Book Review: The Sacrament by John Bytheway, Illustrated by Nathan Pinnock

The Sacrament, by John Bytheway, Illustrated by Nathan Pinnock
2014, 32p, LDS Children's Book
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Received copy from the publisher for an honest review



It's understandable that some children appear bored or distracted during sacrament meeting. Many young Latter-day Saints are probably unsure about the true meaning of the sacrament and why we attend. With this in mind, bestselling author John Bytheway has composed a delightful poem (inspired by a short poem by Walter H. Horne) to help Latter-day Saints young and old appreciate the ordinance of the sacrament. In particular, children will learn what they should be thinking about (and not be thinking about) during this sacred time as well as what the sacrament can do for all of us.

Beautifully illustrated by Nathan Pinnock, this thought-provoking story about a young boy and his grandpa is a gentle reminder about the importance of remembering the Lord Jesus Christ, especially during this special meeting meant for Him.

This is a poem about a young boy who goes to visit his grandpa. They have lots of fun and when Sunday comes, it's time to go to church. He's not very enthused about this and while he's sitting in Sacrament Meeting, obviously bored, his grandpa, whispering, tells him a story of when he was young and how he came to appreciate the sacrament. This leads the boy to reflect on the covenants he made when he was baptized and how he can improve his behavior during the sacrament.

This is a great book for young and old! After reading it, I reflected on what I can do to make the sacrament more meaningful for me each Sunday. There's also two pages at the end titled "Symbols of the Sacrament." This is a great way to start a meaningful discussion on the symbolism we see every Sunday. 

I also enjoyed the pictures! Visiting grandpa looks like a lot of fun. I also got a kick out of the pictures of the bored or distracted congregation. Then, there are pictures of baptism, the sacrament and the Savior. This makes a great Family Home Evening lesson and is a book I highly recommend to everyone!

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About the Authors

John Bytheway is an instructor at the Brigham Young University Salt Lake Center. He served his mission in the Philippines and earned a master’s degree in Religious Education at BYU. He has published dozens of books and audio programs and lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Kimberly, and their six children.

Nathan Pinnock studied at Utah State University, the University of Utah, and Atelier LeSueur in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at Brigham Young University. Between years of school, Nate served a mission in Frankfurt, Germany. He illustrated books and magazines for fifteen years and now spreads his time between his illustration, sculpture, fine art, and teaching. He is a creator. His paintings and books can be found in galleries, businesses, and homes across America. Nate lives in Holladay with his wife, Alison, and kids.