Sunday, March 6, 2011

Lesson 12: “I Am the Bread of Life”

"Lesson 12: “I Am the Bread of Life”," New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2002)

Purpose

To help class members look to Jesus Christ as “the bread of life,” the source of everlasting life (John 6:47–48).

47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
 48I am that bread of life.

Preparation

  1. 1. Read, ponder, and pray about the following scriptures:
    1. a. John 5.  -- Bethesda --  Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. The Jewish leaders seek to kill Jesus because of his declaration that he is the Son of God.
    Article on Bethesda:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pool_of_Bethesda

      Impotent -- Origin:
      1350–1400; Middle English  < Latin impotent-  (stem of impotēns ) without power over oneself or others. See im-2 , potent1

      —Related forms
      im·po·tent·ly, adverb

      —Synonyms
      1, 2.  powerless, helpless. 3.  ineffectual, ineffective, feeble, weak
      impotent
      late 14c., "physically weak," from O.Fr. impotent  "powerless," from L. imponentem  (nom. impotens ) "lacking control, powerless," from in-  "not" + ponentem  (nom. potens ) "potent." Meaning "having no power to accomplish anything" is from mid-15c.; that of "completely lacking in sexual power" is from 1590s (implied in impotency ).
      Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper 


      1. b. John 6:1–14; 

      1  After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
       2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
       3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
       4 And the apassover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
       5 ¶When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
       6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
       7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
       8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,
       9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
       10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about afive thousand.
       11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given athanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
       12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be alost.
       13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
       14 Then those men, when they had seen the amiracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that bprophet that should come into the world.

      1.  Mark 6:30–44. Jesus miraculously feeds more than 5,000 people.

      30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
       31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a adesert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no bleisure so much as to eat.
       32 And they departed into a adesert place by ship privately.
       33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
       34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with acompassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a bshepherd: and he began to cteach them many things. [Those who should have been shepherds were not doing their job -- the leaders of the synagogue, the Pharisees, . .  .]
       35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, aThis is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
       36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
       37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred apennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
       38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
       39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
       40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
       41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
       42 And they did all eat, and were filled.
       43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
       44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about afive thousand men.

      Matthew 14:1–21 Death of John the Baptist, Feeding of the Five Thousand
      Luke 9:10–17.  Five loaves and two fishes


      1. c. John 6:15–21;

      15 ¶When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a aking, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
       16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
       17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
       18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
       19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were aafraid.
       20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
       21T hen they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.


      1. Matthew 14:22–33. Jesus walks on the sea, invites Peter to come to him, and calms the winds.

      22 ¶And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
       23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to apray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
       24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
       25 And ain the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
       26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
       27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good acheer; it is I; be not afraid.
       28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
       29  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
       30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was aafraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
       31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little afaith, wherefore didst thou bdoubt?
       32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
       33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
       
      1. d. John 6:22–71. Jesus declares that he is “the bread of life” and that those who believe in him will have everlasting life. Many reject this teaching, but Peter and the other Apostles remain with Jesus.

       22  The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;
       23  (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)
       24  When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
       25  And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
       26  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, anot because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
       27  aLabour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the bSon of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father csealed.
       28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
       29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye abelieve on him whom he hath sent.
       30  They said therefore unto him, What asign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
       31  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them abread from heaven to eat.
       32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
       33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
       34  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
       35   And Jesus said unto them, I am the abread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never bthirst.
       36  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
       37  All that the Father agiveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise bcast out.
       38  For I acame down from heaven, not to do mine own bwill, but the cwill of him that sent me.
       39  And this is the aFather’s bwill which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose cnothing, but should draise it up again at the last day.
       40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and abelievethbeverlasting life: and I will raise him up cat the last day.
       41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
       42  And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of aJoseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
       43  Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, aMurmur not among yourselves.
       44a  No man can bcome to me, except the Father which hath sent me cdraw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
       4  5It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all ataught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the bFather, cometh unto me.
       46  Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath aseen the Father.
       47  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that abelieveth on me hath beverlasting life.
       48  I am that bread of life.
       49  Your fathers did eat amanna in the wilderness, and are dead.
       50  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
       51  I am the living abread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bbread that I will give is my cflesh, which I will dgive for the elife of the world.
       52  The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
       53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye aeat the flesh of the bSon of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
       54  Whoso eateth my aflesh, and drinketh my bblood, hath eternal life; cand I will draise him up at the last day.
       55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
       56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, adwelleth in me, and I in him.
       57  As the living Father hath asent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall blive by me.
       58  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
       59  These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
       60  Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
       61  When Jesus aknew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this boffend you?
       62  What and if ye shall see the aSon of man bascend up where he was before?
       63  It is the aspirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
       64  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should abetray him.
       65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, aexcept it were given unto him of my Father.
       66  From that time many of his adisciples went back, and bwalked no more with him.
       67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
       68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the awords of eternal life.
       69  And awe believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the bSon of the living God.
       70  Jesus answered them, Have not I achosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
       71  He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

