Mormons, what do you think actually happens at your "Communion"?

[SirThomasMore]

No, it’s more like you getting caught in your own argument by claiming that unleavened bread is part of Jesus’ explicit instructions, when members of your own Church do not follow these explicit instructions by using leavened bread.

So, if MelanieAnne is correct by stating that unleavened bread was used at the Last Supper, then Eastern Catholics are using something other than what Jesus used. Your argument about Mormons using something other than what Jesus used can therefore apply to members of your own Church.

Keep deflecting from the LDS Church refusing to follow what Christ taught on this

 

[RebeccaJ]

(Edited)

So, if MelanieAnne is correct by stating that unleavened bread was used at the Last Supper, then Eastern Catholics are using something other than what Jesus used. Your argument about Mormons using something other than what Jesus used can therefore apply to members of your own Church.

Both east and west prepare the bread used at communion in the same manner that bread is prepared for the Passover, that is, that it has a religious importance and is so prepared with what it is being used for as a consideration. Always. LDS have no ideas for this sort of thing, anywhere, which is not a criticism, just, stating that there can be a lack of understanding of the importance in preparing the bread used for communion.

Unleavened is what was used at the Passover and that is why the Latin church uses the same today. Unleavened bread is used at Passover to represent the haste that the Hebrews had to pick up and leave Egypt, when Moses lead them out of slavery. In the Latin liturgy, it represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The Orthodox and Eastern Catholics use leavened bread to represent the Resurrected Christ. I can see the validity and reasoning behind both practices.

However, I know of no reasoning behind the LDS use of store bought, white bread. (I’ve never seen wheat bread used.) Why the bread that has no special significance as to what it is being used for?

 

[MelanieAnne]

The topic is “what Mormons believe is happening at their communion”. There is another thread that address the “water” that Mormons use in place of the wine that is used at a Catholic Eucharist. So this thread should be about what Mormons believe about the bread/The Precious Body of Our Lord.

Can we get back to that? Has the question been asked and answered? And if so, can we close this thread? Because this is a subject that is too holy to be subjected to idle speculation.

 

[SteveVH]

In re-reading my original post, I think I should have chosen my words more carefully. I really didn’t want this to become a discussion on the elements used for communion; there is another related thread that focuses on that subject.

As I said, communion to a Catholic means entering into a relationship, an intimate relationship with Christ. We believe that he is truly present, that he gives his life to us in the Eucharist and that we should have the diposition, when receiving, to do the same in return. It is a wedding, of sorts, a mutual self-giving of one to the other. When we receive the Eucharist we do not just remember what Christ did for us. His sacrifice is made present. We are there at the last supper. We are there standing under the cross as his blood is poured out for us.

So what I really want to know is what runs through the mind of a Mormon when partaking of the “sacrament”. What do you believe is really happening? Is it just a time to reflect or is something more going on?

 

[Caprica]

In re-reading my original post, I think I should have chosen my words more carefully. I really didn’t want this to become a discussion on the elements used for communion; there is another related thread that focuses on that subject.

As I said, communion to a Catholic means entering into a relationship, an intimate relationship with Christ. We believe that he is truly present, that he gives his life to us in the Eucharist and that we should have the diposition, when receiving, to do the same in return. It is a wedding, of sorts, a mutual self-giving of one to the other. When we receive the Eucharist we do not just remember what Christ did for us. His sacrifice is made present. We are there at the last supper. We are there standing under the cross as his blood is poured out for us.

So what I really want to know is what runs through the mind of a Mormon when partaking of the “sacrament”. What do you believe is really happening? Is it just a time to reflect or is something more going on?

Steve,

Your question was answered in these posts:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=6322372&postcount=16
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=6763073&postcount=5

Like all of our ordinances, Latter-day Saints believe that we enter into a covenant with the Father and Jesus Christ through the Sacrament. In the Sacrament, we remember the Atonement of our Savior, the effects of which we believe are infinite and transcend space and time. We also renew our baptismal covenants. and recommit ourselves to God. We pray that we are filled with the Spirit during Sacrament Meeting. We must offer a broken heart and contrite spirit when partaking of the Sacrament. We believe that one must examine themselves and know that they are worthy to partake of the Sacrament.

The Sacrament prayers also provide additional insight into what we believe and pray:

D&C 20:77-79

77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
78 The manner of administering the wine—he shall take the cup also, and say:
79 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

I hope that that answers your question.

