As we strive to become disciples of Jesus Christ, the sacrament is the most familiar and meaningful ordinance in our lives. Jesus instituted the sacrament to remind us of His Atonement at the end of the Last Supper. Now, we are grateful and joyful that we can partake of the sacrament and renew and keep our covenants every week.
Through the sacrament ordinance, we covenant to always remember Jesus Christ, be willing to take upon ourselves His name, and promise to keep His commandments as stated in the sacrament prayer.[1] In addition, the Lord promises us we will gain a remission of our sins through His Atonement, always have His Spirit to be with us, and have the knowledge, faith, power, and righteousness to gain eternal life.[2]
Over the last 6 years, I am grateful I was able to bless the sacrament for my mother each Sabbath day in her home because of her frail and waning physical strength. While taking the sacrament each time, she contemplated and expressed her utmost gratitude. We always felt something special during this time as I said the sacrament prayer slowly and distinctly. In the room with us, we were deeply touched by the Spirit. Through the reverent atmosphere and the holy ordinance which we partook, our hearts were united in Jesus Christ. We were reminded of the peace the Lord grants to His followers and of the hope of returning to our Heavenly Father someday. This was especially true last July when my mother passed away at 99 years old. While the death of a loved one is difficult for most, I felt comfort and peace during that time due to my knowledge and faith in the Atonement.
In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
President Russell M. Nelson
We live in a turbulent time. Economic stresses, social unsafety, family and marriage problems, the COVID-19 pandemic, and natural disasters are some of the challenges we are facing. While they may feel overwhelming, we don’t need to let our fears defeat us. Instead, we should be grateful that we are promised we can “always have His Spirit to be with us.” By taking the sacrament each week, we can hear the voice of His Spirit whispering His guidance, comfort, and peace in our daily life. By being still, we can hear His voice, receive personal revelation, and feel peace. “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”[3]
Elder Dale G. Renlund taught, “Partaking of the sacrament is the next ordinance everyone needs after being confirmed a member of the Church. The sacrament is the next ordinance needed after receiving the endowment or being sealed in the temple. The sacrament is the next ordinance needed after making a good choice and the next ordinance needed after making a poor choice. The sacrament is the next ordinance needed every week for the rest of our lives.”[4]
No matter how old we are, how long we live, or what happens in our life, the sacrament ordinance on the Sabbath day helps us focus on Jesus Christ in our daily life, as well as edify our souls. As President Russell M. Nelson exhorted, “When the focus of our lives is on Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy.”[5]
We love our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and feel their love for us. We follow the Savior and strive to love our neighbors as He does. We want others to feel the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We can share our time, resources, and personal experiences to bless our friends and their families. We want them to feel the joy that comes from the Savior, His gospel, and His church. “The sacrament ordinance makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church.”[6] As disciples of Jesus Christ, we can extend a loving invitation to our friends and all the missing members who we know and love, to come to sacrament meeting where we all can feel loved and build faith in Jesus Christ. This is His work. This is His Church.
[1] Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79.
[2] Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 26:22, 24; 3 Nephi 18:12.
[3] Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96.
[4] Dale G. Renlund, “Lifelong Conversion,” BYU devotional address, 14 Sep. 2021.
[5] Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 82.
[6] Dallin H. Oaks, “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 18.