      1. 2. Additional reading: Matthew 14:1–21; Mark 6:1–29,
      Jesus sends the twelve out, he teaches in the synagogue, death of John the Baptist 
      1. Mark 6: 45–52 Jesus walks on the water, 
       51  And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
       52  For they aconsidered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was bhardened.

      1. Luke 9:10–17.  Five loaves and two fishes 

      1. 3. Ask a class member to come to class prepared to share a brief summary of the account of Jesus healing a man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1–9).
      1  After this there was aa feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
       2  Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
       3  In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
       4  For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
       5  And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
       6  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
       7  The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
       8  Jesus saith unto him, aRise, take up thy bed, and walk.
       9  And immediately the man was made awhole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the bsabbath.

      1. 4. If the pictures Feeding the Five Thousand (62143) and Christ Walking on the Water (Gospel Art Picture Kit 243) are available, use them during the lesson.
      2. 5. Suggestion for teaching: The Savior often used everyday objects, such as bread or seeds, to teach gospel principles. As you prepare each lesson, consider how you might use objects to gain class members’ attention or illustrate an important point. (See Teaching, No Greater Call [36123], pages 163–64.)

      Suggested Lesson Development

      Attention Activity

      As appropriate, use the following activity or one of your own to begin the lesson.
      Draw the following illustrations on the chalkboard:
      Rock
      Light
      Bread
      • • What do these things have in common?
      Allow class members to briefly discuss possible answers to the question. Then have them read Helaman 5:12, in which Helaman refers to Jesus Christ as “the rock,” and John 8:12, in which Jesus declares that he is “the light of the world.” Explain that later in the lesson you will discuss how Jesus is “the bread of life” (John 6:35).

      Scripture Discussion and Application

      As you teach this lesson, help class members “search the scriptures” (John 5:39). Encourage them to share experiences that relate to the principles they discuss.

      1. Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath and declares himself the Son of God.

      Discuss John 5. Invite class members to read selected verses aloud.
      • • Invite the assigned class member to summarize the account of Jesus healing a man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1–9). What instructions did Jesus give the man when he saw him in the temple later that day? (See John 5:14.) Why are the effects of sin “a worse thing” than physical infirmities?
      • • Why did the Jewish leaders seek to kill Jesus? (See John 5:16–18.) As Jesus responded to the angry Jews, what did he reveal about his relationship to the Father? (See John 5:19–23, 30.)
      • • Jesus told the people that he would soon do even “greater works” than healing the sick (John 5:20). What did he say these greater works would be? (See John 5:21–29. He would bring to pass the Resurrection, judge all people, and give everlasting life to the faithful.)
      • • What witnesses did the Savior say testified of him? (See John 5:32–39, 45–47.) Why is it important to have these witnesses? (See Jacob 4:6.) How can we be witnesses of the Savior?
      • • Jesus challenged the Jewish leaders to “search the scriptures” (John 5:39). What is the difference between searching the scriptures and reading them? (You may want to use the first additional teaching idea at the end of the lesson as you discuss this question.) How have you made your personal and family scripture study more meaningful? How have you been blessed as you have searched the scriptures?
      • • According to John 5:39, what would the Jewish leaders have known if they had searched and believed the scriptures? (They would have known that the scriptures testify of Jesus Christ. See also John 5:40, 46–47.) How have the scriptures strengthened your faith in Christ?

