The Sacred Emblems of the Sacrament

Sacrament Meeting Talk

Michelle Cox

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Today, like each regular Sunday, we are gathered for a memorial service.  But, the body of the deceased is not here.  “He is not here, for he is risen” (Matt. 28:6).   The Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, triumphed over death; his resurrection being joyfully announced by angelic messengers of God.  His body had been wrapped in clean linen and lovingly, sorrowfully placed in a sepulcher, but when his devoted disciples went to the tomb at the end of the Sabbath to complete the burial preparations, they found the cloth folded neatly and set to one side.  The Savior's body was not there because he had been resurrected.  Without his body to cover at our memorial service, we have been instructed to cover emblems, or symbols, of Jesus’ death; bread and water. 

During the Last Supper, Jesus blessed bread, broke it and gave it to his disciples.  The Joseph Smith translation of Matthew 26:26 records the Lord saying, “Take, eat; this is in remembrance of my body which I gave a ransom for you.”

Only a few hours later, that body would bow down in agony under the crushing pain of the atonement for the sins, sorrows, and troubles of all mankind.  As Jesus described, “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit – and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink – Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men” (D&C 19:18).

 The escape route from sin being accomplished (which is our own repentance and perfect, Christ-like submission to the will of the Father), Jesus Christ then allowed himself to be arrested, unjustly tried and convicted, his body beaten and whipped, then nailed to a cross and crucified.

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows … he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).

At our memorial service today, young priests reverently broke bread, just as Jesus demonstrated 2000 years ago, and deacons passed it to us.  The broken bread reminds us of the torn body of the Savior; the stripes from the whip, the piercings of his hands and feet by nails, and his side by a sword.

The water, Jesus taught, we drink in “remembrance of my blood of the new testament, which is shed for as many as shall believe on my name, for the remission of sins” (JST-Matt 26:24-25).

When Christ prayed the great Intercessory Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, he pleaded to Heavenly Father, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:42-44).  It struck me that in the Savior's final lessons to prepare to completely fill his role as Savior, he had to experience what it is like to suffer alone, and then to suffer with the strengthening power of God.  He would then know exactly what we experience when he comes to our aid; how much we need his help and how it makes us better able to bear our burdens.

The young men in our ward who have been ordained to the office of teacher, pour water into cups that will then be blessed by priests, and sanctified “to the souls of all those who drink of it” (D&C 20:79).

Thus, the sacrament, a holy and solemn act of remembering the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our personal benefit and progress, moves us to “witness unto … God, the Eternal Father, that [we] do always remember him,” even outside of church, even on a Tuesday morning or a Saturday night.

The great prophet Moroni, near the end of the Book of Mormon, exhorts all to “be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.  See that ye are not baptized unworthily; see that ye partake not of the sacrament of Christ unworthily; but see that ye do all things in worthiness, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God; and if ye do this, and endure to the end, ye will in nowise be cast out” (Mormon 9:28-29).

With the same solemnity and honesty that Jesus made the atonement for us, we are to solemnly and honestly partake of the sacrament and renew our baptismal covenant to keep God’s commandments.  With this being the intent of our heart, we will find the act of taking the sacrament a renewing, humbling and joy-producing experience.

Throughout the week, we will find ourselves evaluating our thoughts and actions, asking ourselves if they will help us or hinder us in being honestly prepared and worthy to partake of the sacrament, and repenting when necessary during the week in preparation for the sacrament.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “One of the invitations inherent in the sacramental ordinance is that it be a truly spiritual experience, a holy communion, a renewal for the soul.”

Elder Melvin J. Ballard testified, “I am a witness that there is a spirit attending the administration of the sacrament that warms the soul from head to foot; you feel the wounds of the spirit being healed, and the load being lifted. Comfort and happiness come to the soul that is worthy and truly desirous of partaking of this spiritual food.”

As Cheryl A. Esplin taught last General Conference, “Our wounded souls can be healed and renewed not only because the bread and water remind us of the Savior’s sacrifice of His flesh and blood but because the emblems also remind us that He will always be our “bread of life” (John 6:48) and “living water” (John 4:10). 

His is a kind of loyalty that never faileth. “Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand” (D&C  27:15).

Letter from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to "Ordain Women" Organization

Salt Lake City -- News media are reporting today on a letter from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent to a women’s group called “Ordain Women” regarding plans the group has to demonstrate for female ordination at the Church’s worldwide general conference. In response to multiple requests from news media, the Church has provided a link to the entire letter. 

Joseph Smith as Translator

An excellent article on Joseph Smith's role as 'translator' appeared in Meridian Magazine on November 18, 2013:

 

...The obvious evidence of Joseph’s gift to translate is the Book of Mormon (originally engraved on metal plates in reformed Egyptian hieroglyphs). The year Moroni delivered these plates to Joseph, ancient Egyptian was a dead language to the world. The Rosetta Stone had only recently been discovered in Egypt, but it took French scholars seven years to decode the Egyptian hieroglyphs on it. [7] While they were working to translate one page from Egyptian, the Prophet Joseph translated and produced an entire book over 500 pages long. They took over twenty years to confidently translate one page, but Joseph zipped through his translation in only two months. Elder Maxwell commented on this marvelous work and wonder, pointing out that Joseph translated the Book of Mormon faster than most of us read it:

“One marvel is the very rapidity with which Joseph was translating--at an estimated average rate of seven to ten of our printed pages per day! [8] The total working time was about 65-75 working days. [9]

“One able LDS translator in Japan, while surrounded by reference books, language dictionaries, and with translator colleagues available, if needed, recently indicated that he considers an output of one careful, final page a day to be productive. And he is re-translating from earlier Japanese to modern Japanese!

“Over 50 able English scholars labored for seven years, using previous translations, to produce the precious King James Bible, thus averaging about one precious page per day!” [10]

“Second, from what we know, rarely would Joseph go back, review, or revise what he had already translated…The Prophet’s dictating flowed, resulting just as the compositor, John H. Gilbert, remembered with no paragraphing....The process not only flowed, but it flowed at a very rapid rate under the gift and power of God.

If one were manufacturing, he would constantly need to cross-check himself, to edit, and to revise for consistency. Had the Prophet thus dictated and revised extensively, there would have been more evidence of it. Thus whatever the details of process, we are discussing an astonishing process!

 
“Furthermore, Emma Smith said of the inspired process, ‘After meals, or after interruptions, [Joseph] would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him.’ [11] Usually, one who has been dictating and has been interrupted, must resume by inquiring ‘Now, where were we?’ Not so with the Prophet!” [12]

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"Under the Priesthood and after the Pattern of the Priesthood"

Visiting Teaching Message
Ensign, March 2011
Study this material and, as appropriate, discuss it with the sisters you visit. Use the questions to help you strengthen your sisters and to make Relief Society an active part of your own life.

My dear sisters, how blessed we are! Not only are we members of the Church, but we are also members of Relief Society—"the Lord's organization for women."¹ Relief Society is evidence of God's love for His daughters.

Doesn't your heart thrill as you recall the exciting beginnings of this society? On March 17, 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith organized the sisters "under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood."²

To be organized "under the priesthood" gave sisters authority and direction. Eliza R. Snow, second Relief Society general president, taught that Relief Society "cannot exist without the Priesthood, from the fact that it derives all its authority and influence from that source."³ Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained, "The authority to be exercised by the officers and teachers of the Relief Society . . . was the authority that would flow to them through their organizational connection with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and through their individual setting apart under the hands of the priesthood leaders by whom they were called."⁴

To be organized "after the pattern of the priesthood" gave sisters sacred responsibilities. Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, explained: "We operate in the manner of the priesthood—which means that we seek, receive, and act on revelation; make decisions in councils; and concern ourselves with caring for individuals one by one. Ours is the priesthood purpose to prepare ourselves for the blessings of eternal life by making and keeping covenants. Therefore, like our brethren who hold the priesthood, ours is a work of salvation, service, and becoming a holy people."⁵

Barbara Thompson, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency.

From the Scriptures
1 Corinthians 11:11; Doctrine and Covenants 25:3; 121:36–46

From Our History
During the construction of the Nauvoo Temple, a group of sisters desired to organize to support the building effort. Eliza R. Snow drafted bylaws for this new group. When she showed them to the Prophet Joseph, he responded: "Tell the sisters their offering is accepted of the Lord, and he has something better for them. . . . I will organize the women under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood."⁶ A short time later, the Prophet told the newly organized Relief Society: "I now turn the key to you in the name of God, and this Society shall rejoice, and knowledge and intelligence shall flow down from this time."⁷ The sisters were expected to rise to a new level of holiness and to prepare for the priesthood ordinances soon to be administered in the temple.

To Rule Over

An excerpt from:

Crossing Thresholds and Becoming Equal Partners

Bruce C. Hafen and Marie K. Hafen, “Crossing Thresholds and Becoming Equal Partners,” Ensign, Aug 2007, 24–29

The concept of interdependent, equal partners is well-grounded in the doctrine of the restored gospel. Eve was Adam’s “help meet” (Genesis 2:18). The original Hebrew for meet means that Eve was adequate for, or equal to, Adam. She wasn’t his servant or his subordinate. And the Hebrew for help in “help meet” is ezer, a term meaning that Eve drew on heavenly powers when she supplied their marriage with the spiritual instincts uniquely available to women as a gender gift.3
 
As President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has said, men and women are by nature different, and while they share many basic human traits, the “virtues and attributes upon which perfection and exaltation depend come [more] naturally to a woman.”4
 
Genesis 3:16 states that Adam is to “rule over” Eve, but this doesn’t make Adam a dictator. A ruler can be a measuring tool that sets standards. Then Adam would live so that others may measure the rightness of their conduct by watching his. Being a ruler is not so much a privilege of power as an obligation to practice what a man preaches. Also, over in “rule over” uses the Hebrew bet, which means ruling with, not ruling over. If a man does exercise “dominion … in any degree of unrighteousness” (D&C 121:37; emphasis added), God terminates that man’s authority.

Perhaps because false teachings had twisted original scriptural meanings, President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) preferred “preside” rather than “rule.” He said: “No woman has ever been asked by the Church authorities to follow her husband into an evil pit. She is to follow him [only] as he follows and obeys the Savior of the world, but in deciding [whether he is obeying Christ], she should always be sure she is fair.”5 In this way, President Kimball saw marriage “as a full partnership,” stating, “We do not want our LDS women to be silent partners or limited partners” but rather “a contributing and full partner.”6
 
Spouses need not perform the same functions to be equal. The woman’s innate spiritual instincts are like a moral magnet, pointing toward spiritual north—except when that magnet’s particles are scrambled out of order. The man’s presiding gift is the priesthood—except when he is not living the principles of righteousness. If the husband and the wife are wise, their counseling will be reciprocal: he will listen to the promptings of her inner spiritual compass just as she will listen to his righteous counsel.

And in an equal-partner marriage both also bring a spiritual maturity to their partnership, without regard to gender. Both have a conscience and the Holy Ghost to guide them. Both see family life as their most important work. Each also strives to become a fully rounded disciple of Jesus Christ—a complete spiritual being.

To read the full article, click here.