"The Sacrament - a Renewal for the Soul"

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I've been thinking about the sacrament lately. I feel like some Sundays I can really focus on what is being said in the sacrament prayers or the lyrics of the sacrament hymn, and am able to concentrate on the Spirit that is felt during those moments. I can ponder about my previous week and pray for help to do better the upcoming one. I can really focus on Jesus Christ and what His Atonement means to me and for me.

Then there are some weeks where that just doesn't happen.

There are the distractions of noises, little kids, or maybe even getting cheerios thrown at your head. (It's happened.) Sometimes my own mind is the distraction, getting caught up in the stresses I feel or the worries that I have. I lose my focus and wander to thoughts of to-do lists or other responsibilities.

But even though there are those not-so-good Sundays when I can't focus, I still know that it's important for me to continue to study, prayer, and deepen my understanding of the sacrament and the opportunity it gives me for repentance and for renewal. One Sunday at a time :)

There was a talk given by Sister Cheryl A. Esplin during the last General Conference (October 2014) called "The Sacrament - a Renewal for the Soul" that I have found very helpful. While listening to her talk and then studying it again later, I realized that my focus during the sacrament is often on myself and what I want to change, do, or become. Instead, I need to change my perspective and focus on what the Savior wants me to change, do, or become.

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She shares that, "The sacrament gives us an opportunity for introspection and an opportunity to turn our heart and will to God." The sacrament is a time for me to reflect on what God wants, not what I want.

And not only can we do this during the sacrament, but we can ponder God's will for us during the week perhaps when we are a little more focused or have time to be alone.

Sister Esplin also reminds us of the two great powers of the Savior's Atonement: the redeeming power and the enabling power. Of course we can use the Atonement to repent for sin, for those things we have done wrong. We all sin. So we of course all need that. But we also need the enabling power! We need our Savior to help us lift our burdens and worries even while we are trying to improve and follow His will.

A quote from Elder Ballard was shared by Sister Esplin that says,

Jesus Christ is our brother. He is our friend. He is right here to help you, comfort you, lift you, support you. He shares in our burdens and understands our pain, which is how we can feel "the load being lifted" even when going through hard times.

So tomorrow, as you sit in sacrament meeting and prepare to take the bread and water, remember that Jesus Christ is real. He lives. He loves you.  

The sacrament can be a "truly spiritual experience, a holy communion, a renewal for the soul" as Elder Holland has taught us. Ponder how you can become closer to your Savior. How you can align your will with His? How you can use the never-ending power of the Atonement to heal you from sin, lift you from sorrow, and give you strength to do the hard things?

I have felt the Spirit testify to me over and over again of the divinity of Jesus Christ and of His role in my life. And I hope that you will seek for that same witness as we all try to deepen our understanding and participation in the sacrament.


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You can watch Sister Esplin's entire talk below: