July: How can I make the sacrament more meaningful to me?

A Meaningful Sacrament

What does it mean to partake of the sacrament worthily?

• Read “1 Corinthians 11:27-28” We have been told that those who eat and drink unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, what does this mean? We dishonor his body and blood which represents his life and the work done for us (in other words the atonement) including his suffering and death for us. We become guilty of mocking and treating with indifference the very person of Jesus Christ. We must examine ourselves to determine our worthiness, but what is the criteria?
• Read “Quote 1” by George Albert Smith Eighth president of the church, note “be perfect” is not a stipulation to take the sacrament worthily, do we desire the will of the Lord?

How does taking the sacrament relate to my baptism?

• Read “D&C 20:37” We make the same promises every week during the sacrament as when we chose to be baptised. (Review Baptismal Interview questions from PMG)

How can I prepare for the sacrament, and what can I do during the sacrament to make it more meaningful?

• “I can make the sacrament more meaningful to me by ___________.” Please elaborate and share an example(Split into 5 groups and read quotes from Don R. Clark’s talk on sacrament. Discuss question.)
• Quote 2 - Think of blessings for which you are grateful. Think of Christ’s great love for you and of your love for him.
• Quote 3 - Review the meaning of the sacrament prayers in your mind. Review your activities of the past week to determine if you have kept your sacramental covenants.
• Quote 4 -  Ask for Forgiveness. Ask for the Lord’s help and commit to overcoming a weakness during the coming week. (Kendra’s experience)
• Quote 5 - Personal revelation to personal problems.Come with questions.
• Quote 6 - Be filled with the Holy Ghost (See next question to elaborate)

How can consistently partaking of the sacrament every week bless my life?

• Read “D&C 59:9-10” This command to partake of the sacrament each week comes with the promise that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (D&C 20:77). This Spirit is the foundation of our testimony and acts as a compass to guide us on our path. President Wilford Woodruff taught that the gift of the holy ghost and its constant companionship “is the greatest gift that can be bestowed upon man” Why?

Baptismal Interview Questions

1. Do you believe that God is our Eternal Father? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world?
2. Do you believe the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith? Do you believe that [current Church President] is a prophet of God? What does this mean to you?               
3. What does it mean to you to repent? Do you feel that you have repented of your past transgressions?
4. Have you ever committed a serious crime? If so, are you now on probation or parole? Have you ever participated in an abortion? a homosexual relationship?
5. You have been taught that membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints includes living gospel standards. What do you understand of the following standards? Are you willing to obey them?
1. The law of chastity, which prohibits any sexual relationship outside the bonds of a legal marriage between a man and a woman.
2. The law of tithing.
3. The Word of Wisdom.
4. The Sabbath day, including partaking of the sacrament weekly and rendering service to fellow members.
6. When you are baptized, you covenant with God that you are willing to take upon yourself the name of Christ and keep His commandments throughout your life. Are you ready to make this covenant and strive to be faithful to it?

Quotes

1. George Albert Smith Eighth president of the church stated “Before partaking of this sacrament, our hearts should be pure; our hands should be clean; we should be divested of all enmity toward our associates; we should be at peace with our fellow men; and we should have in our hearts a desire to do the will of our Father and to keep all of His commandments. If we do this, partaking of the sacrament will be a blessing to us and will renew our spiritual strength”

2. Have a Feeling of Gratitude for the Atonement of Jesus Christ

The first principle is to have a feeling of gratitude to Heavenly Father during the sacrament for the Atonement of His Son. The following story is told about passing the sacrament:

“The sacrament never really meant much to me until the Sunday I was ordained a deacon. That afternoon I passed the sacrament for the first time. Prior to the meeting, one of the deacons warned me, ‘Look out for Brother Schmidt. You may have to wake him up!’ Finally the time came for me to participate in the passing of the sacrament. I handled the first six rows quite well. Children and adults partook of the bread with no noticeable thought or problem. Then I got to row seven, the row where Brother Schmidt always sat. But I was surprised. Instead of being asleep he was wide awake. Unlike many of the others I had served, he took the bread with what seemed to be great thought and reverence.

“A few minutes later I found myself again approaching row seven with the water. This time my friend was right. Brother Schmidt sat with his head bowed and his big German eyes shut. He was evidently sound asleep. What could I do or say? I looked for a moment at his brow, wrinkled and worn from years of toil and hardship. He had joined the Church as a teenager and had experienced much persecution in his small German town. I had heard the story many times in testimony meeting. I decided finally to gently nudge his shoulder in hopes of waking him. As I reached to do so, his head slowly lifted. There were tears streaming down his cheeks and as I looked into his eyes I saw love and joy. He quietly reached up and took the water. Even though I was only twelve then, I can still remember vividly the feeling I had as I watched this rugged old man partake of the sacrament. I knew without a doubt that he was feeling something about the sacrament that I had never felt. I determined then that I wanted to feel those same feelings.”

Brother Schmidt had communicated with heaven, and heaven had communicated with him.

3. Remember That We Are Renewing Baptismal Covenants

The second principle is to remember that we are renewing our baptismal covenants as we partake of the sacrament. Some of the promises that we make, as recorded in the scriptures, include:

“Come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, … to bear one another’s burdens, … to mourn with those that mourn … , and to stand as witnesses of God.”5

“Come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, … willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end,”6 and to keep His commandments and always remember Him.7

The sacramental prayers are a reminder of these covenants. When we partake of the sacrament, we renew our commitment to live up to these covenants. I believe it would be appropriate to memorize the sacramental prayers in our minds and in our hearts. This will help us focus on renewing our baptismal covenants. Whether we were 8 or 80 years old when we were baptized, I hope we will never forget that day and the covenants we made.

4. During the Sacrament We Can Feel Forgiven of Our Sins

Thirdly, during the sacrament we can feel forgiven of our sins. If we have spent time before sacrament meeting repenting of our sins, we can leave sacrament meeting feeling clean and pure. President Boyd K. Packer said: “The sacrament renews the process of forgiveness. Every Sunday when the sacrament is served, that is a ceremony to renew the process of forgiveness. … Every Sunday you cleanse yourself so that, in due time, when you die your spirit will be clean.” Partaking of the sacrament worthily can help us feel like the people of King Benjamin, who “were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience.”

5. We Can Receive Inspiration for Solutions to Our Problems

The fourth principle is that we can receive inspiration for solutions to our problems during sacrament meeting. When I was a mission president in Bolivia, my wife, Mary Anne, and I had the blessing of attending a mission presidents’ seminar with President Henry B. Eyring. In that meeting he taught that there are three important ways to prepare to benefit from a meeting. We should come with our problems, humble as children ready to learn, and with the desire to help God’s children.

As we humbly come to sacrament meeting, we can be blessed to feel impressions for solutions to our daily problems. We must come prepared, be willing to listen, and not be distracted. In the scriptures we read, “But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”10 We can know what we should do to solve our problems.

6. Partaking of the Sacrament Worthily Will Help Us Be Filled with the Holy Ghost

The fifth principle, partaking of the sacrament worthily, will help us be filled with the Holy Ghost. Upon instituting the sacrament during His visit to the Nephites, Jesus stated, “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.”11 They had been promised that if they hungered and thirsted after righteousness, they would be filled with the Holy Ghost. The sacramental prayer also promises that if we live up to our covenants, we will always have His Spirit to be with us.12

Elder Melvin J. Ballard said: “I am a witness that there is a spirit attending the administration of the sacrament that warms the soul from head to foot; you feel the wounds of the spirit being healed, and the load being lifted. Comfort and happiness come to the soul that is worthy and truly desirous of partaking of this spiritual food.”