My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 20-22 and a lesson titled “The Rise of the Church of Christ.” The lesson was introduced as follows:
The
Savior’s work of bringing forth the Book of Mormon was now complete. But His
work of Restoration had just started. In addition to restoring doctrine and
priesthood authority, the Lord had made it clear through earlier revelations
that He also wanted to restore a formal organization—His Church (see Doctrine
and Covenants 10:53; 18:5). On April 6, 1830, more than 40
believers crowded into the Whitmer family’s log home in Fayette, New York, to
witness the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Some
people wonder why an organized Church is necessary. The answer may be found, at
least in part, in the revelations connected with that first Church meeting
in 1830. They describe blessings that would not have been possible if the
true Church of Jesus Christ had not been “regularly organized and established”
in the latter days (Doctrine and Covenants 20:1).
The following
principles were taught by this scripture block: (1) Jesus Christ has restored
His Church (Doctrine and Covenants 20-21), (2) Sacred ordinances help me become
like the Savior (Doctrine and Covenants 20:37, 75-79; 22), (3) Priesthood
service blesses Church members and their families (Doctrine and Covenants
20:38-60), and (4) Obeying God’s word through His prophets will give me divine
protection (Doctrine and Covenants 21).
This essay will discuss principle #2 “Sacred ordinances help me become like the Savior.” When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, the Lord taught His Saints about sacred ordinances, including baptism and the sacrament. The selected verses are as follows.
37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the
manner of baptism—All
those who humble themselves
before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits,
and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their
sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of
Jesus Christ, having a determination to
serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received
of the Spirit of Christ unto
the remission of
their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.
75 It is expedient that the church meet together
often to partake of bread and wine in
the remembrance of
the Lord Jesus;
76 And the elder or priest shall
administer it; and after this manner shall
he administer it—he shall kneel with the church and call upon the Father in
solemn prayer, saying:
77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask
thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to
the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of
the body of thy Son, and witness unto
thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the
name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which
he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to
be with them. Amen.
78 The manner of
administering the wine — he shall take the cup also,
and say:
79 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask
thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to
the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of
the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee,
O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have
his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles taught the following about covenants and the covenant path (“Why the Covenant Path,” Liahona, May 2021, 116-19).
What is the covenant path? It is the one path that leads to the
celestial kingdom of God. We embark upon the path at the gate of baptism and
then “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness
of hope, and a love of God and of all men [the two great commandments] … to the
end.” In the course of the covenant path (which, by the way, extends
beyond mortality), we receive all the ordinances and covenants pertaining to
salvation and exaltation.
Our overarching
covenant commitment is to do God’s will “and to be obedient to his commandments
in all things that he shall command us.” Following the principles and
commandments of the gospel of Jesus Christ day by day is the happiest and most
satisfying course in life. For one thing, a person avoids a great many problems
and regrets….
Too
often our problems or challenges are self-inflicted, the result of poor
choices, or, we could say, the result of “unforced errors.” When we are
diligently pursuing the covenant path, we quite naturally avoid many “unforced
errors.” We sidestep the various forms of addiction. We do not fall into the
ditch of dishonest conduct. We cross over the abyss of immorality and
infidelity. We bypass the people and things that, even if popular, would
jeopardize our physical and spiritual well-being. We avoid the choices that
harm or disadvantage others and instead acquire the habits of self-discipline
and service.
No comments:
Post a Comment