 

[SteveVH]

SteveVH,
I hope you are doing well, as it’s been a while since I responded to a question of yours.

I personally don’t associate John 6 with the Last Supper or communion, but certainly with the atonement which Christ was testifying He was going to complete as the primary part of His mission on earth, as He taught in John 6. It would seem that if He were announcing the beginning of the communion ordinance at that time, He would indeed have begun having communion weekly with His disciples or at least with the apostles–yet did not until the Last Supper.

Well, as you might expect, I would disagree with your assessment of John 6 not being associated with the last supper or communion. In fact, with all due respect, I’m more than amazed that you would think such a thing.

In the bread of life discourse in John 6 he speaks very explicitly about eating is flesh and drinking his blood. This is what caused his disciples to leave him. John 6:51 reads "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world’. He was speaking in the future tense which would be instituted at the last supper and accomplished on the cross. How could he have “begun having communion weekly with His disciples or at least with the apostles” when it had not yet been accomplished?

The Savior was associating His atoning sacrifice, including the shedding of His precious blood, with the law of sacrifice given in ancient times and practiced by Abraham, by the Levite priests, and by many prophets. So the symbol of blood being shed was very familiar to the Jews, as was the symbol of manna (of course), and by tightly relating the two symbols together in John 6, He was announcing to the Jews that He was indeed their promised Messiah who would fulfill the law of sacrifice and would be their source for eternal life through His precious blood being shed and His laying down His life and His body to raise it up again–just as He will raise up all humankind who come unto Him, and also raise up every person in that all will be resurrected.

His sacrifice was certainly associated with the attempted sacrifice of Issac by Abraham. Remember Abraham said “God himself will provide the lamb”. Guess who? Jesus is the Lamb of God. What you did not mention was the Passover. Jesus is the Passover Lamb. As I said in another thread concerning the use of water instead of wine, the Jews had to follow, very explicitly, a strict regimen at Passover. They had to choose an unblemished lamb, kill it, sprinkle its blood on the door post with a Hysop branch and then EAT the lamb. The last supper was the Passover seder meal, except this time Jesus is the Passover Lamb and they were to eat his flesh and drink his blood. During the first Passover, if one of the children in the house did not particularly care for lamb and instead asked mom if she could just bake some lamb shaped cookies instead, they would have woken up the next morning to find the first born of the family dead. No, they had to eat the lamb; the real lamb. That is why the Eucharist cannot be symbolic. Jesus is the Lamb and we must eat him if we are to have life. But Jesus was a priest in the order of Melchizedek who used bread and wine and so we have the Eucharist.

To “eat His flesh” and to “drink His blood” would mean to me to enter into a one-to-one, deeply intimate relationship with Him so that He can “raise us up” in both the sense of His helping us become like Him and our gaining a perfect body in the resurrection. It means we really do need to “internalize” our relationship with Him so that we feel Him with us always, raising us up and helping us become a “new person” and a better person, day by day.

So I’m not quite sure what you’re saying here. To eat his flesh and drink his blood means that we need to “internalize” our relationship with him so that we feel Him with us always? Well, I would just say that the Eucharist, in Catholic teaching, is much more than a matter of feelings. It is a true relationship, not something dependent upon our ability to internalize.

Parker, I appreciate your answering my question. I do think I have a better understanding of where you’re coming from.

God bless.

 

[SteveVH]

We too think that it is a very sacred and important event–much more so than the Protestants do for example. We just don’t think that the emblems are transformed literally into the flesh and blood of Christ.

As to what actually happens during (or as a result of ) the partaking of the Sacrament, that is spelled out in the prayer that is pronounced during the blessing of the Sacrament. We are forgiven of our sins when we partake of the Sacrament worthily, and we qualify to alway have His Spirit to be with us. That is the greatest gift. I don’t know of any greater gift in mortality. It is a spiritual feast, when we partake of His Spirit; and not a physical feast, by putting something into our tummies.

Zerinus, thanks for your comments. I would agree that it apparently means more to you than many Protestants. Your implication, however, that we believe it is just something that we put “into our tummies” is not helpful, as I am sure you know better.

