From http://lds.org/ "On the night before His Crucifixion, Jesus Christ met with His Apostles and instituted the sacrament (see Luke 22:19–20). After His Resurrection, He instituted the sacrament among the Nephites (see 3 Nephi 18:1–11). Today the sacrament is an ordinance in which Church members partake of bread and water in remembrance of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice. This ordinance is an essential part of worship and spiritual development. Through this ordinance, Church members renew the covenants they made with God when they were baptized."Midterms are in full-swing, coupled with long hours at work... and it was such a long week. There were times throughout the week where I just felt off... as though each morning were a Monday with the same energy I normally have after my last exam, and emotionally I just felt tired to the point of a terrible headache. There were even times when I was surrounded by hundreds, thousands, or people and yet felt completely alone. The thought even crossed my mind... God would understand if I missed a meeting or two today... but before I even allowed myself to entertain that, I quickly drew upon the mental and emotional strength that is found in the ordinances and covenants I have made with God.
As I sat in the congregation today, listening and watching to all the things around me... I paid particular attention to the fact that as the sacrament is being passed, the person beside me first partakes, and then offers it to me, I then partake and offer it to another. It was a very profound reminder that others who have partaken, who have made similar promises with God are all around me. I am not alone. Just as I attempt to love and serve others, so too are there people all around me to love, serve and strengthen me. I have seen these people bless my life academically, socially, spiritually & emotionally just this week.
I also pondered upon the importance of receiving. All of the promises I have made to God include incredible blessings, but I must heed the invitation to receive these blessings. Sometimes that means asking a neighbor for help, or allowing another to do something for me, or even just being real and allowing another person to pass the walls I have strategically placed around my soul... regardless of the form it takes, I have many areas in which I stand to improve when it comes to receiving and it is a blessing that I have this time now to contemplate and make myself better before attempting to receive another, or further blessings from the Lord.
How grateful I am to Jesus Christ, who instituted the sacrament, who fulfilled the law, and who restored--through Joseph Smith--the ordinances and blessings of His gospel so that I may improve, learn to receive these things and again live with Him in the presence of my Father in Heaven. I hope for everyone to have the blessings that I have found through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that even on an off day, with a terrible headache and a less than ideal attitude, I can sit amid good people trying to become better and I can see the hand of the Lord and His great plan of happiness in all of this.
