God promised Israel "bread from heaven." The Israelites called it "manna," which means "what is it?" It sustained them for forty years, but as Jesus explained, this bread was symbolic of the true Bread, which offers us eternal life. Each week, as we partake of the sacrament, we remember Him, our Bread from heaven.
Grace and Agency in Doctrine and Covenants 20
Doctrine and Covenants 20 teaches us about the relationship between grace and agency. Jesus Christ suffered so that we could be saved. We can choose to accept that gift (justification) and retain it over time (sanctification). Baptism enables us to accept it. The sacrament helps us retain it.
“That They May Do It in Remembrance”
The sacrament gives us the opportunity to practice focusing our minds on what matters most. The prayers teach us what we should think about during that time: the Savior's atoning sacrifice and our own commitment to the basic duties of discipleship.
“O God…”
The expression "O God" is characteristic of the Old Testament, and particularly the book of Psalms. The few times it appears in the Book of Mormon, it conveys a special earnestness. So, it's fitting that the sacrament prayers would begin with those words.
Accomplishing the Purposes of the Sacrament
The sacrament blesses us in many ways including: 1. Allowing us time to ponder quietly while surrounded by a supportive community 2. Helping us see what we can do better and what we are doing well 3. Remembering the Savior's suffering and His victory.
“This is My Body”
Jesus taught that we must eat His flesh and drink His blood. A year later, He gave His disciples bread and wine saying, "This is my body" and "This is my blood." During His visit to the American continent, He added that we eat and drink to our souls.
“Consider Your Ways”
Sometimes we spend a lot of time and energy on activities which are not aligned with our goals and priorities. We can reduce that waste with a little self-reflection and self-discipline. "Consider your ways," said the prophet Haggai to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. "Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough;... Continue Reading →
Shewbread
In the ancient tabernacle, there was a gold-plated table with twelve cakes (or loaves) of bread on it. God commanded that the bread always be there, and He called it lehem panim (לֶ֥חֶם פָּנִ֖ים), or "bread of the face," signifying that it was continually in His presence. In the King James Version of the Bible,... Continue Reading →
“Which I Have Shown unto You” – 3 Nephi 18:7
On both the first and the second days of the Savior's ministry on the American continent, He blessed bread and wine and commanded the multitude to eat and drink, telling them that they should "always" do this in remembrance of His body and blood. (See 3 Nephi 18:1-11, 3 Nephi 20:2-9.) Moroni later recorded the... Continue Reading →
What Does the Book of Mormon Clarify?
This is the fifth of six posts answering a set of questions recommended by President Russell M. Nelson. So far, I have written about what the Book of Mormon is, what it affirms, what it refutes, and what it fulfills. Today, I will write about what it clarifies. As I wrote yesterday, the Book of... Continue Reading →