"For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink" (John 6:55)

 

[SteveVH]

Steve,

Your question was answered in these posts:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=6322372&postcount=16
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=6763073&postcount=5

Like all of our ordinances, Latter-day Saints believe that we enter into a covenant with the Father and Jesus Christ through the Sacrament. In the Sacrament, we remember the Atonement of our Savior, the effects of which we believe are infinite and transcend space and time. We also renew our baptismal covenants. and recommit ourselves to God. We pray that we are filled with the Spirit during Sacrament Meeting. We must offer a broken heart and contrite spirit when partaking of the Sacrament. We believe that one must examine themselves and know that they are worthy to partake of the Sacrament.

The Sacrament prayers also provide additional insight into what we believe and pray:

D&C 20:77-79

77 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
78 The manner of administering the wine—he shall take the cup also, and say:
79 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

I hope that that answers your question.

Thanks for this, but you have brought up an addition question. You use the word “ordinance” and then “sacrament” when referring to your communion. So that we are all on the same page would you mind defining these terms.

Thanks.

 

[MelanieAnne]

Zerinus, thanks for your comments. I would agree that it apparently means more to you than many Protestants. Your implication, however, that we believe it is just something that we put “into our tummies” is not helpful, as I am sure you know better.

"For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink" (John 6:55)

This thread was meant to explore what Mormons thought of their Sacrament.

It has changed to a discussion of the Holy Eucharist and sometimes that discussion has been rather repugnant.

I submit AGAIN that we should return to the original topic. Otherwise, I appeal to the moderators to close this thread. Not because I cannot support my belief, but because this is a topic that involves things too holy to be bandied about as some sort of idle talk, some sort of “cocktail” discussion, even if it IS with Mormons and supposedly about what THEY believe.

Despite the opening topic, the topic has changed and it’s started to sound like a referendum of the Latin Rite Eucharist. And the posts sound too close to disrespect for the Precious Body and the Precious Blood and quite frankly it makes me sick. This needs to stop.

Criticize me all you want. Send me nasty emails if it suits you. But leave my Lord alone.

 

[SteveVH]

The topic is “what Mormons believe is happening at their communion”. There is another thread that address the “water” that Mormons use in place of the wine that is used at a Catholic Eucharist. So this thread should be about what Mormons believe about the bread/The Precious Body of Our Lord.

Can we get back to that? Has the question been asked and answered? And if so, can we close this thread? Because this is a subject that is too holy to be subjected to idle speculation.

Thank you. That is exactly the purpose of this thread. I think I brought a lot of this on myself in the way I worded the OP.

 

[Caprica]

Thanks for this, but you have brought up an addition question. You use the word “ordinance” and then “sacrament” when referring to your communion. So that we are all on the same page would you mind defining these terms.

Thanks.

No problem. “Ordinances” are specific rituals, empowered by God through the Atonement, performed with priesthood authority, that enter us into covenants with God. One specific ordinance is called “Sacrament”, which is what other churches call the Eucharist, Lord’s Supper, Communion, etc. Other ordinances include Baptism, Confirmation, Endowment, Sealing, etc.

Here is a definition from the Church:

"In the Church, an ordinance is a sacred, formal act performed by the authority of the priesthood. Some ordinances are essential to our exaltation. These ordinances are called saving ordinances. They include baptism, confirmation, ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood (for men), the temple endowment, and the marriage sealing. With each of these ordinances, we enter into solemn covenants with the Lord.

Other ordinances, such as naming and blessing children, consecrating oil, and administering to the sick and afflicted, are also performed by priesthood authority. While they are not essential to our salvation, they are important for our comfort, guidance, and encouragement.

Ordinances and covenants help us remember who we are. They remind us of our duty to God. The Lord has provided them to help us come unto Him and receive eternal life. When we honor them, He strengthens us spiritually.
"
[ his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people" (Mosiah 3:7). He suffered for the sins, sorrows, and pains of all people, providing remission of sins for those who repent and live the gospel (see 2 Nephi 9:21–23). Through the shedding of His blood, Jesus Christ saved all people from what the scriptures call the “original guilt” of Adam’s transgression (Moses 6:54).

Partaking of the sacrament is a witness to God that the remembrance of His Son will extend beyond the short time of that sacred ordinance. Part of this ordinance is a promise to remember Him always and a witness of individual willingness to take upon oneself the name of Jesus Christ and to keep His commandments. In partaking of the sacrament and making these commitments, Church members renew the covenant they made at baptism (see Mosiah 18:8–10; D&C 20:37).

