Anonymous, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints General Handbook of Instructions, no. 20 (First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, 1968), 44.)

The 1975 Ensign also had this:

Prayers in Sacrament and Priesthood Meetings. Attention is called to the following instruction which appeared in the July-August 1967 Priesthood Bulletin.

The First Presidency recommends that only those who bear the Melchizedek Priesthood or Aaronic Priesthood be invited to offer the opening and closing prayers in sacrament meetings, including fast meetings. This also applies to priesthood meetings.

[LA Ute]

Just found this which likely led to what you quoted. I have no way to verify these. How does one get access to a 1967 Handbook of Instruction? But the fact that the 1978 statement was required tells me that a priesthood prayer only policy was likely in place to some extent:

I was in a bishopric in 1987 and learned then that the policy had been discontinued. It's a dim memory, but I think the practice had continued for a few years out of habit. What an odd thing to see happen in our church.

[Indy Coug]

As a point of comparison, who offers prayers at Orthodox or Protestant congregational meetings? I've been to other churches, but I didn't exactly make a mental note of this.

[SteelBlue]

I was in a bishopric in 1987 and learned then that the policy had been discontinued. It's a dim memory, but I think the practice had continued for a few years out of habit. What an odd thing to see happen in our church.

I still occasionally hear people say things like "I was taught that a priesthood holder should always open sacrament meeting" or "always close" etc... Some of these old policies die hard.

[scottie]

I like ice cream. When we finally meet you could buy me copious amounts of it. I prefer the high-end stuff.

Perhaps a bit more seriously, I don't try to tell anyone how to post (TD may see it otherwise, but I cannot mistreat a guy who gave me a terrific pumpkin bread recipe and a killer lesson idea for a group of Young Men). Reading your posts, however, one could reasonably conclude that you like to find obscure but inflammatory factoids, post them, then stand by and watch as SU and others begin a food fight.

I know you're addressing your issues with my m.o., but in this thread, as someone with a wife and two daughters, the church that they (and I) belong to being exclusionary against women praying in GC is troubling to me. It may not be a blip on your radar, but I don't think it can be passed off as an obscure or inflammatory factoid as you call it. Would my wife or daughters ever want to pray in GC? Of course not, but that's beside my point.

[creekster]

I still occasionally hear people say things like "I was taught that a priesthood holder should always open sacrament meeting" or "always close" etc... Some of these old policies die hard.

Our ward not too long ago had an all female program. Both prayers and both talks were by women (not onpurpose, just worked out that way). Afterward an older brother in the congragtion asked me if I knew when the church had decided to allow women to give the closing prayer in sacramnet. His wife looked at him and said "No, it is the oprning prayer they arent supposed to give" I told them I thought women could give any prayer. It was a mass of confusion.

[SteelBlue]

Our ward not too long ago had an all female program. Both prayers and both talks were by women (not onpurpose, just worked out that way). Afterward an older brother in the congragtion asked me if I knew when the church had decided to allow women to give the closing prayer in sacramnet. His wife looked at him and said "No, it is the oprning prayer they arent supposed to give" I told them I thought women could give any prayer. It was a mass of confusion.

I'm enjoying learning about this today. Apparently the pre 1978 policy combined with an accidental word of mouth campaign during the early 80's based on something ETB had supposedly said in a meeting, caused the pseudo "only men should open/close a meeting". The open/close policy was never ever policy at all.

[LA Ute]

I know you're addressing your issues with my m.o., but in this thread, as someone with a wife and two daughters, the church that they (and I) belong to being exclusionary against women praying in GC is troubling to me. It may not be a blip on your radar, but I don't think it can be passed off as an obscure or inflammatory factoid as you call it. Would my wife or daughters ever want to pray in GC? Of course not, but that's beside my point.

I see your point - now. Don't you think it would have been better if you had just said that up front?

[Moliere]

Our ward not too long ago had an all female program. Both prayers and both talks were by women (not onpurpose, just worked out that way). Afterward an older brother in the congragtion asked me if I knew when the church had decided to allow women to give the closing prayer in sacramnet. His wife looked at him and said "No, it is the oprning prayer they arent supposed to give" I told them I thought women could give any prayer. It was a mass of confusion.

So many non-doctrinal traditions, so little time.

We once had a non-member say the opening prayer at a baptismal service. This was outside of Utah/Idaho/Arizona so no one thought twice about it. The prayer went well and he even tried to conform it to LDS speak.

If a woman prayed in GC, I wouldn't think twice about it. I'm still waiting for the day we have a non-English talk given in GC, which probably won't happen for a long time since it would be difficult from a translation standpoint.

[scottie]

I see your point - now. Don't you think it would have been better if you had just said that up front?

Not at all. If I had laid that out in my original post, and someone came back with info disproving it, it would have then been much ado about nothing.

[Katy Lied]

Reading your posts, however, one could reasonably conclude that you like to find obscure but inflammatory factoids, post them, then stand by and watch as SU and others begin a food fight.

Ummm, that could be the m.o. of a whole bunch of other posters on CUF as well.

I was sent to the principal's office in 8th grade for doing this very thing. The charge was "being an instigator." I was bored and tried to get two guys sitting near me to get into a rhubarb for my entertainment.

[SeattleUte]

Wow. This is going to be a 1,000+ views thread all about scottie's "methods". I've had threads dedicated to me, but I'm not sure I've been so flattered. Congrats, scottie, you're the man!

[falafel]

Careful...... you never know.....

Creepier...!

[TripletDaddy]

Creepier...!

Caring is creepy.

[falafel]

Caring is creepy.

Not as creepy as kissing the lipless.