President Russell M. Nelson has taught, “Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance.”1 I have come to believe that the sacrament is the key to understanding what it means to repent daily.
The proper administration of the sacrament
The church’s instructions for the administration of ordinances help us gain a better understaning of their power. The Doctrine and Covenants and the Church’s General Handbook contain specific instructions on how the sacrament should be administered.
The Doctrine and Covenants
Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants was called the “Articles and Covenants” of the church.2 It contains instructions for baptism, church meetings, and various other duties within the church. Section 20 contains the following instructions for the administration of the sacrament:
“It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus;
“And the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this manner shall he administer it—he shall kneel with the church and call upon the Father in solemn prayer, saying:
“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
“The manner of administering the wine—he shall take the cup also, and say:
“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.”3
Not long after the organization of the church, Joseph was preparing for a religious service in which the sacrament would be administered. While on his way to procure wine for the sacrament, an angel appeared to him with additional instructions pertaining to the sacrament:
“[I]t mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.”4
The Handbook
The General Handbook contains instructions that build upon what is set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Sacrament Meeting, 29.2.1
The Handbook is organized by topic, and the first topic pertaining to the sacrament is how to conduct sacrament meeting. It provides that the purpose of sacrament meeting is to “[r]emember Jesus Christ by partaking of the sacrament. In this ordinance, Church members renew their covenant to take upon themselves the Savior’s name, to always remember Him, and to keep His commandments. Other purposes include worshipping, building faith and testimony, and conducting ward business.”5
The Handbook sets forth the order of events to occur in sacrament meeting, and step 9 pertains to the sacrament:
“The sacrament is the main focus of the meeting. Other parts of the meeting should not detract from it. This ordinance is an opportunity for members to direct their thoughts toward the Savior and His sacrifice for them. It should be a sacred time of spiritual renewal.
“The sacrament table should be prepared before the meeting begins. The bishop ensures that the sacrament is blessed and passed in a reverent and orderly way. Those who administer the sacrament represent Jesus Christ.”6
The Ordinance of the Sacrament, 18.9
Several sections of the Handbook discuss how to properly administer the sacrament. It is an enlightening experience to study these sections to learn more about how the sacrament should be administered. The following are excerpts from the Handbook:
18.9.1 Approval to Administer the Sacrament. The bishop holds the priesthood keys for administering the sacrament in the ward. All who participate in preparing, blessing, and passing the sacrament must receive approval from him or someone under his direction.
18.9.2 Who Performs the Ordinance. Teachers, priests, and Melchizedek Priesthood holders may prepare the sacrament. Priests and Melchizedek Priesthood holders may bless the sacrament. Deacons, teachers, priests, and Melchizedek Priesthood holders may pass the sacrament.
18.9.3 Guidelines for the Sacrament. Because of the sacred nature of the sacrament, priesthood leaders should prepare carefully so it is orderly and reverent. Those who administer the sacrament should do so in a dignified manner, realizing that they are representing the Lord. The bishopric encourages them to ponder the Savior’s Atonement as they prepare, bless, and pass the sacrament. The congregation sings a sacrament hymn while the bread is being broken.
Generally, bread must be broken as part of the sacrament ordinance. However, to ensure the health and safety of a particular member, that member may provide allergen-free bread or another broken bread-like substitute in a sealed plastic bag or cup.
3. As ward members sing a sacrament hymn, those who will bless the sacrament reverently stand, remove the cloth that covers the bread trays, and break the bread into bite-sized pieces.
4. After the hymn, the person blessing the bread kneels and says the sacrament prayer for the bread (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:77).
5. The bishop makes sure the sacrament prayers are spoken clearly, accurately, and with dignity. If someone makes an error in the wording and corrects himself, no further correction is needed. If the person does not correct his error, the bishop kindly asks him to repeat the prayer.
9. The person blessing the water kneels and says the sacrament prayer for the water (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:79). He uses the word water instead of wine.
The sacrament is an Aaronic Priesthood ordinance
Based on the instructions from the Doctrine and Covenants and the General Handbook, it is evident that the sacrament is an Aaronic Priesthood ordinance. The bishop holds the priesthood keys for administering the sacrament. (Handbook, 18.9.1). The bishop is the president of the Aaronic priesthood in his ward, and holds Aaronic Priesthood keys. (Handbook, 7.1.2; Doctrine and Covenants 107:15). Deacons, Teachers, and Priests have authority to administer the sacrament under the direction of the bishop. All of these are Aaronic Priesthood offices. It is clear that the sacrament is an Aaronic Priesthood ordinance.
The Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys for repentance
When John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and conferred the Aaronic Priesthood upon them, he gave them these instructions:
“Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.”7
In one of the primary revelations pertaining to the priesthood, we learn that the Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys of repentance:
“15 The bishopric is the presidency of this priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same.”
“20 The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments.”8
President Dallin H. Oaks has taught the relationship between the Aaronic Priesthood holding the keys of the gospel of repentance and the sacrament:
“What does it mean that the Aaronic Priesthood holds ‘the key of the ministering of angels’ and of the ‘gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins’? The meaning is found in the ordinance of baptism and in the sacrament. Baptism is for the remission of sins, and the sacrament is a renewal of the covenants and blessings of baptism. Both should be preceded by repentance.”9
The sacrament is an ordinance for repentance
The Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys of the gospel of repentance, and the sacrament is administered under the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. As taught by President Oaks, the meaning of the “gospel of repentance” can be found in the ordinance of the sacrament (together with the ordinance of baptism). So we can learn a great deal about repentance by better understanding the sacrament.
This discussion feels to me a bit like math, or something like “If A=B, and B=C, then A=C.” As we look at these various revelations and instructions, we can draw at least the following conclusions:
- The Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys of the gospel of repentance.
- The bishop holds Aaronic Priesthood keys, and is the president of the Aaronic Priesthood in his ward.
- The bishop holds the keys of the gospel of repentance for his ward.
- The Aaronic Priesthood adminsters outward ordinances, such as baptism and the sacrament.
- As the president of the Aaronic Priesthood and the holder of the Aaronic Priesthood keys for his ward, it is the bishop’s responsibility to authorize the administration of the sacrament.
- The sacrament is performed by Aaronic Priesthood holders, which includes the bishop, Deacons, Teachers, and Priests. (If there are not enough Deacons, Teachers, and Priests, then Melchizedek Priesthood holders, who also hold the Aaronic Priesthood, may administer the sacrament. But it is preferable to have Deacons, Teachers, and Priests perform their duties pertaining to the sacrament).
- As the holder of Aaronic Priesthood keys, which priesthood holds the keys of the gospel of repentance, the bishop is a “judge in Israel,”10 and helps members of his ward know what they need to do to fully repent.
- The ordinance of the sacrament is an integral part of the gospel of repentance.
Based upon all these instructions, can there be any question that the sacrament is intended to be an ordinance to assist members with their repentance? I believe the Lord effectively said this when he said, “And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High; Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times; But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.”11
What can the sacrament teach us about repentance?
President Nelson has indicated that many misunderstand repentance: “Too many people consider repentance as punishment—something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances.”12 He has taught that when Jesus asks us to repent, “He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies.”13
Because repentance is a change, it necessarily requires time. Time is one of the great gifts that God gave us in conjunction with the Fall (see my prior post on The Fall). And so President Nelson has described repentance as a process:
“Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”14
As we ponder how repentance is a process, the sacrament gives us great instruction.
Repentance requires a covenant relationship with God
Every Sunday, our church meetings are intended to be focused on the sacrament, and during that time we are asked to ponder the Savior and his atonement. As we take the sacrament, we make covenants.
We often hear people say that when we take the sacrament, we “renew” covenants we made at baptism. While this is true, President Nelson has clarified that each time we take the sacrament, we make those covenants again:
“I made a covenant as I partook of the sacrament that I would be willing to take upon me the name of Jesus Christ and that I am willing to obey His commandments. Often, I hear the expression that we partake of the sacrament to renew covenants made at baptism. While that’s true, it’s much more than that. I’ve made a new covenant. You have made new covenants.”15
What does that teach us about repentance? If we are truly going to change our hearts and minds, we must enter into a covenant relationship with God. This requires us to consider how God wants us to live, and change our lives to comply with his commandments. Certainly, that requires a change of heart and mind.
These covenants include a willingness to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, always remember him, and keep his commandments which he has given us. As we ponder these covenants, including what they mean and how we can live them, we can conclude that our process of daily repentance will involve our efforts to live these specific covenants.
