By Elder Don R. Clarke I. Have a Feeling of Gratitude Of the Seventy for the Atonement of Jesus Christ The first principle is to have a feel- ing of gratitude to Heavenly Father dur- ing the sacrament for the Atonement of His Son. The following story is told Blessings about passing the sacrament: “The sacrament never really meant much to me until the Sunday I was of the Sacrament ordained a deacon. That afternoon I passed the sacrament for the first time. Prior to the meeting, one of the We will be blessed as we feel gratitude for the Atonement of deacons warned me, ‘Look out for Jesus Christ, renew our baptismal covenants, feel forgiveness, Brother Schmidt. You may have to and receive inspiration from the Holy Ghost. 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 par- grew up in Rexburg, Idaho, where Atonement was changing me. Every took of the bread with no noticeable I was influenced and taught by a Sunday to this day, as I partake of thought or problem. Then I got to row I wonderful family, friends, teach- the sacrament, I can see my card and seven, the row where Brother Schmidt ers, and leaders. There are special review my list. Always on my list now, always sat. But I was surprised. Instead experiences in the lives of all of us first of all, is the Savior of mankind. of being asleep he was wide awake. that touch our souls and make things In the New Testament we read Unlike many of the others I had served, different forever. One such experience of the time that the Savior and His he took the bread with what seemed to happened in my youth. This experi- Apostles met in an upper room for the be great thought and reverence. ence transformed my life. Feast of the Passover. “A few minutes later I found myself I was always active in the Church “And he took bread, and gave thanks, again approaching row seven with and progressed through the Aaronic and brake it, and gave unto them, say- the water. This time my friend was Priesthood. When I was a teenager, ing, This is my body which is given for right. Brother Schmidt sat with his Brother Jacob, my teacher, asked that you: this do in remembrance of me. head bowed and his big German eyes I write down on a card what I had “Likewise also the cup after supper, shut. He was evidently sound asleep. thought about during the sacrament. I saying, This cup is the new testament What could I do or say? I looked for took my card and began to write. First in my blood, which is shed for you.” 1 a moment at his brow, wrinkled and on the list was a basketball game we Jesus also instituted the ordinance worn from years of toil and hard- had won the night before. And then of the sacrament during His visit to the ship. He had joined the Church as a came a date after the game, and so Nephites.2 I have come to know the teenager and had experienced much went the list. Far removed and cer- importance of these two events. persecution in his small German town. tainly not in bold letters was the name President David O. McKay said, I had heard the story many times in of Jesus Christ. “I feel impressed to emphasize what testimony meeting. I decided finally to Each Sunday the card was filled the Lord has designated as the most gently nudge his shoulder in hopes of out. For a young Aaronic Priesthood important meeting in the Church, and waking him. As I reached to do so, his holder, the sacrament and sacrament that is the sacrament meeting.” 3 If we head slowly lifted. There were tears meeting took on a new, expanded, properly prepare for the sacrament, streaming down his cheeks and as I and spiritual meaning. I anxiously we can transform our lives. I would looked into his eyes I saw love and joy. looked forward to Sundays and to the like to suggest five principles that can He quietly reached up and took the opportunity to partake of the sacra- bless our lives as we partake of the water. Even though I was only twelve ment, as understanding the Savior’s sacrament worthily. then, I can still remember vividly the 104 feeling I had as I watched this rugged covenants. I believe it would be appro- to our problems during sacrament old man partake of the sacrament. I priate to memorize the sacramental meeting. When I was a mission pres- knew without a doubt that he was feel- prayers in our minds and in our hearts. ident in Bolivia, my wife, Mary Anne, ing something about the sacrament that This will help us focus on renewing and I had the blessing of attending I had never felt. I determined then that our baptismal covenants. Whether we a mission presidents’ seminar with I wanted to feel those same feelings.” 4 were 8 or 80 years old when we were President Henry B. Eyring. In that Brother Schmidt had communi- baptized, I hope we will never forget meeting he taught that there are three cated with heaven, and heaven had that day and the covenants we made. important ways to prepare to benefit communicated with him. from a meeting. We should come with III. During the Sacrament our problems, humble as children II. Remember That We Are Renewing We Can Feel Forgiven of Our Sins ready to learn, and with the desire to Baptismal Covenants Thirdly, during the sacrament we help God’s children. The second principle is to remem- can feel forgiven of our sins. If we have As we humbly come to sacrament ber that we are renewing our baptis- spent time before sacrament meeting meeting, we can be blessed to feel mal covenants as we partake of the repenting of our sins, we can leave sac- impressions for solutions to our daily sacrament. Some of the promises that rament meeting feeling clean and pure. problems. We must come prepared, be we make, as recorded in the scrip- President Boyd K. Packer said: “The sac- willing to listen, and not be distracted. tures, include: rament renews the process of forgive- In the scriptures we read, “But, behold, “Come into the fold of God, and to ness. Every Sunday when the sacrament I say unto you, that you must study be called his people, . . . to bear one is served, that is a ceremony to renew it out in your mind; then you must another’s burdens, . . . to mourn with the process of forgiveness. . . . Every ask me if it be right, and if it is right I those that mourn . . . , and to stand as Sunday you cleanse yourself so that, in will cause that your bosom shall burn witnesses of God.” 5 due time, when you die your spirit will within you; therefore, you shall feel that “Come forth with broken hearts be clean.” 