Making the Sacrament Meaningful

                What do you do to make your sacrament experience more meaningful?  The opportunity to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants with God can be a source of strength to us as well as a new beginning.  We can make our experience more meaningful by preparing ourselves for it.  We should examine our lives and consider what we need to do to repent of our sins.  We should also ponder the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how we are applying it in our lives.  None of us is perfect nor do we need to be perfect to partake of the sacrament; we just need to come to our sacrament meeting with a spirit of humility and repentance in our hearts. The sacrament helps us draw closer to the Savior.  

                Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained, “The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church.  It is the only Sabbath meeting the entire family can attend together.  Its content in addition to the sacrament should always be planned and presented to focus our attention on the Atonement and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

                Continuing with his remarks, Elder Oaks suggested several things we can do to better prepare ourselves for a more meaningful sacrament experience.  (1) Be seated “well before” the meeting starts.  (2) Dress appropriately.  “Our manner of dress indicates the degree to which we understand and honor the ordinance in which we will participate.”  (3) “During sacrament meeting – and especially during the sacrament service – we should concentrate on worship and refrain from all other activities, especially from behavior that could interfere with the worship of others.”  (4) “The music of sacrament meeting is a vital part of our worship….  How wonderful when every person in attendance joins in the worship of singing – especially in the hymn that helps us prepare to partake of the sacrament.  All sacrament meeting music requires careful planning, always remembering that this music is for worship, not for performance.”

                Elder Oaks quoted President Joseph Fielding Smith:  “This is an occasion when the gospel should be presented, when we should be called upon to exercise faith, and to reflect on the mission of our Redeemer, and to spend time in the consideration of the saving principles of the gospel, and not for other purposes.  Amusement, laughter, light-mindedness, are all out of place in the sacrament meetings of the Latter-day Saints.  We should assemble in the spirit of prayer, of meekness, with devotion in our hearts” (Doctrine of Salvation, 2:342).