Sacrament - Personal Reflections

Why reflect upon the sacrament? 

The sacrament was introduced to the apostles of Jesus Christ just before Jesus was to go through the atonement and crucifixion.  I picture a very sacred time of prayer and reflection for the apostles while they try to grasp that Jesus would be leaving them.  I also picture it as a time for Jesus to gain strength through the act of serving the apostles, and thinking about what he was about to go through, yet knowing what it would accomplish also.  That same reverence and reflection for the representation of Jesus’ sacrifice should prevail today too.

Dallin H Oaks says, “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.”1  That is why I chose to reflect on the sacrament.  It goes to the very heart of my belief system.  I think it is important to prepare physically and mentally for the meeting that gives us the opportunity to partake of the emblems of the sacrament.  It is helpful to give time and effort on Saturday to look to what we will wear.  Are our clothes clean and ready, shoes located? Elder Holland adds his feelings of importance to dress when he states, “May I suggest that wherever possible a white shirt be worn by the deacons, teachers, and priests who handle the sacrament.  For sacred ordinances in the Church we often use ceremonial clothing, and a white shirt could be seen as a gentle reminder of the white clothing you wore in the baptismal font and an anticipation of the white shirt you will soon wear into the temple and onto your missions.2” Preparing physically also includes baths, meals, and cleaning.  If we are prepared then it opens the door to a more relaxed, thoughtful, feeling when we gather at church to pray, sing, learn and partake of the sacrament.

Preparing mentally takes effort. Thinking through the week’s events and efforts to fulfill goals, helps me to reaffirm particular objectives that I need to improve or do to become a better me.  We think about errors we made, our angry thoughts, our sins, and those corrections we need to make and of which we must repent.   Preparing mentally through thoughts of my Savior, peaceful music, words of the prophets, or scriptures to calm down or shut out the loud voices of the world.  What a difference it can make to present a welcome to the spirit that he may find place in me.

Our Father in Heaven knew that we would have difficulty remembering.  So he gave us this weekly opportunity to remember, reaffirm our desire, to covenant, and remember Him.  Refreshing and renewing our determination endeavor to do better this next week. 

            Elder Oaks says, “Willingness to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ can therefore be understood as willingness to take upon us the authority of Jesus Christ. According to this meaning, by partaking of the sacrament we witness our willingness to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and to receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Savior when he chooses to confer them upon us.”3   He says to me that the sacrament is very important and worthy of frequent contemplation and consistent reflection.

            If we can bring our whole selves to this sacred meeting, we will be blessed.  Our minds so that we learn and understand His will.  Our hearts soften and are open to the spirit’s direction.  We can bring our voice, singing praises to God’s name and receive extra blessings on our heads. 

            We are blessed for our obedience.  We are blessed by the sacrament.  This ordinance not only allows us the opportunity to repent and become clean, it allows us to become as clean as we were when first baptized.  Then comes the special blessing of having His spirit be with us, to guide us, to help us know truth, to find answers to life’s problems, to find comfort in times of trouble, loss, hurt, and fear.  Life is not easy, but it is worth it.

         The sacrament gives us the opportunity for spiritual growth, awesome blessings,and the ability to go forth in faith, courage and strength.

               1- Dallin H Oaks “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament” October 2008

               2- Jeffrey R. Holland “This Do in Remembrance of Me,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 68

3- Dallin H Oaks “Taking Upon Us The Name Of Jesus Christ” April 1985