Latter-day Saints can always have the Spirit of the Lord to guide them if they obey the commandment to participate weekly and appropriately in the ordinance of the sacrament, Elder Dallin H. Oaks reminded listeners in the Saturday morning session of general conference.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church," said Elder Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve. "It is the only Sabbath meeting the entire family can attend together. Its content in addition to the sacrament should always be planned and presented to focus our attention on the atonement and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Elder Oaks emphasized that Latter-day Saints should prepare themselves to receive the sacrament by coming to the meeting with "a broken heart and a contrite spirit."

"How we dress is an important indicator of our attitude and preparation for any activity in which we engage," Elder Oaks observed, adding, "The same should be true of how we dress when we are to participate in the ordinance of the sacrament. It is like going to the temple. Our manner of dress indicates the degree to which we understand and honor the ordinance in which we will participate."

During the meeting and especially during the sacrament service, one should concentrate on worship and refrain from all other activities, "especially from behavior that could interfere with the worship of others," Elder Oaks said. "Sacrament meeting is not a time for reading books or magazines. Young people, it is not a time for whispered conversations on cell phones or for texting persons at other locations. When we partake of the sacrament we make a sacred covenant that we will always remember the Savior. How sad to see persons obviously violating that covenant in the very meeting where they are making it."

Regarding the music of sacrament meeting, Elder Oaks remarked, "How wonderful when every person in attendance joins in the worship of singing — especially in the hymn that helps us prepare to partake of the sacrament. All sacrament meeting music requires careful planning, always remembering that this music is for worship, not for performance."

Speaking particularly to priesthood holders who officiate in the sacrament, Elder Oaks said the ordinance should always be performed with reverence and dignity. Those who perform it should be well-groomed and modestly dressed, with nothing in their appearance or actions that would call special attention to themselves, he said.

Because the sacrament is administered only when authorized by one holding priesthood keys, it is "not generally served in the home or at family reunions, even where there are sufficient priesthood holders available," he said.

Concluding, Elder Oaks said one can have the Spirit of the Lord by qualifying for the cleansing power of the Atonement and by keeping the commandment to come to Christ with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and by partaking of the sacrament.