Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament ELDER DALLIN H. OAKS Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The ordinance of the makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church.

unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High” (D&C 59:9–10). This is a commandment with a promise. By participating weekly and appropriately in the ordinance of the sacrament we qualify for the promise that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (D&C 20:77). That Spirit is the foundation of our testi- mony. It testifies of the Father and the Son, brings all things to our remembrance, and leads us into truth. It is the compass to guide us on our path. This gift of the Holy Ghost, President Wilford Woodruff taught, “is the greatest gift that can e live in the perilous times be bestowed upon man” (Deseret prophesied by the Apostle Weekly, Apr. 6, 1889, 451). WPaul (see 2 Timothy 3:1). Those who try to walk the straight and I. narrow path see inviting detours on The ordinance of the sacrament every hand. We can be distracted, makes the sacrament meeting the degraded, downhearted, or depressed. most sacred and important meeting How can we have the Spirit of the Lord in the Church. It is the only Sabbath to guide our choices and keep us on meeting the entire family can attend the path? together. Its content in addition to In modern revelation the Lord gave the sacrament should always be the answer in this commandment: planned and presented to focus our “And that thou mayest more fully attention on the Atonement and keep thyself unspotted from the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. world, thou shalt go to the house of My first memories of sacrament prayer and offer up thy sacraments meeting are set in the small Utah town upon my holy day; where I was ordained a deacon and “For verily this is a day appointed participated in passing the sacrament.

NOVEMBER 2008 17 Measured against those memories, priesthood leaders of the Church how salvation, President Joseph Fielding the sacrament meetings I now attend to plan and conduct sacrament meet- Smith teaches that we partake of the in many different wards are greatly ings. “We commemorate His Atone- sacrament as our part of commemo- improved. Typically the sacrament is ment in a very personal way,” Elder rating the Savior’s death and suffer- administered, passed, and received by Nelson said. “We bring a broken heart ings for the redemption of the world. the members in an atmosphere of and a contrite spirit to our sacrament This ordinance was introduced so that quiet reverence. The conducting of meeting. It is the highlight of our we can renew our covenants to serve the meeting, including the necessary Sabbath-day observance” (“Worship- Him, to obey Him, and to always business, is brief and dignified, and ing at Sacrament Meeting,” Liahona, remember Him. President Smith adds: the talks are spiritual in content and Aug. 2004, 12; Ensign, Aug. 2004, 26). “We cannot retain the Spirit of the delivery. The music is appropriate, and We are seated well before the Lord if we do not consistently comply so are the prayers. This is the stan- meeting begins. “During that quiet with this commandment” (Doctrines dard, and it represents great progress interval, prelude music is subdued. of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. since the experiences of my youth. This is not a time for conversation or McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 2:341). There are occasional exceptions. I transmission of messages but a period sense that some in the rising genera- of prayerful meditation as leaders and III. tion and even some adults have not yet members prepare spiritually for the How we dress is an important indi- come to understand the significance sacrament” (Liahona, Aug. 2004, 13; cator of our attitude and preparation of this meeting and the importance of Ensign, Aug. 2004, 27). for any activity in which we will individual reverence and worship in it. When the Savior appeared to the engage. If we are going swimming or The things I feel impressed to teach Nephites following His Resurrection, hiking or playing on the beach, our here are addressed to those who are He taught them that they should stop clothing, including our footwear, will not yet understanding and practicing the practice of sacrifice by the shed- indicate this. The same should be true these important principles and not yet ding of blood. Instead, “ye shall offer of how we dress when we are to par- enjoying the promised spiritual bless- for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart ticipate in the ordinance of the sacra- ings of always having His guiding Spirit and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:20). ment. It is like going to the temple. to be with them. That commandment, repeated in the Our manner of dress indicates the modern revelation directing us to par- degree to which we understand and II. take of the sacrament each week, tells honor the ordinance in which we will I begin with how members of the us how we should prepare. As Elder participate. Church should prepare themselves to Nelson taught, “Each member of the During sacrament meeting—and participate in the ordinance of the Church bears responsibility for the especially during the sacrament sacrament. In a worldwide leadership spiritual enrichment that can come service—we should concentrate on training meeting five years ago, Elder from a sacrament meeting” (Liahona, worship and refrain from all other Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of Aug. 2004, 14; Ensign, Aug. 2004, 28). activities, especially from behavior that the Twelve Apostles taught the In his writings on the doctrines of could interfere with the worship of

