I have been studying about the Sacrament recently, so when I saw this talk, “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament,” I had to relate it to all that I have been learning.

Typically, we think of Sacrament meetings as an hour of random talks given by ward members. But, as we’ve been reminded again and again, Sacrament meeting is mainly an opportunity to renew our Baptismal covenant. To remember and reflect upon our Savior, Jesus Christ. To regain our standing with the Holy Ghost.

In fact, Wilford Woodruff said, “This gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest gift that can be bestowed upon man.”  Because of the Holy Ghost, we can receive personal revelation, which is a unique doctrine of our church. 

All other churches believe that God does not talk to us today and that we can only understand him through the Bible. Pastors and ministers alike teach that listening to “a voice” is likely following Satan’s influence; a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This makes it really hard to teach the idea that anyone can gain their own testimony of the Book of Mormon by praying for an answer of its truthfulness (Moroni 10:4-5).

Isn’t it wonderful that we have the gift of the Holy Ghost! Through our obedience, in remembering and exemplifying our Savior, we can have the Holy Ghost with us to guide us, inspire us, and lead us back to our heavenly home. The Spirit truly is the greatest gift we have. Because of this gift, we can know who Jesus Christ really is, what He did for us, and what we need to do to be exalted on high.

Our church has asked us to focus on the true meaning of Easter for the first four months of this year. In the past, we have simply had an extra nice Sacrament meeting with talks on the atoning sacrifice of our Savior and a few extra songs. Other religions have actually done a better job celebrating and worshipping Jesus Christ’s greatest gift and act of mercy than we have as members of His church. But that is about to change.

Hopefully, you are taking the time NOW to study our Savior’s final week; everything that He did; everything that He wants us to remember; everything that will change the way we literally live our lives today, as we prepare for His second coming.

The Passover is a great tradition, but it doesn’t move past, and into, the New Covenant which Jesus Christ brought with Him, and for which He died. At the Last Supper, He introduced the Sacrament, and how He wants us to remember Him. Today, we remember Him each week by partaking of His bread and His water with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. What a blessing to help us check ourselves regularly, and keep us on the Covenant Path, without wandering too far off into the mists of darkness.

Baptism is the first covenant we make. The Sacrament is a continuation of that covenant, meant to keep this covenant pure and holy. It is a solemn ritual that allows us to grow our personal relationship with Christ, through the Holy Ghost.

We are a covenant-believing church. We make other covenants with our Savior in His Holy House. Again, our hearts are meant to be broken and contrite as we repeat following the spiritual path of attending the temple, bringing us out of this fallen world and into the presence of God.

Not all of us can attend the temple on a regular basis, but we can partake of the Sacrament each week. That is the blessing. It is regular, consistent, and available to everyone who wishes to partake. It is a reminder of the sacrifice of God’s Only Begotten Son. It is a reminder for us to stay humble, obedient, repentant, and focused on Jesus Christ.

Additional thoughts:

• What is the correlation between sacrament and sacrifice?
• How do I remember Him during the week?
• How do I feel repentant enough, and feel His Spirit enough?
• Our prophet spent 6 weeks studying Jesus Christ, from the Topical Guide, and said by doing so he became a new man.