What is it?
“The Sacrament” is a term used for an ancient ritual representing some promises made between mankind and God. (Etymology of Sacrament: To consecrate / dedicate / make holy)
Oldest known record of the Sacrament (that I am aware of):
Abraham partook of the Sacrament thousands of years ago, but it was most likely established before his time:
The practice was lost at some point. My theory would be that it was not passed on by Moses (and thus its lack of appearance in Jewish tradition). The children of Israel had been delivered from Egypt, but were still quite wicked and were not ready for such things. Instead of passing on the higher rituals, Moses instead decided to start at a more rudimentary level, giving them God’s 10 basic Commandments and the “Mosaic Law,” which is most likely an adaptation of the laws from Pharaoh’s court where Moses had grown up.
During the time of Moses, however, the Lord instituted the Passover, which was symbolically similar to the Sacrament, with the lamb representing Christ.
The original version of the Sacrament ritual was later restored/reinstituted by Jesus Christ, who had come to fulfill Moses’ law:
The last thing Christ did before going through with the Atonement was to institute the ancient ritual of the Sacrament, signifying the fulfillment of Moses’ Law and the reinstitution of the higher laws.
His followers continued the practice as many Christian denominations do today:
Oldest known record of the Sacrament (that I am aware of):
Abraham partook of the Sacrament thousands of years ago, but it was most likely established before his time:
- 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Gen 14:17-20
The practice was lost at some point. My theory would be that it was not passed on by Moses (and thus its lack of appearance in Jewish tradition). The children of Israel had been delivered from Egypt, but were still quite wicked and were not ready for such things. Instead of passing on the higher rituals, Moses instead decided to start at a more rudimentary level, giving them God’s 10 basic Commandments and the “Mosaic Law,” which is most likely an adaptation of the laws from Pharaoh’s court where Moses had grown up.
During the time of Moses, however, the Lord instituted the Passover, which was symbolically similar to the Sacrament, with the lamb representing Christ.
- Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
- And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. Exo 12:3-14
The original version of the Sacrament ritual was later restored/reinstituted by Jesus Christ, who had come to fulfill Moses’ law:
- 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:17-20
The last thing Christ did before going through with the Atonement was to institute the ancient ritual of the Sacrament, signifying the fulfillment of Moses’ Law and the reinstitution of the higher laws.
- 19 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. 20 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 (Matt 26:26-28)
His followers continued the practice as many Christian denominations do today:
- 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 1 Cor. 11:23-26
- 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:41-42
Why do it? - The Symbology behind it
Christ taught figuratively that He is the Living Bread of Life and the Living Water. Those that come unto Him (and partake) would never hunger nor thirst after spiritual things, but have Life Everlasting through his Atonement.
But why His Flesh and Blood specifically? This correlates to Christ’s Atonement. His Atonement consists of two major parts.
The first is the death of His body of Flesh and the Resurrection of said body. This “broke the bands of death” and allows everyone who was ever born to be eventually resurrected as well, regardless of whether they were good or evil. This is symbolized by the bread, and is a blessing bestowed upon all who kept their first estate (the two thirds of God’s children who chose Christ in the premortal realm and are being born to earth.)
The second part is the suffering in Gethsemane. There Christ spiritually took upon himself the pains, sorrows, and sins of the world, causing Him to bleed from every pore. He paid for the sins of all those who would repent and follow Him. Those who do this, and thus keep their second estate, are eligible to return home to Heaven. His blood is symbolized by wine/water.
Thus, by partaking of the Sacrament (Bread and Wine/Water), we are symbolically coming unto Christ and partaking of what he offers us. We are making covenants with God to repent, always remember Him, and to obey His commandments. In exchange, we receive a remission of our sins and the companionship of His Holy Spirit. It is a renewal of commitment, a ritual washing of the soul. It prepares us to enter God’s Kingdom, where “no unclean thing can dwell” (1 Ne 10:21).
However, those who partake without repenting (without attempting to change their ways) are playing with fire.
In essence, those who make a show of participating but don’t really mean it are only fooling themselves. They are doing lip-service only, saying one thing yet doing another. If they don’t repent, they can’t be forgiven. It is their choice. Damnation is a choice to stop progressing, to stop moving forward, to personally dam the way ahead. You can’t enter God’s Kingdom if you are not clean. It is your choice whether you wash yourself off or not.
More on The Sacrament
- 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
- 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
- 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
- 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
- 41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
- 43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
- 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
- 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
- 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
- 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
- 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:31-54
But why His Flesh and Blood specifically? This correlates to Christ’s Atonement. His Atonement consists of two major parts.
The first is the death of His body of Flesh and the Resurrection of said body. This “broke the bands of death” and allows everyone who was ever born to be eventually resurrected as well, regardless of whether they were good or evil. This is symbolized by the bread, and is a blessing bestowed upon all who kept their first estate (the two thirds of God’s children who chose Christ in the premortal realm and are being born to earth.)
The second part is the suffering in Gethsemane. There Christ spiritually took upon himself the pains, sorrows, and sins of the world, causing Him to bleed from every pore. He paid for the sins of all those who would repent and follow Him. Those who do this, and thus keep their second estate, are eligible to return home to Heaven. His blood is symbolized by wine/water.
Thus, by partaking of the Sacrament (Bread and Wine/Water), we are symbolically coming unto Christ and partaking of what he offers us. We are making covenants with God to repent, always remember Him, and to obey His commandments. In exchange, we receive a remission of our sins and the companionship of His Holy Spirit. It is a renewal of commitment, a ritual washing of the soul. It prepares us to enter God’s Kingdom, where “no unclean thing can dwell” (1 Ne 10:21).
However, those who partake without repenting (without attempting to change their ways) are playing with fire.
- 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 1 Cor. 11:27-29
In essence, those who make a show of participating but don’t really mean it are only fooling themselves. They are doing lip-service only, saying one thing yet doing another. If they don’t repent, they can’t be forgiven. It is their choice. Damnation is a choice to stop progressing, to stop moving forward, to personally dam the way ahead. You can’t enter God’s Kingdom if you are not clean. It is your choice whether you wash yourself off or not.
More on The Sacrament