18 others. Even a person who slips into quiet slumber does not interfere with others. Sacrament meeting is not a time for reading books or magazines. Young people, it is not a time for whis- pered conversations on cell phones or for texting persons at other locations. When we partake of the sacrament, we make a sacred covenant that we will always remember the Savior. How sad to see persons obviously violating that covenant in the very meeting where they are making it. The music of sacrament meeting is a vital part of our worship. The scrip- tures teach that the song of the righ- teous is a prayer unto the Lord (see D&C 25:12). The First Presidency has declared that “some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns” (Hymns, ix). How wonder- ful when every person in attendance joins in the worship of singing— especially in the hymn that helps us prepare to partake of the sacrament. All sacrament meeting music requires careful planning, always remembering that this music is for worship, not for performance. A young man in São Paulo, Brazil, receives help in preparing to attend President Joseph Fielding Smith a conference broadcast. taught: “This is an occasion when the gospel should be presented, when we IV. “But whoso among you shall do should be called upon to exercise The resurrected Lord emphasized more or less than these are not built faith, and to reflect on the mission of the importance of the sacrament upon my rock, but are built upon a our Redeemer, and to spend time in when He visited the American conti- sandy foundation; and when the rain the consideration of the saving prin- nent and instituted this ordinance descends, and the floods come, and ciples of the gospel, and not for other among the faithful Nephites. He the winds blow, and beat upon them, purposes. Amusement, laughter, light- blessed the emblems of the sacra- they shall fall” (3 Nephi 18:11–13). mindedness, are all out of place in the ment and gave them to His disciples The sacrament is the ordinance sacrament meetings of the Latter-day and the multitude (see 3 Nephi that replaced the blood sacrifices and Saints. We should assemble in the 18:1–10), commanding: burnt offerings of the Mosaic law, and spirit of prayer, of meekness, with “And this shall ye always do to with it came the Savior’s promise: devotion in our hearts” (Doctrines of those who repent and are baptized in “And whoso cometh unto me with a Salvation, 2:342). my name; and ye shall do it in remem- broken heart and a contrite spirit, him When we do this—when we join brance of my blood, which I have shed will I baptize with fire and with the in the solemnity that should always for you, that ye may witness unto the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 9:20). accompany the ordinance of the Father that ye do always remember sacrament and the worship of this me. And if ye do always remember me V. meeting—we are qualified for the ye shall have my Spirit to be with you. Now I speak particularly to the companionship and revelation of the “. . . And if ye shall always do these priesthood holders who officiate in Spirit. This is the way we get direction things blessed are ye, for ye are built the sacrament. This ordinance should for our lives and peace along the way. upon my rock. always be performed with reverence

NOVEMBER 2008 19 words were last spoken here, I repeat them for their benefit and that of their parents and teachers: “May I suggest that wherever possible a white shirt be worn by the deacons, teachers, and priests who handle the sacrament. For sacred ordinances in the Church we often use ceremonial clothing, and a white shirt could be seen as a gentle reminder of the white clothing you wore in the baptismal font and an anticipation of the white shirt you will soon wear into the tem- ple and onto your missions” (“This Do in Remembrance of Me,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 68). Finally, the sacrament is adminis- tered only when authorized by the one holding the keys to this priesthood ordinance. This is why the sacrament is not generally served in the home or A family in Argentina enjoys being together during a conference broadcast. at family reunions, even where there are sufficient priesthood holders avail- and dignity. Priests who offer the those who officiate in that ordinance. able. Those who officiate at the sacra- prayers in behalf of the congregation In administering discipline to Church ment table, prepare the sacrament, or should speak the words slowly and members who have committed seri- pass it to the congregation should be distinctly, expressing the terms of the ous sins, a bishop can temporarily designated by one who holds or exer- covenants and promised blessings. withdraw the privilege of partaking cises the keys of this ordinance. I refer This is a very sacred act. of the sacrament. That same authority to the bishopric or to the presidencies The teachers who prepare and the is surely available to withdraw the of the teachers or deacons quorums. deacons who pass the emblems of the privilege of officiating in that sacred “[My] house is a house of order,” the sacrament also perform a very sacred ordinance. Lord declared (D&C 132:8). act. I love President Thomas S. What I said earlier about the impor- How can we have the Spirit of the Monson’s account of how, as a 12- tance of appropriate dress for those Lord to guide our choices so that we year-old deacon, he was asked by the who receive the ordinance of the will remain “unspotted from the bishop to take the sacrament to a sacrament obviously applies with spe- world” (D&C 59:9) and on the safe bedfast brother who longed for this cial force to the of the path through mortality? We need to blessing. “His gratitude overwhelmed Aaronic Priesthood who officiate in qualify for the cleansing power of the me,” President Monson said. “The any part of that sacred ordinance. All Atonement of Jesus Christ. We do this Spirit of the Lord came over me. I should be well-groomed and modestly by keeping His commandment to stood on sacred ground” (Inspiring dressed. There should be nothing come to Him with a broken heart Experiences That Build Faith [1994], about their personal appearance or and a contrite spirit and in that won- 188). All who officiate in this sacred actions that would call special atten- derful weekly meeting partake of the ordinance stand on sacred ground. tion to themselves or distract anyone emblems of the sacrament and make Young men who officiate in the present from full attention to the wor- the covenants that qualify us for the ordinance of the sacrament should ship and covenant making that are the precious promise that we will always be worthy. The Lord has said: “Be ye purpose of this sacred service. have His Spirit to be with us (see clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave a D&C 20:77). That we may always (D&C 38:42). The scriptural warning valuable teaching on this subject in do so is my humble prayer, which about partaking of the sacrament general conference 13 years ago. I offer in the name of Him whose unworthily (see 1 Corinthians 11:29; Since most of our current deacons Atonement makes it all possible, 3 Nephi 18:29) surely applies also to were not even born when these even Jesus Christ, amen. ■

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