What Is the Purpose of the Sacrament?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Exodus 7-13 and a lesson titled “Remember this Day, in Which Ye Came Out from Egypt.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Plague after plague afflicted Egypt, but Pharaoh still refused to release the Israelites. And yet God continued to demonstrate His power and give Pharaoh opportunities to accept “that I am the Lord” and “there is none like me in all the earth” (Exodus 7:5; 9:14).

Meanwhile, Moses and the Israelites must have watched with awe at these manifestations of God’s power on their behalf. Surely these continued signs confirmed their faith in God and strengthened their willingness to follow God’s prophet. Then, after nine terrible plagues had failed to free the Israelites, it was the tenth plague – the death of the firstborn, including Pharaoh’s firstborn – that finally ended the captivity. This seems fitting because in every case of spiritual captivity, there truly is only one way to escape. It is only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Firstborn – the blood of the Lamb without blemish – that will save us.

The principles taught in this scriptures block include (1) I can choose to soften my heart (Exodus 7-11); (2) Jesus Christ can save me because of His Atonement (Exodus 12:1-42); (3) The sacrament helps me remember my deliverance through Jesus Christ (Exodus 12:14-17, 24-27; 13:1-16).

This essay will discuss principle #3 about the sacrament. This is obviously the Easter lesson, which is scheduled a week late due to General Conference being held on Easter Sunday. However, it is a good lesson for us to remember all year long.

Jehovah commanded the Israelites to observe the Passover each year to help them remember He had delivered them, even after their captivity became a distant memory. He wanted them to teach their children and children’s children about the Passover to remember “throughout your generations” (see Exodus 12:14, 26-27).

After His Resurrection, Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His atoning sacrifice. The sacrament is an ordinance in which Church members partake of bread and water in remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Through this ordinance, Church members renew the covenants they made with God when they were baptized. Here is a video titled “Always Remember Him” that teaches the importance of the sacrament. 

Each Sunday when we partake of the bread and water, we should do so in remembrance of the Savior’s Atonement – His time in the Garden of Gethsemane, His trials, His Crucifixion, and His Resurrection.

As you participate in the sacramental services tomorrow, think of the things that you do to “always remember” Jesus Christ (Moroni 4:3; 5:2). Think of ways that you can preserve that remembrance “throughout your generations” (see Exodus 12:14, 26-27).

What Do You Do To Remember Jesus Christ?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Third Nephi 17-19 in a lesson titled “Behold, My Joy Is Full.” The lesson was introduced with this information. 

Jesus Christ had just spent the day ministering in the land of Bountiful, teaching His gospel, letting the people see and feel the marks in His resurrected body, and testifying that He was the promised Savior. Now it was time to leave. “My time is at hand,” He said (3 Nephi 17:1). He was about to return to His Father, and He knew that the people needed time to ponder what He had taught. So, promising to return the next day, He dismissed the multitude to their homes. But no one left. They didn’t say what they were feeling, but Jesus could sense it: they hoped He would “tarry a little longer with them” (3 Nephi 17:5). He had other important things to do, but showing compassion for God’s children is always a high priority to Him. So Jesus stayed a little longer. What followed was perhaps the most tender example of ministering recorded in scripture. Those who were present could only say it was indescribable (see 3 Nephi 17:16-17). Jesus Himself summed up the unplanned spiritual outpouring with these simple and powerful words: “Now behold, my joy is full” (3 Nephi 17:20).

There were several principles taught in this scripture block, including (1) The Savior is my perfect example of ministering (3 Nephi 17; 18:24-25, 28-32); (2) The Savior taught me how to pray (3 Nephi 17:13-22; 18:15-25; 19:6-9, 15-36); (3) I can “hold up” the light of Jesus Christ, and (4) Disciples of Jesus Christ seek the gift of the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 18:36-37; 19:6-22).

I feel prompted to discuss a fifth principle, “I can be filled with the Spirit as I take the sacrament” (3 Nephi 18:1-12). When we do something often, we can become casual with it or make it routine. In fact, we often do it without even thinking about it. The question for this discussion is, “How can you keep this from happening with the weekly ordinance of the sacrament?” Is it possible to be spiritually “filled” each and every time that we partake of the sacrament? Is the sacrament accomplishing in your life Christ’s purpose for instituting the ordinance of the sacrament? Why is the sacrament sacred to you?

