3 Ne 18:29 Whoso eateth and drinketh of my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul
What makes someone "unworthy" to partake of the sacrament?
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves
Who, therefore, is worthy to partake of the Lord's Sacrament?
D&C 46:4 Let him not partake until he makes reconciliation
You do not need to be perfect in order to partake of the sacrament, but you should have a spirit of humility and repentance in your heart.
Furthermore, Paul (the same Apostle who tells us all have sinned) tells us in a letter to the Corinthians that we are each to examine ourselves as to our worthiness for "Know [we] not [our] own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in [us]?" (2 Corith 13:5) We are our own judges. We should have the ability to discern for ourselves our worthiness of such things. True, at times we judge unrighteously, but that is why the atonement is so necessary.
I have wondered at times if I have taken the sacrament unworthily but taking it gives the righteous taker thereof added strength and protection throughout his week. Is it safer to not take it and pass on the potential blessing or take it and possibly have to repent of doing so unworthily? The same dilemma can be seen in temple attendance.
I feel a lot of the same feelings. I was having the same problem once, that I felt like I had to repent of everything that I had done and fix it and never do it again for me to be able to take the sarcament. But I think someone told me that if that were the case, we would never take the sacrament. We would never make it. That that is one of the reasons for the sacrament. To help us fill the places we failed in.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an expect by any means. And still not close to familiar with the make up and 'precautions' of taking the sacrament. I have pondered it a lot myself. I feel like we are floating in the same boat. I was hoping to study it more fully with you once we were together so that communication would be easier.
“I am a witness that there is a spirit attending the administration of the sacrament that warms the soul from head to foot; you feel the wounds of the spirit being healed, and the load being lifted. Comfort and happiness come to the soul that is worthy and truly desirous of partaking of this spiritual food.” (Crusader for Righteousness [Salt Lake City, Bookcraft, 1966], p. 133.)
Now I will tell you right now that I have never gotten that feeling. Do I feel like I've taking it unworthily. No. I feel like Heavenly Father gives some lee way because He cannot hold you accountable for what we don't know. Yes we make judgement calls but it seems to me that humility and striving to do what you think is right plays a pretty big role and that you are do just that.