One of the most important things that we do at church each Sunday is partake of the Sacrament. Often this special ordinance is simply thought of as routine, instead of being treated as sacredly as it should be. It is vital that we each take the time to prepare ourselves to renew our covenants each Sunday. It is also important to apply the covenants that we make to our daily lives. Here is a list of five things you can do to make taking the Sacrament more meaningful.
1) Ideally your preparation should be taking place all week. Take time each evening to reflect on the days events. Is there anything you need to repent of or an area that you need to improve in? If so pray about it and make the necessary steps to begin to change.
2) On Saturday you should take extra time to prepare yourself for the Sacrament tomorrow. You may consider reading the scriptures that teach about the Last Supper or the account of Christ sharing the Sacrament with the Nephites. Take a few minutes to reflect on your behavior and attitudes during the week. As you pray ask for guidance and an open heart so that you can learn the areas that you could improve in.
3) Make sure that you spend the morning before church calmly. If you lay out your clothes and prepare your church bag the night before this will help. Try to arrive at the church five to ten minutes early so you can sit quietly and reflect on the gospel and the commandments before church starts.
4) Listen carefully to the Sacrament prayers and ponder what they really mean. Think about the words in the prayers and how they apply to your life. Are you doing everything that you can to live up to the covenant? If you pray with an open heart you may receive promptings about areas that you can improve.
5) After church or after the Sacrament briefly write down the areas that you felt you should work on. During the week focus on those areas as you go throughout your day. This will help you to keep the sacred covenants present in your mind and your heart.
Related Articles:
General Conference: “As Now We Take the Sacrament”
Your Preparation for the Sacrament