8 Partaking of the sacrament it is right.” 10 We can know what we and contrite spirits, . . . willing to take worthily can help us feel like the people should do to solve our problems. upon them the name of Jesus Christ, of King Benjamin, who “were filled with having a determination to serve him to joy, having received a remission of their V. Partaking of the Sacrament Worthily the end,” 6 and to keep His command- sins, and having peace of conscience.” 9 Will Help Us Be Filled with the Holy Ghost ments and always remember Him.7 The fifth principle, partaking of the The sacramental prayers are a IV. We Can Receive Inspiration sacrament worthily, will help us be reminder of these covenants. When we for Solutions to Our Problems filled with the Holy Ghost. Upon insti- partake of the sacrament, we renew The fourth principle is that we tuting the sacrament during His visit our commitment to live up to these can receive inspiration for solutions to the Nephites, Jesus stated, “He that

November 2012 105 eateth this bread eateth of my body to By Elder David A. Bednar his soul; and he that drinketh of this Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 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 Converted unto the Lord would be filled with the Holy Ghost. The sacramental prayer also promises Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. that if we live up to our covenants, we will always have His Spirit to be Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. with us.12 Elder Melvin J. Ballard said: “I am a witness that there is a spirit attending the administration of the sacrament y message focuses upon the of His children. Any honest seeker of that warms the soul from head to foot; relationship between receiving truth can obtain a testimony by exer- you feel the wounds of the spirit being Ma testimony that Jesus is the cising the necessary “particle of faith” healed, and the load being lifted. Christ and becoming converted to Him in Jesus Christ to “experiment upon” Comfort and happiness come to the and His gospel. Typically, we treat the (Alma 32:27) and “try the virtue of the soul that is worthy and truly desirous topics of testimony and conversion sep- word” (Alma 31:5), to yield “to the of partaking of this spiritual food.” 13 arately and independently. However, we enticings of the Holy Spirit” (Mosiah We will be blessed as we feel grati- gain precious perspective and greater 3:19), and to awaken unto God (see tude for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, spiritual conviction as we consider these Alma 5:7). Testimony brings increased renew our baptismal covenants, feel two important subjects together. personal accountability and is a source forgiveness, and receive inspiration I pray the Holy Ghost will instruct of purpose, assurance, and joy. from the Holy Ghost as we partake of and edify each of us. Seeking for and obtaining a testi- the sacrament each week. It will always mony of spiritual truth requires asking, be a great sacrament meeting if the sac- Whom Say Ye That I Am? seeking, and knocking (see Matthew rament is the center of our worship. I We can learn much about testi- 7:7; 3 Nephi 14:7) with a sincere heart, express my gratitude for the Atonement mony and conversion from the minis- real intent, and faith in the Savior (see of Jesus Christ. I know He lives. In the try of the Apostle Peter. Moroni 10:4). Fundamental compo- name of Jesus Christ, amen. ◼ As Jesus came into the coasts of nents of a testimony are knowing that Caesarea Philippi, He posed this Heavenly Father lives and loves us, that NOTES penetrating question to His disciples: Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that the 1. Luke 22:19–20; emphasis added. 2. See 3 Nephi 18. “Whom say ye that I am?” fulness of the gospel has been restored 3. David O. McKay, in Conference Report, Peter responded forthrightly: to the earth in these latter days. Oct. 1929, 11. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the 4. Book of Mormon Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 1979), 417. living God. When Thou Art Converted 5. Mosiah 18:8–9. “And Jesus answered and said unto As the Savior taught His disciples at 6. Doctrine and Covenants 20:37. him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: the Last Supper, He said to Peter: 7. See Doctrine and Covenants 20:77. 8. Boyd K. Packer, Mine Errand from the Lord for flesh and blood hath not revealed “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath (2008), 196. it unto thee, but my Father which is in desired to . . . sift you as wheat: 9. Mosiah 4:3; emphasis added. heaven” (Matthew 16:15–17). “But I have prayed for thee, that 10. Doctrine and Covenants 9:8; emphasis added. As is evidenced in Peter’s reply and thy faith fail not: and when thou art 11. 3 Nephi 20:8. the Savior’s instruction, a testimony is converted, strengthen thy brethren” 12. See Doctrine and Covenants 20:77. personal knowledge of spiritual truth (Luke 22:31–32). 13. Melvin J. Ballard, in Bryant S. Hinckley, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin obtained by revelation. A testimony is Interestingly, this mighty Apostle Joseph Ballard (1949), 149. a gift from God and is available to all had talked and walked with the 106