Sacrament and allergies

[Kyra]

I realized today that my daughter can't take the sacrament because of her being allergic to soy, and bread has soy in it. She also may have celiac disease (hopefully we'll find out in the next couple weeks) which means definitely no bread, even if we find some without soy. Does anyone know what I should do? I stopped a member of the stake presidency after sacrament meeting today and asked him and he said he would see what he could find out for me. But I thought someone else might know and then I could save him some work. Anyone know what I should do or how I can find out?

[TeancumsSword]

I realized today that my daughter can't take the sacrament because of her being allergic to soy, and bread has soy in it. She also may have celiac disease (hopefully we'll find out in the next couple weeks) which means definitely no bread, even if we find some without soy. Does anyone know what I should do? I stopped a member of the stake presidency after sacrament meeting today and asked him and he said he would see what he could find out for me. But I thought someone else might know and then I could save him some work. Anyone know what I should do or how I can find out?

Bring bread/tortilla/matza she can eat, give it to the deacons quorum adviser and make sure the kid that has the plate stops by your row.

[abqfriend]

I am Catholic not LDS-so I do not know what your sacrament is composed of.

Our bread/host has no soy in it-if it did it would not be considered valid.

My Church teaches that we only need to take one of the two bread/host or wine/blood to be considered a sacrament. I realize the LDS use water-could you just take the water?

Also there is an ultra-low wheat bread/host used for those parishioners who have ciliac disease.

I do not know if your church would consider adapting the sacrament to your allergy limitations-so these are only suggestions.

I applaud your efforts in wanting to partake of the scrament as you understand it.

-Carol

I realized today that my daughter can't take the sacrament because of her being allergic to soy, and bread has soy in it. She also may have celiac disease (hopefully we'll find out in the next couple weeks) which means definitely no bread, even if we find some without soy. Does anyone know what I should do? I stopped a member of the stake presidency after sacrament meeting today and asked him and he said he would see what he could find out for me. But I thought someone else might know and then I could save him some work. Anyone know what I should do or how I can find out?

[Wingnut]

I realized today that my daughter can't take the sacrament because of her being allergic to soy, and bread has soy in it. She also may have celiac disease (hopefully we'll find out in the next couple weeks) which means definitely no bread, even if we find some without soy. Does anyone know what I should do? I stopped a member of the stake presidency after sacrament meeting today and asked him and he said he would see what he could find out for me. But I thought someone else might know and then I could save him some work. Anyone know what I should do or how I can find out?

My in-laws have someone in their branch who is allergic to gluten, and can't have wheat. They bring a piece of special bread each week that is passed specifically to their row.

Bring bread/tortilla/matza she can eat, give it to the deacons quorum adviser and make sure the kid that has the plate stops by your row.

It would actually need to be given to the teacher's quorum as the deacons pass the Sacrament but do not prepare it.

[TeancumsSword]

My in-laws have someone in their branch who is allergic to gluten, and can't have wheat. They bring a piece of special bread each week that is passed specifically to their row.

It would actually need to be given to the teacher's quorum as the deacons pass the Sacrament but do not prepare it.

True dat, my bad

Nice catch.

[Kyra]

My in-laws have someone in their branch who is allergic to gluten, and can't have wheat. They bring a piece of special bread each week that is passed specifically to their row.

Yep, that's celiac disease. It runs in my family, so it's pretty likely my daughter has it.

Thank you all. I'll probably have to start bringing her something, I just have to think of what I can bring. I'm probably going to have to make rice bread and take for her.

[tubaloth]

They bring a piece of special bread each week that is passed specifically to their row.

We actually have the same thing in our Singles ward. There was a lady that brought a cracker each week. Then we had to explain to those passing, to make sure she got it. Most of the time it worked fine. I think then there was another girl that had something similar.

So what the new Elders Quorum did it just put a cracker or something in a little bag on each sacrament tray. This was actually easier then I think we probably thought it would.

It well take some training, but it well work in the end.

[Moksha]

I must have something in my system that gives me an affinity for fresh baked French bread. Sure wish they would use that rather than Wonder Bread, especially considering its high Styrofoam content.

[NateHowe]

We had somebody in my ward who could not have gluten, and the Priests placed a sacrament cup with a piece of plain popcorn on the tray. It met her needs and required no special supplies.

[Gwen]

just make sure whatever you use the other members know it's special for your daughter for a reason.... i could see some kid thinking "cool, a cracker (or whatever that is different) and getting it before it gets to you even if they make sure it's to your row.... could sit up front for the sacrament so she is first after the bishopric and then when they release the priesthood you could return to your seat... i don't see where there would be an issue trying to accommodate once they know what she can have.

carol, our sacrament is done with just regular bread from the store... one of the nice things about the ordinance (in my opinion) though is that it isn't restricted due to the item used. the ordinance has to do with the authority and the prayer used. so accommodating a food allergy should be no problem.