      2. Jesus miraculously feeds more than 5,000 people.

      Read and discuss selected verses from John 6:1–14 and Mark 6:30–44. Display the picture of Jesus feeding the multitude.
      • • Why did Jesus and his disciples go up into a mountain? (See John 6:1–3; note the Joseph Smith Translation of Mark 6:31 in footnote 31a, which says that Jesus and his disciples went to a solitary place.) How did Jesus respond when the multitude came to him? (See Mark 6:33–34; Matthew 14:14.) How can we follow his example of compassion?
      • • How did Jesus feed the multitude? (See John 6:5–13; see also Matthew 14:21.) How can we follow the example of the boy who gave his loaves and fishes to Jesus? How does the Lord bless us when we, like the boy, give whatever we have in His service?
        Elder James E. Faust said:
        “Many nameless people with gifts equal only to five loaves and two small fishes magnify their callings and serve without attention or recognition, feeding literally thousands. … These are the hundreds of thousands of leaders and teachers in all of the auxiliaries and priesthood quorums, the home teachers, the Relief Society visiting teachers. These are the many humble bishops in the Church, some without formal training but greatly magnified, always learning, with a humble desire to serve the Lord and the people of their wards. …
        “A major reason this church has grown from its humble beginnings to its current strength is the faithfulness and devotion of millions of humble and devoted people who have only five loaves and two small fishes to offer in the service of the Master. They have largely surrendered their own interests and in so doing have found ‘the peace of God, which passeth all understanding’ (Philippians 4:7)” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 4–5; or Ensign, May 1994, 5–6).
      • • What are some examples you have seen of people being magnified by the Lord as they have served him?
      • • How is the miraculous feast from five loaves and two fishes symbolic of the spiritual feast the Savior offers us?

      3. Jesus walks on the sea, invites Peter to come to him, and calms the winds.

      [This is a lovely story about a father and son out fishing and how the father teaches the son about faith through the story of Peter walking on the water: http://lds.org/new-era/1996/07/staying-afloat?lang=eng&query=Peter+walking+water ]

      Read and discuss John 6:15–21 and Matthew 14:22–33. Explain that after Jesus fed the multitudes, he instructed his disciples to get into a ship and go to the other side of the sea. He then sent the multitudes away and went up a mountain to pray. As the disciples were crossing the sea, they were caught in strong winds.
      Display the picture of Christ walking on the water.
      • • What did Peter request when he heard the Savior’s voice? (See Matthew 14:28–29.) Why did Peter’s faith falter as he walked on the water? (See Matthew 14:30.) How do we sometimes make similar errors when difficulties arise?
      • • What did Peter do when he began to sink? (See Matthew 14:30.) What did Jesus do? (See Matthew 14:31–32.) What does this reveal about our relationship with the Lord? How have you felt the Savior strengthen you and calm your fears?

      4. Jesus declares that he is “the bread of life.”

      Read and discuss selected verses from John 6:22–71.
      • • The day after Jesus’ miracle with the loaves and fishes, the people followed him to Capernaum. Why did they follow him? (See John 6:26.) How did Jesus use the people’s excitement about the previous day’s miracle to testify of his mission? (See John 6:27–35. Note that the word meat in verse 27 means food.)
        Elder Jeffrey R. Holland observed: “During the Savior’s Galilean ministry, He chided those who had heard of Him feeding the 5,000 with only five barley loaves and two fishes, and now flocked to Him expecting a free lunch. That food, important as it was, was incidental to the real nourishment He was trying to give them” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1997, 87; or Ensign, Nov. 1997, 65).
      • • How is “bread of life” an appropriate description of the Savior and the blessings he offers us? (See John 6:35, 47–51.) What does it mean to “never hunger” and “never thirst”? How can we partake of the “bread of life”? (See John 6:47, 51–54; Matthew 26:26–28; Alma 5:33–35;
      • 33Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto aall men, for the barms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.
         34Yea, he saith: aCome unto me and ye shall partake of the bfruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the cbread and the waters of life dfreely;
         35Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire—
         
