Taking the Sacrament

Note: Please do not listen to this audio during any part of sacrament meeting, and especially not during the actual ordinance of the sacrament.

Close your eyes and bring your attention to your body. Let go of any tension you are holding in your face, jaw, head, neck, shoulders, upper arms, forearms, hands, fingers, chest, stomach, hips, seat, thighs, calves, feet, and toes. Lean your torso slightly from front to back and side to side until you rest into a comfortable posture where you feel centered, balanced, and relaxed.

Now bring your attention to your breath. Inhale deeply, hold for two seconds, now breathe out all the tension, stress, or negativity you might be feeling. One more time. Breathe in deeply, hold, exhale slowly all the way.

As your breathing returns to normal, imagine you are sitting at a long table in an open, second-story room in Jerusalem. There is a gentle, warm breeze on your face. You hear a noise at the door, and in walk thirteen people, who each take a seat at the table around you. One of the men, who sits across from you, meets your eyes. You recognize Him as Jesus Christ, your Savior. He smiles and greets you by name.

As the gentle murmur of conversation dies down, you notice there is food on the table. Christ reaches for a basket of small loaves of bread. Using his hands, he takes the loaves one by one and breaks them into smaller pieces. He says a short prayer, blessing the bread and giving thanks[1] for it. Then, passing a piece to each person at the table, he looks directly at you and says,

“Take it, and eat. Behold, this is for you to do in remembrance of my body,[2] which I give as a ransom for you;[3] for as oft as ye do this ye will remember this hour that I was with you[4].”

You and those around you eat the bread in silence. Once the bread is gone, Christ picks up a cup, and says another short blessing, giving thanks[5] again. He then passes it to you, saying,

“Drink ye all of it;  For this is in remembrance of my blood of the new testament, which is shed for as many as shall believe on my name, for the remission of their sins.”[6]

Once everyone has had a chance to drink, Christ looks around the table and explains,

“And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall observe to do the things which ye have seen me do, and bear record of me even unto the end.”[7]

“And as oft as ye do this ordinance, ye will remember me in this hour that I was with you and drank with you of this cup, even the last time in my ministry.”[8]

The people sitting around the table begin to weep silently.[9] There is a spirit of reverence, but also a sadness as Christ’s words sink in. Perhaps in an effort to comfort those grieving around him, Christ asks if everyone will join Him in singing a hymn.[10] It is a soft, sacred song that fills your ears and brings a calm, peaceful feeling to the room.

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When Joseph Smith restored Christ’s true church, he was directed to continue the tradition of the sacrament service. Notice the reasoning that was given. The Lord stated, “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;”[11]

Elder L. Tom Perry explained that “[p]artaking of the sacrament provides us with a sacred moment in a holy place.”[12]  Does this describe your experience when you take the sacrament?

To help the sacrament ordinance be a “sacred moment in a holy place,” keep in mind three words: remembrance, renewal, and reflection. We take the sacrament to remind us of Christ and His commandments, we take the sacrament to renew our baptismal covenants, and the sacrament ordinance is a time to reflect on our lives and recommit to be the best witnesses of Christ that we can be.

Remembrance

What does it mean to remember Christ? In an April 2016 General Conference Address,[13] Elder Gong gave six ways we can always remember Him. Three of those include

1) First, “having confidence in His covenants, promises, and assurances”

2) Second, “gratefully acknowledging His hand throughout our lives”[14] and, I would add, “having a feeling of gratitude to Heavenly Father . . . for the Atonement of His Son”[15] and gratitude to the Savior Himself for that sacrifice; and

3) Third, “trusting when the Lord assures us, ‘He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.[16]’” Elder Gong reminds us that Christ “knows all the things we don’t want anyone else to know about us—and loves us still.”[17]

Renewal

Next, Renewal. “Partaking of the sacrament is a witness to God that the remembrance of His Son will extend beyond the short time of that sacred ordinance.”[18] When we take the sacrament, we promise to do at least three things: 1) remember Christ, 2) take upon ourselves His name, and 3) keep His commandments. In promising these things, we are renewing our baptismal covenants.[19]

In return, the Lord renews at least two of His promises to us: 1) His “promised remission of sin,”[20] and 2) His promise that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us]”[21]. 

