The sacrament is an opportunity to always remember the Savior.

See Cheryl A. Esplin, “The Sacrament—a Renewal for the Soul,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 12–14.

D&C 20:77, 79

‘To always have the Spirit with us is to have the guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost in our daily lives. We can, for instance, be warned by the Spirit to resist the temptation to do evil.

For that reason alone, it is easy to see why the Lord’s servants have tried to increase our desire to worship God in our sacrament meetings. If we partake of the sacrament in faith, the Holy Ghost will then be able to protect us and those we love from the temptations that come with increasing intensity and frequency.

The companionship of the Holy Ghost makes what is good more attractive and temptation less compelling. That alone should be enough to make us determined to qualify for the Spirit to be with us always.’ (Henry B Eyring, General Conference, October 2015)

‘Some people have told me that they’ve heard sacrament prayers so often that they don’t even hear them when the sacrament is blessed. Perhaps this is because they don’t understand what is being said. Perhaps you might want to pull your scriptures at the proper time and study these prayers. They contain profound and significant information about our promises to the Lord, and his promises to us.’ (W Mack Lawrence, General Conference, April 1991)

Watch video: Reverence the sacrament Elder Quentin L. Cook explains explains that through taking the sacrament, we show our willingness to follow the Saviour.

We become more Christlike when we choose to submit our will to the Father’s.

‘The Savior’s words, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt,” indicate His submission to His Father in Heaven (Matthew 26:39). What sustained Him and strengthened Him so that He could drink the bitter cup of the Atonement? Certainly, there were many factors. Scriptural and prophetic teachings give us some answers to this question.

He was motivated by complete and perfect love for His Father in Heaven and devotion to Him (see John 8:29; 17:1–26). He revealed that He “so loved the world that he gave his own life” (D&C 34:3; see also 1 Nephi 19:9). He “endured the cross” “for the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). President Lorenzo Snow (1814–1901) taught that the Atonement “required all the power that [Jesus] had and all the faith that He could summon for Him to accomplish that which the Father required of Him” (The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, comp. Clyde J. Williams [1984], 98).

The Savior’s submission to the will of the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane set an example for us, inviting us to submit to God’s will in our life. Elder Robert D. Hales(1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained: “It takes great faith and courage to pray to our Heavenly Father, ‘Not as I will, but as thou wilt’ [Matt. 26:39]. The faith to believe in the Lord and endure brings great strength. Some may say if we have enough faith, we can sometimes change the circumstances that are causing our trials and tribulations. Is our faith to change circumstances, or is it to endure them? Faithful prayers may be offered to change or moderate events in our life, but we must always remember that when concluding each prayer, there is an understanding: ‘Thy will be done’ (Matt. 26:42). Faith in the Lord includes trust in the Lord” (“Behold, We Count Them Happy Which Endure,” Ensign, May 1998, 77).’ (New Testament Institute Manual)

‘When our progress seems to be at a standstill, it is well for us to ask who is at fault. Is it I? Am I sufficiently committed to righteous goals? Do I have the courage, fortitude, and wisdom to apply self-examination—or will I be inclined to try and decide which of my associates will fail? ‘ (Marvin J Ashton, General Conference, October 1983)

Jesus Christ performed an infinite Atonement for us.

I heartily recommend Elder Tad Callister’s book ‘The Infinite Atonement’ – it will help you to a deeper understanding of the atonement than you have ever had before. To whet your appetite here are some notes I took when I  read the book and some of the key scripture references and quotes used by Elder Callister.

1. INFINITE IN THE DIVINENESS OF THE CHOSEN ONE

The atonement is infinite in the divineness of the one who was sacrificed. He is an infinite being with infinite characteristics.

• Alma 26:35 – he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things.
• Psalm 147:5 – his understanding is infinite.
• Mosiah 5:3 – infinite goodness
• Mosiah 28:4 – Infinite mercy
• Alma 34:14 – the son of God infinite and eternal

1. INFINITE IN POWER

The atonement has the power to resurrect the dead, the power to conquer spiritual death and the power to exalt ordinary people.

• John 17:2 – power over all flesh
• D&C 19:3 – the power to destroy Satan
• Alma 12:15 – the power to save every man
• D&C 93:17 – received all power
• Revelation 5:12 – slain to receive power
• Alma 7:12 – he will take upon him death that he may loose the bands of death

1. INFINITE IN TIME

The Saviour’s atonement was effective for those who died before him.

• Headnote to Alma 39
• Ether 3:13 (2200 BC) ye are redeemed from the fall
• Mosiah 3;13 – even as though he had already come among them
• Mosiah 3:18 – salvation was, and is and is to come
• D&C 82;10 – The Lord had covenanted to perform his sacrifice

The atonement stretches back to sins we committed in the premortal existence

• Alma 3:13 – in the first place being left to choose good and evil – so agency
• Abraham 3:22-23 – some had progressed more than others
• Joseph Fielding Smith – the picture is complete. Man could sin before his mortal birth.

Orson Pratt: We see no impropriety in Jesus offering himself as an acceptable offering and sacrifice before the Father to atone for the sins of his brethren, not only in the second, but also in the first estate.

• D&C 93:38 – we began our second estate innocent because of the atonement.

The atonement covers postmortal spirits

• D&C 138:58 – The redeeming powers of the Saviour stretch forward to reach the spirits of the dead.

1. INFINITE IN COVERAGE

Bruce R. McConkie: “When the prophets speak of an infinite atonement, they mean just that. Its effects cover all men, the earth itself and all forms of life thereon, and reach out into the endless expanses of eternity….Now our Lord’s jurisdiction and power extend far beyond the limits of this one small earth on which we de\well. He is under the Father, the creator of worlds without number (Moses 1:33). And through the power of his atonement the inhabitants of these worlds, the revelation says, ‘are begotten sons and daughters unto God’ (DC 76:24), which means that the atonement of Christ, being literally and truly infinite, applies to an infinite number of earths.” (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 64-5

• D&C 76:24, 42, 43 Saviour saved all the people from the worlds made by him

 Elder Russell M Nelson:

The mercy of the atonement extends not only to an infinite number of people, but also to an infinite number of worlds created by him.

5. INFINITE IN DEPTH

Includes even those who don’t repent

 Brigham Young – He had paid the full debt whether you receive the gift or not.

Voluntarily took upon him not only sins but depression, sorrow, loneliness, hurts etc.

Isaiah 53:4

• Isaiah 63;9
• Alma 7:11

6. INFINITE IN SUFFERING

D&C 19:18 – both body and spirit

 Elder Orson F Whitney:

Our little finite afflictions are but as a drop in the ocean compared with the infinite and unspeakable agony borne by him for our sakes.

• Hebrews 2:9 – tasted death for every man
•  Mosiah 15:10-11 – saw each of us

 Elder Merrill J Bateman –

The Savior’s atonement in the garden and on the cross is intimate as well as infinite. Infinite in that it spans the eternities. Intimate in that the Savior felt each person’s pains, sufferings and sicknesses.

7. INFINITE IN LOVE

The motivation behind the atonement was love

• D&C 133:53
• 1 Nephi 19:9