      •  
      • D&C 20:77.)
        President Howard W. Hunter counseled: “We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him. Then we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 84; or Ensign, May 1994, 64).
      Point out that some people did not believe Jesus because they saw him only as “the son of Joseph” (John 6:42). Some who had claimed to be Jesus’ disciples murmured and turned away from him, saying that they did not understand the spiritual meanings of his declaration that he was the bread of life and his teaching about the need to eat his flesh and drink his blood (John 6:51–66).
      • • When some people rejected Jesus’ sermon, what did Jesus ask the Twelve Apostles? (See John 6:67.) What was Peter’s response? (See John 6:68.) What did Peter and the other Apostles understand about Jesus that those who left did not understand? (See John 6:69.)

      Conclusion

      Testify that Jesus Christ is “the bread of life” and that he has “the words of eternal life” (John 6:35, 68). Encourage class members to apply his promises from the Sermon on the Bread of Life: “He that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. … He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:35, 47).

      Additional Teaching Ideas

      The following material supplements the suggested lesson outline. You may want to use one or both of these ideas as part of the lesson.

      1. “Search the scriptures” (John 5:39)

      Invite class members to read John 5:20–30 silently while you read it aloud.
      Read it quickly, without pausing to explain or discuss any of the verses.
      Explain that you have just readJohn 5:20–30 but that you will now search the passage together. Divide class members into groups of three or four. Assign each group at least one of the following sections from John 5:20–30: verses 20–22, 23–24, 25–27, and 28–30. Give the groups a few minutes to work together.
      Have them read the assigned verses, choose three of the most important words in the verses, and prepare to talk about why those words are important.
      • • What did you see when you searched the scriptures that you did not see when we read them quickly? What can we do to search the scriptures on our own?
      Explain that the Prophet Joseph Smith received the vision of the kingdoms of glory after pondering John 5:29. Invite a class member to read Doctrine and Covenants 76:15–20.
      • • What knowledge have we been blessed with because Joseph Smith searched John 5:29?

      2. “Look after those who wait by the pool of Bethesda”

      Elder Boyd K. Packer used the account in John 5:1–9 to emphasize that we should help people who have disabilities. He said bodies and minds with disabilities “will be made perfect. In the meantime, we must look after those who wait by the pool of Bethesda” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1991, 8; or Ensign, May 1991, 9).
      • • What can we do to help people who have physical or mental disabilities?
      Other blogs, etc.:

      http://beardall2000.com/nt/nt12.html
      http://www.neumanninstitute.org/nt12.html 
      http://www.gospeldoctrine.com/NewTestament/ntindex.html 
      http://feastuponthewordblog.org/2011/03/06/nt-sunday-school-lesson-12-jf-john-5-6-mark-630-44-matthew1422-33/#more-2787 

      http://www.ldsgospeldoctrine.net/bwc/bwc-nt-12.pdf

      http://www.kevinhinckley.com/Gospel_Doctrine_Classes.html
        PowerPoint
      This one has the story about the multiplied sacrament bread:
      http://www.scriptures.lenethread.com/nt-12-i-am-the-bread-of-life.html

      Interesting:  http://www.mormonwiki.com/Main_Page 

      Rona supplement:  http://www.israelrevealed.com/supplements/nt-complete-online/99les12.htm


      Institute Manual: http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-04-4-12.asp

      (12-7) John 6:66 . Why Did So Many of Jesus’ Disciples Turn from Him Following the Sermon on the Bread of Life?

