Book of Mormon Commentary - Moroni 4

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
             CHAPTER 4

How the elders and priests administer the sacramental bread. [Between A.D. 400 and 421]

1 THE amanner of their belders and cpriests administering the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church; and they administered it daccording to the commandments of Christ; wherefore we know the manner to be true; and the elder or priest did minister it—

2 And they did kneel down with the achurch, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ, saying:

3 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and asanctify this bbread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in cremembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Fathera, that they are willing to take upon them the dname of thy Son, and always remember himb, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his eSpirit to be with them. Amen.

The Sacramental Covenant 
The Sacramental Covenant contains certain promises and covenant which man make to God and God in turn makes unto man. The Sacrament itself is a process of renewing one's covenant promises with the Lord. The sacrament is most closely associated with one's baptismal covenants as part of entering in and becoming a part of Christ's Kingdom according to the Doctrine of Christ. And it is a part of a person's remaining upon the strait and narrow path and enduring to the end in order to obtain eternal life. Yet also included in the sacramental process is the renewing of all such covenants entered into and made with God along that path. That path to perfection and becoming AS GOD IS, includes additional laws and ordinances after the order of the Kingdom of God which one may enter into according to their desires to eventually become even AS GOD IS in all things as revealed by the spirit of revealation, which is the Holy Ghost or the Spirit of God. This includes such things as the oath and covenant of the priesthood, the covenants of the temple endowment, the covenants of one's temple marriage and any other such covenants entered into with the Lord which contain blessings predicated upon one's obedience to the laws and ordinances of God's plan of eternal progression and exaltation. Yet simply set forth, the sacramental service does accomplish this feat of renewing all such covenant made unto God. Just how that is accomplished is set out in the nature of the promises we make in the sacramental prayer to which we say 'Amen' and then participate in witness by the actual partaking of the sacrament. Those promises we make include the following:
    1. We are willing and do take the name of the Son of God upon us.
    2. We de always remember him, not forgetting our commitments we have made with him.
    3. That we will and do keep his commandments (laws and ordinances) which he hath given unto them.

In response to our promises the Lord in turns covenants and promises us that 'We may always have his Spirit to be with us. The accompanyment of that spirit does guide and lead us on that path which leads to heaven and all of the blessings of God. Without that Spirit's sanction, none of the covenant blessings of heaven are in force with us. With that spirit to be with us, then we are promised that we will inherit Eternal Life with all the covenant blessings which the Lord has promised unto us according to those oaths and covenants we have entered into with Him.

 3a witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father One of the main purposes for the required outword ordinances rather than mere inward acceptance of Christ, it the matter of oath taking. A covenant is an agreement between at least two persons making up at least two legal parties to the legal and binding covenant. It becomes a matter of swaring in the name of God or by the name of God, before God that one is officially and legally taking upon themselves certain legal and binding obligations or covenants. If one is to merely accept in one's heart to is there to witness? And when someone breaks such a publicly sworn oath and covenant, then they have taken the name of the Lord in vain. This is the formal meaning of that particular commandment of God. This is why Israel always took swaring an oath so seriously. For if one breaks their oath and covenant, then they have not only violated that covenant agreement, but they have further broken the 3rd Commandment of the Ten Commandments, meaning they have violated that oath taken in the name of God making the covenant none binding and a meaningless 'vain' event.
 3b always remember him 		 1a 3 Ne. 18:5 (1-7)
   b TG Elder
   c TG Priest
   d D&C 20:76
 2a TG Church
 3a 1 Sam. 21:4
   b TG Sacrament
   c Luke 22:19; 3 Ne. 18:7; 3 Ne. 20:8
   d TG Jesus Christ, Taking the Name of
   e TG God, Spirit of
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