Friday, January 5, 2024

John A. Widtsoe on "Ordinances and Related Activities"

  

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)