Almost every week, over 31,000 Latter-day Saint congregations across the world gather on the Sabbath to worship God. And in each of these meetings, a few priesthood holders repeat Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79—the sacrament prayers.
These verses remind us of a subtle yet powerful truth—God is our Father, and we are His children.
The Empowering Reminder in This Scripture
In the October 2025 general conference, Elder Brik V. Eyre pointed out a profound detail about the sacrament prayer. “It is no coincidence that in likely the most repeated scripture, God reminds us of our relationship with Him,” he said. “Of all the names He could be identified by in the sacrament prayer, He has asked to be called ‘God, the Eternal Father.’”
Each time God reminds us of His role as our Father, we’re invited to remember our identity as His children. Interestingly, the name “God, the Eternal Father” is repeated four times in this scripture:
“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this [water] to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.” (emphasis added)
This pattern of language invites us to find strength in our divine relationship with God—a crucial message to internalize and share in today’s world.
In fact, author Gerald N. Lund believes the weekly spiritual assurance found in the sacrament is essential to facing the challenges of our day with faith. In his book To Always Have His Spirit, he notes, “How appropriate to start each week remembering who we are and who we worship.”
Lund points out that as part of our relationship with God, when we keep our covenants, He promises us the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. This gift provides us with the spiritual reassurance and guidance to navigate our trials:
“Here [is] the answer for us who are living in the great and dreadful day. What to do to save our children. What happens if war comes. Or depression. Or natural disasters. If we consistently have His Spirit to be with us, which we can do through the promises of the sacrament, then we can have peace in a time of turmoil and evil.”
So, the next time you hear the words of the sacrament, focus on what it means to claim your divine worth as a child of God and seek His support. As you embrace this relationship, your perspective and confidence will shift, and you will find the courage to carry on no matter your circumstances.
As Elder Eyre taught, “Regardless of where we are on our path of discipleship, our lives will fundamentally change if we better understand who we really are.”
More articles for you:
▶ Elder Matthew S. Holland’s new talk on ‘the wilderness’ is a must listen
▶ 6 Hebrew words every Latter-day Saint should know
▶ Elder Caussé suggests 4 ways to increase your spiritual knowledge
