Learning and Living the Gospel: The Sacrament

For our activity today, we focused on the sacrament. At a Relief Society meeting, I got a super-easy recipe for bread, so we used that recipe to make bread. The girls were split into two groups and each made a loaf of bread. (It was a quick recipe, but we had to work fast in order to get it done before the end of the activity. In my haste, I only got one picture of one of the groups and not even a finished shot of the bread!) The girls had fun making the bread. The bread turned out beautiful and was delicious on Sunday when the sacrament was passed.

While the bread raised and baked, we watched a clip from one of John Bytheways' talks on DVD. In the clip, he broke down the sacrament prayers and explained the different parts. He did it in a great way which educated and entertained. After the video, I shared a couple of quotes. I also gave the girls a handout. On the handout were some scriptures (D & C 59:9; 3 Nephi 9:19-20; John 6:51,54,56; 1 Corinthians 11:29) that taught about participation in the sacrament service. There was also an idea list for the girls to help them get more out of their sacrament meetings.

The last thing in the handout was a poem that I had found, also one that John Bytheway said in his talk.

A Meeting Meant for Him

by O. Willard Pilling

There was envy in the glances that a lovely woman cast,

at the hairdo of a neighbor while the Sacrament was passed.

And a teenage girl I noticed, though a timid lass and shy,

watched a youthful priest intently through the corner of her eye.

As he sat behind the table where the water trays were spread,

she was not remembering Jesus nor the prayer the priest had said.

There was nothing reverential in the things the Cub Scout drew,

on the pages of the hymn book till the Sacrament was through.

Not a thought of Jesus' passion entered careless elders' minds,

as they whispered to each other and the girls they sat behind.

And the high priest's brow was furrowed as he stole a secret glance,

at his checkbook's dismal story of his failures in finance.

There were hundreds in the chapel but the worshippers were few,

and I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord Himself would do.

I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord Himself would say,

had he walked into a meeting where His saints behaved that way.

would His loving eyes be saddened, would His countenance be grim;

While He there observed and listened to a meeting meant for Him?