Purification through Others

One aspect of the Catholic sacrament has piqued my recent interest: the bishop acts as the sacramental conduit as he presents an individual with the bread/water. In the LDS faith, the sacrament is blessed and administered by worthy members of the priesthood, then is passed from individual to individual down a row. Why the difference?












I've concluded that the LDS sacrament is efficacious in teaching that salvation is not solely an individual matter. Our interactions with others become necessary for our personal purification, as manifest by the passing from individual to individual of the LDS sacrament. Even if a person considers himself unworthy to partake of the sacrament, they still receive it and pass it to people flanking them in the row.

Pres. Eyring said in his book To Draw Closer to God (p 110),

Instead of thinking of yourself primarily as someone who is seeking purification, think of yourself as someone who is trying to find out who around you needs your help. Pray that way and then reach out. When you act under such inspiration, it will have a sanctifying effect on you.

May we all reach out to others in the good work of the Kingdom!