Moroni Chapter 5
Summary: Moroni writes how elders and priests are to administer the wine for the sacrament.
** IMPORTANT NOTE **
Note that in the time of Moroni, and for many years, wine was the standard for the sacrament. The change to water occurs in modern revelation, not ancient scripture. The key moment is Doctrine and Covenants 27 (August 1830) when the Lord gave the following revelation:
_“It mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory.”_
This is the doctrinal pivot point. Why did it happen? Because Joseph Smith was warned that enemies planned to poison the sacramental wine. The Lord responded by teaching this principle - the ordinance is not dependent on the substance — only on the covenant. This is the first time in scripture where water becomes explicitly acceptable. By the late 1800's water totally replaced wine for practical and safety reasons.
Lessons Taught/To be Learned: (no specific lessons for this chapter)
Key Scriptures (italicized and in quotes):
"2 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine 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."