As we worthily partake of the Sacrament each week, the emblems can have great
personal meaning and significance. The bread not only represents Christ’s body,
but His promise to me personally that He overcome physical death. Because of
my precious Savior, I will be resurrected.
The water not only represents Christ’s blood, but also His Atoning sacrifice to
conquer my own personal spiritual death. It’s the reminder to me personally
that because of Jesus Christ, I can return to God and be like Him. (see Wilcox,
The Continuous Atonement, find a page number). We can take these sacred
moments every week to remember this with hope, joy, awe, and sacred gratitude.
We can use this special time to consider on the experiences of the week and the ways
we can see His plan for how this process is unfolding in our own personal lives.
conquer my own personal spiritual death. It’s the reminder to me personally
that because of Jesus Christ, I can return to God and be like Him. (see Wilcox,
The Continuous Atonement, find a page number). We can take these sacred
moments every week to remember this with hope, joy, awe, and sacred gratitude.
We can use this special time to consider on the experiences of the week and the ways
we can see His plan for how this process is unfolding in our own personal lives.
Why is the sacrament something we participate in over and over, week after week?
Brigham Young says, “...because we are so liable to forget” (Journal of
Discourses, 6:195). It’s not that we intend to forget Him, yet it is human nature
to forget. God lovingly provided the solution to give us the best chance of “always
remember[ing] Him,” (Moroni 4:3) for He is the “source [we] may look for a remission
of [our] sins” (2 Nephi 25:26). “In a sense, the sacrament is a weekly memorial service
held in honor of the Savior who died for us” (Callister, The Infinite Atonement, 285).
Brigham Young says, “...because we are so liable to forget” (Journal of
Discourses, 6:195). It’s not that we intend to forget Him, yet it is human nature
to forget. God lovingly provided the solution to give us the best chance of “always
remember[ing] Him,” (Moroni 4:3) for He is the “source [we] may look for a remission
of [our] sins” (2 Nephi 25:26). “In a sense, the sacrament is a weekly memorial service
held in honor of the Savior who died for us” (Callister, The Infinite Atonement, 285).
The sacrament is a time to remember what Christ has done, collectively, and
personally for God’s children. It is a time to remember what He has done for you.
It’s a time to remember God’s promises to each one of us personally. It’s a time to
remember that He is the answer to all our trials, troubles, heartaches, and sins. It’s
a time to remember the power source of Jesus Christ and His grace in our personal
lives, and like we discussed previously, to abide in Him by remembering Him in every
moment throughout the week.
personally for God’s children. It is a time to remember what He has done for you.
It’s a time to remember God’s promises to each one of us personally. It’s a time to
remember that He is the answer to all our trials, troubles, heartaches, and sins. It’s
a time to remember the power source of Jesus Christ and His grace in our personal
lives, and like we discussed previously, to abide in Him by remembering Him in every
moment throughout the week.
“All of the ordinances invite us to increase our faith in Jesus Christ and to make and
keep covenants with God” (Source)and the sacrament is no exception. I think we have
touched adequately on how the ordinance of the sacrament can increase our faith in Christ.
keep covenants with God” (Source)and the sacrament is no exception. I think we have
touched adequately on how the ordinance of the sacrament can increase our faith in Christ.
What about the “make and keep covenants with God” portion? I know you know this,
but can you really let it sink in this time when you hear it? During the sacrament we
renew all of our covenants with God. It is as if I am not only stepping into the waters
of baptism all over again, but the beautiful blessings from the washings and anointings
are being re-pronounced upon my head.
but can you really let it sink in this time when you hear it? During the sacrament we
renew all of our covenants with God. It is as if I am not only stepping into the waters
of baptism all over again, but the beautiful blessings from the washings and anointings
are being re-pronounced upon my head.
