Lesson for AUGUST 14, 2016

Lesson for August 14, 2016 Our lesson today was given by Camille Maynard about President Hunter’s teachings about “The Sacrament and the Lord’s Supper.” Because President Hunter was not baptized until later in his life and was not allowed to pass the sacrament, he had some tender feelings about the sacrament, especially about how the boys who get to pass the sacrament should have the feeling that it is a special experience. He talked about the Passover and how the sacrifice was a lamb without blemish. It represents Christ’s sacrifice and the fact that Christ is the Shepherd. It reminds every generation of the freedom and deliverance of the Hebrews from the Egyptians, as well as spring and the deliverance from winter. It shows that the grave and death have no lasting power over us. Chris Boyadjian told of the process in Europe from Christmas to Easter of participating in the Passover. After eating the bitter herbs and unleavened bread, the lamb is so sweet. It is to teach us that accepting the Savior is sweet. When the Savior instituted the sacrament at the time of the Passover, to show that it was another milestone in His ministry. He said that he who believeth on me shall never hunger and he who believeth on me shall never thirst. His sacrament ties the New Testament to the Old Testament. It was the last Passover Jesus was mortal on this earth and he testified of his purpose, but people were still not able to understand. Finally preparations for the Passover were complete. Jesus taught them a newer and holier meaning of the bread as his body and the wine as his blood and how it is to help them remember Him. It took the old covenant of protection to a new covenant of safety. Now animal sacrifice was not needed because He had made the sacrifice and given them the emblems of his blood and body. We can be safe from addictions and other sorrows through being obedient to our covenants. We are spiritually safe, as well. In the preexistence we had the faith that Jesus would save us and the sacrament shows that we are saved from the finality of death and hell. President Hunter told about his experience during a sacrament meeting. He told of taking the sacrament and feeling like we are serving other as we pass the trays along the rows. He told how Christ’s sacrifice took the place of animal sacrifice. He is a good example of what we should think about when we are taking the sacrament. We can think about if we are putting God above all others. He mentioned the baby that cried, but surely the Lord would not be displeased that a child was participating in the ordinance, although we should try to teach the children before church about how to behave. We are teaching our children that on Sunday that is where they should be. Sometimes in other churches, children are not tolerated. We all have strategies to make being in church more attractive than being outside of church. On lds.org there are stories from members about how they handle church things that we can learn from. Our children learn how to behave from that training.