The Nephites had seen the resurrected Christ descend from the heavens, touched his hands and feet, and learned for themselves that this was no vision but a real and tangible being. They had sat at his feet and heard his teachings, and heard him utter things they were incapable of repeating. They had seen many people with severe physical handicaps healed by his touch, and witnessed fire and angels come down from heaven to encircle their children. Any one of these events would be spiritually overwhelming, and it is difficult to imagine the spiritual impact of all of them happening together.
With that spiritual preparation the Nephites were given the ordinance of the sacrament. We are told that after they partook of the bread and wine, they “were filled” (see vv. 4–5, 9). What were the Nephites filled with—the bread and wine? Though it is not clarified here, the Savior earlier had promised that those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness … shall be filled with the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 12:6). The next day when the Savior came again, he said, “He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled” (3 Nephi 20:8).
We can experience what the Nephites experienced that day. While we may not have the same remarkable events occur to prepare us for being born again, we can in many ways prepare ourselves. Elder Marion G. Romney talked about making the partaking of the sacrament an active, spiritual experience:
“Now partaking of the sacrament is not to be a mere passive experience. We are not to remember the Lord’s suffering and death only as we may remember some purely secular historical event. Participating in the sacrament service is meant to be a vital and a spiritualizing experience. Speaking of it, the Savior said:
“‘… And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me.’ (3 Nephi 18:7.)
“In order to testify, one’s mind has to function, and it must be concentrated upon the thing to be testified. And we are not only to partake of the emblems of the sacrament in remembrance of the Redeemer, testifying that we do always remember him, but we are also thereby to witness unto the Father that we are willing to take upon us the name of his Son and that we will keep his commandments. This amounts to a virtual renewal of the covenant of baptism, for you will recall that candidates for baptism are, among other things, to
“‘… witness before the church that they … are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end. (D. & C. 20:37.)’”
(in Conference Report, Apr. 1946, pp. 39–40).
President David O. McKay taught that when a spiritual price is paid, we can reap the blessings of being filled with the Spirit:
“No more sacred ordinance is administered in the Church of Christ than the administration of the sacrament… .
“There are three things fundamentally important associated with the administration of the sacrament. The first is self-discernment. It is introspection. ‘This do in remembrance of me, ’ but we should partake worthily, each one examining himself with respect to his worthiness.
“Secondly, there is a covenant made; a covenant even more than a promise… .
“Thirdly, there is another blessing, and that is a sense of close relationship with the Lord. There is an opportunity to commune with oneself and to commune with the Lord… .
“Brethren, we recommend that we surround this sacred ordinance with more reverence, with perfect order, that each one who comes to the house of God may meditate upon his goodness and silently and prayerfully express appreciation for God’s goodness. Let the sacrament hour be one experience of the day in which the worshiper tries at least to realize within himself that it is possible for him to commune with his God.
“Great events have happened in this Church because of such communion, because of the responsiveness of the soul to the inspiration of the Almighty. I know it is real… .
“But the lesson I wish to leave tonight is: Let us make that sacrament hour one of the most impressive means of coming in contact with God’s spirit. Let the Holy Ghost, to which we are entitled, lead us into his presence, and may we sense that nearness, and have a prayer offered in our hearts which he will hear”
(in Conference Report, Apr. 1946, pp. 112, 114, 116).