Right Hand

Today as I was sitting in sacrament meeting I got to thinking, as I often do, about the purpose for taking and passing the sacrament with the right hand. I've noticed in the past that sometimes people take the tray with their right hand and partake of the bread and water with their left to save the person next to them from having to hold the tray too long. It's always bothered me, and here's why: your right hand is your covenant hand. It is the hand we raise to the square, the hand we put over our heart when we pledge to something, the hand we partake of and pass the sacrament with. The church is full of symbolism and ritual, partaking of the sacrament is no different. It reminds us that we are making a promise or pledge to be like the Savior. It reminds us that if we continue faithful we will be gathered at the right hand of God in the end. It reminds us that the Savior will stand at our right hand and be an advocate with the Father on our behalf. The right hand is symbolic of truth, spirituality, strength, and power. Perhaps strength and power that is given us to overcome temptation and sin each time we partake of the sacred emblems of Christ's sacrifice for us. Perhaps the truth we gain from personal revelation as we worship in His Holy house. Perhaps the added spirituality we acquire through inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives to help us and give us guidance throughout the week. There are so many scriptures that refer to the right hand of God.

Mosiah 5: 8-10 "And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives. And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ. And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God."

Mosiah 26:23-24 "For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my right hand. For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have place eternally at my right hand."

Alma 5:58 "For the names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life, and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand. And now, my brethren, what have ye to say against this? I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the word of God must be fulfilled."

These next two talk about the Lord being at OUR right hand.

Psalms 16:8 "I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."

Psalms 109:31 "For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul."

Psalms 118: 16 "The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly." (speaking of us as the Lord's right hand? Maybe.)

Ecclesiastes 10:2 "A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left."

Matthew 25:33 "And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left."

Acts 2:33 "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (a promise we remember and renew each time we partake of the sacrament)

D&C 29:27 "And the righteous shall be gathered on my right hand unto eternal life; and the wicked on my left hand will I be ashamed to own before the Father;"

Exodus 15:6 "Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy." (We also have the power to crush the enemy of all righteousness as we are obedient and keep our covenants)

Also, Moses 7:56 , D&C 133:56 These are just a few. I realize which hand you take the sacrament with is ultimately a small thing, and perhaps irrelevant. Will you go to Hell if you use your left hand? Probably not. But I like to think it's part of remembering. How many times does it say "remember" in the scriptures? A lot. Count them sometime. I think maybe it's pretty important. So next time you partake of the bread and water, consider these verses and the promises that are given us, think about the place we are working to attain at our Father's right hand, joint heirs with Christ. Pretty meaningful, isn't it?