THE SACRAMENT

 A little background: I was 17 years old, a senior in high school, and I constantly had a boyfriend. I struggled with self-worth — due to bullying — and I found a false sense of self-worth in always having a sweetheart.

I started off dating a lot of young men who belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Unfortunately, those relationships were unsuccessful. So, I began dating a lot of non-member boys. I argued that I could “change” them and share the gospel with them. I also determined that sometimes young men not of my faith could be kinder and more gentlemanly than some of the boys in the Church.

My senior year, I began dating a boy I met in show choir. Regrettably, he was only 14 years old, which gave my family something to tease me about. He also came from a broken home with a lot of inappropriate principles. Being older and more mature, I thought I could transform him into the perfect guy.

Despite my neediness, I still had a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I was a good girl. I got straight A’s in seminary. I went to church every week with my family and partook of the sacrament. I tried to keep the commandments.

One particular Sabbath morning, I went to church with my family. We sat in the middle of the congregation as the bishop stood up to begin the meeting. Somehow, my gaze wandered to the sacrament table, and I realized that nobody was there. At the same time, two of my good guy friends (Damon Sheneman and Mickey Matlo) noticed the same thing.  I watched them look at each other and communicate without words as they both headed to the front of the chapel to set up the bread and water.

My heart softened as I realized how extraordinary it was that they were worthy and had the appropriate priesthood to set up the sacrament. I loved how they took their priesthood duties and authority seriously. That day they blessed the lives of those in the congregation — we needed to partake of Christ’s Atonement. 

The sacrament was administered and although there was nothing different about the bread and water, it was a sanctifying experience. The ritual was different because I had realized the importance of the priesthood and I knew I wanted to have the power of God in my own life. In that moment I felt inspired to repent. I knew that I needed to marry someone who held the priesthood. I knew that I needed to date worthy young men who were strong in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I knew that I couldn’t “change” someone. 

The power of that sacrament meeting was never forgotten. 

Spencer W. Kimball explains that “Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all decisions and has the most far-reaching effects, for it has to do not only with immediate happiness, but also with eternal joys.” Eternal joys come from covenants made in the temple to a worthy priesthood holder.

If Damon and Mickey had not used their priesthood for good and served in such a simple, profound way, I may never have achieved my dream of a celestial marriage with a wonderful man! Thank you, Damon and Mickey, wherever you are.

At least that’s the way I remember it.