It's been a while since I did one of my Monday Musings posts, but yesterday was such a good day at church that I really wanted to get back to it. First of all Sacrament Meeting was exceptional. We had 4 youth speakers who really did a fine job of explaining the importance of the commandments and how living them helps them in their lives.
I had a lot of good thoughts during sacrament meeting and it reminded me of something I have thought of before and wanted to express. I know now one is really reading this blog, but just in case I have a reader who isn't familiar with the LDS culture I am going to explain a couple of things. For my LDS reader just be patient or feel free to correct my perspective. That is another reminder I am just giving my perspective.
During Sacrament Meeting which is the full congretational meeting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the Aaronic Priesthood passes the sacrament. We partake of the sacrament every week. Each week as a reminder of the promises we have made at baptism and as a reminder of the promises God makes to us 3 of the Priests in the Aaronic priesthood bless the sacrament. (See Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:75-79) The Priests then distribute the Sacrement to the Deacons who pass the sacrement to the congregation.
There is a lot of symbolism in the sacrement, but the aspect that I find significant is the similarity to the way revelation and leadership occurs in the church. God has always spoken to prophets and had leasders. Peter, James and John were early leaders and made up what amounts to a Presidency of the church in earlier days. Today we have a Prophet who leads and directs the church as he is directed by Jesus Christ. Two counselors aid him in this work. The young men passing the sacreament in a sense represent this pattern of presidencies. The represent thos men designated to lead the church and they deliver the message (Christ as represented by the bread and water) to the Deacons much the way that the First Presidency delivers the message (Christ and his atonement) to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. The Deacons represent the Apostles as they carry this message to the congregation which are representative of the whole church. There is a strength that I draw from seeing this similarity of patterns between the way Christ is delivered to the church and to each individual congretation.
Fight the good Fight!
