That They Do Always Remember Him (Feb 2016)

That They Do Always Remember Him

By Elder Claudio R. M. Costa Of the Seventy

Father in Heaven, how do I teach this lesson in order bring the Spirit into the room?

Introduction

SAY: the lesson assigned to me today is "That They Do Always Remember Him" by Elder Claudio R. M. Costa of the Seventy.

SAY: I had a thought this morning that I want to share with you.  I asked myself if I have a grace based belief system or a work based believe system
With grace based you can substitute atonement or faith.  With work based you can substitute Law or Rules.
With a faith or grace based foundation I seem to be more grateful for my Savior.  Good deeds or works flow from my faith and love for Jesus Christ
With a work or law based foundation I have believed in the past the I saved by the works I do and have given lip service to the atonement.  Or, I give intellectual assent to the atonement and His grace.

I have found that I feel the Spirit more, feel Christ's love more and have more revelations when I have become more deeply rooted in grace based thinking.

SAY: Elder Costa breaks his talk into at least two parts, the first about starting a tradition of telling the stories of Jesus to our children and grand children, as a very special way to keep the Sabbath day holy in our homes.  The second part of his talk is about partaking of the sacrament.  I will focus this lesson mostly on the second part of Elder Costa's talk.

Learner Readiness

READ 1

1 - The Sabbath and the sacrament become much more enjoyable as we study the stories of Christ. In so doing, we create traditions that build our faith and testimony and also protect our family.s well?

READ 2

2 - A few weeks ago, while studying again the message President Russell M. Nelson delivered in the last general conference, and while pondering on the Sabbath day, I felt a deep gratitude for the blessing and privilege of being able to partake of the sacrament. For me that is a very solemn, sacred, and spiritual moment. I greatly enjoy sacrament meeting.

SAY: Brethren, please ponder in you hearts what makes partaking of the sacrament  a solemn, sacred, and spiritual moment for you.  What do you experience each week when you partake of the sacrament?  How do you prepare? Do you have favorite hymns that touch you deeply? At the right time, share your thought with the Group.

SAY: Sometimes when I am prepared spiritually during the meeting, I feel a deep gratitude for my Savior.  As the Spirit feels my heart, I feel  a cleansing take place within me. May I share a verse of one of my favorite hymn?

How Great Thou Art Hymn

And when I think that God his son not sparing,
Sent him to die - I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

SAY; I scarce can take it in.  Do we have that feeling when we think of Jesus Christ and his atonement?

Q: Why is it important that we strive to deepen our gratitude for what our Savior did?
Q: When we do our part in preparing for the sacrament, do you believe God will do His part?
Q:  What is His part?

READ 3

3 - Father in Heaven, We Do Believe, no. 180

1. Father in Heav'n, we do believe
The promise thou hast made;
Thy word with meekness we receive,
Just as thy Saints have said.

2. We now repent of all our sin
And come with broken heart,
And to thy covenant enter in
And choose the better part.

3. O Lord, accept us while we pray,
And all our sins forgive;
New life impart to us this day,
And bid the sinners live.

4. Humbly we take the sacrament
In Jesus' blessed name;
Let us receive thru covenant
The Spirit's heav'nly flame.

6. Baptize us with the Holy Ghost
And seal us as thine own,
That we may join the ransomed host
And with the Saints be one.

Q: Brethren, if we humble partake of the sacrament, what do we hope that we receive from the Lord?
Q: (if no response) Or, are they just words of a page of a hymn book? Let's look at verse 4 again. What do you think Brother Pratt meant by using the phrase, "Let us receive thru covenant, The Spirit's heavenly flame"?

1. Learner Involvement

Q: What makes partaking of the sacrament  a solemn, sacred, and spiritual moment for you? (don't expect anybody to raise their hands.)

SAY: Elder Costa goes on his talk and talks about how he ponders, mediates and visualizes events in the scriptures.  Let's read an except from his talk.

READ 4

4 - I could visualize hands that had healed, comforted, edified, and blessed, breaking the bread as Jesus said,“Take, eat; this is my body.”

Then He took a cup filled with wine and gave thanks and gave the cup to them, saying, “Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

In my mind I looked at the disciples one by one and saw in their eyes their concern for the Master, whom they loved greatly. It was as if I were sitting there with them,watching everything. I felt an intense pain in my heart,full of grief and sorrow for what He was about to experience for me.

My soul was filled by an overwhelming desire to be a better person. In repentance and sorrow, I fervently wished to be able to dry and avoid the spilling of at least a few drops of His blood shed in Gethsemane.

Q: Brethren, what things do you think about during the time in which we partake of the sacrament?

SAY: A large section of Elder Costa talk is pondering the phrase "that ye do always remember him".  to him is means:

READ - excerpts from Elder Costa's talk

Q: When you think of the phrase "that ye do always remember him", what images come to your mind?  What do you think about? What does it mean to you?


Q: What things can we do make the sacrament more meaningful? (if there is time)
Q: How do you prepare to take the sacrament? (if there is time)
Q: Why is the sacrament important to you? (if there is time)

Learner Application  (to receive revelation)

READ 5

5 - The sacrament is also a time for Heavenly Father to teach us about the Atonement of His Beloved Son—our Savior, Jesus Christ—and for us to receive revelation about it. It is a time to “knock, and it shall be opened unto you,” to request and to receive this knowledge. It is time for us to reverently ask God for this knowledge. And if we do, I have no doubt that we will receive this knowledge, which will bless our lives beyond measure.

Q: Is this possible? for the sacrament to be a time for us to receive revelation?  How has your understanding increased during the sacrament about the Atonement and about our Savior, Jesus Christ?

Q: When we feel an out pouring of love into our souls, is this revelation?  When our gratitude for our Savior is amplified to the point of tears and we feel cleansed from all our sins, is this revelation?

Conclusion

For me, the purpose of the sacrament is to commune with my Heavenly Father.  I want the Spirit's heavenly flame to cleanse me.  I am so grateful for the Grace of my savior, Jesus Christ.  I feel watched over. I like that feeling.  It sometimes overwhelms me that Christ paid for my sins and made it possible for me to become his son and return to him.

Extra

193
I Stand All Amazed

31243, Hymns, I Stand All Amazed, no. 193

1. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

[Chorus]
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

2. I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

3. I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.