Repentance requires the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost
The promise of the sacrament is that as we work to keep the covenants associated with the sacrament, we may “always have His Spirit” to be with us. President Oaks has taught us about the relationship between repentance and the gift of the Holy Ghost:
“By participating weekly and appropriately in the ordinance of the sacrament we qualify for the promise that we will ‘always have his Spirit to be with [us]’ (D&C 20:77). That Spirit is the foundation of our testimony. It testifies of the Father and the Son, brings all things to our remembrance, and leads us into truth. It is the compass to guide us on our path. This gift of the Holy Ghost, President Wilford Woodruff taught, ‘is the greatest gift that can be bestowed upon man’ (Deseret Weekly, Apr. 6, 1889, 451).”16
If repentance is a change of heart and mind, then it is absolutely essentially that we have the constant companishiop of the Holy Ghost. Elder Bedar has taught, “The ordinance of the sacrament is a holy and repeated invitation to repent sincerely and to be renewed spiritually. The act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself, does not remit sins. But as we prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us. And by the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we can always retain a remission of our sins. We truly are blessed each week by the opportunity to evaluate our lives through the ordinance of the sacrament, to renew our covenants, and to receive this covenant promise.”17
It is through the sacrament that we can repent
The ordinance of the sacrament not only teaches us how to repent, but by making those specific covenants, and by working daily to keep those covenants, we invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, which provides us with all the blessings offered through the atonement of Jesus Christ. President Oaks has summarized the importance of the sacrament:
“A few weeks ago I used a chain saw to cut down a tree in my backyard. It was a dirty job, and when I was done I was splattered with a filthy mixture of sawdust and oil. In that condition I did not want anyone to see me. I just wanted to be cleansed in water so I would again feel comfortable in the presence of other people. . . .
“We are commanded to repent of our sins and to come to the Lord with a brokenheart and a contrite spirit and partake of the sacrament in compliance with its covenants. When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. In this way we are made clean and can always have His Spirit to be with us. The importance of this is evident in the Lord’s commandment that we partake of the sacrament each week (see D&C 59:8–9).
“We cannot overstate the importance of the Aaronic Priesthood in this. All of these vital steps pertaining to the remission of sins are performed through the saving ordinance of baptism and the renewing ordinance of the sacrament. Both of these ordinances are officiated by holders of the Aaronic Priesthood under the direction of the bishopric, who exercise the keys of the gospel of repentance and of baptism and the remission of sins.”18
An understanding of the sacrament can help us to comprehend the true meaning of repentance. As we work to keep our covenants day by day, hour by hour, even minute by minute, we will have the blessing of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, which will guide us, give us the strength to change our heart and mind, and cleanse us through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
References
- President Russell M. Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Bettter,” Ensign, May 2019, 67, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2019/05/36nelson?lang=eng&id=p6#p6. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 20, Section Heading. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 20:75-79. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 27:2. ↩︎
- General Handbook, “Sacrament Meeting,” 29.2.1, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/29-meetings-in-the-church?lang=eng&id=aside1_p1#aside1_p1. ↩︎
- General Handbook, “Planning Sacrament Meeting,” 29.2.1.1, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/29-meetings-in-the-church?lang=eng&id=p22-p23#p22. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 13:1. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 107:15, 20. ↩︎
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament,” Ensign, November 1998, 37-38, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1998/11/the-aaronic-priesthood-and-the-sacrament?lang=eng&id=p7#p7. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 107:72. ↩︎
- Doctrine and Covenants 59:9-12. ↩︎
- Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Bettter,” 67. ↩︎
- Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Bettter,” 67. ↩︎
- Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Bettter,” 67. ↩︎
- President Russell M. Nelson in a mission leadership seminar in June, 2019, as reported by Elder Dale G. Renlund, “Unwavering Commitment to Jesus Christ,” Ensign, November 2019, 25 n.18, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2019/11/16renlund?lang=eng&id=p20#p20. ↩︎
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament,” Ensign, November 2008, 17, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2008/11/sacrament-meeting-and-the-sacrament?lang=eng&id=p7#p7. ↩︎
- Elder David A. Bednar, “Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins,” Ensign, May 2016, 61-62, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2016/05/saturday-afternoon-session/always-retain-a-remission-of-your-sins?lang=eng&id=p30-p31#p30. ↩︎
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament,” Ensign, November 1998, 38, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1998/11/the-aaronic-priesthood-and-the-sacrament?lang=eng&id=p14-p17#p14. ↩︎