What do you think?
Rate this book
To Always Have His Spirit
Do you ever feel weighed down by the heartbreaks and uncertainties in life? When we face new problems or challenging times, we sometimes assume the solution is to do more—often making our situation feel even more impossible. But what if instead, we sought answers by bringing more intention and understanding to things we are already doing? Things like taking the sacrament. Attending sacrament meeting can feel like it’s just another thing on the schedule, and in certain phases of life it might even feel more overwhelming than helpful. But that changes when we truly understand its significance. In To Always Have His Spirit, masterful teacher Elder Gerald N. Lund guides us through a step-by-step process to make our sacrament experience more meaningful. He shows us that by simply shifting our understanding of this ordinance, the sacrament can become the most empowering part of our week. Elder Lund helps us see how transforming our relationship with the sacrament can put us on the path to more peace, more clarity, and more closeness with Christ, without adding more to our to-do lists. With a few simple shifts, we can take the sacrament from routine to remarkable—every single week.
101 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2024
31 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Gerald N. Lund
87 books749 followersGerald N. Lund received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in sociology from Brigham Young University. He served for thirty-five years in the Church Educational System, and he served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy from 2002 to 2008. He is a prolific and bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction and is best known for his historical novels, including The Work and the Glory series, Fire of the Covenant, The Kingdom and the Crown series, and The Undaunted. He and his late wife, Lynn, are the parents of seven children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 10, 2024
Home library!
October 1, 2024
A lovely glimpse into how the sacrament can become a powerful weekly ordinance.
November 23, 2024
Always good reminders. A bit perfectionist or perhaps encouraging of scrupulosity. Not knowingly of course.
September 8, 2024
Didn’t learn anything, but this was a good reminder.
October 7, 2024
This is a simple, but profound reminder of the power of the ordinance of the sacrament and the blessing of the Holy Ghost in our lives. While a bit repetitive, it's a wonderful reminder that as we worthily partake of the sacrament each Sabbath day and witness again our willingness to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, always remember Him, and keep His commandments, we may ALWAYS have His Spirit to be with us! It's a remarkable blessing that will help us in every aspect of our lives. I was grateful for this reminder to focus on this great blessing, prepare for it, and cherish it, with reverence and gratitude. (Typing up these thoughts after general conference has just ended, I find many similar reminders that are helpful to me.)
Here are some favorite quotes from the book:
"'There is a close relationship between partaking of the sacrament and our enjoying the blessings available from the gift of the Holy Ghost' (Dallin H. Oaks)."
"'And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High... Remember that on this, the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord' (D&C 59:9-10, 12, p. 1)."
"Sacrament meeting is consistently the most frequently held general meeting of the Church. The sacrament itself is also the sacred ordinance that is most frequently administered to individuals and families who are members of the Church (p. 2)."
"For years I had never thought of the effort that it takes to have bread for us at the church each Sabbath day (P. 2)."
"The gospel of Jesus Christ did not evolve over centuries to become what we know it to be now. We know it is an eternal thing, which began eons before our world was formed (p. 3)."
"With a lot of tears, again and again couples would tell me about their children who had left or were leaving the Church, abandoning their covenants, removing their names from the Church records, turning to personal spirituality over the organized Church... Many are deeply worried about their children's education and wonder if they should homeschool or pursue alternative schooling. Several have questions about how they should be preparing temporally for the Second Coming... 'I am sorry for your problem. I don't know what you should do. But I know who does' (p. 5)."
"'It requires no special equipment or experience, no social status or money for the Holy Ghost to guide you. The next time you renew your baptismal covenant by taking the sacrament, listen to the promise; when you always remember your Savior and keep His commandments, you will always have His Spirit to be with you (see D&C 20:77, 79). Think of that! What a gift so magnificent, why would we ever resist such guidance?' (Sharon G. Larsen, p. 7)."
"'Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit' (Boyd K. Packer, p. 7)."
"Take a moment to consider what our Sabbath patterns are like, especially in sacrament meeting (p. 8)."
"'I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation' (Russell M. Nelson, p. 9)."
"When people ask... difficult, personal questions about how to solve their serious problems, I don't point to the sky anymore. I direct them to Doctrine and Covenants 20:77 (p. 9)."
"The Lord instructed him to create a formal meal, with the roasted lamb as the center of the meal... The central core of the meal was a sacrificial lamb who was a firstling... This is clearly a symbol of Jesus Christ (p. 16)."
"'As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drunk ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins' (Matthew 26:26-28, p. 17)."
"'It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord Jesus' (D&C 20:75, p. 21)."
"We went through the three commitments we make in the prayer--take upon us the name of the Son, always remember Him, and keep the commandments He has given us (p. 22)."