Partaking of the sacrament is sacred to me because it is the way prepared Jesus Christ for me to renew my covenants with Heavenly Father. It is also an opportunity for me to review the life of Jesus Christ, particularly His prayer in Gethsemane, His death on Calvary, and His resurrection. I look forward to seeing His return to earth.

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) taught that the most important word in the dictionary could be remember. He said that “our greatest need is to remember” our covenants because we made them with God.

After reminding us of the words of President Kimball, President Henry B. Eyring gave “three suggestions about what you could remember each week when you partake of the sacred emblems of the sacrament.” Here are President Eyring’s suggestions: Always Remember Him (churchofjesuschrist.org)

Remember Jesus Christ.

First, remember the Savior. Remember who He was while on earth, how He spoke to others, and how He showed kindness in His acts. Remember whom He spent time with and what He taught. The Savior “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). He visited the sick. He was committed to doing His Father’s will.

Most of all, we can remember the great price He paid, out of His love for us, to remove the stain of our sins. As we remember Him, our desire to follow Him will grow. We will want to be a little kinder, more forgiving, and more willing to seek the will of God and do it.

Remember What You Need to Do Better

It’s hard to think of the Savior – His purity and perfection – without also thinking of how flawed and imperfect we are in comparison. We have made covenants to obey His commandments, yet we frequently fall short of his high standard. But the Savior knew this would happen, which is why He gave us the ordinance of the sacrament….

Remember the Progress You Are Making

As you examine your life during the ordinance of the sacrament, I hope your thoughts center not only on things you have done wrong but also on things you have done right – moments when you have felt that Heavenly Father and the Savior were pleased with you. You may even take a moment during the sacrament to ask God to help you see these things. If you do, I promise you will feel something. You will feel hope.

When I have done this, the Spirit has reassured me that while I’m still far from perfect, I’m better today than I was yesterday. And this gives me confidence that, because of the Savior, I can be even better tomorrow.

Always is a long time, and it implies a lot of focused effort. You know from experience how hard it is to think consciously of one thing all the time. But no matter how well you keep your promise to always remember Him, He always remembers you.

The Savior knows your challenges. He knows what it is like to have the cares of life press upon you. He knows how urgently you need the blessing that comes from always remembering Him and obeying Him – “that [you] may always have his Spirit to be with [you]” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77; emphasis added).

So He welcomes you back to the sacrament table each week, once again offering you the chance to witness before Him that you will always remember Him.

Here are some questions that you and I might ask ourselves: (1) What can I do to improve my worship during the sacrament and throughout the week? (2) What else can I do to worship more meaningfully? (3) Howe is the Savior’s sacrifice influencing my daily life? (4) What am I doing well as His disciple, and what can I improve?

Why Do You Partake of the Sacrament?

My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 13 in a lesson titled “In Remembrance.” The lesson material was preceded by this bit of counsel: “As you read about the events described in [the scripture block], pay attention to any impressions you receive, especially those impressions that deepen your faith in Jesus Christ and your commitment to Him.” The lesson was then introduced with the following information. 

The day before He died, Jesus gave His disciples something to remember Him by. He “took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood” (Matthew 26:26-28).

That happened about 2,000 years ago, in a place most of us will never see, in a language few of us can understand. But now, every Sunday in our own meeting places, priesthood holders, authorized to act in the name of Jesus Christ, do what He once did. They take bread and water, bless it, and give it to each of us, His disciples. It’s a simple act—can there be anything simpler, more fundamental, than eating bread and drinking water? But that bread and water are sacred to us because they help us remember Him. They’re our way of saying, “I’ll never forget Him”—not just, “I’ll never forget what I’ve read about His teachings and His life.” Rather, we are saying, “I’ll never forget what He did for me.” “I’ll never forget how He rescued me when I cried out for help.” And “I’ll never forget His commitment to me and my commitment to Him—the covenant we have made.”

