I can be filled with the Spirit as I take the sacrament.
When we do something often, it can become routine or casual. We sometimes end up doing it without even thinking. How can you keep this from happening with the weekly ordinance of the sacrament?
Start out with with asking the youth how good they are at tying their shoes. If you'd like you can have a race between two youth to see who can tie their shoe fastest. If you are teaching girls be sure to bring shoes.
Then ask:
There are no wrong answers! Your youth won't feel safe to share if you are looking for them to say a certain answers. But, challenge them to think, don't settle for one word answers.
Also, you don't have to write things on the board, you can just have a discussion, but this gives you an idea of what might be talked about.
Those are some common answers I can think of. I asked the youth in my home and boy I got a lot of not so common answers(: "I look at my shoes when I take the sacrament." (Wow, ok)
But, this was my favorite: "Two laces tied together, like we are constantly tied to God and our covenants." Ya, that's impressive. But don't expect that, especially if you are teaching 12 year olds(:
Revisit this question:
How can you keep this (routine or casual) from happening with the weekly ordinance of the sacrament?
This is where I would watch the movie, “Jesus Christ Introduces the Sacrament” (Just below). For those early Americans it was a very special thing to take the sacrament. Could you imagine, Jesus Christ leaving you after spending days with you, loving and teaching? This was their way of being tied...or connected to Him, through the covenant of the sacrament. It meant the world to them. Does it mean as much to us now?
This gift tag is available in your purchase of the lesson bundle, but some like to purchase it separately.
This is so fun, I've done it with my youth, if you click on the image it won't take you to Etsy right away, it will give you an explanation of how to play this game.
As you read 3 Nephi 18:1–12, ponder how you can be spiritually “filled” each time you take the sacrament. (see also 3 Nephi 20:1–9). According to verses 5–7, 11, what are some things you should “always” do?
Scripture match up. Set up your board like this:
The youth will match up the pictures to the numbers, the numbers are the verses 1-12. Hand the pictures to your youth and let them figure it out. The pictures are in my store.
When the youth are done, the board should look like this:
Study these scriptures so you can talk about them with the youth, anything that stands out, or you feel like your youth need you to focus on.
Then refer back to the square and circle scriptures. You might ask these questions:
You can split your class into three groups and pass these questions to them, or you can do it together as a class.
You might also ponder why Jesus gave us the ordinance of the sacrament—and whether the sacrament is accomplishing His purposes in your life. Why is the sacrament sacred to you?
In his message “Always Remember Him” (Ensign or Liahona, Feb. 2018, 4–6), President Henry B. Eyring gave “three suggestions about what you could remember each week when you partake of the sacred emblems of the sacrament.” What stands out to you about his suggestions? What can you do to improve your worship during the sacrament and throughout the week?
What else can you do to worship more meaningfully? You could ask yourself questions like these: “How is the Savior’s sacrifice influencing my daily life?” “What am I doing well as His disciple, and what can I improve?”
If you can study the entire message from Elder Eyring, you should. If you don't have time, pass these sheets out and take turns reading it as a class. Tell your youth to take pictures of it (save it on their phones). Challenge them to read over it before they take the sacrament next Sunday, and see if they feel the difference in their sacrament worship.
See also Matthew 26:26–28; Jeffrey R. Holland, “Behold the Lamb of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 44–46; “As Now We Take the Sacrament,” Hymns, no. 169; “Jesus Christ Introduces the Sacrament” (video), Gospel Library; Gospel Topics, “Sacrament,” Gospel Library.
After Conference I added this to this video. So beautiful, especially if you are teaching the Young Woman.
I can “hold up” the light of Jesus Christ.
Suppose you had a friend who knew nothing about Jesus Christ except that you are one of His followers. What would your friend conclude about Him, based on your actions? What does it mean to you to “hold up your light that it may shine unto the world”? (3 Nephi 18:24). What other invitations did the Savior give in 3 Nephi 18:22–25 that help you hold up that light?
See also Bonnie H. Cordon, “That They May See,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 78–80.
The youth might recognize that this looks similar to the "Disciple of Christ" image that the church has put out for the 2024 theme. Ask your youth why they think the church the youth theme is "I am a Disciple of Christ." instead of "I am a Child of God"? I love the feed back and their answers, and I bet you will too.
A Disciple is so much more. We make the choice to be a disciple of Christ or not, by what we hold up.
Disciples of Jesus Christ seek the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Think about your recent prayers. What do your prayers teach you about your deepest desires? After spending a day in the presence of the Savior, the multitude “did pray for that which they most desired”—the gift of the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 19:9). Why is the gift of the Holy Ghost so desirable? As you read these passages, ponder your own desire for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. How can you earnestly seek for that companionship?
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