Episode 124: Sacramental Connections (Matthew O. Richardson)

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BYU Religious Education

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4.8 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 15 March 2025

⏱️ 62 minutes

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Summary

How does understanding the interconnected purposes of the sacrament, as presented in Doctrine & Covenants 27, deepen our appreciation for this sacred ordinance? In this episode Matthew O. Richardson, professor of Church history and doctrine, discusses several key themes and gospel principles related to the ordinance of the sacrament. He presents three specific purposes: remembering the past, specifically the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ; looking forward to future redemption; and providing safety and protection in the present. Further, he discusses the historical context and symbolism of the sacramental emblems and connects them to putting on the armor of God and illustrates its role in providing spiritual protection. In understanding the symbolism of these emblems, we can enhance our worship experience and foster a closer relationship with the Savior.

Publications:

“Sacramental Connections: Deliverance, Redemption, and Safety (Doctrine & Covenants 27)” originally published in You Shall Have My Word: Exploring the Text of the Doctrine and Covenants (Religious Studies Center, 2012)

“We Have Now Received the Atonement” in Shedding Light on the New Testament: Acts—Revelation (Religious Studies Center, 2009)

“The Savior’s Love” in Our Savior’s Love: Hope & Healing in Christ (Religious Studies Center, 2015)

“Losing the Sacred Perspective: Social Ethics and Character Development” in Moral Foundations: Standing Firm in a World of Shifting Values (Religious Studies Center, 2008)

Click here to learn more about Matthew O. Richardson

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, why religion friends, John Hilton here.
0:03.0	If you've ever read Doctrine and Covenants 27, you almost certainly noticed the statement that
0:08.8	it doesn't matter what food or drink you use when you partake at the sacrament, as long as you're
0:13.7	remembering Christ's body that he laid down, and the blood he shed for us.
0:18.7	I probably wasn't the first deacon to read that verse and think, wait,
0:21.6	does that mean we could use Oreos and Sprite? That would be amazing. But of course, as a young
0:26.8	deacon, I was definitely missing the mark on that. And I missed a lot of other things in Doctrine
0:31.3	Covenants, Section 27. For example, why does this section jump from the sacrament to a future feast with Christ
0:39.0	and then suddenly to putting on the armor of God?
0:42.2	What's the connection?
0:43.4	What these do is they directly connect the sacrament with deeper promises on how the
0:47.6	sacrament covenant can protect us now to be able to be in that situation and be in the right place and not be moved
0:55.6	from holy places in the future. Now, because of this, that's what wherefore means. Wherefore,
1:01.2	because of what I've taught you, now that you're rejoicing and when you're in this situation,
1:07.3	I want you to put on the whole armor of God so that you can stand in the holy place.
1:11.8	Section 27 begins with a practical question.
1:14.7	What emblems should we use in the sacrament?
1:17.3	But then, the revelation takes an unexpected turn,
1:20.9	pulling back the curtain on a future feast with Christ and a coming battle we must be ready for.
1:26.3	Today, we'll be exploring several spiritual nuggets found in this small section,
1:31.3	including a reminder that the sacrament isn't just about remembering the past,
1:35.6	but also preparing for the future.
	...

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