Do you dress for the weather? I ask because many people don’t. They run out of the house without an umbrella even though the forecast predicts rain. They leave their scarf and gloves behind because they rationalize how they’ll first be in a warm car and then a warm store or office, with very little time exposed to the elements. When we were children, our mothers made sure we had all the proper clothing items to face what Mother Nature might throw our way. We then grew up and decided we knew better—and we have suffered from our foolish pride because of it.
I confess, I often times have left the house unprepared for climate emergencies. Sometimes I’ve beaten the odds, other times I’ve been burned (or soaked, or frozen—you get the idea.) But on the occasions when I would think first—when I would remember the consequences before I would act—I happily had met the forces of nature unharmed by what came my way.
Sunscreen, hats, rain gear, warm clothing—all are designed to protect our bodies. We’ve learned this as children, we teach our children still. But are we teaching them how to protect their spirits from the powers of Satan? What can we do to “gear up” each week so our spirits are protected in like manner? What kind of spiritual armor can we put on, what kind of shield will help us brave the elements of sin?
There is a moment each week when are invited to “have His Spirit to be with us.” The spirit I’m talking about is the Atoning power that comes from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The moment we receive this spirit is when we partake of the Sacrament every Sunday when we attend our worship services.
The sacrament as an ordinance.
What is an ordinance? Ordinances are physical acts that are performed under the proper authority of the Priesthood of God. They include, blessings, baptism by immersion, the Laying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, to name a few. The Sacrament is also an ordinance in its entirety. We witness worthy members of the Aaronic Priesthood as they break the bread which represents the body of Christ. We listen with reverence as they recite the Sacrament prayer, understanding that the words of the prayer have power to bless the bread and water to the souls of those who partake of it. But the ordinance is not complete until we do our part—we physically reach out, take the bread and water, and put them into our bodies. It is an act of faith and a promise to Heavenly Father that we are willing to accept what the ordinance has to offer us—protection. This is what it means to “have His Spirit to be with us.”
Partaking of the sacrament is a very personal gesture between us and the Lord. If we can settle our minds and focus on what it means, we can be better prepared to accept this ordinance. Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught, “The focus on the Savior and the Atonement needs to begin a long time before we walk into this building and a long time before the priest starts to kneel down. It will help us to get that focus if we remember that this is an ordinance, and in terms of its frequency, every seven days for the rest of our lives, and its universality, in every organized unit of this church. This is the most conspicuous and certainly the most repeatable ordinance in the church. And I’m not sure if we think of it that way. This is a very personal ordinance. This is the only ordinance, really, that we repeat for ourselves.”
I want to emphasize the image of physical protection and the power to raise us from darkness to light that comes with taking upon us the name of Christ. Many of you may recall the accident in 2010 when thirty-three Chilean miners were trapped 2000 feet underground with little prospect of being saved. They had to rely on a risky effort for rescue. A second shaft was drilled next to the collapsed one, and a cage that could hold only one man was lowered down. Each miner made the ascent slowly, carefully, and singly, to the top. After days of repeating this procedure, all the miners were saved.
This is symbolic of how the Savior saves us—one at a time. By partaking of the Sacrament you are reaching hold of His Hand descending down to you in the darkness of another week. He lifts you up to His level—singly and slowly. He clothes you with his power, much like the miners were encased in the cage. He protects you from the artillery Satan will bombard you with. His part of the ordinance is to provide protection, forgiveness, relief. Ours is to take His Name and His Spirit upon ourselves, almost as a shield from Satan’s wrath. It is a promise He is willing to fulfill every seven days for the rest of our lives.
The gift of the sacrament to renew covenants
Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles describes the Sacrament as a gift to renew covenants. He said, “Covenants bring not only commitment but spiritual power. We should teach our members that we are moving toward our Heavenly Father. The sacrament is a beautiful time, not just to renew our baptismal covenants, but to commit to him to renew all our covenants, all our promises and to approach him in a spiritual power that we did not have previously.” Spiritual power—this is a phrase not to be taken lightly. I can think of no other power greater than that of our one true and living God. To understand this is to ensure making and keeping our part of the commitment weekly.
When we take upon us the name of Christ, we are taking upon us everything he represents—his work, his mission, his atonement. The name of the church represents the work of the church, or in other words, where we should keep our focus. Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphasized the power of His Name. He stated, “Forgiveness of sins comes through His Name. Salvation comes through His Name. We must have faith in or believe on His Name in order to be saved. Temples are built to the name of Christ. Therefore, everyone who covenants to take upon them the name of Christ is saying, “I will handle my share of that great mission and my share is what I am called to do.” When we are armed with His Spirit, we are strengthened by His power. We are made new, we are refreshed. We are receptive to receiving more of His Spirit and thus we are able to handle all that He asks us to do.
His Spirit—the ultimate gear to withstand Satan
Morning Devotional: To read more of Nanette’s work, click here.
I have felt the after-effects of being ill-prepared—the chill that runs through you when you are soaked to the bone, the blisters from sunburn that itch and peel, the numbing pain of near-frozen fingers. I’m not anxious to repeat them ever again. Likewise, I have felt the effects of a life void of the sacrament—spiritual emptiness, drifting aimlessly, rattled by every worldly trend that comes in and out of fashion. No, being clothed in His Spirit, being protected with His power, partaking of the Sacrament makes for a much safer journey. It does not necessarily calm the storm but it provides the protection, the riggings, and the spiritual course needed to weather the elements, and to come home to the safe harbors of heaven.
Nanette O'Neal loves the gospel and is very happy to share her testimony on LDS Blogs. She is a convert to the church and still feels the spirit burn strong within her heart. She graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts with a degree in music education and has taught children and adults in the private and public sphere for over twenty years. Nanette continues to study the gospel and the art of writing. She writes weekly inspirational articles on her blog and is currently working on an LDS fantasy novel series, A Doorway Back to Forever. You can find her at NanetteONeal.blogspot.com. Nanette has a wonderful husband, talented son, and three beautiful dogs.
