BLESSING ON THE BREAD
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
BLESSING ON THE WATER
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this water to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
History & Origin Of LDS Sacrament Prayers
The sacrament is the most significant part of our sabbath worship services. This ordinance provides a time for members of the Church to renew our baptismal covenants with God and reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In a sacrament meeting, before the sacrament begins, a prayer is offered to open the meeting, which is followed by the congregation singing two hymns. After that, two sacrament prayers are offered, one over the bread and one over the water. In this blog post, we will explore the origins and history of these prayers.
The sacrament prayers are unique to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and are not used by any other church. They were first introduced by Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church, in the early 1830s. During that time, the sacrament consisted of bread and wine, which were blessed and passed among the members. However, because of the revelation of the word of wisdom and other concerns, the Church eventually replaced the wine with water.
The sacrament prayers have remained largely unchanged since they were first introduced by Joseph Smith. They are considered sacred and it’s ensursed that during the ordinance, they are recited exactly as written. Only priesthood holders who have been properly authorized may offer the sacrament prayers.
In the Book of Mormon, which is a foundational set of scriptures in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, In the Book of Mormon, there are records of Jesus Christ visiting the American continent after his resurrection. During his visits, he instituted the sacrament ordinance among the people and provided them with the words to be used in blessing the bread and water. These sacred words were passed down from generation to generation and have been included in the Church’s religious practices since its founding. The sacrament prayers used in the Church today are nearly identical to the prayers provided by Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon. This connection to the Book of Mormon underscores the significance of the sacrament prayers as a continuation of the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ. They serve as a powerful reminder of our commitment to follow his teachings and renew our covenants with him each week..