"It is only eleven words long... 'that they may always have his Spirit to be with them'... This is the answer you're looking for. This is the promise that can bring you peace in the midst of sorrow and fear and challenge (p. 22)."
"'Thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest' (D&C 85:6, p. 23)."
"Each Sabbath day we too are invited to come to worship and feel the power of the still, small voice (p. 24)."
"'As the world slides form its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling... As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory power, an additional spiritual endowment, a revelatory gift for the righteous... In recent months the First Presidency and the Twelve have felt an undeniable direction from the Lord to declare and reemphasize the Sabbath day and the importance of worthily partaking of the sacrament. As we take the sacrament, we remember the Savior and His Atonement. We come repenting of our sins, pledging our loyalty to covenants made with Him, and hearing again the promise He makes to us. To always have His Spirit with us is a pearl of enormous value. Receiving the sacrament on Sunday is more and more like an oasis in the desert' (Neil L. Andersen, p. 24)."
"'It is a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul' (Helaman 5:30, p. 30)."
"'It is not in the thunder or whirlwind that we should look for the Spirit of God but in the still small voice' (Wilford Woodruff, p. 26)."
"[The sacrament and personal revelation through the gift of the Holy Ghost] are closely linked.... intertwined (p. 27)."
"Sometimes we even come to a point where we start telling Heavenly Father how to do His work--what He needs to know, how soon we need it, and how we would like it. Then we get up and wait for the heavens to open (p. 30)."
"How often do we come to similar frustration with life? How often do we ask the Father to solve it all for us (p. 32)?"
"Knowing that God the Father is an omnipotent being must have caused Joseph to wonder why he couldn't be freed immediately (p. 34)."
"There was divine purpose here in spite of the anguish and tribulations, and Joseph and the others were not immediately freed (p. 35)."
"'Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done' (Luke 22:42, p. 37)."
"The Father, knowing all things, tells us no--that there is more to learn (p. 38)."
"We need to understand more completely the gifts that the Holy Ghost has for us and the things we do that increase our privileges with the Spirit or that cause Him to withdraw (p. 39)."
"The choices we make directly influence what revelation comes, how it comes, when it comes, and what is given when it comes (p. 41)."
"'The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all (Boyd K. Packer, p. 44)."
"We never pour out our heats to God, telling Him our needs and desires, to have Him reply, 'Oh! I didn't know that' (p. 45)."
"We can influence the flow of revelation by the choices we make and our willingness to accept His will, but we don't set the rules. God determines: when revelation is given, where it is given, how it is given, what is revealed, to whom it is given (p. 46)"
"We influence the flow of personal revelation by our actions, motives, faith, obedience, service, and so on, but in the end, it is not our privilege to tell Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost how and when to do Their work (p. 46)."
"We don't know all of the Lord's purposes as He deals with His children, but clearly there is purpose in His ways (p. 47)."
"Here are a few things that consistently bring the Spirit into our lives... repentance... humility... consistent prayer and fasting... consistent scripture study... going about doing good... reverence... pondering, reflection, and meditation... service to others and to the kingdom... honoring the sacred nature of the sacrament (p. 50)."
"The Godhead determines all aspects of revelation (p. 51)."
"It is deeply offensive to the Spirit when we drop to our knees, put in our order of what we need, then jump up and hold out our hands for the blessings to start dropping from above (p. 60)."
"There is what the scriptures call 'the voice of the Lord.' It is there. It is real. But if we start letting our own wants and desires take the lead in our lives, then our sensitivity to the Lord's voice may get drowned out by our selfishness or our eagerness to have it our way. Clearly the Spirit is a real voice and not just some metaphor (p. 63)."
"Through the divine love of the Father and the Son, every person who comes to this earth is given the gift of the Light of Christ (p. 64)."
"The ultimate model of letting the Lord's will come first was given by Jesus as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (p. 64)."
"'We commemorate His Atonement in a very personal way. We bring a broken heart and a contrite spirit to our sacrament meeting. It is the highlight of our Sabbath-day observance... Each member of the Church bears responsibility for the spiritual enrichment that can come from a sacrament meeting' (Russell M. Nelson, p. 67)."
"In a typical Latter-day Saints chapel, the table is like an altar on which the emblems of the sacrifice of Christ--broken bread and water--are placed as an offering for all present (p. 69)."
"'We are seated well before the meeting begins. During that quiet interval, prelude music is subdued. This is not a time for conversation or transmission of messages but a period of prayerful meditation as leaders and members prepare spiritually for the sacrament' (p. 70)."
