Come, Follow Me Insights by Gogo Goff Doctrine and Covenants 27-28

I hope you enjoy some insights from my Come, Follow Me for Doctrine and Covenants 27-28. If you missed last week’s insight, Doctrine and Covenants 23-26 click here for it. Please share this with your friends or use this picture to save this pin to read later.

The Importance of the Sacrament.

“For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.”
Doctrine and Covenants 27:2

When I was a missionary many people asked why we did not use wine for our sacrament services. This verse explains why we don’t use wine and it attempts to teach the underlying truth that what we drink or what we eat when we perform that sacrament are insignificant to the actual ordinance itself. How important is the sacrament? President Dallin H. Oaks has taught that “The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church.”

But why is the sacrament so important? The simple answer is covenants. Let me explain. Covenants are two-way promises that we enter into via ordinances. These ordinances include Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination to the priesthood (for men), Initiatory, the Endowment, entering into the Patriarchal Order of the Priesthood aka temple/celestial marriage, or being sealed, and the sacrament. In the performing of these ordinances each individual enters into a covenant with God to obey various laws or commands, and in return each to obeying our half of the covenant promise God promises various blessings ranging from being washed clean from our sins to having the Holy Spirit as our constant companion, to even being exalted and becoming like God.

But there is a problem, those blessings are conditional upon strict obedience to the covenants that the blessings are predicated on. So what happens when we sin? We violate the terms and conditions and therefore the covenants we have entered into are null and void. And each of these ordinances we only perform once for ourselves, you can’t get re-endowed or rebaptized. And doing temple work does not renew our covenants, it gives the opportunity to others to enter into those covenants. So where does that leave us??? This is where the Sacrament comes into play, unlike all the other ordinances that are only performed once, the sacrament is repeated weekly, and more importantly, when we partake of the sacrament we are covenanting to renew our commitment to obey the Lord and keep our covenants, not just our baptismal covenants as primary kids are taught, but when we partake of the sacrament we renew all covenants with the Lord.

This teaching has been repeatedly throughout the history of the Church: President Joseph Fielding Smith taught that the primary reason for attending sacrament meeting is to “renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament.” Spencer W. Kimball taught, that “the sacrament is for the renewing of covenants.” Brigham Young wrote to the members explaining that “the bread and cup [are for] a renewal of their covenants.” Elder James E. Talmage wrote, “Partaking of the sacrament worthily may be regarded … as a means of renewing our avowals before the Lord.” Ezra Taft Benson taught that “We go to our chapels each week to worship the Lord and renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament.” And in 2006 L. Tom Perry quoted former apostle Delbert L. Stapley that “By partaking of the Sacrament we renew all covenants entered into with the Lord.” This is why the sacrament is important.

The Great Sacrament Meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman.

“Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim;”
Doctrine and Covenants 27:5

This verse is vague outside of context, but when read as a whole versus 5-14 talk about the events preceding the Second Coming. They speak of the event that has been referred to as a “great sacrament meeting” at Adam-ondi-Ahman. This sacrament meeting is going to be AMAZING! From verses 5-14, we learn that: Adam, Moroni, John, Elias, Elijah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, Peter, James, and John, will all be in attendance, oh and everyone how has ever held Priesthood keys, and “Also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world.” Doctrine and Covenants 27:14

This is the inaugural event of the second coming, it will be held at Adam-Ondi-Aman (Spring Hill in Daviess County, Missouri see Doctrine and Covenants 116:1) and it is for everyone to partake of the sacrament and renew their covenants. Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: “Not many years hence there shall be another gathering of high priests and righteous souls in this same valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. At this gathering Adam, the Ancient of Days, will again be present. At this time the vision which Daniel saw will be enacted. The Ancient of Days will sit. There will stand before him those who have held the keys of all dispensations, who shall render up their stewardship to the first patriarch of the race, who holds the keys of salvation. This shall be a day of judgment and preparation.

In this council Christ will take over the reins of government, officially, on the earth, and the kingdom and dominions, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the saints of the Most High. …Until this grand council is held, Satan shall hold rule in the nations of the earth; but at that time thrones are to be cast down and man’s rule shall come to an end. … Then shall he give the government to the saints of the Most High. …[This council] shall precede the coming of Jesus Christ as a thief in the night, unbeknown to all the world.” (Way to Perfection, pp. 289–91.)

Bruce R. McConkie has also taught regarding this great sacrament meeting: “He [Christ] will come in private to his prophet and to the apostles then living. Those who have held keys and powers and authorities in all ages from Adam to the present will also be present. And further, all the faithful members of the Church then living and all the faithful saints of all the ages past will be present. It will be the greatest congregation of faithful saints ever assembled on planet earth. It will be a sacrament meeting. It will be a day of judgment for the faithful of all the ages. And it will take place in Daviess County, Missouri, at a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman” (See He Cometh to Adam-ondi-Ahman).

Revelation Required.

“But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.”
Doctrine and Covenants 28:2

Within the church, there is a command structure much like there is one within the military. God declared “Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.” (Doctrine and COvenants 132:8). One of the greatest blessings of the restoration is the direct communication we have with Deity to lead the church. During the post-apostolic age, ecumenical councils were used to decide doctrine, leaders from around the known world would come together and try to figure out deity and scriptures. The results of the councils are the Christian Creeds that all post-apostolic Christianity adheres to.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we don’t accept these creeds, in a matter of fact, Jesus Christ Himself in the first vision declared “all their creeds were an abomination in his sight” For this reason, the Church does not draw doctrinal authority from the councils and creeds of the post-apostolic ages.

We believe in the Gospel as taught by Jesus Christ and His Apostles, we believe that Peter, James, and John restored the Apostolic office and keys to Joseph Smith and that ever since then we have had Apostles to lead and guide the Church, receiving direct commands and communication from the Lord Jesus Christ.