{"id":2761,"date":"2013-01-08T05:57:18","date_gmt":"2013-01-08T12:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ourthoughts.ca\/?p=2761"},"modified":"2023-02-08T15:03:02","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T22:03:02","slug":"sacrament-does-not-renew-the-baptismal-covenant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourthoughts.ca\/2013\/01\/08\/sacrament-does-not-renew-the-baptismal-covenant\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacrament does not renew the baptismal covenant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In our elders quorum class on Sunday, we were discussing ordinances. At one point, we came to the ordinance of the Sacrament, and someone read the following from the manual<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The ordinance of the sacrament reminds us of the promises we made when we were baptized. We renew our baptismal covenant by partaking of the sacrament. As we partake of the bread and water, we remember our Savior\u2019s life and His sacrifice. We remember our promise to follow Him. When taken worthily, the sacrament is a source of spiritual strength. It helps us develop greater power to keep the commandments. With sincere repentance it helps cleanse us of the sins we commit after baptism.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I disagree with two points in that paragraph: the idea that the Sacrament has cleansing properties and the idea that we renew our baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, beyond baptism of water and fire, the only spiritual cleansing available is through sincere repentance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, the baptism and sacrament covenants are different. Consider the covenant elements listed in Mosiah 18:<\/p>\n\n\n\n