Purpose
Help children make the sacrament more personally meaningful.
Activity Suggestion
With the bishop’s permission, invite members of the priests quorum to reverently show the children how the sacrament is prepared. Have them show the children how they respectfully care for the linens, cups, and trays. Let the children respectfully touch the trays, the cups, the container for the water, and so on. Show them the sacrament table and where the priests kneel. Have the priests share how they feel when they administer the sacrament. Read the sacrament prayers together.
Discuss:
- Who can you think about when you take the sacrament?
- What does it mean to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ?
- How can the sacrament help you remember Jesus Christ?
- How does the sacrament help you repent and be forgiven each week?
- How are being baptized and taking the sacrament similar?
- How can you follow the Savior more closely during the coming week?
Invite the children to pay attention to how they feel during the discussion. Help them identify the Spirit as they talk about sacred things. Invite them to write about their experience either at the activity or when they return home.
Please adapt activities as necessary to ensure all individuals are able to participate, belong, and contribute.
Adaptation Ideas
- Make something to help the children focus on the Savior during the sacrament, such as a small collection of pictures or scripture verses they can bring to church each week.
- Service idea: As a group, make bread for the sacrament. The children may feel a special connection to the sacrament knowing they made the bread.
Discussion
Encourage children to talk about how what they are learning can help them and others grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Discussions can take place before, during, or after the activity and should last just a few minutes. You could ask questions like the following:
- How can you prepare each week to take the sacrament?
- How can you “always remember” the Savior during the week?
- What can you do to think about the Savior during the sacrament to make that time more meaningful?