Primary 4 Lesson 36: Jesus Christ Gives the Sacrament to the Nephites

LESSON 36 JESUS CHRIST GIVES THE SACRAMENT TO THE NEPHITES

CLASSROOM PREP

Write on board --> "Always Remember Him"

OPENING ACTIVITY

Pepper and soap object lesson

Sprinkle pepper in a bowl of water

Add a drop of hand soap and watch the pepper scatter!

--> how is this like sin? how is this like the sacrament?

READ "DIANE" EXCERPT (below)

LESSON (below)

READ JOHN BYTHEWAY BOOK "The Sacrament"

WRITE UP ON THE BOARD:

S A C R A M E N T and everyone come up with words for each letter

(sacred / atonement / covenants christ / repentance / mercy / eternal / necessary name / testimony)

MEMORIZE THE PRAYERS (in Moroni 4 and 5)

VISIT THE SACRAMENT AREA

HAND OUT A BAR OF SOAP

--> reminds them to stay pure and clean throughout the week so they can repel sin and be worthy of the Sacrament each Sunday!

DIANE STORY

When Diane was a new convert, she attended a branch outside of Johannesburg. One Sunday, as she sat in the congregation, the layout of the chapel made it so that the deacon did not see her as the sacrament was passed. Diane was disappointed but said nothing. Another member noted the omission and mentioned it to the branch president after the meeting. As Sunday School began, Diane was invited to an empty classroom.

“A priesthood holder came in. He knelt down, blessed some bread, and handed her a piece. She ate it. He knelt down again and blessed some water and handed her a small cup. She drank it. Thereafter, Diane had two thoughts in rapid succession: First, ‘Oh, he [the priesthood holder] did this just for me.’ And then, ‘Oh, He [the Savior] did this just for me.’ Diane felt Heavenly Father’s love.

LESSON

When Jesus was on the earth, he first instituted the sacrament in Jerusalem during what was known as the last supper.

When Jesus visited the Nephites he instituted the sacrament at the conclusion of his first day among them.

He commanded his disciples to bring forth some bread and wine.

(In latter days we do not use wine as part of the sacrament for many reasons. The Lord declared “that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the Sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory-remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins.” D&C 27:2)

Everyone read 3 Nephi 18:1-14 and pick three verses (write down reference on index card) that they feel stood out to them.

Followup Questions:

• Why is it important for us to always remember Jesus? When we remember Jesus, we remember the things he did for us. We remember his love for us, and we remember the things he taught. When we remember those things, our faith and love for Jesus grows and our desire to keep his commandments increases.
• How can we remember the Savior during the week so that we can have his Spirit to be with us? We can remember to express our gratitude for Jesus in our prayers. We can read the scriptures daily to learn of His life, ministry, and teachings. We can strive to live what he has taught and keep his commandments.

• According to 3 Nephi 18:7, what were the Nephites to remember as they partook of the bread?

Give students time to look back at 3 Nephi 11:14–15. Then ask the following questions:

• Though you have not seen the wounds in the Savior’s body as the Nephites did, why is it still important for you to partake of the sacramental bread “in remembrance of the body” of the Savior? (D&C 20:77).
• What can you do to always remember the Savior?

• What are some aspects of the Savior’s life and ministry that we might remember during the ordinance of the sacrament? (Answers might include His death and atoning sacrifice, His humble birth, His miracles and teachings, His loving care toward others, and His submissiveness to Heavenly Father.)
• Although partaking of the sacrament takes a small amount of time, the effects of preparing for and participating in this ordinance are eternal. What can we do to always remember the Savior after we have partaken of the sacrament and during the rest of the week?
• How might the sincerity and attention we give to partaking of the sacrament help us remember the Savior during the week?
• According to 3 Nephi 18:7, 11, what did the Savior promise those who partake of the sacrament and remember Him? (As we partake of the sacrament and always remember the Savior, we will have His Spirit to be with us.)

Ask a student to read 3 Nephi 18:12–14 aloud, and then ask another student to read Helaman 5:12 aloud.

Invite the rest of the students to follow along, pondering connections between the two scripture passages.

• How can regularly partaking of the sacrament help you make Jesus Christ the foundation upon which you build your life?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described several appropriate ways to remember the Lord while renewing our covenants through the sacrament:

“We could remember the Savior’s premortal life and all that we know Him to have done.

“We could remember the simple grandeur of His mortal birth to just a young woman.

“We could remember Christ’s miracles and His teachings, His healings and His help.

“… We could remember that Jesus found special joy and happiness in children and said all of us should be more like them.

“We could remember that Christ called His disciples friends.

“We could—and should—remember the wonderful things that have come to us in our lives and that ‘all things which are good cometh of Christ’ (Moroni 7:24).

“On some days we will have cause to remember the unkind treatment He received, the rejection He experienced, and the injustice … He endured.

“… We can remember that Jesus had to descend below all things before He could ascend above them, and that He suffered pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind that He might be filled with mercy and know how to succor His people in their infirmities”