In return, the Lord renews the promised remission of sin and enables Church members to “always have his Spirit to be with them” (D&C 20:77). The Spirit’s constant companionship is one of the greatest gifts of mortality.

In preparation for the sacrament each week, Church members take time to examine their lives and repent of sins. They do not need to be perfect in order to partake of the sacrament, but they should have a spirit of humility and repentance in their hearts. Every week they strive to prepare for that sacred ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (see 3 Nephi 9:20). 4d82620aRCRD](http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.j...0a____&vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM100000)

lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?index=19&locale=0&sourceId=ca18f73c28d98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

I hope that this fully answers your question as to what we believe happens during our Sacrament.

 

[MelanieAnne]

No problem. “Ordinances” are specific rituals, empowered by God through the Atonement, performed with priesthood authority, that enter us into covenants with God. One specific ordinance is called “Sacrament”, which is what other churches call the Eucharist, Lord’s Supper, Communion, etc. Other ordinances include Baptism, Confirmation, Endowment, Sealing, etc.

Here is a definition from the Church:

"In the Church, an ordinance is a sacred, formal act performed by the authority of the priesthood. Some ordinances are essential to our exaltation. These ordinances are called saving ordinances. They include baptism, confirmation, ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood (for men), the temple endowment, and the marriage sealing. With each of these ordinances, we enter into solemn covenants with the Lord.

Other ordinances, such as naming and blessing children, consecrating oil, and administering to the sick and afflicted, are also performed by priesthood authority. While they are not essential to our salvation, they are important for our comfort, guidance, and encouragement.

Ordinances and covenants help us remember who we are. They remind us of our duty to God. The Lord has provided them to help us come unto Him and receive eternal life. When we honor them, He strengthens us spiritually.
"
lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=13bb9daac5d98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

That might be interesting and pertinent if any Mormon actually held valid Priesthood authority.

But no Mormon does.

 

[Caprica]

That might be interesting and pertinent if any Mormon actually held valid Priesthood authority.

But no Mormon does.

This after you said to get back to the OP.

 

[Michael_Francis]

*12 posts have been deleted and some edited to remove off topic and uncharitable posts.

Please get back on topic an remain there or expect the thread to be closed and further mod intervention.
Very sincerely,*

 

[SteveVH]

This thread was meant to explore what Mormons thought of their Sacrament.

It has changed to a discussion of the Holy Eucharist and sometimes that discussion has been rather repugnant.

I submit AGAIN that we should return to the original topic. Otherwise, I appeal to the moderators to close this thread. Not because I cannot support my belief, but because this is a topic that involves things too holy to be bandied about as some sort of idle talk, some sort of “cocktail” discussion, even if it IS with Mormons and supposedly about what THEY believe.

Despite the opening topic, the topic has changed and it’s started to sound like a referendum of the Latin Rite Eucharist. And the posts sound too close to disrespect for the Precious Body and the Precious Blood and quite frankly it makes me sick. This needs to stop.

Criticize me all you want. Send me nasty emails if it suits you. But leave my Lord alone.

You know Melanie, I have never had an interaction with you but have always had the highest degree of respect for your posts. I agree this involves holy things, in fact there is nothing more holy. It is why it is such an important question. However, it was not my intention, nor do I believe I am in any way demeaning the Holy Eucharist in explaining the Catholic position to the best of my ability in light of the answers received by LDS posters. Otherwise there would be no discussion, which is the purpose of a forum. If I have misunderstood you, I apologize, but trust me, you do not love the Eucharist more than I and I take offense at the implication.

 

[zerinus]

"For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink" (John 6:55)

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63.)

 

[RebeccaJ]

That scripture is speaking about your flesh, not the flesh of Jesus Christ. To use it in this way as zerinus has done is only a method of explaining away what Christ has done for us.

That being said, I agree with Melanie. Mormons discussing the Eucharist is putting pearls before swine.

 

[zerinus]

Thanks for this, but you have brought up an addition question. You use the word “ordinance” and then “sacrament” when referring to your communion. So that we are all on the same page would you mind defining these terms.

Thanks.

Mormon theological terms are somewhat different from Catholic ones. What you normally call a “sacrament” (as in the “seven sacraments”) we call an “ordinance,” and what you call “Eucharist,” "Mass, “Communion,” we call “the Sacrament”.

