The following is an exerpt from the Family Guildebook put out by the church. It is designed to help preisthood holders who are performing the sacrament ordinance in homes as authorized by the branch president. President Swapp has authorized the sacrament in all homes within the branch perfomed by an Aaronic Priesthood priest or a Melchezedek Priesthood holder residing in the home. For those without a priesthood holder in the home, ministering brethren are assigned to do the ordinance once a month while meetings are cancelled. As this is a sacred ordinance, please read the following carefully as instructions on how this is to be done.
The sacrament is a very sacred ordinance. Partaking of the sacrament provides opportunity to remember the life, teachings, and Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is a time to renew the covenants made with the Lord at the time of baptism (see Mosiah 18:8–10).
Teachers and priests may prepare the sacrament; priests may bless it; and deacons, teachers, and priests may pass it. Brethren who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood may prepare, bless, and pass the sacrament but normally will do so only when too few Aaronic Priesthood brethren are available. If a person has committed a serious transgression, he should not prepare, bless, or pass the sacrament until he has repented and resolved the matter with his bishop or branch president.
Those who prepare, bless, or pass the sacrament are administering this ordinance to others on behalf of the Lord. Each one who holds the priesthood should approach this assignment with a solemn, reverent attitude. He should be well groomed, clean, and dressed modestly. Personal appearance should reflect the sacredness of the ordinance.
Brethren who prepare the sacrament should do so before the meeting begins. They place unbroken bread in clean bread trays and place trays of sacrament cups containing fresh water on the sacrament table. They cover the bread and water with a clean, white cloth.
During the sacrament hymn, those at the sacrament table remove the cloth from the bread trays and break the bread into small pieces. After the hymn, the person who blesses the bread kneels and offers the sacrament prayer for the bread. Brethren then pass the bread to those present in a reverent and orderly manner. The presiding authority at the meeting receives the sacrament first. When everyone present has had an opportunity to partake of the bread, those passing it return their trays to the sacrament table. Those blessing the sacrament cover the trays again as soon as the bread has been passed.
Those at the sacrament table remove the cloth from the water trays. The person who blesses the water kneels and offers the sacrament prayer for the water. Brethren then pass the water to those present. The trays are returned to the sacrament table and are covered again. The brethren who bless and pass the sacrament then take their seats with the congregation.
The sacrament is for Church members, including children. The person conducting the meeting should not announce that it will be passed to members only; nothing should be done to prevent nonmembers from partaking of it.
The sacrament prayers are to be spoken clearly, accurately, and with dignity. If the person who blesses the sacrament makes an error in the wording and does not correct it himself, the bishop or branch president asks him to repeat the prayer and offer it correctly.
The prayer on the bread follows:
“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” ( D&C 20:77 and Moroni 4).
The prayer on the water follows:
“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this [water] 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” ( D&C 20:79 and Moroni 5).
The sacrament should be cleared from the table as soon as possible after the meeting. Any bread that remains may be used for food.
Blessing and passing the sacrament requires authorization from the presiding authority.