from True
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Sacrament
On
the night before His Crucifixion, Jesus Christ met with His Apostles
and instituted the sacrament. “He took bread, and gave thanks, and
brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given
for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after
supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is
shed for you” (Luke 22:19–20). After His Resurrection, He
instituted the sacrament among the Nephites (see 3 Nephi 18:1–11).
Today
we partake of bread and water in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s
atoning sacrifice. This ordinance is an essential part of our worship
and our spiritual development. The more we ponder its significance,
the more sacred it becomes to us.
Remembering
the Savior and His Atonement
The
sacrament provides an opportunity for you to remember with gratitude
the life, ministry, and Atonement of the Son of God.
With
broken bread, you remember His body. You can be mindful of His
physical suffering—especially His suffering on the cross. You can
remember that through His mercy and grace, all people will be
resurrected and given the opportunity for eternal life with God.
With
a small cup of water, you can remember that the Savior shed His blood
in intense spiritual suffering and anguish, beginning in the Garden
of Gethsemane. There He said, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even
unto death” (Matthew 26:38). Submitting to the will of the Father,
He suffered more than we can comprehend: “Blood [came] from every
pore, so great [was] his anguish for the wickedness and the
abominations of his people” (Mosiah 3:7). You can remember that
through the shedding of His blood, Jesus Christ saved you and all
other people from what the scriptures call the “original guilt”
of Adam’s transgression (Moses 6:54). You can remember that He also
suffered for the sins, sorrows, and pains of all Heavenly Father’s
children, providing remission of sins for those who repent and live
the gospel (see 2 Nephi 9:21–23).
Renewing
Covenants and Promised Blessings
When
you partake of the sacrament, you witness to God that your
remembrance of His Son will extend beyond the short time of that
sacred ordinance. You promise to remember Him always. You witness
that you are willing to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ
and that you will keep His commandments. In partaking of the
sacrament and making these commitments, you renew your baptismal
covenant (see Mosiah 18:8–10; D&C 20:37).
You
receive great blessings when you keep the baptismal covenant. As you
renew it, the Lord renews the promised remission of your sins.
Cleansed from sin, you are able to “always have his Spirit to be
with [you]” (D&C 20:77). The Spirit’s constant companionship
is one of the greatest gifts you can receive in mortality. The Spirit
will guide you in the paths of righteousness and peace, leading you
to eternal life with your Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ.
Partaking
Worthily
In
preparation for the sacrament each week, take time to examine your
life and repent of your sins. You do not need to be perfect in order
to partake of the sacrament, but you should have a spirit of humility
and repentance in your heart. Every week you should prepare for that
sacred ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (see 3
Nephi 9:20).
If
you approach the sacrament with the reverence and solemnity it
deserves, it becomes a weekly opportunity for introspection,
repentance, and rededication—a source of strength and a constant
reminder of the Savior’s Atonement.
Covenant
A
covenant is a sacred agreement between God and a person or group of
people. God sets specific conditions, and He promises to bless us as
we obey those conditions. When we choose not to keep covenants, we
cannot receive the blessings, and in some instances we suffer a
penalty as a consequence of our disobedience.
All
the saving ordinances of the priesthood are accompanied by covenants.
For example, you made a covenant when you were baptized, and you
renew that covenant each time you partake of the sacrament (see
Mosiah 18:8–10; D&C 20:37, 77, 79). If you have received the
Melchizedek Priesthood, you have entered into the oath and covenant
of the priesthood (see D&C 84:33–44). The temple endowment and
the sealing ordinance also include sacred covenants.
Always
remember and honor the covenants you make with the Lord. Then you
will not need to be commanded in everything you do (see D&C
58:26–28). You will be inspired by the Holy Ghost, and Christlike
conduct will be part of your nature. As the Lord has promised, you
will “receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge,
that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which
bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal” (D&C 42:61).
Your greatest hope should be to enjoy the sanctification that comes
from this divine guidance; your greatest fear should be to forfeit
these blessings.
Baptism
Entering
the Path to Eternal Life
Baptism
is the first saving ordinance of the gospel (see Articles of Faith
1:4). Through baptism and confirmation by priesthood authority, you
became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
When
you were baptized, you showed your willingness to follow the Savior’s
example. He too was baptized, even though He was without sin. As He
explained to John the Baptist, He needed to be baptized in order to
“fulfil all righteousness” (see Matthew 3:13–17).
