l09 - directed study
TRANSCRIPT
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8/18/2019 L09 - Directed Study
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The sacrament is a very interesting covenant. It is one which is presented
very simply, yet has some of the deepest spiritual implications available. It is meant
to be simple enough to be understood, but rich enough to require consistency and
constancy. This is achieved through a very simple symbolic presentation despite
having some very deep and important doctrine associated with it.
The presentation is simple. The priesthood blesses and distributes thesacrament. In blessing it, they recite a prayer which instructs those who partake of
the sacrament that they must:
• Remember body of Christ
o erves as a testimony to the !ather that we remember Christ
o "lso ensures that we will have the pirit with us
o erved to those who are bapti#ed in the church $% &ephi '(:)*
• Remember the blood of Christ
o +itnesses to the !ather that we remember Christ
o "lso ensures that we will have the pirit with us
o
erved to those who repent and are bapti#ed $% &ephi '(:''*
ach religious emblem has its own signi-cance the bread representing Christ/s
body, while the wine0water represents the blood.
The sacrament is widely known as being a continuation and an appendage of
baptism and the receipt of the 1ift of the 2oly 1host. This is due to the power which
the sacrament has to purify us of our sins, if righteously and rightfully performed.
ssentially, while baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the 2oly 1host
are the gateway $3 &ephi %':'4* by which we may only pass once, the sacrament is
potentially received weekly. This frequency is to help maintain the covenant over
longer periods of time, while also maintaining a very focused perspective on the
present.
Remembering Christ may seem like a small thing to ask, especially in return
for forgiveness and purity, but it has further implications the more one studies this
requirement. Remembering Christ is not 5ust a formality, but also a pathway to
intensi-ed, more frequent, and more profound devotion. "s one remembers Christ,
one should also remember, by association, everything else 2e did in 2is lifetime.
This means that we re6ect on 2is words, 2is teachings, 2is e7ample, and 2is
"tonement. 8y remembering these things, we are able to re6ect on 2is e9ect on us,
especially given the conte7t of the sacrament/s role in the repentance process.
I remember the -rst time that I really began to understand the depth behind
this covenant. "midst an aicting life circumstance, I found myself troubled and fullof discontent. This had gone on for several weeks, and despite my best e9orts,
seemed too heavy to bear. 2owever, in properly re6ecting on the avior during the
sacrament, I was able to recogni#e 2is hand in my life, further reassuring me that
these challenges were temporary, and therefore easy enough to bear. The
sacrament then allowed me to turn away from the activities that were causing me
distress, and further cemented my faith in the ;ord
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8/18/2019 L09 - Directed Study
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The sacrament is indeed a frequent and small hinge, but turns many
situations around. In fact, it is the part of the framework of the 1ospel that the ;ord
established by which we are to truly accept the ;ord and 2is teachings especially
the o9erings 2e made through the "tonement.