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Hodan Abdi
Shannon Atkinson
Humanities 2300
10/21/2014
Sacrament (LDS): Holy Communion
In the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints commonly known as the Mormons or
the LDS, the Lords Supper was simply referred to as the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
The ceremony in the LDS church is the Holy Sacrament where members drank water and ate
bread in the memory of the Lords Holy Supper. The Holy Communion is provided every Sunday
as part of the sacrament meeting in communion with Christ. The practice is very common
amongst Catholics where it is referred to as the Eucharist and the protestant denomination where
it is referred to as the communion. Partaking of the sacrament in the LDS church is considered
as a procedural act. It is an act of ordinance where the partaking of the sacrament seen as an
ordinance in the LDS church. One is required to sanctify their sins as well as demonstrate
willingness to share the atonement and sacrifice with Jesus Christ.
The notion of the sacraments derived after reconnaissance led to the churches upholding
Holy Sacraments. This is where the doctrines of the baptism and Holy Communion are still
practiced and upheld by the Latter Day Saints church as well as other leading sacramental
doctrines in the church. In the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, sacrament designates
the ordinance instituted by Christ as a means by which saints, especially modern or Latter Day
Saints connect with Christ. It is the symbolic renewal of the covenant of salvation in communion
with God the father, through Jesus Christ (Smith 15). The Holy Communal biblically and
historically derives it's significant in that it signifies the ceremonial crucifixion of the death and

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resurrection of Jesus Christ. On the eve of the trial of Jesus, he departed from his disciples in a
ceremonial way where he prepared supper for them in the celebration of the eve.
The Holy Communion is the leading sacrament amongst the Mormons. Jesus took bread
and blessed it; he praised God and gave it to his disciples as the symbolic celebration of his body
that sacrificed for men in the liberation of sin. Many believers of Latter Day Saints continue to
practice the sacrament celebration in remembrance of the Jesus Christ. The fact that Christ the
Lord was crucified on the cross so as to redeem sinners motivates them to uphold the Holy
Communion ceremony.
Through the Holy Bread Mormons share in the suffering and pain of Christ, Mormons
learn to overcome temptation of the body and focus on the journey ahead. It is a journey of
liberation from bodily weakness and embrace spiritual strength. It is a meditative and interpretive
session where Jesus Christ symbolically dies and arises in the Eucharist. The ordinance of the
water used at the holy communal symbolizes the act of faith where Jesus Christ shaded the blood
in his death to liberate the world from all sin (Smith 27). It is an ordinance that guides Christians
into the glory of God and partaking of the blood of salvation. The twelve apostles were the first
congregation to partake in what is referred today as the holy communal.
The practice was later carried out by the apostles as a form of remembrance on the death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus commanded the continuation of this event as a
remembrance of his life and suffering saying; "Take, eat; this is my body." Jesus likewise took
the cup, blessed it, and then gave it to them. "Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new
testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:26-28). The book of
Mormon records the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the same ordinance and memory of Jesus
Christ. The book of Mormon gives a distinctly clear light on the role of Eucharist in Christian

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faith. Latter-day saints believe that partaking of the Holy Communion replenishes the soul and
prepares the body for internal kingdom.
Mormons believe that the revelation of latter day saints put down in the book of
Mormons is a supplement to the Gospel of Christ. It is of Christ in relation to the Bible in later
times. The book of Mormons contains the activities not recorded in the Bible, but which Christ is
a testimony of modern times. It is the recounts of resurrection in modern times. Thorough the
holy communal Mormons believe that they are symbolically involved in the communal of saints.
The holy Eucharist represents the symbolic food of angels and the goodness of the soul found in
heaven.
The sacrament of the Latter Day Saints is a complete faith-based ceremony. However,
Mormons have been clear of the need not to confuse the two. Mormons like any other Protestants
do not believe and advocate the penitential rite of confession. Throughout the ages, the church of
Mormon has upheld the tradition of the Eucharist as the memorial of salvation. However, the
traditional LDS Eucharist does not include the use of water for the sacrament. The doctrines and
the covenants allow for bread and water to be used for ceremonial rite. The book of wisdom in
the Mormons book prohibits the use of alcohol. The church of LDS, therefore, chose to use water
instead of wine to celebrate and administer the Eucharist. The church of latter day saints chose to
use water instead of wine, due to its purity nature and its non-combination with chemicals. Water
is also considered as holy since it the same element that is used for baptism and administration of
purity. The atonement of Jesus Christ blood in the removal of sins is the fundamental
justification of salvation.
The sacrament ceremony in Mormon Church takes place at the three-hour blocks. The
entire ceremony takes around three hours. During the sacrament meeting; testimonies are given,

