The History of the Sacrament | An Interview with Lee Van Dam

Lee Van Dam served as a missionary in Hong Kong and Singapore where
he taught the gospel in Cantonese, later returning as president of
the China Hong Kong mission. He has also served as a branch
president, bishop, high councilor, stake presidency counselor, and
assistant director of Church Hosting. He is currently an elders
quorum instructor. Lee has an MBA from the University of Utah and
worked first for Ford Motor Company, then in real estate
management, consulting, and sales, and was the owner and principal
broker of Van Dam & Associates. Lee and his wife Holly are the
parents of two daughters and seven grandchildren. He is the author
of four books. Highlights 01:45 Introduction to Lee Van Dam and his
new book, The Sacrament: A Historical View 03:15 Being called as a
Mission President 04:30 Books that Lee has written 11:00 Writing
his book on the sacrament. It’s about the historical evolution of
the sacrament. 11:45 The first sacrament passed was on April 6,
1830. The sacrament in the early days was passed on any day that
they could, not necessarily every Sunday. 13:00 What the scriptures
say about the sacrament and the changes that have been made 14:00
Changing the practice of everyone drinking from a goblet to
individual cups. This change came about in 1911. 21:30 There was
not a general handbook for the church till 1898. Lee explains the
evolution of the church’s handbook. 23:15 In the absence of a
handbook, the saints did things as they saw fit. They used to kneel
and sometimes hold their hands up during the sacrament prayers.
24:15 The changes that have been made to General Conference 25:50
Sunday school and the sacrament. From 1877-1980 the sacrament was
also served in Sunday school. 28:00 What are sacrament gems? 29:30
How Sunday meetings used to be and how the names of callings and
meetings have changed 31:30 Interesting places where the sacrament
has been administered 35:00 Do you have to wear a white shirt to
pass the sacrament or is it tradition? 38:50 The presiding
authority taking the sacrament first 46:00 Worthiness and the
sacrament 50:40 What covenants are renewed when taking the
sacrament? Just baptism covenants or all of them? 53:45 The history
of preparing, blessing, and passing the sacrament. It wasn’t always
clearly defined. 57:20 Will there be a sacrament meeting someday
where Jesus Christ presides? Links The Sacrament: A Historical View
Because it is on a Church-related subject, Lee is happy to provide
a free copy to anyone who wishes to have one, while supplies last.
Send your name and U.S. mailing address via the Leading Saints
contact form and we will forward it on to him. Read the TRANSCRIPT
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