Lesson Learned During The Sacrament Prayer

During the Sacrament (the blessing and passing of the bread and water which are symbols of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for us) I was listening more intently to the sacrament prayers. The prayer to bless the water can be found in Moroni 5:2 “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”

I started to reflect on the words “that they may witness unto thee... that they do always remember Him, that they may have His spirit to be with them.” I always new that participating in sacrament meeting was part of keeping my covenant of remembering Christ, but I had often wondered about those who tried to follow the Savior, but didn't come to church and partake of the sacrament. I thought they still are remembering Christ and while they are not getting the promised blessings from renewing their covenants, they can still be keeping their covenants. This prayer helped me to realize that more important than the thoughts and intents of my heart are my actions. Our actions witness of our true thoughts and intents. We witness where we stand and what we love, good or evil, to our Heavenly Father through our actions.

I had always been taught that my deeds mattered, and I've always believed that they do. This helps me understand why. More than what I profess to know or even what I think or feel, if I can't witness to God through my actions that I'm on His side, then I'm not really on His side. Something else is more important, more pressing for me than doing what He wants, which keeps me from giving Him my whole heart. This is what God requires of me, my whole heart and I witness to Him that I have given it or have held it back from Him through my actions.

I think of the ruler who came to Christ and asked what he needed to do for eternal life. Christ answered 20”Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich” (Luke 18:18-23). What the ruler lacked was willingness to give his whole heart to Christ. He witnessed his lack when he went away sorrowing, knowing he couldn't do what was asked of him.

When we give our heart the blessings from obedience flow, just as the prayer says “that they may always have His spirit to be with them.” This blessing comes after the witness of our willingness through partaking of the sacrament weekly. I think of the blessings Christ had waiting for the ruler after he gave a witness of his willing heart, and wonder how often blessings are held back from me because I witnessed an unwilling heart like the ruler did.

I hope and pray that I can witness to my Heavenly Father of my willing heart by daily praying to Him and reading His words, by being kind to all those around me, by reaching out and opening my mouth to speak His words, by weekly partaking of the Sacrament, by doing my visiting teaching, by attending the temple, by keeping my covenants. I hope my actions will witness of my willing heart in the end, that I might be received into His kingdom. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.