在教儀中使用右手

在教儀中使用右手，顯然是很早以前神所指示的，在進行宣誓、做見證或接受義務時，習慣上都使用右手。只用單手執行的神聖教儀中，都優先選擇用右手而不用左手。
USE OF RIGHT HAND IN ORDINANCES. The custom, evidently by divine direction, from the very earliest time, has been to associate the right hand with the taking of oaths, and in witnessing or acknowledging obligations. The right hand has been used, in preference to the left hand, in officiating in sacred ordinances where only one hand is used.

雅各祝福他的兩位孫子以法蓮和瑪拿西，那時他把手「故意那樣地」放在孩子們頭上。這節經文是關於祝福時，右手優於左手的最早的經文。(創48:13-14)
The earliest reference we have to the superiority of the right hand over the left, in blessing, is found in the blessing of Jacob to his two grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, when he placed his hand "wittingly" upon the heads of the boys. 

更早以前，亞伯拉罕差遣他僕人到亞伯拉罕的族人那裡去替以撒找一個妻子時， 亞伯拉罕叫僕人把手放在他(亞伯拉罕)大腿底下，向他起誓他將完成任務。顯然，這是那僕人的右手。(創24:1-9)
Earlier, when Abraham sent his servant to Abraham's own kindred to find a wife for Isaac, he had the servant place his hand under his (Abraham's) thigh, and swear to him that he would accomplish his mission.  Evidently, this was the servant's right hand.

主經由以賽亞說：「你不要害怕，因為我與你同在；不要驚惶，因為我是你的 神。我必堅固你，我必幫助你；我必用我公義的右手扶持你。」(賽41:10)
The Lord said through Isaiah: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea. I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 


在詩篇中我們讀到：「耶和華對我主說：你坐在我的右邊，等我使你仇敵作你的腳凳。」(詩110:1)
In the Psalms we read: "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

風俗習慣上伸出右手表示交誼。
右手在拉丁文中叫作 Dexter ，左手叫作 Sinister； Dexter 的意思是右，而 Sinister 的意思是左。Dexter 的意思是順利的或幸運的。Sinister和惡有闕，而與善無關。Sinister 的意思是不祥的。
It is the custom to extend the right hand in token of fellowship. The right hand is called the dexter, and the left, the sinister; dexter means right and sinister means left. Dexter, or right, means favorable or propitious. Sinister is associated with evil, rather than good, Sinister means perverse.

我們用右手領受聖餐。我們用右手支持當局人員。我們舉起右手表示認可。
We take the sacrament with the right hand. We sustain the authorities with the right hand. We make acknowledgment with the right hand raised.



---以上節錄自「救恩的教義」第3卷 p.88-89