There is a priesthood ordinance that can elevate us, with a steady continuous process, to heights we should all want to reach. It is the ordinance of Sacrament. Much can be written about this subject but I will recount here what was impressed upon my mind recently as I was reading Christ’s teachings to the Nephites regarding this.
The Saviour’s admonition to the Nephites to partake of the sacrament was first and foremost so that they always remember Him and thereby have His spirit to be with them (3 N 18:7). Mormon goes on to explain that as the people partook of the bread and the wine they were ‘filled’ (3 N 18:9). This was not a physical fulness but the fulness of the spirit which He promised them. And here is an amazing promise: In his conference address of October 1998, Elder Oaks defined the blessings of the sacrament saying that the ministering of angels, which certainly appeared to the Nephites (3 N 19:15), is also a part of the promises of the sacrament prayers to those who ‘worthily’ partake of the sacrament. This state of worthiness is something we need to understand more clearly. Often we think this means that we are worthy if we are not violating any commandments but if this was true, none of us would be taking the sacrament…..being worthy to partake means approaching the sacramental table with a broken heart and a contrite and penitent spirit. It means taking the sacrament with a promise that we will forsake whatever wrong we are doing. It means covenanting to repent. Partaking of the sacrament means renewing our baptismal covenant which is the covenant of obedience therefore each time we take the sacrament, we should be covenanting to be obedient. Being unworthy, however, means having no such intention and taking the sacrament anyway. I urge you to read Elder Groberg’s conference talk of April 1989 for further clarification of this.
The Saviour also told the Nephites another very significant component of the sacrament. He said if they always remember Him they will be built upon His rock (3 N 18:12) but if they don’t, the gates of hell are ready open to receive them (v3)…. so the sacrament becomes a protection from the adversary. Here’s why we would want this protection: Jesus warned the Nephites, like he warned Peter, that Satan desires to have them that he may sift them as wheat (3 N 18:18). I grew up in Croatia witnessing wheat harvests and I actually know what sifting of the wheat looks like and I can tell you I wouldn’t want to be sifted….consider Bruce R. McConkie’s eloquent explanation of this: “In essence and thought content Jesus is saying, ‘Peter, Satan wants you in his harvest. He wants to harvest your soul, and bring you into his granary, into his garner, where he will have you as his disciple’….” (Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie, ed. Mark L. McConkie [1998], 127).
To conquer the enemy, we must know the enemy. I posted the following before but feel impressed to do so again: Satan’s goal is to steal our spiritual identity; kill our faith in God; and destroy our commitment to Christ. And this is how he operates:
HIS THREE DOCTRINES: 1. There is no punishment for sin; 2. There is nothing after death; 3. He does not exist.
HIS THREE LIES: 1. Just once won’t hurt; 2. No one will know; 3. Everybody is doing it.
HIS VALUE SYSTEM: 1. Selfishness; 2. Self-indulgence; 3. Immediate gratification.
HIS SALES TECHNIQUES: 1. Pacifying; 2. Flattering; 3. Lulling.
The covenant of obedience through the sacrament gives us the power to defeat the enemy of our souls. He is the thief in the night, the enemy of all righteousness, the destroyer, the ever vigilant annihilator of all dreams, hopes and the higher ground we must ascend to. But this does not have to be so for us because the path has been provided through Him to whom we belong.
Like a bird in flight
My sins ascend to Thee
Rising from the ashes of mortality
They seek your love to set them free.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
(Art: Forgiven by Greg Olsen)
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