As I have studied the words in The Living Christ, listened to & studied conference talks and scriptures relating to the sacrament numerous times my mind seemed to fall on one particular area. I was concerned that where I felt the direction of this talk was going was beyond the mark of what I was asked to speak on but after talking with my husband and later the missionaries I knew I was right on track. My husband pointed out to me that our prophet Russell M. Nelson has placed his focus more on the Savior and less on words such as sacrifice & atonement and the missionaries confirmed to me that where I had been feeling the direction this talk was taking was indeed the true purpose that our Savior and Redeemer had desired of us as He instituted the sacrament…that we remember Him. The sacrament of Jesus Christ is a reminder to each of us of the great sacrifice He gave for us, not just as a whole but most importantly individually-at least that’s how it is for me.
The Importance of Remembering Him
Not only did Jesus Christ institute the sacrament before He was crucified we learn in The Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi that after Jesus Christ was resurrected he visited the Nephites and He instituted the sacrament among the Nephites. In Doctrine & Covenants, we learn that “It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus;” (D&C 20:75). It is in the verses that follow where we learn of the sacramental prayers that are given to bless the bread and water before we partake of them. In each of those prayers, we are reminded to “always remember him,”. (D&C 20:77, 79)
Numerous times throughout all the scriptures we are counseled and commanded to “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)
In each talk, I studied it was noted that it is in the ordinance of the sacrament that makes our sacrament meetings the most sacred of all the meetings we attend here at church. As we participate in this sacred ordinance each week we are blessed with the most precious of promises, that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (D&C 20:77)
Ponder the Blessings
For such a promise as this, I feel it a duty to do my part, as best I am able, each week and remember Him and all that He has helped me through as I made my way to the end of another week where I am blessed to find myself seated here in church with all of you. This is a time where I am able to spiritually recharge as I prayerfully reflect upon my week, seek His forgiveness for my sins and shortcomings and ponder the words in the scriptures relating to the sacrament.
My favorite verses are found in John chapter 6 beginning with verse 51 where Jesus is speaking unto a multitude of people including those who were his disciples.
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
“The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. …
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
And Jesus asked, “Have not I chosen you…”
That last verse is one of my power verses. It is a great, and treasured reminder to me that Jesus Christ has chosen me and because He has chosen me it is my sacred duty, even a wonderful privilege for me to remember Him, not just on the sabbath day during sacrament meeting but always-at all times, in all places, in every season of my life & especially during this the most sacred hour of the week, a special time set aside by the Lord for us as a day of rest & remembrance – the Sacrament Meeting.
Our Responsibility
I have come to realize that we are each responsible for the spiritual enrichment that can receive as we prayerfully and mindfully attend sacrament meeting each week. As we “offer for a sacrifice unto [the Lord] a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” (3 Nephi 9:20) we take upon us that sacred responsibility for our spiritual enrichment.
As I studied Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk “This Do in Remembrance of Me” I was reminded of so many things. Even if there were time enough to count them I feel I would not be able to recount all the things our Savior Jesus Christ has done for me. I was brought to the knowledge that the ordinance of the sacrament commemorates my escape from the angel of darkness, just as it does for each of you. For me this is a powerfully reflective statement, though sometimes I fall short of remembering just how much Jesus has truly done for me, I pray that there are more times then there are not when I ponder the precious gifts he has bestowed upon me.
Not only do I recognize Christ’s premortal existence, I ponder what my relationship to him and my Heavenly Father was before I came to Earth. I am grateful to have chosen Him then as I have come to find and am willing to choose to follow Him now.
The Miracle of Jesus Christ
I think of the many miracles Jesus Christ performed during His mortal ministry and recall that I too have felt and experienced first hand some of those miracles. I imagine that we each have experienced miracles in our lives.
Just as he gave sight to the blind man He has given sight unto me- I have not always seen Him as I do now and I know that how I am able to see Him now is not something I have come to on my own, it began by my willingness to exercise the smallest particle of faith in Jesus Christ that I had.
He gave hearing to the deaf, I too was deaf to His words and that of His spirit for a very long time. He blessed those who were lame, maimed and withered just as He has blessed me, my heart, my spirit, my very core. Just as He was able to bring life to the dead He has brought life in me – life like I have never known before and wouldn’t have come to know had I not chose to have faith in Him. A life I could just as easily lose should I neglect to remember Him and His great sacrifice for me.
Learn of Him
As I have invested my time, effort, and enthusiastic energy in learning of Jesus Christ, His Gospel, His mission upon the earth, His life and His sufferings in the Garden of Gethsemane and of His horrific & torturous death upon the cross at Calvary the more I have come to truly know and comprehend just how very possible it is for Him to know of my every pain and heartache, the anguish I felt as I was brought to a knowledge of the severity of the sins I have committed and the reality of His ability to draw me near to Him and cleanse me of my sins.
As I make and keep sacred covenants, striving daily to walk the path He has set before me, before each of us it becomes easier to remember Him because my heart’s desire is to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again.
The Price of our Lives
The sacrament, as instituted by our Savior Jesus Christ is so much more than what I think we sometimes see it as. His life was a precious one just as each of ours is. He gave His life to save us and He is asking us to remember Him.
Paul stated, “ye are bought with a price:” (1 Corinthians 6:20) This price is plain for each of us to see and many have felt and even “thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet;” (3 Nephi 11:15) One of the most remarkable things about the Savior for me is that when He was resurrected He chose to keep the scars from His horrific, torturous death when I know He could have easily chosen to have His body gloriously perfected. He chose to hold on to the scars, to remember…not as a reminder of how He died but most importantly the reason why He died…for you and for me.
therefore glorify God…” (1 Corinthians 6:20) as you prayerfully partake of the emblems of His flesh which was torn for us-through which we are sanctified (see Hebrews 10:10) and His blood which was shed for us, blood through which our souls are atoned (see Leviticus 17:11).
My Challenge to you
I challenge you to reflect on the price of His life and the impact the Savior Jesus Christ has had in your life and the lives of those you love and ponder what He truly means to you. I know that as you do you will have a deeper understanding of our Savior Jesus Christ, I know that my understanding has greatly increased as I have done so.
I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.
I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
Hymn 193 I stand all Amazed
I echo the words of this hymn as I have such an appreciation for our Savior and marvel at all that He has done for a should such as mine. I promise to remember Him always and express my deep gratitude to Him for His great atoning sacrifice for me, in the name of Jesus Christ, He who instituted the sacrament, Amen.