 

[ParkerD]

Well, as you might expect, I would disagree with your assessment of John 6 not being associated with the last supper or communion. In fact, with all due respect, I’m more than amazed that you would think such a thing.

In the bread of life discourse in John 6 he speaks very explicitly about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. This is what caused his disciples to leave him. John 6:51 reads "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world’. He was speaking in the future tense which would be instituted at the last supper and accomplished on the cross. How could he have “begun having communion weekly with His disciples or at least with the apostles” when it had not yet been accomplished?

His sacrifice was certainly associated with the attempted sacrifice of Issac by Abraham. Remember Abraham said “God himself will provide the lamb”. Guess who? Jesus is the Lamb of God. What you did not mention was the Passover. Jesus is the Passover Lamb. As I said in another thread concerning the use of water instead of wine, the Jews had to follow, very explicitly, a strict regimen at Passover. They had to choose an unblemished lamb, kill it, sprinkle its blood on the door post with a Hysop branch and then EAT the lamb. The last supper was the Passover seder meal, except this time Jesus is the Passover Lamb and they were to eat his flesh and drink his blood. During the first Passover, if one of the children in the house did not particularly care for lamb and instead asked mom if she could just bake some lamb shaped cookies instead, they would have woken up the next morning to find the first born of the family dead. No, they had to eat the lamb; the real lamb. That is why the Eucharist cannot be symbolic. Jesus is the Lamb and we must eat him if we are to have life. But Jesus was a priest in the order of Melchizedek who used bread and wine and so we have the Eucharist.

So I’m not quite sure what you’re saying here. To eat his flesh and drink his blood means that we need to “internalize” our relationship with him so that we feel Him with us always? Well, I would just say that the Eucharist, in Catholic teaching, is much more than a matter of feelings. It is a true relationship, not something dependent upon our ability to internalize.

Parker, I appreciate your answering my question. I do think I have a better understanding of where you’re coming from.

God bless.

SteveVH,
I realize this discussion needs to stay on topic about LDS beliefs about communion, so I hope as I respond to your post those reading will understand that I am trying to explain the LDS beliefs and the basis of those beliefs, while stating also that the LDS do certainly believe the words taught by the Savior in John 6, and believe that it is important to remember the Passover.

Here are several more verses from John 6 where the Savior established the context for His remarks by contrasting “manna” (given by God) to His being the “bread of life”.

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

(Clearly, those listeners asking for a sign wanted bread to eat, since He had already given them bread to eat. They wanted more bread.)

 

[ParkerD]

Continuation to SteveVH:

John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

The words “never thirst” surely remind a reader familiar with the book of John of the words of the Savior to the Samaritan woman at the well, when He said:

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

Again we see a situation where the person being taught thinks the Savior has talked about physical water that quenches bodily thirst, yet she learns that the Savior was talking about “spiritual water” ; after He tells her He knows her background and she realizes that He is saying He is the promised Messiah–the Christ who was promised to “tell us all things” (John 4:25)–she believes in His “spiritual water” which has to do with His life-giving teachings and His being the very Messiah promised by the scriptures.

When I read John 4 and John 6, I think also of Isaiah 55 (which leads naturally to thinking about Isaiah 53 also). In Isaiah 55:1-3 we read:

1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

The “living water” reminds me also of Isaiah 58:11–

11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

So when I wrote about seeking an intimate personal relationship with the Savior, and acknowledging that He provides the “sure mercies of David” through His atoning sacrifice, then I don’t think that should be viewed as a casual belief–I think the Savior promised that kind of relationship, and have seen and felt that kind of relationship personally and among others.

The LDS communion focuses on the Savior and having an intimate personal relationship with Him, a life-giving and life-renewing relationship in community with others around us also. He taught these truths repeatedly, as did Isaiah. Communion, begun as you noted at the Last Supper, is a weekly celebration of the promises given by Him through a covenant relationship that is continuous and central to our lives.

From that standpoint, John 6 does show that kind of promised relationship, promised life-giving teachings, and the promises of eternal life through Him. But John 6 is not strictly describing only communion since it parallels John 4 and Isaiah 55 in the use of the words “hunger” and “thirst”. (Compare also with Matthew 5:6 for another example of “hunger” and “thirst” and the promise of the Savior to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.)

Peace to all.