I used to love the pre-printed 2 1/2 minute talks that we could color and hold up and read. I was always wanting to do them to show off my reading abilities in 2nd grade. Wow, haven't thought of that and sacrament gems in years.
Well, I guess I'm not going senile yet because your supposed to remember vividly things that happened years ago. I do remember the Sacrament Jim but my memory is hazy. It seems to me like it was just in Junior Sunday School. I vaguely remember liking to give it because it was so easy compared to a 2-1/2 minute talk. It seems to me like it was given after the sacrament song, right before the priests blessed the sacrament but that is also where my memory is too hazy.
OOOhhh yeah! The gem was a piece of cake. Grab a pre-printed card from the library and read it. It was those damn talks that gave me Preaching Traumatic Syndrome Disorder at 3 yoa. My mother demanded we have them entirely memorized. I could remember all manner of crap from reading the scriptures, but I could not memorize a talk, and it took me 18 months into the mission before I managed to memorize all the discussions, and the minimum scripture references to become a senior. One of the chief reasons I went was to get over the stage fright of speaking in church, class, social groups. The MP thought I was a lazy ass and didn't want to work. So glad RCJ and his bitch are gone. I'll be one of his pay-backs when I cross over.
This is was all before the three hour block. What I remember from way back then was that Priesthood meeting was at 9:00. At 10:00 the men would go back home and bring the rest of the family back to church for Sunday School at 10:30.
The Sacrament Gem was part of Sunday School opening exercises. Everyone would meet together in the chapel. As I recall the Sacrament Gen was done before the Sacrament. Someone would recite a scripture, then would lead the congregation in reciting the scripture together. After the Sacrament there would be two 2 1/2 minute talks. Then everyone would break up into their individual classes.
We'd be back at 5:00 that afternoon for 90 minutes of Sacrament meeting. Primary and Reluef Society would be held during the week.
I remember when they started the 3 hour block how excited everyone was to get in and out in 3 hours instead of spending all day doing church. Now that I look back I realize they could condense at all down to 5 minutes and it would still be boring as hell and an insult on intelligence!
Good hell...forgot all about that ...yet there on a dusty memory stick it was...no one has to admit how ancient they are if they know what a sacrament gem is...the ever evolving truth...always evolving but never coming to any knowledge...just keep the plebes running to another mindless meeting...change the format and call it revelation...sorta of like that silly proclamation...who was it gordy?...decided only white hetero delightsome was allowed