As usual, this block of scriptures contains several principles that could be discussed, but I have chosen to discuss this principle found in Matthew 26:26-29 and Mark 14:22-25: “The sacrament is an opportunity to remember the Savior.” First, we will look at the actual scripture. The wording in Matthew and Mark are similar, so I will go with Matthew 26:26-29:

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink e all of it;

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The disciples of Christ must have been a little surprised when He gave them bread and told them that it was His body and then gave them wine and told them that it was His blood. Jesus Christ had a purpose for introducing the sacrament to His disciples – and to us. His purpose is to encourage us to remember Him. The bread and water used in the sacrament service are symbolic of Christ’s body and blood.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave the following explanation about how we can remember the Savior.

With a crust of bread, always broken, blessed, and offered first, we remember His bruised body and broken heart, His physical suffering on the cross where He cried, “I thirst,” and finally, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (John 19:38; Matt. 27:46.)

The Savior’s physical suffering guarantees that through His mercy and grace (see 2 Nephi 2:8) every member of the human family shall be freed from the bonds of death and be resurrected triumphantly from the grave….

With a small cup of water we remember the shedding of Christ’s blood and the depth of His spiritual suffering, anguish which began in the Garden of Gethsemane. There he said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” (Matt. 26:38). He was in agony and “prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as if it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

The Savior’s spiritual suffering and the shedding of his innocent blood, so lovingly and freely given, paid the debt for what the scriptures call the “original guilt” of Adam’s transgression (Moses 6:54). Furthermore, Christ suffered for the sins and sorrows and pains of all the rest of the human family, providing remission for all of our sins as well, upon conditions of obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel he taught (see 2 Ne. 9:21-23). As the Apostle Paul wrote, we were “bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:20). What an expensive price and what a merciful purchase!

That is why every ordinance of the gospel focuses in one way or another on the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, and surely that is why this particular ordinance with all its symbolism and imagery comes to us more readily and more repeatedly than any other in our life” (“This Do in Remembrance of Me,” 67) (As quoted in the New Testament Student Manual – Religion 211-212, pp. 82-83).

We are counseled to partake of the sacrament each Sunday in remembrance of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice. In doing so, we renew the covenants that we made with Him in baptism. We covenant to take His name upon us, to always remember Him, and to keep His commandments. In return, He covenants to have His Spirit to always be with us.

When Was the Last Time that You Partook of the Sacrament?

             I studied about the sacrament in my Come, Follow Me studies this week. The Savior Jesus Christ presented a sermon known as the Sermon on the Mount, while he lived on earth. He presented a similar sermon after His Resurrection to people who lived in ancient America. This sermon is known as the Sermon at the Temple.

            After the Savor taught the Beatitudes and that we are to hold up His light to the world, He commanded His disciples to bring forth some bread and wine. While they were gone to get the bread and wine, He commanded the multitude to sit down upon the earth.

3 And when the disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the disciples and commanded that they should eat.

4 And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude.

5 And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the disciples: Behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name.

6 And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you.

7 And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.

8 And it came to pass that when he said these words, he commanded his disciples that they should take of the wine of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude that they might drink of it.

9 And it came to pass that they did so, and did drink of it and were filled; and they gave unto the multitude, and they did drink, and they were filled.

10 And when the disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them: Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you.

11 And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you. (3 Nephi 18:3-11)

            These verses tell us that partaking of the sacrament can help us to remember the Atonement of Jesus Christ. As we partake of the sacrament worthily and keep our covenants, God has promised that we will always have His Spirit to be with us. They also tell us that we can be spiritually filled when we partake of the sacrament.

            Have you ever wondered what you can do to be “filled” when you partake of the sacrament? The Come, Follow Me manual for individuals and families suggests that we ask ourselves a series of questions during the sacrament service. Our questions should be like these: “How do I feel about the Savior and His sacrifice for me?” “How is His sacrifice influencing my daily life?” “What am I doing well as a disciple, and what can I improve?” I heard a couple of questions recently that are similar: “What am I doing that I should stop doing?” “What am I not doing that I should start doing?”

            President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency gave the following counsel about one way the sacrament can fill us spiritually:

As you examine your life during the ordinance of the sacrament, I hope your thoughts center not only on things you have done wrong but also on things you have done right – moments when you have felt that Heavenly Father and the Savior were pleased with you. You may even take a moment during the sacrament to ask God to help you see these things…. When I have done this, the Spirit has reassured me that while I’m still far from perfect, I’m better today than I was yesterday. And this gives me confidence that, because of the Savior, I can be even better tomorrow (“Always Remember Him,” Ensign, Feb. 2018, 5).

