Sacrament Meeting Music

[techgy]

This++ We have to be careful to not let culture (or diversions from it) stand in the way of feeling the Spirit. The way we do things now is not at all similar to the way it was done in the early days of the Church.

*Even if* the act violated a Church policy the rest of the congregation should love that member and let the Bishop handle it privately. Remember that the Lord admonished the Saints to minister to, and pray for, even those who were not worthy to partake of the sacrament (3 Ne 18:30), and standing to sing a hymn would likely pale in comparison to unworthiness.

Here's a better source that actually addresses your primary question - is it appropriate to stand during a hymn. Check the 4th sentence down under "Selecting The Right Hymn".

[splassle]

I have just been released from being the ward clerk, to being a councilor in the Bishopric, and over the years we have had our problems, which don't happen often, but when they do, it seems a member of the Stake Presidency is there. So there has been many training session from the Stake on how the Sacrament meeting should go.

But I like to point out as a couple of others have, the doctrine of the most sacred meeting as pertaining to music. We are all there to worship our Heavenly Father and His Son. And if we think of it as the song is preparing us for something it would make sense that we don't stand for a song that is right before a prayer, or before sacrament is passed (which is a prayer) because as we are sitting back down we break the connection of praying in song to listening to the prayer.

As for our ward, we live right next to a Air Force Base, and so we have members serving there, we also have retired military in our ward, which our Bishop is one. When done correctly, the patriotic hymns are diffidently a worship to our Heavenly Father, and our Savior.

So lets be kind to each other and also humble so contention does not arise in our meetings, so we all be edified.

[greggo]

As a stake clerk in a former stake, I was privileged to be in a stake presidency meeting with the area authority who gave us training on several "unwritten order of things" which he received from Pres. Packer.

One item was that the congregation should not be asked to stand during intermediate hymns unless the meeting is scheduled for 2 hours or longer.

At the same time, it was reiterated that the proper term is "intermediate" hymn or "congregational" hymn - not "rest" hymn. Pres. Packer's comment was "what are we resting from?"

[BrookBowen]

The hymn "Called to Serve" is traditionally a song that missionaries all stand when singing while serving in the mission field and at the MTC. Many returned missionaries loved that tradition (or mistakenly think its protocol) and continue it at home when the song is sung.

I believe that it has nothing to do with a new Bishop or the opening hymn, it's just that song that happened to be the opening hymn that Sunday.

What's really sad is that people had a problem with it and it caused such distress. Relax, breathe, and remember we are there to worship not check off boxes.