Every Sunday we have a Sacrament Meeting. It’s a vital time of reflection, repentance, and renewal of our baptismal covenants. Did you know you are committing yourself to support your neighbors in that sacred ordinance? I want to discuss the blessings and commitments we make every Sunday during the ordinance of the Sacrament.
Before we get into the details, I’d like to share the prayers said over the Sacrament. There is one for the bread and one for the water. They are the key to understanding our baptismal covenants and point to the blessings the Lord gives us for obedience. Additionally, I also want to point out that the Sacrament is covered in a cloth before each is blessed. The cloth represents the burial cloth of Jesus and brings to mind His sacrifice for us. Before each prayer is said, they pull back the cloth, revealing either the bread or water. And when each step is completed, they cover it again with the cloth.
Sacrament prayer over the Bread
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
If you want to find it in the scriptures, it’s in Doctrine & Covenants 20:77
We make specific promises and blessings in each step of the Sacrament. We partake of the bread in remembrance of the body of Jesus. Simultaneously we remember how He came down to Earth to teach and live among us. Additionally, in taking this step of the Sacrament we confirm that we are willing to be called by His name.
We promise we will always remember Him, His sacrifice and teachings, and live in a way that will make him happy. We commit to keeping the commandments. And in return, we are promised God’s Spirit to always be with us. Having the Holy Ghost with us is a serious gift. I have a testimony of that one.
I was taught that when the Elders are blessing the bread we should take the time to listen to the promises we are making. And then in the quiet time as the bread is passed, we quietly pray and review with the Lord anything we need to repent of. Repentance is just changing, so I go over my week in my mind, apologize to God for mistakes, and renew my efforts for the coming week ahead.
Sacrament prayer for the Water
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this water to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
If you want to read it directly, it’s in Doctrine & Covenants 20:79
In this second phase of the Sacrament, the water is blessed to sanctify our souls. Sanctification is the process of becoming free from sin and becoming holy through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It’s significant.
We promise to remember the blood of Jesus. And how He let men spill His blood, and His suffering for our sins. We promise that we will always remember Him, and serve Him. And again we are blessed to have His Spirit to be with us.
The blessing on the water comes second. I always feel great relief from my sins in this part of the ordinance. Additionally, I have repented, and I feel God’s peace and support.
Indeed, it is a moment of hope and healing and I look forward to doing better in the future. And as I listen to the prayer and remember the blessings I will be granted, and the promises I have made, I feel stronger.
Understanding blessings and promises
We make covenants with God at baptism. And every time we take the Sacrament, we renew our covenants and receive extra strength and blessings from God. Not only that but as we progress in life, our understanding grows. So every time we take the Sacrament, we are renewing our covenants with new eyes.
I was recently talking to a friend who described how much she loves her children. She couldn’t imagine loving anyone that much before they were born. Our spiritual progression is similar. As a kid, I was sure that doing something small would make my parents never love me again. But as a parent, I can see that there is nothing my child could do to lose my love. Subsequently, I am gaining a better understanding of God and His love for us through my own parenting experiences.
We are all on a journey. We will all make mistakes and need to stop and reevaluate along the way. The Sacrament is a wonderful way to be sure our lives align with the Savior and the covenants we made at baptism. Taking the Sacrament gives us reflection and refocusing time. And it becomes a strengthening and motivating experience. I am grateful for the Sacrament. It has helped me grow.
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