            I know that the opportunity to partake of the sacrament is a sacred one. There are many things that we can do to help us to remember the Savior, but none of them does the job like partaking of the sacrament does. I know that we can be filled with the Spirit as we partake worthily of the sacrament each week.

Staying Unspotted from the World

            There are several disasters or potential disasters happening in the United States at the present time. Hurricane Harvey came ashore several times in Texas and dumped catastrophic amounts of rain in the Houston area before moving eastward into Louisiana. Thousands of acres of land are burning in Montana, and Los Angeles is evacuating people because of fires in that locality. Yellowstone National Park is experiencing an on-going swarm of more than 2300 earthquakes that began in June. These natural disasters are joined by massive flooding in India.

            In addition to the natural disasters discussed above, we are also experiencing many political problems, migrations, and wars. Indeed we may say that we live in the perilous times prophesied by the Apostle Paul (see 2 Timothy 3:1). Many people get confused or distracted or even depressed by all the negative happenings in the world around us. We do not have to despair because we can have the Holy Ghost with us to comfort and guide us.

            Jesus Christ introduced the ordinance of the sacrament to His Apostles just days before He was killed. (See Matthew 26:17-30.) After He was resurrected and had ascended into heaven, He visited the Nephites living in ancient America and introduced the sacrament to them. (See 3 Nephi 18:1-11.)  He also commands us to partake regularly of the sacrament.

And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;

For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High (Doctrine and Covenants 59:9-10). 

            We know that this is “a commandment with a promise” because the prayers on the sacrament promise that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us] if we weekly and worthily partake of the sacrament (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77). 

            Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says, “The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church.” In his October 2008 General Conference address titled “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament,” he teaches us how to prepare for sacrament meeting in order to truly have the Holy Spirit with us.

            Elder Oaks teaches us that we must come humbly to the meeting with a broken heart and contrite spirit. He discusses the clothing that we should wear to sacrament meeting. “Our manner of dress indicates the degree to which we understand and honor the ordinance in which we will participate.” In other words, he says that we should wear our “Sunday best” clothing, similar to what we would wear to the temple.

            Elder Oaks says that we should be “seated well before the meeting begins” in order to listen to the prelude music and be in tune with the Spirit. He encourages us to sing the hymns and to “concentrate on worship.” He states, “When we partake of the sacrament, we make a sacred covenant that we will always remember the Savior. How sad to see persons obviously violating that covenant in the very meeting where they are making it.”

            In order to better control my thoughts during sacrament meeting, I imagine the Savior sitting on the stand with the brethren. I sometimes imagine Him walking to the sacrament table to bless the bread and the water. I also keep the hymnal open during the sacrament and read through several hymns while the emblems of the Savior’s body and blood are being passed to the congregation.

            I want to have the Holy Spirit with me during the week, and I desire to stay unspotted from the world. I know that my experience in sacrament meeting and with the sacrament can help me to do these things.

The Sacrament

                The Savior instituted the holy priesthood ordinance of the sacrament to help us remember His great atoning sacrifice and to keep His commandments.  He commanded us to meet together often to partake of the sacrament.  During the sacrament we partake of the bread and water in remembrance of His flesh and His blood that were given for our benefit.  We renew our sacred covenants with Heavenly Father as we partake of the sacrament.

                Following the Last Supper and before His crucifixion, Jesus was gathered with His Apostles in an upstairs room.  He knew that He would soon die; He also knew this would be His last opportunity to be with His Apostles during His mortal life.  He wanted them to always remember Him; He also wanted them to be strong and faithful to His teachings.  He introduced the sacrament by breaking bread into pieces and blessing it.  He said, “Take, eat; this is in remembrance of my body which I give a ransom for you.”  Next he took a cup of wine, blessed it, and passed it to His Apostles to drink.  He said, “Drink ye all of it.  For this is in remembrance of my blood … which is shed for as many as shall believe on my name, for the remission of their sins” (Inspired Version, Matt. 26:22-24.  See also King James Version, Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-23; Luke 22:15-20).

                After His resurrection, Jesus Christ came to the Americans and appeared to the Nephites.  He taught them the same ordinances as He had taught previously (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 3 Nephi 18:1-11).  He taught the same ordinances in the latter days when He restored His gospel to the earth; He commanded His people once again to partake of the sacrament in remembrance of him.  “It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:75).

