Week Fifty-nine!
This week I have been thinking a lot about the Sacrament and the
blessings that come from it. I don’t really think that we apply it and
this morning I was reading a story that really hit me so I’m just going to
share that because I don’t have the words.
“One Sunday
before sacrament meeting, the bishop approached me and asked, “Can you help us
bless the sacrament?” I said of course I would.
I went and got
my hymnbook and then washed my hands before taking my place at the sacrament
table. I opened the hymnbook, and the first hymn I saw was “I Stand All Amazed”
(Hymns, no. 193). The meeting hadn’t started yet, so I began to read the first
line: “I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me.” Immediately a feeling
of profound love filled my heart.
The previous
night I had been reading in the Bible about the end of the life of Jesus
Christ—the parts involving the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, and His
death and Resurrection. I imagined Jesus being tortured, beaten, and ridiculed
by the executioners. I also pictured Jesus carrying out His atoning sacrifice
in the Garden of Gethsemane while His disciples slept.
I realized that
I was about to bless the bread and water that represent His body and blood. The
sacrament allows us to renew the covenant we made when we were baptized, which
is to always remember Him, to keep His commandments, and to take His name upon
us.
When sacrament
meeting started, all of these thoughts were in my head. I felt profoundly that
Jesus suffered in such a painful and incredible way that it is incomprehensible
to us. The thought then came to me that He endured the suffering because of His
love for us—for me.
I felt so loved
by the Lord that I couldn’t control my tears. I felt like I wasn’t worthy of
what the Savior did for me. But I also felt that His love for me is perfect. A
friend will lay down his life for his friends (see John 15:13). When the
sacrament hymn started, I stood with another brother to begin the ordinance.
We folded back
the beautiful white tablecloth that covered the bread. As I held the bread, I
knew I had the responsibility of breaking it as part of the ordinance, but I
hesitated. The bread represents the body of Christ. I thought of the soldiers
hurting the Lord, and I didn’t want to break the bread. When I broke the first
piece, I thought of the painful and humiliating way Jesus was treated prior to
His death—the crown of thorns, the whipping, the suffering. The tears continued
to roll down my cheeks as I prepared the bread.
Then the thought
came to me that these painful and humiliating events were necessary. They were
part of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and He made the sacrifice
because of His love for me and each one of us.
I began to feel
a great peace and joy. I broke every piece of bread carefully and slowly,
knowing that what I held in my hands was about to be blessed and sanctified for
a special purpose and represented something very precious, beautiful, and
extraordinary. I felt the great responsibility of doing this ordinance so that
those in the meeting could renew a covenant with the Lord and receive the
blessings of the Atonement.
When we
finished, I saw the trays filled with the broken bread. The sight was marvelous
and sublime. My companion said the prayer. Never before had I so clearly
understood the phrase “that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son”
(D&C 20:77).
When I partook
of the bread, I felt my Savior’s love once again. I felt protected, humbled,
and determined to do what’s right. I wanted to examine my life and repent of
all I had done wrong.”
I’m thankful to
Jesus Christ for His love for me. I’m thankful that we can receive the
blessings of His Atonement: to be forgiven of our sins and have the chance to
return to our Heavenly Father.
I love you all,
 |
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