"'During sacrament meeting--and especially during the sacrament service--we should concentrate on worship and refrain from all other activities, especially from behavior that could interfere with the worship of others... Priests who offer the prayers in behalf of the congregation should speak the words slowly and distinctly, expressing the terms of the covenants and promised blessings. This is a very sacred act' (Dallin H. Oaks, p. 71)."
"The sacrament is a covenant that we renew virtually every week. That, in and of itself, tells us much about its importance (p. 72)."
"We join together in saying, 'Amen.' Amen is a word that we speak so easily, hardly thinking about it, but it implies a firm commitment to do as we have promised to do (p. 73)."
"In the sacrament we partake of bread and water. Jesus described Himself as the Bread that came down from heaven and also the Living Water (p. 73)."
"He that eats and drinks carelessly is eating and drinking a judgment on himself for he is blind to the presence of the Lord's body (p. 75)."
"Taking the sacrament casually or for the wrong reasons has significant implications for us and our standing with the Father, the Son, and especially with the Holy Ghost. And not having the Spirit with us regularly could possibly end up influencing which kingdom we will eventually end up in (p. 75)."
"He took bread and wine, emblems of His body and His blood, and shared them with His disciples. Thereafter, for Christians, the Passover celebration was replaced by the sacrament of bread and wine (p. 78)."
"'Church members meet on the Sabbath day to worship God and partake of the sacrament. During this ordinance, they partake of the sacrament. During this ordinance, they partake of the bread and water to remember the Savior's sacrifice of His flesh and blood and to renew their sacred covenant' (General Handbook, p. 79)."
"Members in every ward and branch of the Church come together on the Sabbath day to partake of the sacrament... If we faithfully renew our covenants with the Father each week, then the Father renews the promise of the sacrament to us, which is that we shall always have His Spirit to be with us (p. 80)."
"There is something wonderful about the combination of words and music, especially in this setting, that touches our hearts and humbles our souls (p. 82)."
"In the sacramental prayers both the bread and the water are 'blessed and sanctified.' Sanctified means to be made pure and holy. Once blessed, the water is reverently passed to the congregation by any worthy priesthood holder. When the sacrament is done, it is covered with the white cloths and the rest of the meeting is devoted to talks on gospel topics (p. 83)."
"'Blood is a symbol of life. Without blood circulating through our bodies, we die We know that He suffered intensely to pay the price of our sins... atone for the sins and iniquities of the world (p. 86)."
"Our finite minds cannot begin to fathom the depths of the Savior's pain and suffering for the sickness and inequities of this fallen world. All of those had to be made right in the Atonement, and He was the only one who could withstand the pain and agony required to make it possible for us to return to our Father in Heaven (p. 87)."
"I am not suggesting that we try to keep all of these details in our mind every time we partake of the sacrament. But that Christ did make an infinite Atonement for us and all mankind should be in our minds. All of this is part of the partaking of the sacrament (p. 88)."
"'The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church. It is the only Sabbath meeting the entire family can attend together. Its content in addition to the sacrament should always be planned and presented to focus our attention on the Atonement and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.' This is why the sacrament is so important. Everything about it testifies of the Atonement and how it liberates from sin (p. 88)."
"Let us remember that we are blessed with a simple but marvelous and wonderful opportunity in the ordinance of the sacrament--to have our sins remind--and most important of all, to always have His Spirit to be with us (p. 89)."
"'Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body' (1 Corinthians 11:29, p. 91)."
"Paul warned the members of the early Church to take great care during the administration of the sacrament because treating it lightly had serious spiritual consequences (p. 92)."
"'Keeping our covenants should make a difference in the way we live, the way we act, the way we speak, the way we dress, the way we treat each other. If we 'always remember him,' we will 'always have his Spirit to be with us.' Then with the Spirit we will be viewed by the world as distinct and different in happy ways' (Joanne B. Doxey, p. 93)."
"Even though [sacrament meeting] is a familiar and regular experience, we must never let it become a casual experience (p. 94)."
"I was back in church again. Only this time, I stopped worrying about who was on their cell phones or sleeping or preparing their Sunday School lessons. I was determined to make this my covenant-renewing experience. And in that simple determination... as the priest spoke the words of the prayer... I was caught totally by surprise... it was as though I was hearing them for the first time. It was the Lord's promise to us if we accepted our part of the covenant (p. 98)."
"That promise is to have the Holy Ghost with us consistently and persistently if only we come to the sacramental table ready to really focus on the covenant in the prayer, then spend the rest of the next week trying to put that choice into our lives (p. 99)."
"We are so easily distracted or forget just how sacred that time is (p. 101)."
"In the prayer on the bread, we 'witness'... that we are willing to... take upon ourselves the name of the Son; always remember Him; keep His commandments which He has given us (p. 102)."
