President Brigham Young on the sacredness of the sacrament

President Brigham Young (1801-1877) was part of the first Quorum of Twelve Apostles of this dispensation, called and ordained in 1835. He served as the second Church president, succeeding Joseph Smith, from 1847 until his death in 1877.

"I would exhort my brethren and sisters to receive this ordinance [the sacrament] every Sabbath, when they meet together....

"We are in the habit of partaking of the contents of the cup each Sabbath when we meet together, and I do pray you my brethren and sisters to contemplate this ordinance thoroughly, and seek unto the Lord with all your hearts that you may obtain the promised blessings by obedience to it. Teach its observance to your children; impress upon them its necessity. Its observance is as necessary to our salvation as any other of the ordinances and commandments that have been instituted in order that the people may be sanctified, that Jesus may bless them and give unto them his spirit, and guide and direct them that they may secure unto themselves life eternal. Impress the sacredness of this important ordinance upon the minds of your children."

- Brigham Young, Brigham City, Sunday Afternoon, August 19, 1877; see JD 19:91-92
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Speaking of the sacrament, President Young exhorts us to "contemplate this ordinance thoroughly" in order to know how to claim its promised blessings through obedience. We profit by doing this often; there is so much to be learned from the symbolism, the prayers, the associated covenants, and even the method of administration and distribution.

The observance of the sacrament is critical to our salvation, as much as any other ordinance of our day. How we should focus on its meaning and blessings in our lives! Truly, it does enable us to "be sanctified" or made holy before God, and to receive a greater measure of His spirit and guidance in our lives.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)