Lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants 2021
Lesson No. Twelve

Taking the Name of Jesus Christ with the Sacrament and In the Temple

What we eat or drink when we partake of the sacrament is not important – Soon after the Church was organized Joseph Smith went to procure wine for a sacrament meeting.  He was met by an angel, who, speaking for the Lord, told him:  “It 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…” (D&C 27:2).  After this revelation, the practice of the Church has been to use water instead of wine for the sacrament.  Also, it is not uncommon for a gluten free item to be offered to those with gluten intolerance.

Remembering both His crucifixion and His resurrection are essential – We partake of the bread and water “remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins” (Ibid).  The Book of Mormon adds another inspired dimension to what we should remember when partaking of the bread.  Jesus “took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and gave it unto the disciples” and then to the multitude.  Jesus continued, “And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you” (3 Nephi 18:3-7).  The body Jesus showed to the Nephites was His resurrected glorified body.  Therefore, when we partake of the bread we remember both His crucifixion and His resurrection.  Both are essential parts of His atoning sacrifice.

By partaking of the sacrament we indicate our willingness to take the name of Jesus Christ – “It is significant that when we partake of the sacrament we do not witness that we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ.  We witness that we are willing to do so.  (See D&C 20:77.)  The fact that we only witness to our willingness suggest that something else must happen before we actually take that sacred name upon on us in the most important sense” (Dallin H. Oaks, Taking upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ, General Conference, April 1985).  As we will discuss, it is in the temple that we more fully and completely take upon us the name of Jesus Christ.

Personal experiences with the sacrament at the University of Utah Hospital – For the three years beginning in 2017 through 2019 my wife, Susan, and I have been privileged to participate in several sacrament meetings each Sunday as we have served at the University of Utah Hospital as service missionaries.  Patients and their families are often deeply touched and very grateful for the privilege of renewing their covenants in difficult circumstances.  In providing this service to a multitude of patients we have had consistently wonderful spiritual experiences.

Personal experiences with the sacrament during Covid-19 – In March 2020 members were authorized to hold sacrament meetings in their homes and with neighbors to whom they ministered.  For a year Sue and I have had a sacrament meeting in our home with a dear friend and neighbor.  During this time we have also had a weekly sacrament meeting in the home of a wonderful couple we have loved and admired for many years.  In these meetings we always feel the Spirit, and are greatly uplifted and strengthened.  In these unexpected ways Covid-19 has blessed our lives.

In the temple we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ – “The process of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ that is commenced in the waters of baptism is continued and enlarged in the house of the Lord.  As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple.  As we partake of the sacrament, we look to the temple. We pledge to always remember the Savior and to keep His commandments as preparation to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in the ordinances of the holy temple we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ” (David A. Bednar, Honorably Hold a Name and Standing, General Conference, April 2009).

"Some degree of sacrifice has always been associated with temple building and with temple attendance – “Today most of us do not have to suffer great hardships in order to attend the temple….If you have been to the temple for yourselves and if you live within relatively close proximity to a temple, your sacrifice could be setting aside the time in your busy lives to visit the temple regularly"  (Thomas S. Monson, The Holy Temple - a Beacon to the World, Ensign, May 2011, emphasis added).  To take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, in a more complete and full way, we must attend the temple often enough to make it a sacrifice.  This will require giving temple worship a high priority when we decide how to allocate our time.  Most importantly, in doing this our sacrifice will be acceptable to the Lord.

An increased determination to take upon us more fully the name of Jesus Christ can be our new normal – Sacrament meetings and temples will soon return to normal operations.  For many of us the Covid-19 will give us an increased appreciation for the blessings of the sacrament and of the temple.  And we will have a great desire to take upon us more fully the name of Jesus Christ.