                Modern scriptures explain exactly how the sacrament is to be administered.  Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meet together each Sabbath Day to worship God and to partake of the sacrament (Doctrine and Covenants 20:75).  The sacrament is administered by those holding the necessary priesthood authority.  A priest or elder breaks the bread into pieces, kneels, and blesses the bread (Doctrine and Covenants 20:76).  The bread is then passed to the members of the Church, usually by deacons but other priesthood bearers can assist.  The priest or elder then blesses the water, which is then passed to the members.

                When Jesus Christ introduced the sacrament, he used wine; however, in a modern revelation, He explained that it does not matter what we eat or drink during the sacrament as long as we remember Him (Doctrine and Covenants 27:2-3).  In the Church today, water is used instead of wine.  I am grateful for this change, particularly for parents of little children.

                The ordinance of the sacrament is performed very simply and very reverently.  In fact, Jesus Christ gave the exact words that are to be used for blessing the bread and the water.  The beautiful prayers explain the covenants we make very well.  When we listen to the prayers we know exactly what we are promising and what blessings are extended to us.

                The prayer over the bread is as follows:  “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 the 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” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77).

                The prayer over the water is similar but different:  “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine [water] to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in the 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” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:79).

                We renew sacred covenants with the Lord every time we partake of the sacrament.  A covenant is a sacred promise between the Lord and His children.  The sacramental prayers clearly state the covenants we make; therefore, it is important for us to know and understand what the covenants are and what they mean.

                The first promise we make is to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ.  This means that we are willing to be identified with Him and His Church.  We promise to never do anything that would bring shame or reproach upon His name.

                The second promise we make is to remember Jesus Christ.  We should allow Him to influence all of our thoughts, words, and actions and to assist in performing His work.

                The third promise we make is to keep all of His commandments.

                We take these three obligations upon ourselves when we are baptized (see Doctrine and Covenants 2:37; Mosiah 18:6-10); we renew our baptismal covenants when we partake of the sacrament.  We can put ourselves in perfect harmony with the Lord by partaking worthily of His sacrament (see 3 Nephi 18:1-12).

                The Lord has promised that we can receive “the remission of [our] sins (Inspired Version, Matthew 26:24) by partaking of the sacrament worthily.  He also promises that we can always have His Spirit to be with us if we keep our covenants.  When we are guided by the Spirit, we can have the knowledge, faith, power, and righteousness to gain eternal life.

                We should prepare ourselves to participate in the ordinance of the sacrament.  We must repent of our sins before partaking of the sacrament.  “If any have trespassed, let him not partake until he makes reconciliation” (Doctrine and Covenants 46:4).  Leaders are instructed, “Ye shall not suffer anyone knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall minister it.  For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul” (3 Nephi 18:28-29).

                We do not need to be perfect to partake of the sacrament, but we must have the spirit of repentance in our hearts.  Our attitude during the sacrament service should be one of worship and reverence.  We should clear our minds of all worldly thoughts.  We should think about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and be grateful for it.  We should be prayerful.  We should examine our lives and look for areas where we can become better.  We should renew our commitment to live our covenants and keep the commandments.

                We should understand that our attitude while partaking of the sacrament will influence our experience with the ordinance.  If we partake of the sacrament with a pure heart, we can receive the blessings promised by the Lord. 

In Remembrance

                    What was your first thought when you read the topic of this essay?  We do many things "in remembrance" of someone dear to us or an important event.  I believe it would be natural for you to immediately think that this post is about Memorial Day observance or something similar; however, you would be in error.  This essay is about the sacrament, which we partake of "in remembrance" of the suffering and Atonement of Jesus Christ in our behalf.

                    The sacrament is one of the most important and sacred ordinances of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  In partaking of the sacrament, we remember our Savior and recommit ourselves to the promises we made at our baptism.  We take the sacrament so often that sometimes we may forget its significance.  We can guard against this possibility by preparing always to be worthy to partake of the sacrament and to receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.

                    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:  "With so very much at stake, [the sacrament] should be taken more seriously than it sometimes is.  It should be a powerful, reverent, reflective moment.  It should encourage spiritual feelings and impressions.  As such it should not be rushed.  It is not something to `get over' so that the real purpose of a sacrament meeting can be pursued.  This is the real purpose of the meeting.  And everything that is said or sung or prayed in those services should be consistent with the grandeur of this sacred ordinance" (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 68).

