my sacred time

yesterday at the rs stake meeting we had a fabulous talk by brother carver on 'what it takes to be saved.' it came to these 5 things: 
1. faith in Jesus Christ
2. repentance
3. baptism
4. having the Gift of the Holy Ghost
5. endure to the end
sometimes we like to think the list is much longer, but in actuality it isn't. 

we often feel we have to do it all ourselves. that Christ is there, but we sometimes see him as our coach to help us, direct us, motivate us. but he's not... he's our savior. he will make up the difference in what we can't do. he's already paid the price. 

satan, who's name means 'liar' is there to persuade us differently. he wants to discourage us, make us feel that it's hopeless, so why even try.

and then there's the sacrament. sacrament means covenant. today i thought of it, not as going to sacrament meeting but as covenant meeting. a meeting to be edified by the talks, lifted by the music, but sanctified by the sacrament. it was a sacred time to review, remember and renew the covenants i have already made. it filled me and i felt close to the spirit. 

i am so eternally grateful for my savior Jesus Christ. for his willingness to sacrifice for me, providing me with an atonement that heals my wounds, cleanses me from my thoughtless and many sins, lifts me from selfish worldly thoughts and purifies me. i know this to be true, and the tears i shed today were purily out of gratitude and love.

the sacrament was truly sacred time for me today.