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hymns are sung, entire ward business carried on and talks are given while the sacrament is
passed on from one row to another. The hymns that are sung to encourage believers to live a pure
life that is free of any sinful activities. Discussions are forbidden during the Mormon meetings
where the sacrament ceremony takes places. Even though real discussions are forbidden, the
meetings are set up as discussions. During the meetings comforting and repetitious type of rituals
are performed. Ideas and words outside the script are not allowed since they are considered as a
disruption. Therefore, those attending the meeting are advised to concentrate on the Holy
Communion practice. Concentration is vital as it help believers prepare their soul and mind to
accept the body of Christ.
Ezra J. Gould narrates the procedure of the Holy Communion according to Mormon
Church. Below is the process of the Holy Communion according to Ezra J. Gould who is a
member of that church. The sacrament celebration process is procedural. At the start of the
ceremony, the opening hymn song is sung. Then an opening prayer follows. Believers then
prepare their heart by singing the sacrament hymn as document in their hymn book. Immediately
after the sacrament hymn is complete, the sacrament is passed around for believers to eat.
Bishops take notes before going to the podium where they read news, provide updates and
comment on various issues concerning the church. Testimony meetings are scheduled during the
first Sunday of every month. During the testimony meeting, all those involved in the ceremony
are given the microphone to confess why their church is the true church. Young children from the
age of four years recite verbatim and indoctrination phrases with the help of their parents.
Musical numbers and talks follow. It is important to note that musical instruments such as guitars
and drums are forbidden, hence; the reason for use of musical numbers. A closing hymn is sung
before the closing prayer that highlights the end of the ceremony.

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Usually, the hymns sung during the meeting come from the printed hymnbooks of the
Mormon Church. In addition, only worthy Mormon believers can perform the closing and
opening prayers. By worthy members, they refer to believers who have previously performed the
prayers. It is good to note that the sacrament cannot be passed to the congregation before the
priest blessings. In the case the priest is not in a position to bless the sacrament, a higher member
of the Melchizedek Priesthood can bless the sacrament. During the offering of the bread, the
deacon recites a special prayer found in the covenants, doctrine and book of Mormon for
blessing (Smith 53). The bishop is the first person to receive the Holy Communion before
passing the rest of the sacraments to the waiting congregation.
From the interview with Ezra J. Gould we can note several important things. It is
important that the church recognizes the importance and fundamental practice of the use of
Eucharist. The LDS church believes in the affirmation of apostasy and the coming of the
kingdom everlasting. The Eucharist is the only channel so near to that dream and channel. LDS
nonetheless affirms its true manifestation of the body of Christ and his everlasting blood of
salvation. Jesus is the commandant of the new covenant between believers and God. This
covenant is normally sealed weekly via the Holy Communion. People commune their faith and
sins through prayer (Wallace 231). It involves the sanctification of the soul and the body, and it is
the epitome of the symbol of representation and the communion of the sacrament in communion
with saints. The church of latter day saints takes this celebration very importantly. It considers
the same as the fundamental alter of sacrifice both of the self and the soul for the benefit of not
only the spiritual world, but also to better our immediate environment as human beings. Through
the Eucharist, the church of latter day saints involves in a ceremonial memorial of Christ. It's
used as the lead fighter of salvation and liberation of man both as an infidel but also as a creature

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uniquely made by God. Members of the church of latter day saints are encouraged to participate
in the Eucharist ceremony in order to wash away their sin. From the early age when young
children begin to read and write, parents encourage their sons and daughters to embrace the Holy
Communion ritual.

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Work Cited
Wallace, Arthur. The Firm Foundation of Mormonism, (Los Angeles, CA: The L. L. Company,
1981), 231.
Smith, Joseph. History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by
Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 1:78.
Shipps, Jan. Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition, University of Illinois Press,
1987.

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