Repent - again, and again

3 Nephi 18

Jesus institutes the sacrament among the Nephites.  They are commanded to pray always and to set a righteous example.

When Jesus institutes the sacrament, it says “. . .they had eaten and were filled. . .” (v4).  What does it mean to be filled in this context?  It means to be filled with the Spirit.  In verse 7 it says that if we always remember the Savior, we will have his Spirit to be with us.  Is this not something to aspire to?  Yet how often do we race to Sacrament meeting and go through the motions and not really contemplate for the precious time we’ve been given the tremendous gift the Savior has given us?  I’m guilty at times.  I try ever so hard, yet I’ll catch my mind wandering.  We are so very blessed to have the sacrament in our lives where we can repent each week of our weaknesses and move forward, trying harder the next week.  It was during a sacrament hymn many years ago that I first remember feeling the Spirit.  I didn’t know at the time what was happening.  I just thought I was being a baby for crying.  I remember that I had never heard the hymn that was being sung.  I’ve since determined it was “There is a Green Hill Far Away”, as every time I sing this hymn during the preparation of the sacrament, I have similar feelings as I did so many years ago.  At that time, I had built up so many walls to protect me from what, I don’t know.  As I worked on bringing those walls down, this hymn took on added meaning as well as the administering of the sacrament.

I’m grateful for the blessing the sacrament is in my life.  I’m grateful our Savior was willing to pay such a tremendous price for my sins.  I can never repay Him.  However, I try ever so hard to do as was commanded in V24 – “. . .hold up your light that it may shine unto the world.”  The light we hold up is the light of the Savior.  We do as He would do.  We follow His example.  And when we fail, we repent and try again, and again.