Lesson 15 Teacher Material

Drawing Closer to Jesus Christ through the Sacrament

Elder Peter M. Johnson of the Seventy taught, “There is a spiritual enlightenment associated with the sacrament—it is personal, it is powerful, and it is needed” (“Power to Overcome the Adversary,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 112). In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to share how the sacrament can be a personal and powerful influence in their lives. They will also consider what they can do to better come to the Savior as they take the sacrament and strive to remember Him always.

Suggestions for Teaching

Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice.

Remind students that on the night before His Crucifixion, the Savior ate the Passover meal with His disciples. During this meal, the Savior introduced the sacrament.

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Invite students to visualize scripture passages and accounts. This can help them gain greater understanding of and empathy for those they are learning about. It can also help them feel the truth and importance of the principles they are studying.

To help students feel the importance of the Last Supper, you could display an image depicting the event and invite a student to read aloud Matthew 26:19–20, 26–30 (you could also point out the additions included in the Joseph Smith Translation) or watch part of the video “The Last Supper” (from time code 2:14 to 3:16). Invite students to imagine what it may have been like to be present as the Savior administered the sacrament for the first time. Encourage a few students to share what they thought or felt.

Consider inviting students to imagine that they are not Christian and are witnessing the administration of the sacrament for the first time at a Church meeting. During the meeting, the congregation sings “Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King” (Hymns, no. 181) and the sacramental bread and water is blessed and passed. (It might be helpful to have students read the words of this hymn.) Invite students to write a few questions they might have about the sacrament if they were not Christian.

After students have recorded their questions, ask them to form small groups. Invite group members to take turns asking and answering their questions.

As students discuss their questions, circulate throughout the room and listen to what is being shared. Based on what you hear, determine if asking any of the following questions would help your students learn more deeply in a class discussion:

• What do the emblems of the sacrament represent? (Students may identify a truth like the following: The bread and wine, or water, represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ and His Atonement for us.)

• What do the scriptures teach about the Savior through the symbols of bread, wine, and water? Why is it significant that the bread is torn before we eat it?

• Why might it be significant that we eat the bread and drink the water, and not simply look at it? (You may want to review the bullet points in section 1 of the preparation material to enhance your discussion.)

Consider inviting students to ponder the significance of the emblems of the sacrament and how they can help remind us of the personal nature of the Savior’s sacrifice.

We draw closer to the Savior as we thoughtfully partake of the sacrament.

Display the following scenario.

Although Julia doesn’t mean to, she often feels bored during the passing of the sacrament. She knows it is important but struggles to feel that. When the sacrament is being administered to the congregation, she often finds herself thinking about such things as work and school assignments, her social life, and what she will do after church. Sometimes she scrolls through social media on her phone.

• How would you describe Julia’s approach to the sacrament? What opportunities and blessings might Julia be missing because of her approach to the sacrament?

• How do you think Julia’s experience might change if the Savior Himself were serving her the bread and the water?

Invite some students to silently review 3 Nephi 18:7, 10–12; 20:8–9, some to read Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79, and others to study the statement by Sister Cheryl A. Esplin in section 2 of the preparation material. Invite students to look for different principles, attitudes, and blessings related to the sacrament. You or they could write their findings on the board.

As students share what they found, you could also invite them to share personal experiences or examples related to their insights. They could also share examples or experiences from the people they talked to in preparation for class (see “Discuss in Preparation for Class” in section 2 of the preparation material.)

As students discuss what it means to always remember the Savior, you might ask:

• How can always remembering the Savior influence our daily lives? How might you do this better throughout the week?

Consider providing time for students to ponder and write about their own participation in the sacrament. They might consider how to improve their experience during the sacrament and their efforts to “always remember him” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77).

If students have questions about being worthy to take the sacrament, or if you feel prompted to discuss this topic as a class, refer to section 3 of the preparation material. You might ask:

• Why is it important for us to “examine” ourselves as we prepare to receive the sacrament? (see 1 Corinthians 11:27–29).

• What are your feelings about Elder John H. Groberg’s statement about being worthy to take the sacrament (from section 3 of the preparation material)? How might this counsel give hope to those who are struggling with weaknesses, sins, or other challenges?

To finish class, your students or you could share testimony of how the sacrament ordinance helps us come to the Savior. Or students could share what they felt and learned from the lesson.

For Next Time

To encourage preparation for the next class, consider sending the following message (or one of your own) during the week: As you study the preparation material, consider why the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most important event in human history.

You could also send a link to the video “Because of Him: Easter Video” (2:36).