“Lesson 15 Class Preparation Material: Drawing Closer to Jesus Christ through the Sacrament,” Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material (2023)
“Lesson 15 Class Preparation Material,” Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material
Lesson 15 Class Preparation Material
Drawing Closer to Jesus Christ through the Sacrament
Think about the last time you partook of the sacrament. What was your experience like? What attention did you give to the Savior’s Atonement and your covenant relationship with Him? As you study the lessons in unit 4, you will have the opportunity to consider what you can do to make Jesus Christ and His Atonement more personal, relevant, and applicable in your life.
Section 1
How can the sacrament help me draw closer to the Savior?
A few hours before entering the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus instructed His Twelve Apostles to prepare the Passover meal (see Matthew 26:17–19). For nearly 1,500 years, the children of Israel had commemorated the Feast of the Passover and used the blood of unblemished lambs to symbolize their deliverance from the destroying angel (see Exodus 12:21–28; 13:14–15). Following this meal, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, fulfilled the symbolism of the Passover when His blood was shed and He became the Savior of the world (see John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18–19). As part of His final Passover meal, “He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice” (“The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org). The Savior’s Atonement would include His suffering in Gethsemane, His death on the cross, and His glorious Resurrection.
Study in Preparation for Class
Read Matthew 26:26–28, and imagine what it might have been like to receive the sacrament from Jesus Christ. You could watch “The Last Supper” (6:01) to help you reflect on this experience.
Bread and wine, or water, are the sacred emblems of the sacrament. An emblem is a physical representation of a concept, quality, or idea. As you study the following points, ponder how the sacramental emblems can remind you of the Savior and what He has done for you:
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During ancient Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness, they were sustained daily by manna or “bread from heaven” (John 6:31; see also Psalm 78:24–25). After talking about manna, Jesus Christ declared, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. … He that eateth of this bread shall live for ever” (John 6:51, 58).
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As part of His Atonement, Jesus Christ’s body was “bruised, broken, torn for us” (“Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King,” Hymns, no. 181). President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency observed, “Because it is broken and torn, each piece of bread is unique, just as the individuals who partake of it are unique” (“Important Aspects of Missionary Work Remain Unchanged, Says Elder Oaks,” Church News, June 30, 2017, ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
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Wine was used in the first sacrament to represent the blood of Jesus Christ. We are cleansed by His blood (see 1 John 1:7). Today we use water, which also implies cleansing (see Doctrine and Covenants 27:2) and is essential for life. While at a well, Jesus told a woman of Samaria that the water He offers us is like “a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).
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Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Figuratively eating [Christ’s] flesh and drinking His blood has a further meaning, and that is to internalize the qualities and character of Christ. … As we partake of the sacramental bread and water each week, we would do well to consider how fully and completely we must incorporate His character and the pattern of His sinless life into our life and being” (“The Living Bread Which Came Down from Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 37).
Record Your Thoughts
Write down answers to the following questions: What impresses you about the symbolic meanings of the bread and water? What do you want to remember about the Savior the next time you partake of the bread and water during the sacrament?
Section 2
How can partaking of the sacrament provide me greater access to the Lord’s power?
During His ministry among the Nephites and Lamanites, Jesus Christ gave His disciples authority and commanded them to administer the sacrament to the members of His Church. He said, “This shall ye always observe to do … even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you” (3 Nephi 18:6; see also verse 5). To meet together often and worthily partake of the sacrament is also a commandment from the Lord in our day (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:75; 59:9).
Study in Preparation for Class
Read 3 Nephi 18:7, 10–12; 20:8–9, and look for the blessings the Lord promises to those who faithfully obey His commandment to administer and partake of the sacrament.
Sister Cheryl A. Esplin, former counselor in the Primary General Presidency, also described the blessings the Lord offers us through the sacrament:
The sacrament becomes a spiritually strengthening experience when we listen to the sacrament prayers and recommit to our covenants. … As we partake of the sacrament, we witness to God that we will remember His Son always, not just during the brief sacrament ordinance. …
The sacrament provides a time for a truly spiritual experience as we reflect upon the Savior’s redeeming and enabling power through His Atonement. …
… As a priesthood holder extends his arm to offer us the sacred emblems, it is as if the Savior Himself were extending His arm of mercy, inviting each one of us to partake of the precious gifts of love made available through His atoning sacrifice—gifts of repentance, forgiveness, comfort, and hope.
The more we ponder the significance of the sacrament, the more sacred and meaningful it becomes to us. (“The Sacrament—A Renewal for the Soul,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 12, 13–14)
Discuss in Preparation for Class
Reach out to a trusted friend or relative who exemplifies faith in Jesus Christ. Ask them what they have done to increase their reverence during the sacrament or ask them to share how they try to always remember the Savior. Be prepared to share what you learn with your class.
Section 3
How can I know if I am truly worthy to take the sacrament?
The Apostle Paul encouraged Church members to “examine” themselves (1 Corinthians 11:28) before they partake of the sacrament. He then warned, “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:29; see also verses 27–28; 3 Nephi 18:28–29). Damnation is to have one’s progression limited (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Damnation,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Elder John H. Groberg, while serving in the Seventy, offered the following guidance to assess personal worthiness:
If we desire to improve (which is to repent) and are not under priesthood restriction, then, in my opinion, we are worthy. If, however, we have no desire to improve, if we have no intention of following the guidance of the Spirit, we must ask: Are we worthy to partake, or are we making a mockery of the very purpose of the sacrament, which is to act as a catalyst for personal repentance and improvement? (“The Beauty and Importance of the Sacrament,” Ensign, May 1989, 38)
In the video “Sacrament Meeting” (from time code 6:40 to 7:30), Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offers important counsel regarding worthiness to take the sacrament.
Act
As you prepare to partake of the sacrament, consider what you can do to make the most of that sacred experience. You could begin your preparation by examining your life. If you feel unworthy to take the sacrament, make an appointment with your bishop or branch president and share with him your concerns.