Talk Preparation Guide for "I Feel My Savior’s Love"

This talk teaches that one of the clearest ways to feel the Savior’s love is through reverent, intentional participation in the sacrament. Elder Pedro X. Larreal connects the sacrament, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the promised companionship of the Holy Ghost. He emphasizes that in a time of spiritual deception and growing opposition, members need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost, and that weekly sacrament worship is a vital way to renew that gift. As you study this message, consider how the sacrament helps you remember the Savior personally, feel His love more deeply, and receive spiritual strength for daily life.

Topics

Seek the Holy Ghost to survive spiritually

Elder Larreal teaches that in the latter days, members need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost to avoid deception and remain spiritually safe.

“In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”

“One of the many reasons you will need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost is that you live in a season in which the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don’t have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived.”

“As President Nelson said, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the companionship of the Holy Ghost in these latter days.”

“It is my prayer that each of us will feel our Savior’s love as we partake of the sacrament and have the influence of the Holy Ghost in these days when the adversary does not rest.”

Key Points:

The latter days require spiritual sensitivity and divine guidance.
The adversary is effective at disguising truth.
Without the Holy Ghost, people are vulnerable to deception.
The companionship of the Holy Ghost is essential for spiritual survival.
The sacrament is one of the main ways members renew that influence weekly.

Experiences:

When have you felt guided by the Holy Ghost in making an important decision?
Have you ever recognized later that the Spirit protected you from confusion or deception?
What experiences have taught you that spiritual survival requires more than your own wisdom?
How has weekly worship helped you regain spiritual clarity during a difficult season?

Prepare for the sacrament to renew the Spirit

The talk teaches that members can renew the influence of the Holy Ghost each week by personally preparing to partake of the sacrament.

“We can renew that influence of the Holy Ghost each week by personally preparing to partake of the sacrament.”

“As we partake of this ordinance with a broken heart, the Lord promises us the blessing of having the companionship and constant guidance of the Holy Ghost.”

“I want to invite you, with all my strength and with all my love, to leave today determined to elevate your spiritual preparation and reverence as you partake of the sacrament.”

Key Points:

Preparation for the sacrament should be personal and intentional.
The sacrament renews the influence of the Holy Ghost.
A broken heart and contrite spirit invite greater spiritual blessings.
Reverent preparation before and during the ordinance matters.
Members should make sacrament worship a spiritual priority.

Experiences:

What has helped you prepare more meaningfully for the sacrament?
When have you noticed a difference between casual participation and prayerful preparation?
How have repentance and humility changed your sacrament experience?
What habits before church help you come to sacrament meeting more spiritually ready?

Remember that the Savior instituted the sacrament for His disciples

Elder Larreal points to the Savior’s ministry among the Nephites and His words in Jerusalem to show that Jesus Himself established the sacrament and attached sacred promises to it.

“The resurrected Lord emphasized the importance of the sacrament when He visited the Americas and instituted this ordinance among the faithful Nephites and Lamanites.”

“And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.”

“The sacrament is the ordinance that replaces the sacrifices of blood and burnt offerings of the Mosaic law.”

Key Points:

Jesus Christ personally instituted the sacrament.
The sacrament is meant for those who repent and are baptized in His name.
The ordinance centers on remembering His blood and sacrifice.
The sacrament replaced the sacrifices of the Mosaic law.
The Savior attached the promise of His Spirit to faithful participation.

Experiences:

How has studying the Savior’s institution of the sacrament deepened your reverence for it?
When have the scriptures about the sacrament made the ordinance feel more sacred to you?
What does it mean to you that this ordinance comes directly from the Savior?
How has remembering covenant promises during the sacrament strengthened your faith?

Feel the Savior’s love through His Atonement

The sacrament represents the Atonement of Jesus Christ and gives members a sacred opportunity to focus on His sacrifice and feel His love personally.

“The sacrament represents the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

“During that sacred moment, when we give our full attention to Him and focus on His atoning sacrifice, how can we not feel His great love for us?”

“How can we not feel important when we remember that He willingly volunteered to be the Advocate between us and the Father?”

“He loves us beyond what we can comprehend.”

Key Points:

The sacrament points directly to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Focusing on Christ during the sacrament helps members feel His love.
The Savior’s sacrifice shows individual worth.
Jesus Christ willingly became our Advocate with the Father.
The ordinance can transform remembrance into personal spiritual feeling.

