 |
| The Atonement of Jesus Christ |
I once taught this as a young woman's lesson and made a sacrament card for each of them, to put in their scriptures and pull out during the sacrament to remind them of how sacred and important this ordinance really is.
Sunday best- The sacrament is the most important part of our Sacrament Meeting. It is why we meet, to remember our covenants we made at baptism and to make new ones. What we wear matters. Those who are administering and passing the Sacrament wear white shirts representing purity as they administer the Holy Emblems of the Sacrament. It is symbolic and similar to the white we wear when we are baptized and the white we wear in the temple. As young women and women it is our privilege to wear our very best while partaking and participating in the Lord's Holy Sacrament.
The table-The bread and water trays are arranged on the table. A cloth is carefully placed over the trays. Christ's body was also covered with a cloth in the tomb. As we look at the table, we are reminded of the actual burial of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Water is poured-Water which symbolizes the blood Christ spilled for us, is poured into cups. The Savior's greatest suffering occurred while in Gethsemane where it is recorded that He bled from every pore.
Bread is torn-As the Sacrament begins, we sing a hymn about Christ and the bread is literally torn. Read the words to Hymn #181 ..."bruised, broken, and torn for us on Calvary's Hill" We are watching the symbolism of His body being torn for us.
Sacrament prayers-Jesus Christ instituted His holy sacrament while He was on earth. It is of such importance, it must be offered exactly, word for word, as written, offered as many times as it takes to get it right. Isn't that like us? We each struggle with our own weaknesses. The Lord, who has immense patience with us, allows us to keep trying, repenting, and trying again-as many times as it takes to get it right. That is what the Atonement is all about.
Our covenant hand-Our right hand is our covenant hand, and therefore the hand we reach to take the bread and water. We are literally partaking of the Atonement. We are letting it enter us both physically and spiritually.
Covenants made-"That they may witness unto thee-to always remember him" As we partake of the Sacrament, we are reminded of what the Savior did for us personally. We promise to live as he would live, to say what He would say, to be as He would be. We are saying that we are willing to testify of Christ. We are saying, "if you want to know what a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint believes, watch me!" When I'm with my friends, watch me! It is not enough to say His name. It is not enough to learn about Him. We must come to KNOW Him. This is standing as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places.
