Sacrament
“During the sacrament meeting – and especially during the sacrament service – we should concentrate on worship and refrain from all other activities, especially from behavior that could interfere with the worship of others.”
– Dallin H. Oaks
“I am a witness that there is a spirit attending the administration of the sacrament that warms the soul from head to foot; you feel the wounds of the spirit being healed, and the load is lifted. Comfort and happiness come to the soul that is worthy and truly desirous of partaking of this spiritual food.”
– Melvin J. Ballard
“The Lord has given us nothing that is useless or unnecessary. He has filled the Scriptures with the things which we should do in order that we may gain salvation. When we partake of the Sacrament we covenant to obey and keep his commandments. There are no exceptions. There are no distinctions, no differences.”
– J. Reuben Clark Jr.
“Occasionally I hear people say, ‘I am living righteously, but things are not working out for me. I am losing patience and I wonder, where are all the blessings?’ To any of you who feel this way, I would encourage you to change your perspective. We are eternal spirits! We must live our lives with the end in mind – not in the middle. We must trust in the Lord. We must understand that some will be tested more than others. We should remember that no blessing will be denied if we continue to keep the commandments. Turn to the plan of salvation – it can answer all of your questions. Take the sacrament each week. It will help you regain spiritual strength. Trust in the Lord and understand that all blessings will come at the right time.”
– M. Russell Ballard
“The Sacrament is intended for the members of the Church. The covenants in the prayer of blessing are those made when entrance into the Church is consummated. Where there are many non-members present in a Sacrament meeting, the presiding officer usually announces that the Sacrament will be administered to the members of the Church, without further comment. There should, however, be no attempt to withhold the bread and water from non-members. If such persons partake, it will be upon their own responsibility; and to some extent at least they then accept the meaning and covenants of the ordinance.”
– John A. Widtsoe
“Each day, we put on clean clothes. But by day’s end our clothes are soiled by mortal exertions. So it is true for each of us spiritually. By Saturday, every one of us needs to be washed and cleaned. When we are soiled by sin, we cannot have the Spirit’s companionship. I don’t think that one unkind act drives the Spirit away all week, but it turns down the volume a little. By Saturday night we all need to be cleansed spiritually, and this happens on the Sabbath. We confess our sins to the Lord and those we’ve wronged, and if serious, we speak with our priesthood leaders. When that is fulfilled, we partake of the sacrament and make a new commitment. Then we have the promise that we will always have His Spirit to be with us. We all need the cleansing that comes from partaking of the sacrament on the Sabbath Day.”
– Dallin H. Oaks