Sacrament

Primarily referred to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, as opposed to other religious sacraments. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed “that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.” Elders and priests were assigned the task of administering the sacrament according to the manner described in the Book of Mormon. Church members partook of the sacrament at various conferences and meetings, including the first conference of the church in June 1830. An August 1830 revelation directed that “it mattereth not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, when ye partake of the sacrament” if it was done “with an eye single to my glory” and any wine used was “made new among you.” In August 1831, a revelation prescribed the weekly observance of the sacrament, commanding those “whose feet stand upon the land of Zion” to “go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day.”