The Sacrament

“And as they were eating [the passover feast], 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.

“But I say unto you, I will not drink … until that day when I drink … with you in my Father’s kingdom.

“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” (Matt. 26:26–30.)

After Jesus was crucified He visited the Nephites in the New World and taught them many things, including the ordinance of the sacrament. He said to them, “And this shall ye always observe to do, … And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, … 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.” (3 Ne. 18:6–7.)

For this reason each Sunday we partake of the bread and water as Jesus asked His twelve apostles to take the sacrament on that night so long ago. Sometimes, however, we forget how much the sacrament means to us. We partake of it as a habit and forget to remember Jesus.

What does it mean to remember Him? We remember Him when we say our prayers each day in His name, thanking our Father in heaven for our blessings and asking Him to help us improve. We remember Him when we do something nice for one of our family or a friend. We are remembering Him when we set a good example for our friends. And we remember Him when we are baptized.

Each Sunday as we partake of the sacrament we should especially remember His life and teachings. It is a good time to think of what we have done during the week and ask ourselves if we have truly remembered Jesus. Then, too, we can think and plan for the next week and pray that our Heavenly Father will help us to be better.

Sometimes, though, our minds want to wander. We forget to be reverent and to remember our Savior. If we will bow our heads and sit quietly while the sacrament is being passed, it will become easier each week to remember Him and to think of His life and teachings. This song you sing in Sunday School and Primary was written to help us remember Him:

It shouldn’t be hard to sit very still

And think about Jesus, His cross on the hill;

And all that He suffered and did for me;

It shouldn’t be hard to sit quietly.

When I think of the miles He walked in the dust

And the children He helped to love and to trust;

It shouldn’t be hard to sit tall in my seat,

To listen politely, to quiet my feet.

It shouldn’t be hard, even though I am small,

To think always of Jesus—not hard at all.

Painting by Carl Bloch