Sacrament and Sacred Covenant

“And he said unto them: He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled.” – 3 Nephi 20:8

As I reflect upon the words of Christ in 3 Nephi 20:8, my heart is stirred with a very deep reverence for the sacredness of the Sacrament. The words recorded in Nephi are not simply symbolic; they invite us into a covenantal relationship with the Saviour that transcends mortal understanding and unites us with the Lord in a most intimate way. This is not merely a ritual of remembrance. The Sacrament is the act by which we renew our covenant with through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. In the holiness of this moment, bread and wine (or water) are consecrated to represent His body and His blood, which were offered up on the cross for our salvation. As we partake of these emblems, we do more than remember—we participate in His divine life. We take into ourselves His infinite atonement, renewing the promise that He has made to all who follow Him: that we will never hunger or thirst spiritually, but be filled with His love and grace.

The Lord’s declaration in 3 Nephi draws us back to His words in the New Testament, where He first instituted this sacred meal. At the Last Supper, “Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:26-28) In these moments, Christ established a new covenant, sealed with His blood, wherein we are invited into an eternal relationship with Him.

When I partake of the Sacrament, I am reminded of the gravity of this covenant. I have promised to take upon myself the name of Christ, to always remember Him, and to keep His commandments. In return, He promises that His Spirit will be with me. It is a reciprocal bond of love and devotion. This is not a casual agreement between two acquaintances—it is the most sacred promise that we make. And when we honour it, we are assured that our souls will never hunger or thirst. We will be filled with the very presence of the Lord, guided by His Spirit, and strengthened to overcome the challenges of mortality.

In a world filled with darkness, distractions and false promises of satisfaction, the Sacrament stands out as a weekly sign of where true fulfilment is found. Christ is the Bread of Life, and His atoning sacrifice is the source of living water that quenches the deepest thirst of our souls. To partake of the Sacrament is to declare that our ultimate hunger is for Him, and our deepest thirst is for His righteousness. It is to declare that no worldly pleasure or pursuit can fill us in the way that He can.

As I reflect on this passage, I also think about the eternal nature of the promises that accompany the Sacrament. Christ’s invitation is not only for this life, but for eternity. “He that eateth this bread… and drinketh this wine… shall be filled.” This filling is by far from being temporary. It extends beyond the trials and tribulations of this mortal coil. It is a promise of eternal communion with Heavenly Father. When we are faithful to our covenants, we are assured of a place at the heavenly banquet, where we will be filled forever with the joy and peace that only the Lord can give. Thus, the Sacrament becomes not only a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice, but a foretaste of the heavenly kingdom. Each time I partake, I am reminded that I am on a journey towards that eternal home, and that Christ is both the guide and the sustenance for that journey.

I hope each of us can always approach the Sacrament with reverence and gratitude, recognising it as the sacred means by which we renew our covenant with Heavenly Father. And may we strive, each day, to live in a manner worthy of the promises we have made, so that our souls may indeed never hunger nor thirst, but be filled with His divine presence now and forever.