During the meeting of the Salt Lake School of the Prophets for January 20, 1873, the topic of Eucharistic theology and liturgy was discussed. As I have discussed issues relating to the Eucharist/Lord’s Supper many times on this blog (e.g., the listing of articles at Responses to Robert Sungenis, Not By Bread Alone (2000/2009) as well as Why I believe the Sacrament should be restricted to Baptised Latter-day Saints) I found the following to be rather interesting:
Q[uestion:] Is the parking of the sacrament an ordinance that remits sins, if partaken worthily. Some said yes.
Pres D.H. Wells remarked, that according to the revelation it was the imperative duty to see an of Parents to see that their children were baptized f when 8 years old. T When any one sins, the best way to have them forgiven, was to sincerely repent of those sins, and be baptized for their remission. We ought to be careful and not use harsh words so as give offence and wound the feelings of others. He then mentioned a case where one brother had been called a thief &c by another, and had frequently sought to heal up the breach for a reconciliation, but the other refused. The injured party had refused the Sacrament, and Prest Wells had told him that inasmuch as he had sought a reconciliation and was refused, he had better partake of the sacrament, and let the sin rest upon the head of the obstinate one.
Elder J[oseph] F. Smith referring to the revelation pertaining to the partaking of the Sacrament, where it spe teaches the Elders & Congregation to kneel while observing ^it^, it would much accord with his feeling, for it to [be] attended [to this way] by Saints alone, and not in mixed [faith] congregations. He did think it ^a^ most sacred ordinance.
Q[uestion:] Should Children before baptism receive the sacrament?
Elder O[rson] Pratt did not think they should. When he had seen it offered to them by others, he thought O Fool ^he felt that it was wrong^ that while they are subjects of the Kingdom of God, but they are not members of the Church of Christ for whose benefit the Ordinances of the Gospel were instituted. He should much like to see the Sacrament administered in a more exclusive way ^than we do^--where persons not in the Church are not present.
Elder N H Felt highly appreciated the practise of kneeling while partaking the sacrament, but did not object to outsiders being present, but in this as in everything else, the living oracles being here, the spirit [of the law] giveth life, while the letter [of the law] killeth.
Prest D H Wells said that Children who are willing to partake of the Sacrament, he should never refuse them, he loved to see them partake of it, and they are just as much members of the Kingdom of God, before baptism as after.
Elder A[ngus] M Angus [Cannon], said he had taught his children to partake of the Sacrament, and always thought he was doing a right—and felt comforted by the remarks of Prest Wells.
Elder N H Felt entertained the same views, and had taught his children the same. (Salt Lake School of the Prophets, 1867-1883 [ed. Devery S. Anderson; Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2018], 336-37)