Experiences:

When have you felt the Savior’s love during the sacrament?
How has remembering the Atonement helped you through guilt, grief, or weakness?
What personal experiences have taught you that the Savior knows and values you individually?
When has thinking of Christ as your Advocate brought you peace?

Recognize that the sacrament is for you personally

Elder Larreal highlights the repeated use of the word “you” in the Savior’s words to teach that the sacrament and the blessings of the Atonement are personal and individual.

“This is my body which is given for you.”

“This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

“When Christ spoke these words found in Luke, He was focused on us; the sacrament was given for our benefit.”

“Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord uses the pronoun you again and again to emphasize and remind us that the sacrament is for us—for you and for me!”

Key Points:

The Savior’s language in scripture is personal and direct.
The sacrament is not only a general ordinance for the Church but a personal gift for each disciple.
Christ’s body was given and His blood was shed for each individual.
Members can approach the sacrament as a deeply personal encounter with covenant love.
Recognizing the personal nature of the sacrament can deepen gratitude and devotion.

Experiences:

When did the Atonement become personal to you rather than just a doctrine you believed?
How have you felt that the Savior’s promises apply specifically to your life?
What experiences have helped you know that Jesus Christ knows you individually?
How might you explain to others that the sacrament is for them personally?

Treat sacrament meeting as the most sacred meeting in the Church

The talk teaches that sacrament meeting is the most sacred and important meeting in the Church and should be approached with reverence, focus, and prayerfulness.

“The ordinance of the sacrament makes sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church.”

“During the sacrament, we should strive to remove every worldly thought from our minds.”

“This is time to be prayerful and reverent, not a time for reading secular books or magazines, nor is it a time for checking our cell phones.”

“This sacred time is to feel His love for us and remember Him, to know that we are never alone and that His Spirit will be with us to help us during trials and challenges.”

Key Points:

Sacrament meeting holds unique sacred importance because of the ordinance.
Members should remove worldly distractions during the sacrament.
Prayerfulness and reverence help invite the Spirit.
The sacrament is not a casual or divided-attention experience.
Focused worship helps members feel the Savior’s love and support.

Experiences:

What changes have helped you be more reverent and attentive during the sacrament?
Have you had an experience where setting aside distractions changed your worship?
How has sacrament meeting become more sacred to you over time?
What simple practices help you and your family focus on the Savior during the ordinance?

Claim the promise of always having His Spirit

Faithful participation in the sacrament qualifies members for the promised companionship of the Holy Ghost, which guides, comforts, and sanctifies them.

“And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.”

“By participating weekly and appropriately in the ordinance of the sacrament, we qualify for the promise that we will ‘always have his Spirit to be with [us].’”

“The gift of the Holy Ghost is the compass that leads us to make correct choices and sanctifies us from all sin.”

Key Points:

The sacrament prayer includes a covenant promise of the Spirit.
Remembering the Savior is connected to receiving His Spirit.
Appropriate weekly participation helps members qualify for that promise.
The Holy Ghost guides choices and sanctifies disciples.
The promised companionship of the Spirit is both protective and purifying.

Experiences:

When have you felt the Holy Ghost act as a compass in your life?
How has the sacrament helped you feel renewed spiritually?
What experiences have shown you the connection between remembering Christ and feeling the Spirit?
When have you felt comforted or sanctified through the influence of the Holy Ghost?

Trust that the living Christ knows and helps you

On Easter Sunday, Elder Larreal bears witness that Jesus Christ lives, knows us personally, and stands ready to help us with outstretched arms.

“On this Easter Sunday, as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

“I know that Jesus Christ lives and He knows us.”

“His arms are always outstretched and ready to help us.”

“He loves us beyond what we can comprehend.”

Key Points:

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to Christian hope and worship.
Jesus Christ is living and personally aware of each of us.
He is eager to help and bless His disciples.
His love exceeds human understanding.
Remembering the living Christ during the sacrament can strengthen faith and trust.

Experiences:

When have you felt that the living Christ was aware of your needs?
How has your testimony of the Resurrection influenced your daily discipleship?
What experience has helped you trust that the Savior is ready to help you?
How have you felt hope because Jesus Christ lives?