LDS Sacrament Preparation: How Members Prepare and Participate

LDS Perspective

The sacrament is a holy priesthood ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ to help members remember His atoning sacrifice and renew sacred covenants with Heavenly Father. As taught in scripture and Church manuals, members partake of bread and water in remembrance of Christ’s flesh and blood, which He gave as a ransom for mankind (Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 26:22–24). Shortly before His Crucifixion, Christ introduced this ordinance to His Apostles, and following His Resurrection, He taught it to the Nephites in the Americas (3 Nephi 18:1–11). In the latter days, the Lord commanded that “the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:75). Today, Latter-day Saints gather each Sabbath day to participate in this s

Historical Perspective

LDS members participate in the sacrament as the central ordinance of their weekly Sunday worship service, officially designated as "sacrament meeting." Preparation for this observance involves personal spiritual readiness; congregants are expected to engage in self-examination, repentance of sins, and reverent reflection on Christ’s atonement before partaking. This preparatory requirement reflects the church’s evangelical Protestant-influenced theology that emphasizes the sacrament as a symbolic memorial rather than a literal transformation of elements. Members typically observe this ordinance weekly, viewing it as a regular renewal of their commitment to Christ and a remembrance of his sacrificial death. The administration of the sacrament follows a strict hierarchy of Aaronic Priesthood