It wasn't a prayer. It was a 'gem' of a thought that a little kid had to read from a piece of paper, given to him the week previous. You got your name in the program, and everything!
At the yearly Ward Awards Dinner, I used to pray to heavenly father that I would be selected as best gem reader from the previous year and get my name on the trophy...
I remember the "gem." I don't remember flubbing it. For not flubbing it, I was praised and exalted, and felt like a good little mormon boy. Not that it had anything to do with indoctrination or peer pressure or anything...
never heard of it referred to as a gem. I had my fair share of flubs. Did anyone purposely push the paper cups into the holes so that the receiving person had a hard time pulling the cup out?
You betcha! Also got a kick of seeing how little of water could be added to each cup. That earned us a special visit from the snotty BP counselor. The best was to jam them in real tight then fill it to the brim. Lots of wet ties and blouses.
It was impossible to talk me into speaking in church. They guilted me into doing Sacrament Gems once, IIRC. I thought I was going to have a heart attack right up on the dais.
One of the many reasons why I am what I am today.
Bastards.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/2015 05:05PM by csuprovograd.
A repressed memory, the sacrament gem! How happy you've made me feel for posting this message!
What was the "order" in the program as far as where it fit in? Was it before or after the sac hymn? Was there music underscoring it from the organist? Was it done in children's Sunday School as well as in adult Sunday School?
I hope some of you have the answers. Thanks in advance!
I remember that a member of the SS presidency would come into our class and announce "we need two 2 1/2 minute talks and a sacrament gem from your class next week". I would be the first to pop up and say "I'll do the sacrament gem"!. (So I wouldn't get chosen for one of the talks). I was a pretty smart little kid.
Mormonism really is pre-occupied with riches and shiny things, isn't it? Gems, the "Pearl of Great Price," not to mention a BoM full of stories of gold plates and precious metals. All a reflection and reminder of JS's obsession with treasure hunting.
Hey, if you can't have it in real life, at least you can fantasize about it!