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Aaronic Priesthood Manual 1

The Sacrament

"Lesson 35: The Sacrament," Aaronic Priesthood Manual 1, 123

OBJECTIVE

Each young man will realize the blessings that can come to him as he partakes worthily of the sacrament.

PREPARATION

SUGGESTED LESSON DEVELOPMENT

We Make Serious Covenants with the Lord

Scripture, chalkboard, and discussion

Write the symbols-H2O, $, and a musical note-illustrated below on the chalkboard, and ask the young men for the meaning of each.

Have a young man read John 1:29. Explain that during Old Testament times, the firstborn lamb was offered as a sacrifice to the Lord. Point out that the lamb was symbolic of the Savior before his final sacrifice and that today the sacrament symbolizes and helps us remember his sacrifice for us.

Have the young men read the sacrament prayers from Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79.

Ask the young men to look at the sacrament prayers and find the promises we make as we partake of the sacrament. As they find those promises, list them on the chalkboard as follows:

We promise Heavenly Father:

Discussion

When a child is born or adopted, he is given the family name. He should try to live up to and bring honor to that name.

Emphasize that remembering Jesus is more than simply remembering that he lived and that he atoned for our sins. Perhaps the most important way to remember him is to always obey his teachings and commandments.

Quotations

Have a young man read the following statement:

"Each time we partake of these emblems, we manifest before the Father that we do remember his Son; and by the act of partaking of the bread and the water, we make a solemn covenant that we do take upon us the name of our Redeemer, and that we do, further, make a pledge and an agreement by that act that we will keep his commandments" (Melvin J. Ballard, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard, compiled by Bryant S. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1949], p. 147).

Explain that in speaking of the covenants we make when we partake of the sacrament, President David O. McKay stated: "Who can measure the responsibility of such a covenant? How far reaching! How comprehensive! It excludes from man's life profanity, vulgarity, idleness, jealousy, drunkenness, dishonesty, hatred, selfishness, and every form of vice. It obligates him ... to industry, to kindness, to the performance of every duty in church and state. He binds himself to respect his fellowmen, to honor the Priesthood, to pay his tithes and offerings and to consecrate his life to the service of humanity" (Millennial Star, Dec. 1923, p. 778).

Emphasize again that as we keep our covenants, the Savior blesses us with his Spirit and helps us make right decisions.

Explain that without the refining influence of the Holy Ghost, we would not be able to return to Heavenly Father's presence.

Partaking of the Sacrament Should Be a Meaningful Experience

Thought questions

Ask the young men to remember the last sacrament service they attended as you read the following thought questions:

Discussion and handout

Emphasize that we can all prepare for the sacrament each week by sincerely repenting of our sins and by asking forgiveness from those we have hurt.

Give each young man a copy of the handout containing suggestions on how to make the sacrament more meaningful. Suggest that they place the handout where they can read and ponder the suggestions during the week. Read through the items with the class.

Readings

Ask the two assigned young men to read the following testimonies of young people about the sacrament.

First Testimony

"When I'm reverent and think about Christ during the sacrament, I think of how Jesus suffered for all of us and how much he loves us. When I'm not reverent during the sacrament, I don't realize what I'm saying 'Amen' to. I just take the sacrament because it's routine and not because I understand what it really stands for. I don't really have any kind of feeling when I forget or don't care what the sacrament stands for. I get a good feeling when I think about Christ-that we all have an older brother who loves us and will help us at all times if we ask. It means a lot to me that he was willing to die for us."

Second Testimony

"In the past, I didn't realize what covenant I was taking when I said 'Amen' to the sacrament prayer. I really didn't know what was going on. I was more interested in what my friends were talking about than what was said in the prayer. Last Sunday I really listened to the sacrament prayer and it said, 'to take upon them the name of thy Son.' I realized the bread and the water were to help us remember Christ. I sat and thought of what Christ had done for me. I'm going to try harder in the future to keep my covenant with Christ."

The Sacrament Is a Source of Spiritual Growth

Quotation

"We do things for which we are sorry and desire to be forgiven, or we have erred against someone and given injury. If there is a feeling in our hearts that we are sorry for what we have done, if there is a feeling in our souls that we would like to be forgiven, then the method to obtain forgiveness is not through rebaptism; it is not to make confession to man, but it is to repent of our sins, to go to those against whom we have sinned or transgressed and obtain their forgiveness and then [go] to the sacrament table where, if we have sincerely repented and put ourselves in proper condition, we shall be forgiven, and spiritual healing will come to our souls. It will really enter into our being" (Melvin J. Ballard, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard, compiled by Bryant S. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1949], p. 149).

Case studies

Ask the young men how the individuals in the following situations could seek forgiveness and be prepared to partake of the sacrament.

Explain that situations like these should be cleared up so that those involved can partake of the sacrament worthily. Emphasize that as they partake of the sacrament, they are making a covenant to overcome their weaknesses and obey all the Lord's commandments.

Conclusion

Hymn

If appropriate, have the young men sing a sacrament hymn. Or you might have a young man read aloud the words of a sacrament hymn. Ask the young men to pay particular attention to the meaning of the words.

Testimony

Conclude by sharing your feelings about the sacrament.

Making the Sacrament More Meaningful

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« Previous Chapter: Lesson 34: Obedience

Next Chapter: Lesson 36: Testimony »

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