Reflection

Lastly, Reflection. “The sacrament gives us an opportunity for introspection and an opportunity to turn our heart and will to God.”[22]

Elder Melvin J. Ballard explained that “[w]e want every Latter-day Saint to come to the sacrament table because it is the place for self-investigation, for self-inspection, where we may learn to rectify our course and to make right our own lives, bringing ourselves into harmony with the teachings of the Church and with our brethren and sisters.”[23]

While it is important to reflect on what needs correction in our lives, it is also important to reflect on the good, for example, to notice how the Savior’s enabling power helped us make good choices or good changes in the preceding week.[24]

President Nelson has recently invited us to “discover the joy of daily repentance.”[25] Taking time to repent before sacrament meeting allows us to reflect on our progress without being bogged down with discouragement or guilt. Don R. Clarke explained that “[i]f we have spent time before sacrament meeting repenting of our sins, we can leave sacrament meeting feeling clean and pure.”[26]

Remember Christ’s words after instituting the sacrament at the Last Supper: “And as oft as ye do this ordinance, ye will remember me in this hour that I was with you.”[27]

Try to think back to the last time you took the sacrament. What were you thinking about? Where was your focus? Did you realize what you were promising through your participation in the ordinance? Did you realize what you were receiving in return?

Here are some ideas you could use to focus your attention next time you take the sacrament:

• pay attention to the preparation of the sacrament and ponder the various symbols such as the bread, the water, and the white linens of the sacrament table;

• ponder the words of the sacrament hymn;

• repeat in your mind and ponder the words of the Sacrament prayers;

• list in your mind the commandments and evaluate your obedience to them;

• list in your mind your baptismal covenants and evaluate your commitment to them;

• read and ponder the Living Christ;

• read the accounts of the Last Supper;

• ponder how you saw God’s hand in your life during the previous week;

• picture your favorite image of Christ[28];

Elder Melvin J. Ballard witnessed 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 is lifted. Comfort and happiness come to the soul that is worthy and truly desirous of partaking of this spiritual food.”[29]

How can you make the sacrament a sacred experience in a holy place next time you have the opportunity to partake of it?

When you are ready, take a final deep breath and slowly turn your awareness back to your body. As you open your eyes and return to your surroundings, take a moment to jot down any thoughts, promptings, or questions that came to mind while you were pondering. And, if necessary, make a plan to act on those things.

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[1] Matthew 26:22, JST; Mark 14:20, JST; Luke 22:19, KJV.

[2] Mark 14:20-21, JST.

[3] Matthew 26:22, JST.

[4] Mark 14:21, JST.

[5] Matthew 26:27, KJV; Mark 14:22, JST.

[6] Matthew 26:27-28.

[7] Matthew 26:25, JST.

[8] Mark 14:22, JST.

[9] Mark 14:26, JST.

[10] Matthew 26:30, KJV; Mark 14:26, KJV.

[11] D&C 59:9; see also D&C 59:10, 13.

[12] L. Tom Perry, “As Now We Take the Sacrament,” General Conference, April 2006.

[13] Garrit W. Gong, “Always Remember Him,” General Conference, April 2016.

[14] Garrit W. Gong, “Always Remember Him,” General Conference, April 2016.

[15] Don R. Clarke, “Blessings of the Sacrament,” General Conference, October 2012.

[16] D&C 58:42.

[17] Garrit W. Gong, “Always Remember Him,” General Conference, April 2016.

[18] Sacrament.

[19] See Baptism.

[20] Sacrament.

[21] D&C 20:77.

[22] Cheryl A. Esplin, “The Sacrament—a Renewal for the Soul,” General Conference, October 2014.

[23] Bryant S. Hinckley, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin Joseph Ballard (1949), 150; See L. Tom Perry, “The Sabbath and the Sacrament,” General Conference, April 2011.

[24] Cheryl A. Esplin, “The Sacrament—a Renewal for the Soul,” General Conference, October 2014.

[25] Russell M. Nelson, “The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” General Conference, April 2022.

[26] Don R. Clarke, “Blessings of the Sacrament,” General Conference, October 2012.

[27] Mark 14:22, JST.

[28] Cheryl A. Esplin, “The Sacrament—a Renewal for the Soul,” General Conference, October 2014.

[29] Melvin J. Ballard, “The Sacramental Covenant,” Improvement Era, Oct. 1919, 1027.