The Sacrament in a Temple Context

By Hollie Wells

In ancient times (3 Nephi 18) and in the infancy of the modern dispensation of the church, the sacrament was administered within the walls of the temple. It was very much a temple-related experience for the Saints. Although not a part of our temple worship today, it is still an essential and frequent stepping stone on our covenant path. 

In my experience, when we are asked to list ordinances in a Sunday School class, the sacrament is not often among those lists or is included as an afterthought. It is just not automatically what we think of. It seems to be subconsciously grouped in an “other” category rather than among the ranks of the once-in-a-lifetime ordinances that we participate in.  

However, the sacrament is not other-than, different, or in a separate category. Yes, unlike the other ordinances, it is very often repeated. But the sacrament, just like our temple experience, is where a sacred symbol of Christ is passed from one acting as God and distributed to each member of the congregation. 

Ordinances are sacred acts that often include physical symbols of Christ’s body. Baptism, the sacrament, our endowment, and the sealing ordinances all include this! These symbols are all associated with covenants to live His laws and take His name upon us. 

Even more powerfully, each time you partake of the sacrament it is for you, not in behalf of the dead, like when we return to the temple after our own endowment or sealing. 

The sacrament is a sacred renewal of our covenants, a time for holy communion, and a priesthood ordinance, but unfortunately it is often not treated as such. I encourage you to have the same reverence for the sacrament as an ordinance that you would when participating in a temple ordinance or when attending the baptism or confirmation of a family member or friend. I feel hypocritical for even saying this because I have had my fair share of sacraments where I am not paying attention or am the source of distraction for others. (Mamas with babies, I’m not pointing at you) What the sacrament is all about is refining week by week, and perhaps a good place to start is how you behave, think, and reverence the Lord during the ordinance itself.