The Sacrament refreshes the covenants I entered into and the promises God gave to
me personally on the day I went to the temple to receive my Endowment and the day
I kneeled across the altar from my husband. Although the Sacrament is usually
administered to a group, the implications are individual, just like those special days
I entered into personal covenants with God. I did so personally. (See the Ensign article
about the person who was accidentally skipped over in the sacrament. The branch
president had someone take the person into a classroom and the sacrament was
blessed and passed to this individual personally. It’s Elder Renlund,
“That I might Draw All Men Unto Me.”)
me personally on the day I went to the temple to receive my Endowment and the day
I kneeled across the altar from my husband. Although the Sacrament is usually
administered to a group, the implications are individual, just like those special days
I entered into personal covenants with God. I did so personally. (See the Ensign article
about the person who was accidentally skipped over in the sacrament. The branch
president had someone take the person into a classroom and the sacrament was
blessed and passed to this individual personally. It’s Elder Renlund,
“That I might Draw All Men Unto Me.”)
We can use the Sacrament as a time for quiet reflection. As a mother of young
children, this can be hard. I have had about the past 2 years of sweet moments with
the Sacrament because most of my children are old enough to be reverent and my
preschooler has become a Daddy’s boy. It isn’t always realistic to expect perfect
silence or opportunities to be completely uninterrupted during this special time.
children, this can be hard. I have had about the past 2 years of sweet moments with
the Sacrament because most of my children are old enough to be reverent and my
preschooler has become a Daddy’s boy. It isn’t always realistic to expect perfect
silence or opportunities to be completely uninterrupted during this special time.
It may not be the actual moment of the Sacrament that we take this quiet reflection
time because we may be out in the hallways wrestling with our toddler while the
Sacrament is being passed. But we can choose to shut off our phone or other
exterior distractions and make a conscious effort to clear away any internal distractions
in our minds as well.
time because we may be out in the hallways wrestling with our toddler while the
Sacrament is being passed. But we can choose to shut off our phone or other
exterior distractions and make a conscious effort to clear away any internal distractions
in our minds as well.
It is probably not the best use of that sacred time to go over the schedule for the
upcoming week or become distracted by others around us. We must learn to be
present in this sacred moment. We must practice at it. God is pleased with our
efforts to improve and will patiently forgive our shortcomings as we seek to do better.
Be patient with yourself, but find a way to stay focused! Figure out what you need to
do personally in order to take this time to rest your mind and attention firmly on Christ
and your personal life in relation to Him.
upcoming week or become distracted by others around us. We must learn to be
present in this sacred moment. We must practice at it. God is pleased with our
efforts to improve and will patiently forgive our shortcomings as we seek to do better.
Be patient with yourself, but find a way to stay focused! Figure out what you need to
do personally in order to take this time to rest your mind and attention firmly on Christ
and your personal life in relation to Him.
This quiet time to reflect is important because not only can we reflect on Christ and
His memorial, but we can also take it as an opportunity to dig deeper into the previous
week. “During the sacrament, which I call the heart of the Sabbath, I have found that
after I pray for forgiveness of sins, it is instructive for me to ask Heavenly Father,
‘Father, is there more?’ When we are yielded and still, our minds can be directed to
something more we may need to change—something that is limiting our capacity to
receive spiritual guidance or even healing and help” (Source). These moments can
bring opportunities to further yield, or give over, our hearts to God. We can also take
the time to recommit to improvements in the week ahead.
His memorial, but we can also take it as an opportunity to dig deeper into the previous
week. “During the sacrament, which I call the heart of the Sabbath, I have found that
after I pray for forgiveness of sins, it is instructive for me to ask Heavenly Father,
‘Father, is there more?’ When we are yielded and still, our minds can be directed to
something more we may need to change—something that is limiting our capacity to
receive spiritual guidance or even healing and help” (Source). These moments can
bring opportunities to further yield, or give over, our hearts to God. We can also take
the time to recommit to improvements in the week ahead.
During this sacred time, we often have unseen help as things come into our minds
or are brought to our attention. “The Aaronic priesthood is to hold the keys of the
ministering of angels” (D&C 107:20). Elder Oaks explains that we can have angels
minister to us in unseen ways. These messengers whisper direction, peace, and
Truth both in these sacred moments of Christ’s memorial, and also in the coming
days during our week because of worthily partaking of the Sacrament. He goes
on to say, “In general, the blessings of spiritual companionship and communication
are only available to those who are clean. As explained earlier, through the Aaronic
Priesthood ordinances of baptism and the sacrament, we are cleansed of our sins
and promised that if we keep our covenants we will always have His Spirit to be with
us. I believe that promise not only refers to the Holy Ghost but also to the ministering
of angels, for ‘angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak
the words of Christ’ (2 Ne. 32:3). So it is that those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood
open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to enjoy
the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels” (Source).
