ORDINANCES AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
What Is An
Ordinance? An ordinance is an earthy symbol of a
spiritual reality. It is usually also an act symbolizing a covenant or agreement
with the Lord. Finally, it is nearly always an act in anticipation of a
blessing from heaven. An ordinance, then, is distinctly an act that connects
heaven and earth, the spirit and the temporal.
Need of
Ordinances. In the spiritual
as in the material world, the law of cause and effect rules supreme. The price
must be paid for everything received. That is the higher justice. The acts
known as ordinances are therefore those by which certain desired things are
attained. By the act of baptism, membership in the Church is obtained; by the
act of administering consecrated oil to the sick person followed by the sealing
prayer, the sick are often healed. Ordinances serve also as witnesses or
signatures to the spiritual agreements made. The act of being immersed in water
by one having authority becomes a witness of the acceptance of the code of
truth known as the Gospel. The act of partaking of the Sacrament is a witness
of renewed allegiance to the Savior and to God. The meaning of ordinances
confirms their necessity in an organization built upon order and system.
The ordinances of the Church are few
in number, but vitally important.
First Principles
and Ordinances. The acceptance
of two principles, faith and repentance, and of two ordinances, baptism and the
gift of the Holy Ghost, form the first requirements for membership in the Church.
They are really fundamental steps of progress. “By faithfully attending to the
first principles of the Gospel, laid down in the New Testament, you are
introduced into the knowledge of the works of God in the dispensation of the
fullness of time.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 235.) A candidate for
membership in the Church must believe sincerely in God, and His Son Jesus
Christ, and in the divine plan of salvation; must repent by turning away from
former errors and by doing that which is just; and must be baptized as an
evidence of his faith, repentance and willingness henceforth to obey God’s law.
Then the gift of the Holy Ghost, of the higher intelligence, is conferred upon
him. He is then a member of the Church, ready to partake of its labors,
privileges and blessings.
The Sacrament. The Sacrament is a renewal of man’s covenant
with the Lord in the waters of baptism. Those who partake of the Sacrament do
so, first, in remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and, second, to
covenant (witness) that they will obey the commandments of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. The promise is then made that the Spirit of Christ will be with them.
(Moroni 6:6-9; D. & C. 20:77-79.)
Bread and water are used in the
Sacrament. Bread and unfermented wine may be used. “It mattereth not what ye
shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the Sacrament, if it be so
that ye do it with an eye single to my glory—remembering unto the Father my
body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission
of your sins.” (D. & C. 27:1-4.)
The Sacrament is partaken of
frequently, weekly, in Sunday Schools and in special sacramental meetings. The
blessings consecrating the bread and water are two of the few set forms in the
Church.
Administration to
the Sick. The healing spiritual power of the
Lord is sought in cases of sickness by the formal administration to the sick.
This is in full harmony with the practice of the Christian church from the
beginning. (James 5:14, 15; Mark 6:13; Luke 4:40; Acts 28:8; D. & C. 42:43,
44.) Such administrations should be made at the request of the sufferer, so
that it may be done in answer to faith. One of the two elders called in applies
oil, consecrated for the purpose, to the head of the sick person, and the other
elder is mouth in sealing the anointing and in praying to the Lord for the restoration
of the health of the sick brother or sister. Tens of thousands of healings have
followed such administrations.
Fasting and
Prayer. The practice of a month fast has
already been discussed. (Page 87.) It should always be accompanied with prayer.
It is well to call the household together on the day of fasting, to thank the
Lord for blessings received, and to supplicate the Lord for the many blessings
needed by the members of the family. Individuals frequently undertake fasts
when in special need of heavenly help. The Church urges all to observe the
monthly fasts and advises that fasts at other times be engaged in wisely, with
due respect to the conditions and needs of the body.
Temple Work. Labor in the temples brings much joy. The
temple-endowment if properly understood is a great blessing to him who receives
it. It becomes an interpreter and protector of life.
The Temple endowment may be received
by every faithful member of the Church. It may be taken also for the dead. Thereby
an opportunity is given to keep the meaning of the endowment fresh in our
minds.
Temple service for the dead is wholly
unselfish and consequently has a marvelous refining influence upon those who engage
in it. To approach a fullness of spiritual joy, the privileges of the temple
must be used as often as possible. (John A. Widtsoe, Program of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Salt Lake City: The Deseret News
Press, 1937], 109-12)