“The Sacrament”

At the age of 11 David was preparing to receive the Aronic Priesthood. His 3 older brothers where all members of this great priesthood body and all he ever wanted to do, was to be like them. So he began to study the roles of a Deacon and found that the most important role was to pass and partake of the Sacrament Ordinance. A month prior to his birthday he began to watch the Sacrament with more intent. He noticed those around him and noticed his mother would shed a tear as she partook of the bread and water. After noticing this as a regular occurrence David finally asked his mother, “Why do you cry during the Sacrament?” His mother first a little taken back by the random question looked at David with pure love and simply whispered, “Because I know my Savior Jesus Christ loves me.”

The day finally came that David was to be ordained as a Deacon and pass the Sacrament. He awoke that morning with much excitement in fact he was so excited he woke up two hours early. But David was ready. He had his nicest suit on, his crisp pressed white shirt, and a snazzy tie. He spent an hour longer getting ready making sure his hair was combed, his finger nails where cleaned and trimmed, and his shoes where nice and shinny. The moment finally came and David past the sacrament. His older brother Joseph was a priest and was blessing the Sacrament that day. He noticed David had a huge grin on his face as he was passing the Sacrament and latter that day he asked David, “Why did you smile so big during the Sacrament?” David replied quite quickly, “Because I know my Savior Jesus Christ loves me.”

My name is Timothy Sopalski and I have been sent her by assignment from the Stake to address you this beautiful morning. I want you all to know that I know my Savior Jesus Christ loves me. He has blessed you with a beautiful Ordinance that we call the Sacrament. As shared above David understood the importance of the Sacrament. We know this by his preparation. Brothers and sisters how do you prepare for the Sacrament? Priesthood holders should be prepared as if it was their day to pass, set up, or bless the Sacrament. This means well groomed and in Sunday best this includes a white shirt for this is symbolic to the priesthood you bear. Sisters should be also in there Sunday best, modest, and appropriate accessories.

Of course all of us should be prepared spiritually prior to walking into the doors of the chapel. Ways to be prepared are personal and should be taken as such. However here are some suggestions on ways to be spiritually prepared. Of course reading your scriptures and praying day and night. I may suggest taking a moment during your scripture study on Sunday morning and think back on the week and evaluate the things you have done. Repent of the things you may have not repented of already and thank the Lord for the blessings he has bestowed upon you. This will prepare you to renew your covenants to the Lord. You do not need to be perfect in order to partake of the sacrament, but you should have a spirit of humility and repentance in your heart. Every week strive to prepare for this sacred ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

We partake of the Sacrament of the bread and the water in remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this water to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

In these sacred prayers for the blessing of the bread and water we covenant to take the name of His son upon us, to always remember Him, and keep His Commandments. If we do this our Heavenly Father promises or covenants with us that we may always have His Spirit to be with us. Please note the word always. Through the Priesthood and the restored gospel the Lord has lodged the power to seal on earth and to seal in heaven as He did in the time of the Apostle Peter. The covenants we make here in our mortal lives will be bound in the Kingdom of God.

Dallin H. Oaks states the following in regards to the Sacrament. “The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church. It is the only Sabbath meeting the entire family can attend together. Its content in addition to the sacrament should always be planned and presented to focus our attention on the Atonement and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and atoned for our sins. Several years before Elder Orson F. Whitney was ordained an Apostle, he received a vision of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane. “I seemed to be in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior’s agony. I saw Him as plainly as ever I have seen anyone. Standing behind a tree in the foreground, I beheld Jesus, with Peter, James and John, as they came through a little … gate at my right. Leaving the three Apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, the Son of God passed over to the other side, where He also knelt and prayed. It was the same prayer with which all Bible readers are familiar: ‘Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’
“As He prayed the tears streamed down his face, which was toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I also wept, out of pure sympathy. My whole heart went out to him; I loved him with all my soul, and longed to be with him as I longed for nothing else.
“Presently He arose and walked to where those Apostles were kneeling—fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach, untinctured by the least show of anger or impatience, asked them plaintively if they could not watch with him one hour. There He was, with the awful weight of the world’s sin upon his shoulders, with the pangs of every man, woman and child shooting through his sensitive soul—and they could not watch with him one poor hour!
“Returning to his place, He offered up the same prayer as before; then went back and again found them sleeping. Again he awoke them, readmonished them, and once more returned and prayed. Three times this occurred”
After the Garden of Gethsemane as we know the Savior was arrested and brought to the government. After a long disagreement between the governments it was finally decided that the people would decide.

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

Imagine being in this crowd of people standing there looking unto the Savior as He has been scourged and beatened. Blood pouring down is face and his strength seems lost. Imagine hearing the crowd yelling and shouting Crucify Him! Crucify Him! My Savior they took and made him bear a cross all the way to Calvary. Yet he did not murmur in fact upon that cross He pleaded to His Heavenly Father to forgive them.

Elder Jeffery R. Holland has this to say about the forgiveness that was given that day. “When I consider Him bearing the weight of all our sins and forgiving those who would nail Him to the cross, I ask not “How did He do it?” but “Why did He do it?” As I examine my life against the mercifulness of His, I find how I fail to do as much as I should in following the Master….. Jesus Christ was the purest and only perfect person who ever lived. He is the one person in all the world from Adam to this present hour who deserved adoration and respect and admiration and love, and yet He was persecuted, abandoned, and put to death. Through it all, He would not condemn those who persecuted Him.”

We can not be heavy in heart. We must forgive those who offend us and hurt us. It is not an easy cross to bear or an easy road to travel but I promise this that the load will be lightened once you come to this peace of forgiveness.

“To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world”
Remember Him is a simple task in comparasion to what He has done for us. As we partake of the Sacrament let us not forget the sacrifice and love of our Savior. Also let us not forget the phrase, “He is risen!” Angels appeared and said simply, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? “He is not here, but is risen” President Ezra Taft Benson has commented, “There is nothing in history to equal that dramatic announcement: “He is not here, but is risen.” Our Savior Jesus Christ lives and appeared to Joseph Smith in a grove where He restored his Church in these the latter days. I pray that we may all remember David and smile because the Lord loves you and wants you to return back to Him.