The Sacrament is the only ordinance that we repeat over and over for ourself. Every other ordinance we perform, we do so once for ourself, then we repeat for the dead—for those who have gone before us. Why is that? What is it about the sacrament that makes it different from every other ordinance in the gospel?
“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.
“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
We get a second witness of the sacrament when Christ visited the Nephites as recorded in 3 Nephi 18:1-14
What a powerful passage of scripture. We are blessed to have the Savior’s words describing the importance of the sacrament. We are further blessed with a third & fourth witness of the sacrament by Moroni & Joseph Smith. I group these two together because they record nearly identical words regarding the sacrament (see Moroni 4, 5 & D&C 20:77, 79)“And it came to pass that Jesus commanded his disciples that they should bring forth some bread and wine unto him.“And while they were gone for bread and wine, he commanded the multitude that they should sit themselves down upon the earth.“And when the disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the disciples and commanded that they should eat.“And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude.“And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the disciples: Behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it uno the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe in my name.“And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you.“And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.“And it came to pass that when he said these words, he commanded his disciples that they should take of the wine of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude, and they did drink, and they were filled.“And when the disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them: Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you.“And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.“And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock."But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell are ready open to receive them.“Therefore blessed are ye if ye shall keep my commandments, which the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you.
30 August 2015