http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/blessings-of-the-sacrament?lang=eng
Jessica and I were asked to speak in sacrament meeting today. Here is my talk.
Good afternoon Brothers and Sisters. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to speak to you today. It’s also very humbling. Since we’ve moved in, we’ve watched and have been so impressed with this ward. We are so grateful to be a part of it. It’s humbling to speak to people like you who are all so talented and accomplished.
Thank you for the warm welcome we have received. My talk today is based on a talk given in the October 2012 General Conference from Elder Don R. Clarke of the Seventy, in it he gives us 5 principles to help us gain the blessings of the Sacrament.
The first principle is..
I. Have a Feeling of Gratitude for the Atonement of Jesus Christ
The sacrament is all about the atonement of Jesus Christ. Many of you have come here today seeking healing in your hearts and minds. Not just for things you may have done wrong, but for things others have done to you. For questions unanswered, for worries and for stress. The good news of the Gospel is the profound reality that no matter why you came, there are answers, there is healing, there is forgiveness.
You really can leave the past behind and start new. You can change bad habits. You can change the very way you think. But you cannot do any of this alone. So our loving Father in Heaven has given you the gift and miracle you are seeking. He has sent His son to pay the FULL price for all of your sins. To give you the power to forgive others, to heal your hearts and minds, and to give truthful answers to all of your questions. He has all power, and all knowledge. He loves you deeply. When we approach the sacrament with gratitude, we open up ourselves to the healing balm we so desperately need.
II. Remember That We Are Renewing Baptismal Covenants
What if you took another approach to the sacrament? We are often told that when we take the sacrament worthily, it renews the covenants we made at baptism. Do you remember the day you were baptized? Do you remember how it felt? If not, have you seen one of your own children or another adult baptized recently? I remember how clean I felt. You can feel that clean every week. What if you approached sacrament meeting with the same excitement you did your own baptism?
It shouldn’t be any different. In fact, the older we get, the more we realize just how much we need the Savior in our lives, so when our covenants are renewed, it can become an even deeper and fulfilling experience each time we partake.
I recently had the privilege of baptising my son Eli. My testimony of the sacred priesthood has grown as I’ve watched the change in Him since his baptism. He is more careful now at what he say’s. In fact we recently found out that baby #1 is going to be another boy and Eli’s first reaction to this was something to the effect of “Oh no, he’ll see Abe and I fight and that won’t be a good example!” I suggested to him that maybe they could avoid the problem by not fighting at all.
III. During the Sacrament We Can Feel Forgiven of Our Sins
We are taught that we came to earth to gain bodies and to be tested to see if we would keep God’s commandments.
However, the bodies we’ve gained are not perfect. They are mortal and fallen because of the fall of Adam and Eve. They come with sickness, weakness, urges, and appetites. The eating of the bread helps us remember the body of Jesus Christ. When I take the bread, I like to remember that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, someday, I will have a perfect renewed body just like Him. I will have full control over my body and mind. It is this part of the sacrament that reminds me that we are punished for our own sins and not Adam’s transgression. We might have to suffer in the flesh in this life, but eventually, God through His son has given us a victory over death and the fall.
When I take the water, I remember the blood of Jesus that was spilled for us. It is this blood that cleanses us from our own sins. We are washed and made clean. If we have repented and tried to keep the commandments we are promised forgiveness. This forgiveness is not something we have to wait for. We can claim it every time we take the sacrament. We can know that we are worthy and if we were to die we would inherit eternal life. So the sacrament helps us remember that the Atonement covers both our fallen mortal bodies, but also our sins. We can know we are forgiven.
IV. We Can Receive Inspiration for Solutions to Our Problems
As I mentioned before, many come here worried about problems in our lives. It could be a question we have about our faith. It could be a problem with our employment. It could be a problem in our marriage or with another family member or friend. Whatever the problem or set of problems you’ve come here today with, know this. You can find answers, inspiration, and even solutions through the administration of the sacrament. I’d like to quote Elder Cooke’s talk directly:
…we can receive inspiration for solutions to our problems during sacrament meeting. When I was a mission president in Bolivia, my wife, Mary Anne, and I had the blessing of attending a mission presidents’ seminar with President Henry B. Eyring. In that meeting he taught that there are three important ways to prepare to benefit from a meeting. We should come with our problems, humble as children ready to learn, and with the desire to help God’s children.
As we humbly come to sacrament meeting, we can be blessed to feel impressions for solutions to our daily problems. We must come prepared, be willing to listen, and not be distracted. In the scriptures we read, “But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”10 We can know what we should do to solve our problems.
V. Partaking of the Sacrament Worthily Will Help Us Be Filled with the Holy Ghost
The sacrament prayer says: “that they may always have his Spirit to be with them.” The Spirit spoken of here is none other than the Holy Ghost. We often teach that the Holy Ghost will teach us what to do, and that He will also testify of truth to us. But we should remember that the Holy Ghost is also involved in our own sanctification. Each time we take the Sacrament worthily, we can be filled with the Holy Ghost who purifies us and even changes us.
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Helaman 3:35
Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.
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1st John 3:24
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Brothers and sisters, the Lord has given us the Sacrament as a great blessing. It is administered by His authorized servants. It is our great opportunity to prepare for it each week by breaking grateful, repentant contrite hearts, and offering up our questions, pleadings and faith to the Lord. If we do, we will change over time. We will become more like God. We will be forgiven, cleansed and sanctified. And when the time comes, we’ll be able to face our Heavenly Father with clean hands and a pure heart.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