"When was the last time we stopped to contemplate what amen means?... If we flippantly toss 'amen' off without any serious thought, couldn't that have some repercussions for us? (p. 102)"
"Can we think of anything else that could be more critical to us than that promise? To always have His Spirit with us. In the day and age we are now experiencing, isn't the diminishing of our ability to have the Spirit something of grave concern for us? Actually, shouldn't it become one of the highest priorities in our life?... Next Sunday, go to church. Go earnestly prepared to make this a different Sunday experience, different from what you have done before. Constantly fight the temptation to let your mind wander to other things as you sing the sacrament hymn, as you listen to the prayers, and as you renew your commitment to the Lord (p. 103)."
"There are so many ways that we can draw that spiritual power into our lives... if we choose to do it carefully and faithfully, we can call on this immutable promise to always have His spirit to be with us (p. 104)."
"Usually the voice of the Spirit is so 'soft' or so subtle that if we are not careful we will miss the revelation completely. We need to work to ensure that our lives do not become so busy and complicated, so filled with both outer and inner noise, that we drown out revelation (p. 106)."
"The spiritual power comes int he doing, not just in verbally committing (p. 106)."
"To always have His Spirit to be with us. Always! Can we think of another gift more critical to our happiness and progression in this world that is both great and dreadful than having the promise that a member of the Godhead will be our constant companion? (p. 107)"
"Certainly the ordinance of the sacrament is one of those things that unlocks the power of God in our lives. That is the promise of the sacrament prayers: To always have His Spirit to be with us (p. 113)."
"'When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him... you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do' (Russell M. Nelson, p. 115)."
Here are some favorite quotes from the book:
"'There is a close relationship between partaking of the sacrament and our enjoying the blessings available from the gift of the Holy Ghost' (Dallin H. Oaks)."
"'And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High... Remember that on this, the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord' (D&C 59:9-10, 12, p. 1)."
"Sacrament meeting is consistently the most frequently held general meeting of the Church. The sacrament itself is also the sacred ordinance that is most frequently administered to individuals and families who are members of the Church (p. 2)."
"For years I had never thought of the effort that it takes to have bread for us at the church each Sabbath day (P. 2)."
"The gospel of Jesus Christ did not evolve over centuries to become what we know it to be now. We know it is an eternal thing, which began eons before our world was formed (p. 3)."
"With a lot of tears, again and again couples would tell me about their children who had left or were leaving the Church, abandoning their covenants, removing their names from the Church records, turning to personal spirituality over the organized Church... Many are deeply worried about their children's education and wonder if they should homeschool or pursue alternative schooling. Several have questions about how they should be preparing temporally for the Second Coming... 'I am sorry for your problem. I don't know what you should do. But I know who does' (p. 5)."
"'It requires no special equipment or experience, no social status or money for the Holy Ghost to guide you. The next time you renew your baptismal covenant by taking the sacrament, listen to the promise; when you always remember your Savior and keep His commandments, you will always have His Spirit to be with you (see D&C 20:77, 79). Think of that! What a gift so magnificent, why would we ever resist such guidance?' (Sharon G. Larsen, p. 7)."
"'Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit' (Boyd K. Packer, p. 7)."
"Take a moment to consider what our Sabbath patterns are like, especially in sacrament meeting (p. 8)."
"'I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation' (Russell M. Nelson, p. 9)."
"When people ask... difficult, personal questions about how to solve their serious problems, I don't point to the sky anymore. I direct them to Doctrine and Covenants 20:77 (p. 9)."
"The Lord instructed him to create a formal meal, with the roasted lamb as the center of the meal... The central core of the meal was a sacrificial lamb who was a firstling... This is clearly a symbol of Jesus Christ (p. 16)."
"'As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drunk ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins' (Matthew 26:26-28, p. 17)."
"'It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord Jesus' (D&C 20:75, p. 21)."
"We went through the three commitments we make in the prayer--take upon us the name of the Son, always remember Him, and keep the commandments He has given us (p. 22)."
"It is only eleven words long... 'that they may always have his Spirit to be with them'... This is the answer you're looking for. This is the promise that can bring you peace in the midst of sorrow and fear and challenge (p. 22)."
"'Thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest' (D&C 85:6, p. 23)."
"Each Sabbath day we too are invited to come to worship and feel the power of the still, small voice (p. 24)."
"'As the world slides form its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling... As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory power, an additional spiritual endowment, a revelatory gift for the righteous... In recent months the First Presidency and the Twelve have felt an undeniable direction from the Lord to declare and reemphasize the Sabbath day and the importance of worthily partaking of the sacrament. As we take the sacrament, we remember the Savior and His Atonement. We come repenting of our sins, pledging our loyalty to covenants made with Him, and hearing again the promise He makes to us. To always have His Spirit with us is a pearl of enormous value. Receiving the sacrament on Sunday is more and more like an oasis in the desert' (Neil L. Andersen, p. 24)."