[MarginOfError]

just make sure whatever you use the other members know it's special for your daughter for a reason.... i could see some kid thinking "cool, a cracker (or whatever that is different) and getting it before it gets to you even if they make sure it's to your row.... could sit up front for the sacrament so she is first after the bishopric and then when they release the priesthood you could return to your seat... i don't see where there would be an issue trying to accommodate once they know what she can have.

That's another reason putting it in a plastic bag is helpful. If another kid does think it's cool and goes grabbing at it, the parent is likely to notice before any damage is done. Generally speaking, adults are typically smart enough to recognize that something in a bag on the Sacrament tray has a special purpose.

If a suitable substitute can't be found, skipping the bread and only taking the water would likely be an acceptable option.

[Guest SisterofJared]

I am allergic to gluten. I bring either a corn chip or a nut. Whatever I have. It used to be a corn chip, but I am a raw foodist, and don't normally have corn chips. So I switched to a nut... I bring a raw almond or cashew or something like that. It's not always the same. My husband gives it to the guys preparing the sacrament, by design we sit close to the same place each week, and the deacon brings the whole little container I have it in, passes it to me and then leaves the container with me, so I can use it to bring something the next week.

The D&C makes it clear that it doesn't matter what you use for sacrament. Some people told me to use the bread, and be assured that the Lord would bless it to not harm me. But I remembered the Brother of Jared and how to Lord expected him to find a solution. So I therefore chose to find a substitute for the bread.

Sister of Jared

[MarginOfError]

Some people told me to use the bread, and be assured that the Lord would bless it to not harm me.

They make a good point. I promise you, if you just use the bread, it will do you no harm for the rest of eternity. But I only make this promise because I'm pretty certain that allergies don't affect the dead.

[Wingnut]

just make sure whatever you use the other members know it's special for your daughter for a reason.... i could see some kid thinking "cool, a cracker (or whatever that is different) and getting it before it gets to you even if they make sure it's to your row.... could sit up front for the sacrament so she is first after the bishopric and then when they release the priesthood you could return to your seat... i don't see where there would be an issue trying to accommodate once they know what she can have.

In my in-laws' branch, the special bread is in a separate tray, and one of the deacons carries two trays, and passes that one to their row only, to avoid this problem. A bigger ward may need ALL of the trays they have at their disposal, though.

The D&C makes it clear that it doesn't matter what you use for sacrament. Some people told me to use the bread, and be assured that the Lord would bless it to not harm me. But I remembered the Brother of Jared and how to Lord expected him to find a solution. So I therefore chose to find a substitute for the bread.

Thank you for this reminder of the doctrine from D&C, and for sharing your application of the scriptures.

The idea though that if you use the bread and trust that it won't harm you is like people who tell me infertile friends that if they have enough faith, the Lord will bless them with children. It really bugs me.

Edited November 24, 2008 by Wingnut

[Guest Alana]

Is there a Trader Joe's by where you live? They have lots of gluten/wheat free foods. I have rice waffles in my freezer right now. Heck, that would probably even work. It's tasty food with no preservatives. I love Trader Joe's!

[Hemidakota]

I realized today that my daughter can't take the sacrament because of her being allergic to soy, and bread has soy in it. She also may have celiac disease (hopefully we'll find out in the next couple weeks) which means definitely no bread, even if we find some without soy. Does anyone know what I should do? I stopped a member of the stake presidency after sacrament meeting today and asked him and he said he would see what he could find out for me. But I thought someone else might know and then I could save him some work. Anyone know what I should do or how I can find out?

Talked to the Bishop and Priesthood leaders concerning this problem. She also my need a blessing and prayer for the doctors as they under go further research into her problem.

[TeancumsSword]

I am allergic to gluten. I bring either a corn chip or a nut. Whatever I have. It used to be a corn chip, but I am a raw foodist, and don't normally have corn chips. So I switched to a nut... I bring a raw almond or cashew or something like that. It's not always the same. My husband gives it to the guys preparing the sacrament, by design we sit close to the same place each week, and the deacon brings the whole little container I have it in, passes it to me and then leaves the container with me, so I can use it to bring something the next week.

The D&C makes it clear that it doesn't matter what you use for sacrament. Some people told me to use the bread, and be assured that the Lord would bless it to not harm me. But I remembered the Brother of Jared and how to Lord expected him to find a solution. So I therefore chose to find a substitute for the bread.

Sister of Jared

Sooo. sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't?

[ADoyle90815]

I'm not LDS, so I would say that the water would be enough to make it valid. If your local leaders won't budge, then you could bring gluten free bread.

[Guest SisterofJared]

ADoyle, we are taught to not talk just one half of the sacrament... we take both or neither. So the gluten bread would be one answer.

I OFTEN feel like a nut... lol... since I am trying hard to be vegetarian, I use nuts instead of meat.

Although tonight I ate meat, and it feels like I poured concrete in my tummy. Not good.

Long live salad! LOL.

SoJ