“Should a nonmember take the sacrament when attending church with a member?”

Answer/Elder Loren C. Dunn

One of the best opportunities for acquainting nonmembers with the spirit and teachings of the gospel is in our church meetings. As part of the nonmember friendshiping responsibility each of us has, we should invite our friends and acquaintances to go with us to Sunday School and sacrament meeting as well as the appropriate auxiliary meetings. However, if the sacrament is to be passed, we should explain to the nonmember in advance that the sacrament is for members to renew the covenant of baptism that they made when they joined the Church. Since the nonmember has not yet been baptized, there is no need for him to take the sacrament. One could explain also that quite often we have nonmembers in our meetings, and of course, they don’t take the sacrament either, so it is neither unusual nor embarrassing for someone not to take the sacrament.

“And again I say unto you, ye shall not cast any out of your sacrament meetings who are earnestly seeking the kingdom—I speak this concerning those who are not of the church.” (D&C 46:5.)