      Consider these words from President David O. McKay as they apply to all who would be disciples of our Savior:
      “[The sermon on the Bread of Life as recorded by John] is highly spiritual, and contains references about Christ as the ‘Bread of Life,’ which His followers could not believe. They could not comprehend what He was saying, and many of them walked away. . . .
      “. . . the twelve . . . slightly glimpsed the spiritual significance of that sermon. . . .
      “. . . Those apostles had that day the power and privilege of making a choice— whether they would walk with those who were impressed only with the physical favors, advantages, which nature could give, or whether their gifts heed to the spiritual in man. . . .
      “. . . Such a decision may determine whether one responds to the call of one’s soul to rise, or yields to the tendency to grovel. . . .
      “. . . the disciples of Jesus glimpsed a light that would enlighten their souls spiritually as the sun replaces darkness with beams of light. But there are few persons who see that Light or even believe in the fuller life, and often after glimpsing it, they turn away to the grosser and more sordid things.” (“Whither Shall We Go?,” Speeches of the Year, 1961, pp. 2–4. Italics added.)
      ____________________________

      How many times have you heard people ask, “Why do we partake of the sacrament so often? What is the purpose of the sacrament, anyway?” The answers to these and related questions are not hard to find. We partake of the sacrament in remembrance of Jesus, in token of our promise to always remember him, to keep his commandments, and to take upon us his sacred name. For many the experience is only a perfunctory exercise, a ritual to undergo because one has membership in the Church. For others, it is an opportunity for communion with Jesus Christ, an opportunity to partake of his Spirit.  
      ________________________________

      “I have always looked upon this blessed privilege as the means of spiritual growth, and there is none other quite so fruitful in the achievement of that end as the partaking, worthily, of the sacrament of the Lord’s supper. We eat food to stimulate our physical bodies. Without the partaking of food we would become weak and sickly, and fail physically. It is just as necessary, for our spiritual body, that we should partake of this sacrament and by it obtain spiritual food for our souls.
      “We must come, however, to the sacrament table hungry. If we should repair to a banquet where the finest of earth’s providing may be had, without hunger, without appetite, the food would not be tempting, nor do us any good. If we repair to the sacrament table, we must come hungering and thirsting for righteousness, for spiritual growth.
      “How can we have spiritual hunger? Who is there among us that does not wound his spirit by word, thought, or deed, from Sabbath to Sabbath? We do things for which we are sorry and desire to be forgiven, or we have erred against someone and given injury. If there is a feeling in our hearts that we are sorry for what we have done, if there is a feeling in our souls that we would like to be forgiven, then the method to obtain forgiveness is not through rebaptism; it is not to make confession to man; but it is to repent of our sins, to go to those against whom we have sinned or transgressed and obtain their forgiveness and then repair to the sacrament table where, if we have sincerely repented and put ourselves in proper condition, we shall be forgiven, and spiritual healing will come to our souls. It will really enter into our being. You have felt it.
      “I am a witness that there is a spirit attending the administration of the sacrament that warms the soul from head to foot; you feel the wounds of the spirit being healed, and the load being lifted. Comfort and happiness come to the soul that is worthy and truly desirous of partaking of this spiritual food.” (Ballard, Melvin J. Ballard . . . Crusader for Righteousness, pp. 132–33.)

      ___________________________

      Carefully consider the following words of Elder Bruce McConkie as he writes concerning the meaning of the term “Bread of Life,” and how the sacrament relates to it.
      To eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God is, first, to accept him in the most literal and full sense, with no reservation whatever, as the personal offspring in the flesh of the Eternal Father; and, secondly, it is to keep the commandments of the Son by accepting his gospel, joining his Church, and enduring in obedience and righteousness unto the end. Those who by this course eat his flesh and drink his blood shall have eternal life, meaning exaltation in the highest heaven of the celestial world. Speaking of ancient Israel, for instance, Paul says: They “did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” ( 1 Cor. 10:3–4 .)
      In the waters of baptism the saints take upon themselves the name of Christ (that is, they accept him fully and completely as the Son of God and the Savior of men), and they then covenant to keep his commandments and obey his laws. ( Mosiah 18:7–10 .) To keep his saints in constant remembrance of their obligation to accept and obey him—or in other words, to eat his flesh and drink his blood—the Lord has given them the sacramental ordinance. This ordinance, performed in remembrance of his broken flesh and spilled blood, is the means provided for men, formally and repeatedly, to assert their belief in the divinity of Christ, and to affirm their determination to serve him and keep his commandments; or, in other words, in this ordinance—in a spiritual, but not a literal sense—men eat his flesh and drink his blood. ( DNTC, 1:358.)

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