The sacrament is more important than the announcements, talks, and hymns at sacrament meeting because it is the purpose for the meeting itself.  We are commanded to meet together often to partake of the sacrament.  The sacrament portion of our sacrament meetings always begins with a special sacrament hymn to remind us of the purpose of the sacrament.  With the words of the hymn freshly in our minds, it is easier to keep our minds on the Savior and His mission.  I like to read the words of several sacrament hymns in order to keep my mind focused on the purpose of the sacrament and remember the Savior.  Other people read scriptures about Him.  Still others concentrate their thoughts and ponder about Him. 

The sacrament usually consists of bread and water.  We partake of the bread "in remembrance of the body of thy Son [Jesus Christ]" and to "witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that [we] are willing to take upon [us] the name of thy Son, and always remember and keep his commandments" that we may "always have his Spirit to be with [us]" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77).

We partake of the water "in remembrance of the blood of thy Son [Jesus Christ], which was shed for [us]" that we "may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that [we] do always remember him, that [we] may have his Spirit to be with [us]" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:79).

If there is no bread or water available to use for the sacrament, appropriate substitutions can be made.  The important thing is to remember the purposes of the sacrament.  The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith, "For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory - remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins" (Doctrine and Covenants 27:2).

                    We know that Heavenly Father loves us very much because He sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to atone for our sins.  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

                    Elder Melvin J. Ballard, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained how the sacrament reminds us of the love of our Heavenly Father and why we should remember the Savior's Atonement when we partake of the sacrament.

                    "It is written in the scriptures that God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son to die for the world, that whosoever believeth on him … and keepeth his commandments, shall be saved.  But this [sacrifice] did not cost us very much - freely given are all these glorious privileges….

                    "… While we give nothing, perhaps, for this atonement and this sacrifice, nevertheless, it has cost someone something, and I love to contemplate what it cost our Father in heaven to give us the gift of his beloved Son, … who so loved the world that he laid his life down to redeem the world, to save us and to feed us spiritually while we walk in this life, and prepare us to go and dwell with him in the eternal worlds….

                    "Our Father in heaven … loved his Son Jesus Christ, … for [he] had with him his Son, our Redeemer, in the eternal worlds, faithful and true for ages….  God heard the cry of his Son in that moment of great grief and agony, in the garden when … he cried out:  `Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.'  …

                    "… He saw that Son condemned, he saw him drag the cross through the streets of Jerusalem and faint under its load….  He saw [Jesus'] body stretched out upon the wooden cross, he saw the cruel nails driven through hands and feet, and the blows that broke the skin, tore the flesh … and let out the life's blood of his Son….

                    "In that hour I think I can see our dear Father, … his great heart almost breaking for the love that he had for his Son.  Oh, in that moment when he might have saved his Son, I thank him and praise him that he did not fail us, for he had not only the love of his Son in mind, but he had love for us, and I rejoice that he did not interfere, and that his love for us made it possible for him to endure to look upon the suffering of his Son and give him finally to us, our Savior and Redeemer….

                    "… My brethren and sisters, … if I only knew how essential it was … that I should receive the spiritual life that comes form that Son, I am sure I would always be present at the sacrament table to do honor to the gift that has come unto us" ("The Sacramental Covenant," Improvement Era, Oct. 1919, 1028-31).

                    We partake of the sacrament to renew the covenants we made with Heavenly Father when we were baptized.  Each time we partake of the sacrament worthily, the covenant or promises between us and our Heavenly Father becomes new again.  We promise to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, to always remember Him, and to keep His commandments.  In return, we receive the promise that we will always have the Holy Ghost to be with us.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79).

                    When Jesus Christ visited the Nephites after His Resurrection, He taught them about the sacrament.  He broke bread, blessed it, and gave it to the multitude - and they were "filled."  He blessed the "wine" and gave it to the multitude - and they were "filled" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 3 Nephi 18:1-11). 

                    Again, the Savior blessed bread and "wine" and gave it to the multitude.  "And he said unto them:  He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled.

                    "Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the Spirit; and they did cry out with one voice, and gave glory to Jesus, whom they both saw and heard" (3 Nephi 20:8-9).