"'It is a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul' (Helaman 5:30, p. 30)."
"'It is not in the thunder or whirlwind that we should look for the Spirit of God but in the still small voice' (Wilford Woodruff, p. 26)."
"[The sacrament and personal revelation through the gift of the Holy Ghost] are closely linked.... intertwined (p. 27)."
"Sometimes we even come to a point where we start telling Heavenly Father how to do His work--what He needs to know, how soon we need it, and how we would like it. Then we get up and wait for the heavens to open (p. 30)."
"How often do we come to similar frustration with life? How often do we ask the Father to solve it all for us (p. 32)?"
"Knowing that God the Father is an omnipotent being must have caused Joseph to wonder why he couldn't be freed immediately (p. 34)."
"There was divine purpose here in spite of the anguish and tribulations, and Joseph and the others were not immediately freed (p. 35)."
"'Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done' (Luke 22:42, p. 37)."
"The Father, knowing all things, tells us no--that there is more to learn (p. 38)."
"We need to understand more completely the gifts that the Holy Ghost has for us and the things we do that increase our privileges with the Spirit or that cause Him to withdraw (p. 39)."
"The choices we make directly influence what revelation comes, how it comes, when it comes, and what is given when it comes (p. 41)."
"'The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all (Boyd K. Packer, p. 44)."
"We never pour out our heats to God, telling Him our needs and desires, to have Him reply, 'Oh! I didn't know that' (p. 45)."
"We can influence the flow of revelation by the choices we make and our willingness to accept His will, but we don't set the rules. God determines: when revelation is given, where it is given, how it is given, what is revealed, to whom it is given (p. 46)"
"We influence the flow of personal revelation by our actions, motives, faith, obedience, service, and so on, but in the end, it is not our privilege to tell Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost how and when to do Their work (p. 46)."
"We don't know all of the Lord's purposes as He deals with His children, but clearly there is purpose in His ways (p. 47)."
"Here are a few things that consistently bring the Spirit into our lives... repentance... humility... consistent prayer and fasting... consistent scripture study... going about doing good... reverence... pondering, reflection, and meditation... service to others and to the kingdom... honoring the sacred nature of the sacrament (p. 50)."
"The Godhead determines all aspects of revelation (p. 51)."
"It is deeply offensive to the Spirit when we drop to our knees, put in our order of what we need, then jump up and hold out our hands for the blessings to start dropping from above (p. 60)."
"There is what the scriptures call 'the voice of the Lord.' It is there. It is real. But if we start letting our own wants and desires take the lead in our lives, then our sensitivity to the Lord's voice may get drowned out by our selfishness or our eagerness to have it our way. Clearly the Spirit is a real voice and not just some metaphor (p. 63)."
"Through the divine love of the Father and the Son, every person who comes to this earth is given the gift of the Light of Christ (p. 64)."
"The ultimate model of letting the Lord's will come first was given by Jesus as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (p. 64)."
"'We commemorate His Atonement in a very personal way. We bring a broken heart and a contrite spirit to our sacrament meeting. It is the highlight of our Sabbath-day observance... Each member of the Church bears responsibility for the spiritual enrichment that can come from a sacrament meeting' (Russell M. Nelson, p. 67)."
"In a typical Latter-day Saints chapel, the table is like an altar on which the emblems of the sacrifice of Christ--broken bread and water--are placed as an offering for all present (p. 69)."
"'We are seated well before the meeting begins. During that quiet interval, prelude music is subdued. This is not a time for conversation or transmission of messages but a period of prayerful meditation as leaders and members prepare spiritually for the sacrament' (p. 70)."
"'During sacrament meeting--and especially during the sacrament service--we should concentrate on worship and refrain from all other activities, especially from behavior that could interfere with the worship of others... Priests who offer the prayers in behalf of the congregation should speak the words slowly and distinctly, expressing the terms of the covenants and promised blessings. This is a very sacred act' (Dallin H. Oaks, p. 71)."
"The sacrament is a covenant that we renew virtually every week. That, in and of itself, tells us much about its importance (p. 72)."
"We join together in saying, 'Amen.' Amen is a word that we speak so easily, hardly thinking about it, but it implies a firm commitment to do as we have promised to do (p. 73)."
"In the sacrament we partake of bread and water. Jesus described Himself as the Bread that came down from heaven and also the Living Water (p. 73)."
"He that eats and drinks carelessly is eating and drinking a judgment on himself for he is blind to the presence of the Lord's body (p. 75)."
