Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we're given the words to the sacrament prayers and told that it's expedient that the church meet together often so that they may partake of the sacrament.  During the sacrament, we renew our covenants to keep the commandments, always remember Jesus, and take His name upon us.  If we do these things, we're promised that we'll always have His Spirit to be with us.  D&C 20:75-79 "It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus; And the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this manner shall he administer it—he shall kneel with the church and call upon the Father in solemn prayer, saying:  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. The manner of administering the wine—he shall take the cup also, and say:  O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine 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."

In the Old Testament we read about the great sins commited by the children of Israel. Instead of destroying the wicked nations like the Lord had commanded them, they mingled among them and learned their evil ways, worshiping their false gods and sacrificing their children to idols.  But in spite of all this wickedness, when they cried out to the Lord in their afflictions, He heard their prayers and had mercy on them, remembering His covenant with them.  No matter how much we sin, the Lord loves us and wants us to repent and come unto Him.  Psalms 106:34-47 "They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance. And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them. Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.  Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:  And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.  He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives. Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise."

Some scriptures with a thought booklet go right along with the idea of becoming clean even though we have sinned.  They give great hope to all of us who have sinned, which is all of us. We can be clean again!  We need to put away our evil doings and cease to commit sin.  We need to learn to do well, helping and serving others.  Even though our sins were scarlet, they'll become white as snow!  We can change, with the Lord's help, and He has made repentance possible.  Isaiah 1:16-18 "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."