                    The Apostle Paul also wrote about the importance of partaking of the sacrament worthily.  Being worthy to partake of the sacrament does not mean being perfect.  To partake of the sacrament worthily, we must be doing our very best to keep the covenants we have made - to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, always remember him, and keep the commandments.

                    "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

                    "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body

                    "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep" (1 Corinthians 11:28-30).

                    What did Paul mean that should "examine ourselves" to make sure we partake of the sacrament worthily?  How can we determine if we are "weak," "sickly," or "sleep."    

                               

                    Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told the youth of the Church:  "My dear young friends, I encourage you to take time each week to be by yourself, away from television and the crowd.  Have your scriptures with you, and as you read, ponder, and pray, take an honest look at your life.  Evaluate where you stand with the promises you have made with Heavenly Father.  If you have a problem, talk it over with the Lord in earnest and humble prayer.  Counsel with your parents; they will help you.  Your bishop and your Young Men and Young Women adult leaders will help.  They love you and want you to be at peace with yourself so you can partake of the sacrament worthily each week.  When all is said and done, however, only you know if you are living true to your covenants made with God" (Ensign, May 1993, 8).

                    Some people think that sacrament meeting is boring and unimportant.  Those people may be interested in the following story.  "While very young … I recall telling a dear Sunday School teacher that I was not going to sacrament meeting any more because it was boring and dry.  [The teacher] looked at me and said, `Don't you ever let me hear you say that again!  God has invited you to that meeting to partake of the emblems of Jesus Christ's suffering of his gift to you.  You are very privileged to be invited.  If you take the right spirit with you to meeting, you will always bring something good away with you'" (LaRue C. Longden, "God Has Invited You," in Leon R. Harshorn, comp., Remarkable Stories from the Lives of Latter-day Saint Women, 2 vols. [1973-75], 1:97-98).

                    I had never thought - until I read this story - that God had invited me to sacrament meeting.  I knew the importance of the meeting, and I tried to be in tune with the Holy Ghost - but I had never thought about it as receiving an invitation.  Thinking of sacrament meetings as an invitation from Heavenly Father brings the whole experience to an even higher level in my thinking!

                    Partaking of the sacrament gives us the chance to review and remake the covenants we made at baptism.  I am very grateful for my many opportunities to participate in sacrament meetings and to regularly renew my baptismal covenants with my Heavenly Father.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He atoned for my sins if I repent of them.  I love Him and I am grateful for Him.  I encourage you to join me in striving to always be worthy to partake of the sacrament and to think about the Savior while doing so.  I know that the sacrament experience is a blessing in our lives.

                   

Baptism Means Taking the Name of Christ

                    Baptism is one of the first steps we take to come to Christ and most often comes after we gain faith in Jesus Christ and repent of our sins.  Baptism is a covenant that we make with Christ.  When we understand the symbolism of baptism, we are more capable of understanding the eternal nature of the covenants and blessings that come because of baptism.  Through continued obedience and the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can overcome spiritual death and return to the presence of our Father in Heaven.  When we are baptized, we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and promise to remember Him in all that we do.

                    Modern-day scriptures clearly identify the purposes of baptism. Some of those scriptures follow:

"Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the holy commandment, for the remission of sins" (Doctrine and Covenants 49:13).  The purpose given is to have our sins "erased" or taken from us.

"But … thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying:  After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 2 Nephi 31:14).  The purpose given is to show our willingness to keep all of Heavenly Father's commandments.

"No one can be received into the church of Christ unless he has arrived unto the years of accountability before God, and is capable of repentance" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:71).  In other revelations, the Lord explained that the "years of accountability" is eight years of age.  Children are not baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until they are old enough to know the difference between good and evil.  All children who die before the age of eight years are automatically taken back into the presence of God.

"Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter.  For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

"And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ….

"And now … I would ask if all is done?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father:  Ye shall have eternal life" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 2 Nephi 31:17-20).  The purpose given is to get on the path and begin the journey to eternal life."

"And whoso doeth this shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of the hands of the elders of the church" (Doctrine and Covenants 49:14).  The purpose given is to be ready and worthy to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In light of the above scriptures, I think it is fair to ask this question:   Why did Jesus - who did not sin - need baptism?  We are very fortunate because Nephi, an ancient American prophet, answered this question very clearly.