"Taking the sacrament casually or for the wrong reasons has significant implications for us and our standing with the Father, the Son, and especially with the Holy Ghost. And not having the Spirit with us regularly could possibly end up influencing which kingdom we will eventually end up in (p. 75)."
"He took bread and wine, emblems of His body and His blood, and shared them with His disciples. Thereafter, for Christians, the Passover celebration was replaced by the sacrament of bread and wine (p. 78)."
"'Church members meet on the Sabbath day to worship God and partake of the sacrament. During this ordinance, they partake of the sacrament. During this ordinance, they partake of the bread and water to remember the Savior's sacrifice of His flesh and blood and to renew their sacred covenant' (General Handbook, p. 79)."
"Members in every ward and branch of the Church come together on the Sabbath day to partake of the sacrament... If we faithfully renew our covenants with the Father each week, then the Father renews the promise of the sacrament to us, which is that we shall always have His Spirit to be with us (p. 80)."
"There is something wonderful about the combination of words and music, especially in this setting, that touches our hearts and humbles our souls (p. 82)."
"In the sacramental prayers both the bread and the water are 'blessed and sanctified.' Sanctified means to be made pure and holy. Once blessed, the water is reverently passed to the congregation by any worthy priesthood holder. When the sacrament is done, it is covered with the white cloths and the rest of the meeting is devoted to talks on gospel topics (p. 83)."
"'Blood is a symbol of life. Without blood circulating through our bodies, we die We know that He suffered intensely to pay the price of our sins... atone for the sins and iniquities of the world (p. 86)."
"Our finite minds cannot begin to fathom the depths of the Savior's pain and suffering for the sickness and inequities of this fallen world. All of those had to be made right in the Atonement, and He was the only one who could withstand the pain and agony required to make it possible for us to return to our Father in Heaven (p. 87)."
"I am not suggesting that we try to keep all of these details in our mind every time we partake of the sacrament. But that Christ did make an infinite Atonement for us and all mankind should be in our minds. All of this is part of the partaking of the sacrament (p. 88)."
"'The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church. It is the only Sabbath meeting the entire family can attend together. Its content in addition to the sacrament should always be planned and presented to focus our attention on the Atonement and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.' This is why the sacrament is so important. Everything about it testifies of the Atonement and how it liberates from sin (p. 88)."
"Let us remember that we are blessed with a simple but marvelous and wonderful opportunity in the ordinance of the sacrament--to have our sins remind--and most important of all, to always have His Spirit to be with us (p. 89)."
"'Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body' (1 Corinthians 11:29, p. 91)."
"Paul warned the members of the early Church to take great care during the administration of the sacrament because treating it lightly had serious spiritual consequences (p. 92)."
"'Keeping our covenants should make a difference in the way we live, the way we act, the way we speak, the way we dress, the way we treat each other. If we 'always remember him,' we will 'always have his Spirit to be with us.' Then with the Spirit we will be viewed by the world as distinct and different in happy ways' (Joanne B. Doxey, p. 93)."
"Even though [sacrament meeting] is a familiar and regular experience, we must never let it become a casual experience (p. 94)."
"I was back in church again. Only this time, I stopped worrying about who was on their cell phones or sleeping or preparing their Sunday School lessons. I was determined to make this my covenant-renewing experience. And in that simple determination... as the priest spoke the words of the prayer... I was caught totally by surprise... it was as though I was hearing them for the first time. It was the Lord's promise to us if we accepted our part of the covenant (p. 98)."
"That promise is to have the Holy Ghost with us consistently and persistently if only we come to the sacramental table ready to really focus on the covenant in the prayer, then spend the rest of the next week trying to put that choice into our lives (p. 99)."
"We are so easily distracted or forget just how sacred that time is (p. 101)."
"In the prayer on the bread, we 'witness'... that we are willing to... take upon ourselves the name of the Son; always remember Him; keep His commandments which He has given us (p. 102)."
"When was the last time we stopped to contemplate what amen means?... If we flippantly toss 'amen' off without any serious thought, couldn't that have some repercussions for us? (p. 102)"
"Can we think of anything else that could be more critical to us than that promise? To always have His Spirit with us. In the day and age we are now experiencing, isn't the diminishing of our ability to have the Spirit something of grave concern for us? Actually, shouldn't it become one of the highest priorities in our life?... Next Sunday, go to church. Go earnestly prepared to make this a different Sunday experience, different from what you have done before. Constantly fight the temptation to let your mind wander to other things as you sing the sacrament hymn, as you listen to the prayers, and as you renew your commitment to the Lord (p. 103)."
"There are so many ways that we can draw that spiritual power into our lives... if we choose to do it carefully and faithfully, we can call on this immutable promise to always have His spirit to be with us (p. 104)."
