Today we will partake of the emblems of the sacrament in our homes, whether administered by a family member ordained to appropriate priesthood office or someone ministering to our homes.
I thought of the second stanza of a poem my husband wrote for friends who married in the temple and were sealed into the New and Everlasting Covenant:
Grant us the firm, enduring faith
to meet commitment’s need:
To face affliction side by side;
To seek the spirit’s constant guide
’Til heart and mind are purified,
Of every evil freed.
May your Sabbath be a blessing to you and your household.
My son was ordained as a Deacon last night. He and my husband and brother administer the sacrament in our home today.
It was an honor to administer the sacrament to my family this morning. I wish there were more opportunities to perform sacred rituals at home.
We held a mini meeting, opening with #297 (In Homes of Saints Glad Songs Arise). Then Eliza Snow’s sacrament hymn, #195 (How Great the Wisdom and the Love). After partaking of the sacrament and sharing testimonies, we closed with #152 (God Be with You Till We Meet Again). Later in the day, my husband went to administer sacrament to someone for whom he is a ministering brother.
Having my husband administer and pass the Sacrament to us today felt so personal I got really teary eyed. Our closing hymn was #285 God Moves in a Mysterious Way. I chose it because I believe this time of church at home will be a huge blessing in our lives.
Our Stake Presidency sent out an email authorizing all worthy priesthood holders to administer the sacrament in their own homes. There was also a charge to make sure all members who did not have the priesthood in their home had the opportunity to partake of the sacrament. My neighbor whose husband is inactive joined us. We sang “I Stand All Amazed” while my son-in-law broke the bread. After he blessed and passed it, I blessed and passed the water. It was the most spiritual sacrament ordinance I have ever participated in. My daughter then gave a talk, followed by my wife. We then watched the #hearhim video from the church, and I closed with my testimony. We concluded by singing “I Need Thee Every Hour” and my neighbor gave the prayer. Many tears were shed in gratitude. It felt as if everything the Brethren have been doing to prepare us for a Home Centered Church was put into practice today. As I type, we are preparing to have dinner, which will be followed by Sunday School. Sunday evening has always been the best part of our day where we gather to discuss Gospel topics, read the scriptures, and simply enjoy each other’s company. That will not change. It almost feels like we are returning to the pre-3 hour block days, and it is wonderful. The priesthood keys are real, and they are being exercised with great power and authority.
We’re in an area that hasn’t authorised home sacrament. I support our leaders right to receive revelation, and I hope some good will come out of it, but I think they got this one wrong. I assume they’ll authorize it this coming weekend.
But I’m thinking of the appropriate venue to and manner to ask leadership what the reason for not trusting in the priesthood. With President Packer’s comment on “battlefield commissions” in the priesthood on my mind, I think an opportunity was missed to encourage holiness and reverence in homes where it was lacking and now a likely pattern has been set in those places.
I can’t help but think that at a minimum, individual authorization ought to have gone out to temple recommend holders. But even that is unnecessary. We’ve long taught that an ordinance does not lose its efficacy if the priesthood bearer is not worthy.
So what am I or the stake or ward leadership missing?
I did not read (scan) the post and comments until now. We were told that the stake was working on finding ways to have the sacrament administered at least once a month to all members. We’ll wait for specific directives.