"And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

"Know ye not that he was holy?  But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

"Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.

"And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them" (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 2 Nephi 31:6-9).  The reason given is that even Jesus Christ needed to be baptized in order to show obedience to Heavenly Father.  In doing so, Jesus set an example of what all of us must do in order to enter the kingdom of God.

A symbol is an object or action that represents something else.  In Romans 6:3, the Apostle Paul spoke of baptism as a symbol:  "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?"

What did Paul mean when he said that we are "baptized into [Christ's] death"?  The word baptism comes from a Greek word that means to dip or immerse (Bible Dictionary, 'Baptism," 618).  The act of immersion - being momentarily buried under water - represents the death and burial of a person's sinfulness.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to repent of our sins and to be forgiven.

The Apostle Paul continued his explanation:  "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (Romans 6:4-5).

This scripture brings another very fair question:  How is baptism "in the likeness of [Christ's] resurrection"? The act of coming out from under the water represents a birth into a new life, just as the resurrected Jesus Christ rose from the tomb.  A newly baptized person is free of sin and possesses a new opportunity to grow closer to God.

Jesus Christ discussed baptism with a man named Nicodemus in John 3:3-5 and told him:  "…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

"Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

When Nicodemus asked how a person could be born of water, Jesus Christ explained that a person is "born of water" when he/she is baptized by immersion.  Christ also explained that a person is "born of the Spirit" when he/she receives the Holy Ghost after their baptism.

A newly baptized and converted man testified:  "I came from a broken home.  We had no religion, and I was not taught any particular moral values.  My life was meaningless, empty, and full of conflict.  I committed many sins.  Then the gospel came into my life.  I accepted the Savior wholeheartedly.  I began to believe in Him and to turn away from my former ways.  I was baptized, and I received the marvelous gift of the Holy Ghost.  Brothers and Sisters, for years and years I felt as if I were `dead' inside and now for the first time in life, I feel `alive'" (in My Errand from the Lord [Melchizedek Priesthood study guide, 1976], 161).

In April 1830, the Prophet Joseph Smith received instructions through revelation about organizing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This revelation also gave instructions for the people who wanted to be baptized as members of the Church.

"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" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:37). 

This verse contains the baptismal covenant, an agreement between the Lord and the person being baptized.  With this covenant, we promise to obey God's commandments, and He promises to bless us according to our obedience.  People covenant to

1) humble himself/herself before God, 2) repent of their sins, 3) be willing to take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ,

4) be willing to serve the Lord, 5) show by their works that they have received the Spirit of Christ.

                    What does it mean to take upon ourselves the name of Christ?  A basic answer is that we take upon ourselves the name of Christ when we follow His example.  Alma, an prophet in the Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ taught his people how they could take upon themselves the name of Christ.  Alma was converted through the teachings of Abinadi and then proceeded to teach the gospel to others.  In order to help the people prepare to be baptized, he reviewed the duties they would be expected to do as members of the Church.

                    "And it came to pass that he said unto them:  Behold, here are the waters of Mormon … and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;

                    "Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life -

                    "Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?"  (See Mosiah 18:8-10.)

               According to Alma, in order to "come into the fold of God, and … be called his people", we must 1) "bear one another's burdens", 2) "mourn with those that mourn", 3) "comfort those that stand in need of comfort", and 4) "stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places".

                    We "bear one another's burdens" when we help them during their trials and adversities.  We "mourn with those that mourn" when we share their grief - death of loved ones, miscarriages, loss of job, etc.  We stand as witnesses of God when we 1) defend the name of Deity and do not allow it to be taken in vain, 2) are willing to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, 3) sustain and support priesthood and auxiliary leaders, and 4) choose the right thing to do whether or not we are being watched.

                    Alma listed promises along with the requirements; by observing the requirements of membership we can:  1) "be redeemed of God", 2) "be numbered with those of the first resurrection, 3) "have eternal life", and 4) receive "his Spirit more abundantly upon you". 

                    The baptismal covenant is so important that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have the opportunity to renew it each week by partaking of the sacrament.  Baptism is more than just being immersed in the water.  The covenants we make and the blessings we can receive are eternal.  I testify that keeping our baptismal covenants brings joy in this life and hope for eternal life.