The Sacrament

By Elder L. Tom Perry

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

From an April 1996 general conference address.

Did you know that Elder L. Tom Perry served in the Marines during World War II? He explains the power that comes from taking the sacrament worthily.

It is interesting what memories stay with us year after year. While I was watching a TV documentary on World War II, suddenly into my mind came an old green footlocker.

After the battle was over on the island to which our Marine division was assigned, we were able to obtain a tent for our Church services. We made benches, a pulpit, and a sacrament table out of any piece of lumber we could find. Under the sacrament table we placed [a] special green footlocker. The contents included a wooden plate, a wooden sacrament tray, a card containing the sacrament prayers, and several boxes of small paper cups.

As we gathered each week on the Lord’s day, opened our footlocker, and used the contents to prepare, bless, and pass the sacrament, it was a spiritual and uplifting experience that renewed our faith and gave us hope for the days ahead.

Over the many, many years I have had the privilege of attending sacrament meetings, partaking of the sacrament has been a time of thoughtful reflection on the blessings the Lord has given to me and a time to covenant with him to live closer to his law and his gospel.

The Lord has promised if you will partake of the sacrament worthily, he will bless you with the peace of mind that can only come from knowing that you are participating in his divine plan.

Illustrated by Gregg Thorkelson