"Usually the voice of the Spirit is so 'soft' or so subtle that if we are not careful we will miss the revelation completely. We need to work to ensure that our lives do not become so busy and complicated, so filled with both outer and inner noise, that we drown out revelation (p. 106)."
"The spiritual power comes int he doing, not just in verbally committing (p. 106)."
"To always have His Spirit to be with us. Always! Can we think of another gift more critical to our happiness and progression in this world that is both great and dreadful than having the promise that a member of the Godhead will be our constant companion? (p. 107)"
"Certainly the ordinance of the sacrament is one of those things that unlocks the power of God in our lives. That is the promise of the sacrament prayers: To always have His Spirit to be with us (p. 113)."
"'When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him... you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do' (Russell M. Nelson, p. 115)."
December 27, 2024
If you are looking to enhance your understanding and reverence around the weekly sacrament and covenants made in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, this is the book for you. I've been a member all my life and think I have finally taken a major step toward these ends. Brother Lund gives great personal examples backed up with plenty of scriptures in helping one know more about sacramental origins, meaning, and observance. Linked solidly to his content around the sacrament is his treatment of personal revelation. I appreciate his "three R's of personal revelation:" You have to know how to receive it, recognize it, and respond to it. Helpful tips and skills are also discussed around how to better focus and eliminate distractions during the blessing and passing of the sacrament, examining one's self, and how to get deeper into the verbiage of the sacramental prayers. Today is Friday, and I find myself so excited, perhaps more than I've ever been, to get to church on Sunday and partake of the sacrament.
October 28, 2025
"it is a profound reminder for us to add "nevertheless, not my will be done, but thine" to our prayers as well" (38).
"It is so easy in this telestial world of ours to forget that this is not our permanent home" (41).
"If every prayer were answered by lightning bolts, a thundering voice, or angels coming into our room, the right choice would be presented so dramatically that we would choose out of fear or awe" (65).
"We bring a broken heart and a contrite spirit to our sacrament meeting" (67).
Taking the sacrament lightly has serious spiritual consequences (92).
"The spiritual power comes in the doing, not just in verbally committing" (107).
"How can we tell when it's really the Lord's hand in our lives or just a pure coincidence? --> did it fulfill some purpose of the Lord?" (124).
"It is so easy in this telestial world of ours to forget that this is not our permanent home" (41).
"If every prayer were answered by lightning bolts, a thundering voice, or angels coming into our room, the right choice would be presented so dramatically that we would choose out of fear or awe" (65).
"We bring a broken heart and a contrite spirit to our sacrament meeting" (67).
Taking the sacrament lightly has serious spiritual consequences (92).
"The spiritual power comes in the doing, not just in verbally committing" (107).
"How can we tell when it's really the Lord's hand in our lives or just a pure coincidence? --> did it fulfill some purpose of the Lord?" (124).
September 26, 2024
Embracing Spiritual Growth: Unveiling the Depths of To Always Have His Spirit
Reading "To Always Have His Spirit" by Gerald N. Lund was a valuable experience, offering insights into spiritual growth. A key takeaway is the sacrament covenant, where we declare our willingness to take upon us the name of Christ, always remember Him, and keep His commandments, with the promise of His Spirit's presence. The book also outlines essentials for spiritual progression, such as experiencing life's opposites and starting eternal families. It emphasizes the vital role of the Holy Ghost and the importance of personal revelation for spiritual survival. Despite the repetitive nature, its insights make it a recommended read for those seeking deeper spiritual understanding.
Reading "To Always Have His Spirit" by Gerald N. Lund was a valuable experience, offering insights into spiritual growth. A key takeaway is the sacrament covenant, where we declare our willingness to take upon us the name of Christ, always remember Him, and keep His commandments, with the promise of His Spirit's presence. The book also outlines essentials for spiritual progression, such as experiencing life's opposites and starting eternal families. It emphasizes the vital role of the Holy Ghost and the importance of personal revelation for spiritual survival. Despite the repetitive nature, its insights make it a recommended read for those seeking deeper spiritual understanding.
October 12, 2024
This book was a swing and a miss for me. It was the type of book that made me feel like a terrible Latter-day Saint. There has to be a balance of “hell, fire, and brimstone” and “God will meet you where you’re at.”
For me… it had Jesus is offended and disappointed in me vibes. This book feels like the books that came out of Deseret in the 90s and had similar preach with fear to motivate Saints to thrive vibe.
Maybe it is just the phase I’m at in life and if I read it when I’m in a different phase I’d think otherwise. Maybe a different reading phase and it would be home library worthy, but I read it now. I feel like two stars is being generous.
