Elder James J. Hamula: The Sacrament and the Atonement

A few weeks ago I admitted that I got behind on this challenge when I went to visit my sister over the Veteran's Day weekend. It was understandable for me to be distracted, I was spending time with my family after all. But, I was determined not to get behind in my reading again.

I visited my sister again over the week of Thanksgiving and I am pleased to be able to say that I did much better this time. I don't know how productive I was over that week, but I did make sure to read a conference talk every night I was there. I also made sure I wrote about that talk, even if it was only briefly.

I am actually writing this response on an airplane as I head back home to California. For me, this talk was a wonderful reminder of the sacredness of the ordinance of the Sacrament.  I hope my thoughts are helpful to you.

Elder James J. Hamula:  The Sacrament and the Atonement

Read or watch the full talk here

According to Elder Hamula, participation in the sacrament as it is constituted today is a way we can signify our acceptance of Jesus as the Christ. It is also a way to signify our promise to follow him and keep his commandments.

The sacrament is one of the most holy ordinances performed in the church. We need to use it to remind ourselves of Christ and of the redemption he offers us.

One interesting detail Elder Hamula shared was the significance of the order of the sacrament. According to him, the bread is taken first to remind us that each of us will be resurrected, just as Christ was resurrected and returned to his body. We then partake of the water to remind us of the blood that Christ shed for us. This is supposed to remind us of the atoning sacrifice he made and through which we can be made clean and return home. This order is significant because resurrection is not the same as redemption.

Brothers and sisters, the ordinance of the sacrament constitutes a solemn commitment and covenant. We must seriously honor this commitment by reverently and actively participating in this ordinance. In the future, I will strive to do this by remembering the added detail Elder Hamula provided about what the bread and the water signify. I will also continue to strive to live as a true disciple of Christ, whose name we take upon ourselves when we partake of this sacred ordinance.