All
who seek eternal life must follow the example of the Savior by being
baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. The prophet Nephi
said that the Savior showed us “the gate by which [we] should
enter. For the gate by which [we] should enter is repentance and
baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of [our] sins by fire
and by the Holy Ghost. And then are [we] in this strait and narrow
path which leads to eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:17–18). We will
receive eternal life if we endure to the end, keeping our covenants
and receiving other ordinances of salvation.
Baptism
in the Lord’s Way
The
Savior revealed the true method of baptism to the Prophet Joseph
Smith, making clear that the ordinance must be performed by one
having priesthood authority and that it must be done by immersion:
“The
person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to
baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has
presented himself or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him
or her by name: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize
you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
“Then
shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of
the water” (D&C 20:73–74).
Immersion
is symbolic of the death of a person’s sinful life and the rebirth
into a spiritual life, dedicated to the service of God and His
children. It is also symbolic of death and resurrection. (See Romans
6:3–6.)
Your
Baptismal Covenant
When
you were baptized, you entered into a covenant with God. You promised
to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ, keep His
commandments, and serve Him to the end (see Mosiah 18:8–10; D&C
20:37). You renew this covenant each time you partake of the
sacrament (see 20:77, 79).
Taking
upon Yourself the Name of Jesus Christ.
When
you take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ, you see yourself as
His. You put Him and His work first in your life. You seek what He
wants rather than what you want or what the world teaches you to
want.
In
the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin explains why it is important to
take the name of the Savior upon ourselves:
“There
is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would
that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have
entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto
the end of your lives.
“And
it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the
right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called;
for he shall be called by the name of Christ.
“And
now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the
name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he
findeth himself on the left hand of God” (Mosiah 5:8–10).
Keeping
the Commandments.
Your
baptismal covenant is a commitment to come into God’s kingdom,
separating yourself from the world and standing as a witness of God
“at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah
18:9). Your efforts to stand as a witness of God include everything
you do and say. Strive always to remember and keep the Lord’s
commandments. Keep your thoughts, language, and actions pure. When
you seek entertainment such as movies, television, the Internet,
music, books, magazines, and newspapers, be careful to watch, listen
to, and read only those things that are uplifting. Dress modestly.
Choose friends who encourage you to reach your eternal goals. Stay
away from immorality, pornography, gambling, tobacco, alcohol, and
illicit drugs. Keep yourself worthy to enter the temple.
Serving
the Lord.
The
commandment to separate yourself from the things of the world does
not mean that you should isolate yourself from others. Part of the
baptismal covenant is to serve the Lord, and you serve Him best when
you serve your fellow men. When the prophet Alma taught about the
baptismal covenant, he said that we should be “willing to bear one
another’s burdens, that they may be light” and “willing to
mourn with those that mourn … and comfort those that stand in need
of comfort” (Mosiah 18:8–9). Be kind and respectful to all
people, following the example of Jesus Christ in the way you treat
others.
Remission
of Sins.
Because
you have been baptized, you can receive a remission of your sins. In
other words, you can be forgiven through the mercy of the Savior.
With this blessing, you can be permitted eventually to live in the
presence of Heavenly Father.
To
receive a remission of your sins, you must exercise faith in Jesus
Christ, be sincerely repentant, and strive always to keep the
commandments. The prophet Mormon taught, “The first fruits of
repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the
fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments
bringeth remission of sins” (Moroni 8:25). You “retain a
remission of your sins” as you continue to humble yourself before
God, call upon Him daily in prayer, remain steadfast in the faith,
and serve those in need (see Mosiah 4:11–12, 26).
Enduring
to the End
Now
that you are baptized and have received the gift of the Holy Ghost,
you must continue in righteousness, for these ordinances mark only
the beginning of your journey back to dwell with your Heavenly
Father. The prophet Nephi taught:
“After
ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, 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” (2 Nephi 31:19–20).
Reverence
Reverence
is profound respect and love. When you have a reverent attitude
toward God, you honor Him, express your gratitude to Him, and obey
His commandments.
You
should be reverent in your behavior as well as your attitude.
Reverent behavior includes prayer, scripture study, fasting, and
payment of tithes and offerings. It includes wearing modest clothing
and using clean, wholesome language. The depth of your reverence is
evident in your choice of music and other entertainment, in the way
you speak of sacred subjects, and in the way you dress and act when
you attend church and the temple. You show your reverence for the
Lord when you serve other people and treat them with kindness and
respect.
As
you become more reverent, you will notice a quiet transformation in
your life. The Lord will pour out His Spirit more abundantly on you.
You will be less troubled and confused. You will be able to receive
revelation to help you solve personal and family problems.
Just
as reverence brings you closer to God, irreverence suits the purposes
of the adversary. Satan will tempt you to follow the world’s trend
to more noise, excitement, and contention and to less restraint and
quiet dignity. Like a commander mounting a military invasion, he will
try to jam the channels of communication between you and the Lord.
Beware of such tactics, and strive to be reverent in all you do.
Prayer
You
are a child of God. Your Heavenly Father loves you and knows your
needs, and He wants you to communicate with Him through prayer. Pray
to Him and no one else. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded, “Ye must
always pray unto the Father in my name” (3 Nephi 18:19).
As
you make a habit of approaching God in prayer, you will come to know
Him and draw ever nearer to Him. Your desires will become more like
His. You will be able to secure for yourself and for others blessings
that He is ready to give if you will but ask in faith.
Principles
of Prayer
Your
Heavenly Father is always ready to hear and answer your prayers. The
power of your prayers depends on you. As you strive to make prayer a
part of your life, remember this counsel:
Make
your prayers meaningful.
The
prophet Mormon warned that if anyone “shall pray and not with real
intent of heart … it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none
such” (Moroni 7:9). To make your prayers meaningful, you must pray
with sincerity and “with all the energy of heart” (Moroni 7:48).
Be careful to avoid “vain repetitions” when you pray (see Matthew
6:7). Give serious thought to your attitude and to the words you
use.
Use
language that shows love, respect, reverence, and closeness.
The
application of this principle will vary according to the language you
speak. If you pray in English, for example, you should use the
pronouns of the scriptures when you address God—Thee, Thou, Thy,
and Thine, rather than the more common pronouns you, your, and yours.
Regardless of the language, the principle remains the same: When you
pray, you should use words that appropriately convey a loving,
worshipful relationship with God. You may have some difficulty
learning the language of prayer, but you will gradually become more
comfortable with it as you pray and read the scriptures.
Public
Prayer
At
times you may be asked to offer a public prayer, perhaps in a Church
meeting or class. When you receive this opportunity, remember that
you are communicating with Heavenly Father, not giving a public
sermon. Do not worry about what others may think of what you say.
Instead, offer a simple, heartfelt prayer.
Worship
To
worship God is to give Him your love, reverence, service, and
devotion. The Lord commanded Moses, “Worship God, for him only
shalt thou serve” (Moses 1:15). In this dispensation He has
commanded, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus
Christ thou shalt serve him” (D&C 59:5). If you place any
person or thing above the love of God, you are practicing false
worship, or idolatry (see Exodus 20:3–6).
Prayer
is one way you can worship the Father. Alma taught his son Helaman,
“Cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto
the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea,
let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the
affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever” (Alma
37:36).
You
should attend your Church meetings in a spirit of worship. The Lord
has commanded: “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” (D&C 59:9–10).
Participation
in priesthood ordinances is also part of your worship. As you
reverently partake of the sacrament and attend the temple, you
remember and worship your Heavenly Father and express your gratitude
for His Son, Jesus Christ.
In
addition to showing outward expressions of worship, you should have a
worshipful attitude wherever you go and in everything you do. Alma
taught this principle to a group of people who had been cast out of
their place of worship. He helped them see that true worship is not
limited to one day of the week (see Alma 32:11). Speaking to the same
group of people, Alma’s companion Amulek encouraged them to
“worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in
truth” (Alma 34:38).
further
reading
The
Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament
DALLIN
H. OAKS
general
conference oct 1998
Blessings
of the Sacrament
BY
ELDER DON R. CLARKE
general
conference oct 2012
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