or are brought to our attention. “The Aaronic priesthood is to hold the keys of the
ministering of angels” (D&C 107:20). Elder Oaks explains that we can have angels
minister to us in unseen ways. These messengers whisper direction, peace, and
Truth both in these sacred moments of Christ’s memorial, and also in the coming
days during our week because of worthily partaking of the Sacrament. He goes
on to say, “In general, the blessings of spiritual companionship and communication
are only available to those who are clean. As explained earlier, through the Aaronic
Priesthood ordinances of baptism and the sacrament, we are cleansed of our sins
and promised that if we keep our covenants we will always have His Spirit to be with
us. I believe that promise not only refers to the Holy Ghost but also to the ministering
of angels, for ‘angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak
the words of Christ’ (2 Ne. 32:3). So it is that those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood
open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to enjoy
the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels” (Source).
After Christ’s loving Atonement was completed, animal sacrifice was no longer
necessary. He asks that we offer up a different sacrifice instead. “And ye shall
offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso
cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with
fire and with the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 9:20). We must offer these sacrifices as
we come to the sacrament table to partake of the emblems. Elder Porter says a
broken heart and a contrite spirit means we, “experience ‘godly sorrow [that]
worketh repentance’ [and] ...are willing to do anything and everything that God
asks of [us], without resistance or resentment... a broken heart serves as a divine
shield against temptation.” Lastly he says this, “There is yet another dimension
of a broken heart—namely, our deep gratitude for Christ’s suffering on our behalf...
When we remember the Savior and His suffering, our hearts too will break in
gratitude for the Anointed One” (Source).
necessary. He asks that we offer up a different sacrifice instead. “And ye shall
offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso
cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with
fire and with the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 9:20). We must offer these sacrifices as
we come to the sacrament table to partake of the emblems. Elder Porter says a
broken heart and a contrite spirit means we, “experience ‘godly sorrow [that]
worketh repentance’ [and] ...are willing to do anything and everything that God
asks of [us], without resistance or resentment... a broken heart serves as a divine
shield against temptation.” Lastly he says this, “There is yet another dimension
of a broken heart—namely, our deep gratitude for Christ’s suffering on our behalf...
When we remember the Savior and His suffering, our hearts too will break in
gratitude for the Anointed One” (Source).
Partaking of the Sacrament worthily and with a broken heart and contrite spirit---ready
to be alert, attentive, and sensitive to the Spirit and take action accordingly---allow for
Christ to keep His promise to us, “[we] may have his Spirit to be with [us]” (Moroni 5:2).
The Holy Ghost is the baptism of fire the Savior promised in 3 Nephi 9:20.
to be alert, attentive, and sensitive to the Spirit and take action accordingly---allow for
Christ to keep His promise to us, “[we] may have his Spirit to be with [us]” (Moroni 5:2).
The Holy Ghost is the baptism of fire the Savior promised in 3 Nephi 9:20.
Elder Bednar further explains this role the Holy Ghost plays in the process of our
becoming like God in relation to the sacrament. Along with baptism and receiving
the Holy Ghost, “the sacrament is the third ordinance necessary to obtain access
to the power of godliness” (Source), or in other words, becoming like God. Elder
Bednar goes on to explain how.
becoming like God in relation to the sacrament. Along with baptism and receiving
the Holy Ghost, “the sacrament is the third ordinance necessary to obtain access
to the power of godliness” (Source), or in other words, becoming like God. Elder
Bednar goes on to explain how.
“The ordinance of the sacrament is a holy and repeated invitation to repent sincerely
and to be renewed spiritually. The act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself,
does not remit sins. But as we prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy
ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may
always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us. And by the sanctifying power of the
Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we can always retain a remission of our sins.”
This leads us perfectly to where we need to go next!
and to be renewed spiritually. The act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself,
does not remit sins. But as we prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy
ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may
always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us. And by the sanctifying power of the
Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we can always retain a remission of our sins.”
This leads us perfectly to where we need to go next!
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