For me… it had Jesus is offended and disappointed in me vibes. This book feels like the books that came out of Deseret in the 90s and had similar preach with fear to motivate Saints to thrive vibe.
Maybe it is just the phase I’m at in life and if I read it when I’m in a different phase I’d think otherwise. Maybe a different reading phase and it would be home library worthy, but I read it now. I feel like two stars is being generous.
September 23, 2024
Someone once said in a Sunday School class that if people truly understood the importance of and sacredness of the sacrament, then it would be the highlight of your week. I knew he was right, though I realized there was clearly something I wasn't understanding because my attitude towards the sacrament did not match his reverent enthusiasm. Since then I have been pondering on my understanding of it and seeking more resources. This book was an excellent addition as I continue to learn more about the sacred and holy ordinance of the sacrament.
September 29, 2024
A spiritual boost that can be read in one day — great for Sabbath reading. I’m grateful for well spoken people who share their thoughts and insight. This book helps me to refocus and recommit to being thoughtful of my sacrament experience. It has many references to the counsel of prophets and apostles throughout the history of the world. It strengthens my resolve to be more conscientious in my efforts to always have the Holy Spirit with me.
October 22, 2024
A good reminder of why the ordinance of the sacrament is so crucial to our progress in this life and how it can connect us to the Holy Ghost and bring power into our lives. I admit I listened to the audiobook and probably would have gotten more out of it from a print copy that I could study a little more and review. That said, it was worth the time and has inspired me to make better efforts to be more prepared for the sacrament in weekly church meetings.
September 15, 2024
This was a good, quick audiobook. There wasn’t anything I hadn’t already known but I did really enjoy chapters 3 & 4 just because I feel like they pertain to my life currently.
It was also a good reminder of the sacredness of the sacrament and to not treat it lightly or allow myself to get distracted.
It was also a good reminder of the sacredness of the sacrament and to not treat it lightly or allow myself to get distracted.
December 30, 2024
I love this book! I am trying to read more books that help me learn about our Savior and his gospel more and this book does just that. If I could I would buy one of these books for every family in my Branch! I have been recommending this book even before I finished it. I definitely felt the spirit while reading this book. Thank you to everyone that was involved in getting this good published.
January 25, 2025
This short book was a good read, but more thought provoking for personal reflection than a deep study. There is a chapter on historical/biblical sacrifice that turns into the sacrament, but then it's mostly a reflection on the prayers and what they mean and how we should take them to benefit our daily lives. A few new points, but nothing revolutionary.
August 30, 2024
A short but profound book! It really made me think. The Lord knew I needed this today and put it in my path. Thank you to the author for sharing his insights. A must read for anyone who wants to “have the Spirit with them… always.”
September 9, 2024
Another amazing teaching book that I will listen to many times.
As he says in the book – the Sacrament is something we sometimes take for granted, and don’t fully understand – this book will help with that.
I absolutely recommend it.
As he says in the book – the Sacrament is something we sometimes take for granted, and don’t fully understand – this book will help with that.
I absolutely recommend it.
October 8, 2024
...powerful spiritual discussion and commentary on the importance of the Sacrament.
The promises, prayers, and challenges involved in enhancing our individual experience with the Lord's sacrament.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. This reading was life-changing.
The promises, prayers, and challenges involved in enhancing our individual experience with the Lord's sacrament.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. This reading was life-changing.
October 24, 2024
I really enjoy Lund's thoughtfulness and the way that he approaches spiritual topics. This book gave me a greater appreciation of the sacrament ordinance and how I can increase my personal connection to Jesus Christ.
December 30, 2024
There were some parts I really liked. The chapter on revelation was very good. The chapter on why God doesn't seem to answer prayers was also very thought provoking. This is one to keep to refer to.
January 17, 2025
Such a short and simple book. But so profound. Every single book from Gerald Lund hits it right on the spot for me. There were so many times that were aha moments that I'm surprised I've never recognized before.
September 7, 2024
Some light bulb moments, but otherwise pretty basic reminders.
September 10, 2024
Short and insightful. Good reminders about the sacredness of sacrament promises, prayers, and blessings.
September 18, 2024
Wonderful book. I will probably read it again!
September 28, 2024
I needed this book. I really need to slow down and focus on what's most important
October 3, 2024
Short, sweet, and powerful. It highlights the significance of the sacrament, especially in light of the promise of the Spirit.
October 4, 2024
This was so so good! I loved learning about the sacrament on a deeper level. I'd love to reread this again & soon.
October 13, 2024
Excellent insight into partaking of the Sacrament and other interesting thoughts.
October 14, 2024
Insightful. I appreciate these books that focus on a single doctrine or principle and digs deep. I’m encouraged to do better to be more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews