This Easter Sunday my missionary companion and I had the opportunity to accompany Bro. Harrelson of the Eldorado Branch (congregation) to administer the Sacrament, bread and water, to a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who's health is failing in the hospital. It was a bitter sweet experience. I am not the biggest fan of visiting hospitals. There are usually only 2 reasons why I am there:
- Birth of a new addition to the family, or the family of a friend.
- The passing of a friend and, or loved one.
In this particular case it is the unfortunate closing of the mortal life of a man with many friends and family that will be mourning his loss. It was bitter because of the knowledge that he will be leaving his loved ones in the mortal realm, but sweet because of the opportunity for him to partake of the sacrament and renew his covenants with his Heavenly Father before the end of his mortal life. What is the real significance of that ordinance of partaking of the sacrament you may ask? I'll address just a few of the reasons that I can think of as to why the sacrament is so important, and why I believe this man desired to have the opportunity to partake of it before he faced his final allotted time in mortality.
Let's start with the origin of the sacrament first shall we?
"26 ¶And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it,and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." -Matthew 26:26-28
These verses and video depiction teach us the first thing that the sacrament is meant to do for us. It is first there as symbol of rememberence of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is to help us remember the sacrifice of His suffering through the abuse of His Body, and the Loss of His Blood.
The Prayers used to bless the sacrament tell us more about its purpose.
"3 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 hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with" -Moroni 4:3
"2 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine 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." -Moroni 5:2
When someone is baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the make covenants (two way promises) with God. Those covenants are renewed when that person partakes of the sacrament. They partake of the sacrament in essence to make those same promises or covenants again. There are many examples of what those covenants are in the scriptures. One such example is the one given by the prophet Alma as he taught the people at the waters of Mormon:
"8 ...and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?" -Mosiah 18:8-10
When we are baptized we make the promises to stand as a witness of God in all things, times, and places. We promise to lift others and serve them as an example of the Savior Jesus Christ. We promise to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ as one of His disciples. We also promise to keep the commandments which He has given us. We know that we are not perfect in keeping those commandments. This is why the sacrament is truly so important. Every time we sin, we need to repent in order to be clean again. The Atonement of Jesus Christ, His suffering and bleeding in the Garden, His suffering and death on the cross, and His resurrection from the grave 3 days later, makes it possible for us to fully repent of our sins. We only gain full and complete access to His Atoning sacrifice through making baptismal covenants. When we renew those covenants through partaking of the sacrament, we are again washed clean of our sins.
Why was important to partake of the sacrament for this faithful disciple of Christ before departing his mortal existence. Only he can tell you, but if I were to make my best guest it would be because he recognizes the need he has to washed clean of his sins through the blood of Christ. He knows that in order to meet his Savior face to face and not turn his head away in any degree of shame, he must have every opportunity available to him to be "pure and spotless before God". -Alma 13:12
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