The Sacrament in Mormonism
When Latter-day Saints (Mormons) refer to the taking of “the sacrament,” they are referring to the ceremony of eating bread and drinking water which are symbols, or reminders, of the body and blood of Christ, which He willingly gave up during His atoning sacrifice for all.
The blessing and administration of the sacrament occurs every Sunday during the main worship service of a Mormon congregation. Only worthy baptized members of the Church are allowed to take the sacrament. In most cases, bread is broken into small pieces and placed and trays. Righteous men who hold the priesthood bless the bread, reciting specific words of a prayer that Jesus Christ revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith during the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830. (These sacramental prayers are recorded in The Doctrine and Covenants, section 20, verses 77 and 79.) After the prayer, the trays are then passed around the seated congregation. The same process occurs when the water, poured in small cups and situated on trays, is blessed and passed.
During the sacrament Mormons remember the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He who first instituted the sacrament, which is also known as the “Last Supper.” In the New Testament, the Apostle Luke’s account of this first sacrament is recorded. On the night of His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Christ first met with his Apostles in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem to eat the Passover feast. This feast symbolized deliverance and redemption, as the Lord delivered the Israelites out of Egypt (see Exodus 12:21-30). During that meal Jesus Christ taught the Apostles the practice of eating bread that symbolizes his body, and drinking water, or wine, which symbolizes his blood. Luke recorded, “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:19-20).
It is exactly according to this example that Mormons take the sacrament every Sunday. Just as Jesus broke the bread and blessed and passed the bread and wine, priesthood holders perform the same duties during the Mormon worship service. The privilege to represent Jesus Christ in the sacrament service is not taken lightly, and men must be worthy priesthood holders to do so.
Mormons believe that through this ceremony, the promises they made to the Lord at baptism are renewed. When members of the LDS Church are baptized they promise the Lord that they will take upon them the name of Jesus Christ and serve Him and be obedient. By taking upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ, Mormons promise to remember Him in all they do and live their lives in accordance with His teachings.
How could one ever be worthy to represent Jesus Christ on earth? It is foolishness! We are saved by grace and grace alone. God does not need our help in saving souls, to even suggest that a person–a fallible human being could “help” God in the saving of human souls is blasphemy at least. Grace is given where none is deserved, and salvation is not about “feeling cleansed”. The fact of the matter is that Jesus Christ willingly gave himself a ransom for our sins. No one forced Him, and it is ONLY by His blood and the atoning work on Calvary that anyone will ever enter the Kingdom of God. Baptism does NOT save a person or cleanse him or her of his unrighteousness. It is Christ and Christ alone which justifies and redeems us from all sin. Read the book of Hebrews in which He is described as our High Priest who is even ascended into the heavens and at the right hand of the Father, therefore we no longer have need of an earthly priest because Jesus Christ is our High Priest. He pleads with the Father on our behalf making intercession for us, and the Holy Spirit indwells all Children of God who are saved and sanctified by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
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Kara
I believe that you are short sighted. While we are save by grace from God and faith in Him, he left us this example when He said “do this in memory of me”.
Mormons and many Christians know that they do the work of God on earth by their actions and their good works. Christ is no longer on the earth and he planned and executed His plan so that future generations would recognize Him and be saved. You certainly benefitted from someone doing the work of God if you are a believer. Someone’s belief and good works, good character and religious actions must prompted you to be what you are.
We are God’s hand on earth. We bring the food and clothing to the needy. God provides, but he uses us.
Mormons might have a different view of Christianity and salvation than Christians, but if their life is to be a copy of Christ’s life in giving and loving, is this such a bad thing?
Faith is not like a radio, that if you have you are saved. You have to turn the radio on, use it, listen to it and let it guide your action.
God Bless!
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[...] camper that was going so slow…). We considered it a little miracle that we were there for the sacrament. The other specific blessing was that the topic in the third hour of our meetings (a combined [...]