Song: The Hearts of the Children (CS. 92)
Thought: President Howard W. Hunter taught: “We must accomplish the priesthood temple ordinance work necessary for our own exaltation; then we must do the necessary work for those who did not have the opportunity to accept the gospel in life. Doing work for others is accomplished in two steps: first, by family history research to ascertain our progenitors; and second, by performing the temple ordinances to give them the same opportunities afforded to the living. (The Joy of Redeeming the Dead)
Object Lesson: Start by your family, "Now who REALLY loves chocolate? I'm not talking about just liking chocolate, who L-O-V-E-S chocolate?" Have some chocolate sitting on the edge of the table. Then tell the person that volunteered that the chocolate is theirs, the only thing is....they can't use any of their body to get to the chocolate. Otherwise, it's theirs! The person is left not knowing how to get the chocolate.
After a moment, ask your family, "Who would like to feed so-and-so this chocolate in exchange for him/her doing your chores tomorrow?" Call on someone to come and put the chocolate in the first volunteers mouth. Thank both volunteers and let them be seated.
Then discuss the above activity a bit further. Help them realize that the first volunteer (our ancestors) REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want their work done, but they can't. WHY? They no longer have a body (which is why they can't use any part of their body to touch the chocolate). However, worthy members of the church (2nd volunteer) help by attending the temple and doing the work for them. In exchange for this, the Lord blesses us for our service (clean house, whatever blessings He sees fit....). (She Really Wants the Chocolate!)
Video: The Spirit of Elijah
Lesson Activity: Ahead of time download the software for indexing on your family computer. Spend some time before FHE familiarizing yourself with it and be ready to teach your family how to use it. During FHE set a timer and see how many names your family can index. This activity can be extended throughout the week if you would like to set up a "competition" among family to see who can index the most names. If you choose to do this make sure you set up some rules and have a time schedule for the computer so that everyone gets a chance to participate who wants to!
Young children may not find this activity of any interest so you may consider the following: Grandma's Trunk or Family History ABC's.
This Week's Challenge: Encourage your family to check out the LDS website: Youth and Family History. Challenge your family members to begin researching your family history and become familiar with all the resources that the LDS church has to offer.
Showing posts with label Temples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Temples. Show all posts
8.18.2013
8.17.2013
The Spirit of Elijah
Temple marriage is a wonderful blessing we have the opportunity to experience in this life. But, for those of our family who have passed away without receiving that blessing there is a way provided!
8.12.2013
Week 32: Temple Marriage
Song: The Family is of God (The Friend, Oct 2008)
Thought: In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles proclaim “that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” This keynote sentence of the proclamation teaches us much about the doctrinal significance of marriage and emphasizes the primacy of marriage and family in the Father’s plan. Righteous marriage is a commandment and an essential step in the process of creating a loving family relationship that can be perpetuated beyond the grave. (Elder Bednar)
Object Lesson: Give each family member a small triangle with God written on one point, Husband on another, Wife on the third, and the words Sacred Triangle across the front. Have each one write on the back: “I will prepare now to be worthy of participating in the sacred triangle of eternal marriage.”
Refer to the sacred triangle. Erase the lines leading from husband and wife to God, leaving a straight horizontal line. Explain that we must do all we can to prevent a situation in which God is not part of our marriage/future marriage. (YW Manual 3)
Video:
Lesson Activity: Ahead of time prepare or purchase pre-made rice crispy treats. Have your family work together to build a temple out of the treats. Once your temple is built then you can choose to eat it our display it! (Idea from here)
As a family, read D&C 131:1–4 and “The New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage” in True to the Faith (page 98), looking for answers to the question “Why is temple marriage important?” If necessary, help your family define any unfamiliar words or phrases. Ask them to list some things that might keep people from marrying in the temple. What can they do now to make sure they marry in the temple? (Come, Follow Me)
This Week's Challenge: Encourage your family members to display their "sacred triangles" in their rooms to remind them of the goals they have set to prepare for a temple marriage. Challenge them to study the scriptures and words of the prophets on the subject and be prepared to share with others why marriage is so important, especially a temple marriage.
Thought: In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles proclaim “that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” This keynote sentence of the proclamation teaches us much about the doctrinal significance of marriage and emphasizes the primacy of marriage and family in the Father’s plan. Righteous marriage is a commandment and an essential step in the process of creating a loving family relationship that can be perpetuated beyond the grave. (Elder Bednar)
Object Lesson: Give each family member a small triangle with God written on one point, Husband on another, Wife on the third, and the words Sacred Triangle across the front. Have each one write on the back: “I will prepare now to be worthy of participating in the sacred triangle of eternal marriage.”
Refer to the sacred triangle. Erase the lines leading from husband and wife to God, leaving a straight horizontal line. Explain that we must do all we can to prevent a situation in which God is not part of our marriage/future marriage. (YW Manual 3)
Video:
Lesson Activity: Ahead of time prepare or purchase pre-made rice crispy treats. Have your family work together to build a temple out of the treats. Once your temple is built then you can choose to eat it our display it! (Idea from here)
As a family, read D&C 131:1–4 and “The New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage” in True to the Faith (page 98), looking for answers to the question “Why is temple marriage important?” If necessary, help your family define any unfamiliar words or phrases. Ask them to list some things that might keep people from marrying in the temple. What can they do now to make sure they marry in the temple? (Come, Follow Me)
This Week's Challenge: Encourage your family members to display their "sacred triangles" in their rooms to remind them of the goals they have set to prepare for a temple marriage. Challenge them to study the scriptures and words of the prophets on the subject and be prepared to share with others why marriage is so important, especially a temple marriage.
7.29.2013
Week 30: Temple Covenants and Ordinances
Song: I Love to See the Temple (CS. 95)
Thought: If our water supply is of questionable quality, for example, we filter the water. Similarly, divine covenants shield us from harm. When we choose to deny ourselves of all ungodliness, 20 we lose nothing of value and gain glory known only to those who obtain eternal life. Keeping a temple covenant is not constraining but enabling. It elevates us beyond limits of our own perspective and power. It is like the difference between plodding through a muddy field and soaring through the skies in a supersonic jet. Keeping a covenant with God is both protective and enabling. (Prepare for the Blessings of the Temple By Elder Russell M. Nelson)
Object Lesson: My Family Can Be Together Forever Through the Saving Ordinances of the Temple. (This is a power point presentation that reviews ordinances and covenants then discusses what we do with them in the temple. Part or all of it can be used to introduce the concepts of this lesson.)
Video: Temples Are a Beacon
Lesson Activity: For younger children this matching game can be fun to try!
Give each family member a copy of Elder Richard G. Scott’s talk “Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need,” and ask them to find the suggestions Elder Scott gives on how to benefit from temple attendance. Invite them to share what they find. Which of these suggestions do they feel apply best to them? Invite them to select one or more that they will follow the next time they attend the temple.
This Week's Challenge: Set a goal as a family for your temple attendance or preparation. Discuss the importance of temple covenants and discuss ways to help each other honor those covenants that have been entered into.
Thought: If our water supply is of questionable quality, for example, we filter the water. Similarly, divine covenants shield us from harm. When we choose to deny ourselves of all ungodliness, 20 we lose nothing of value and gain glory known only to those who obtain eternal life. Keeping a temple covenant is not constraining but enabling. It elevates us beyond limits of our own perspective and power. It is like the difference between plodding through a muddy field and soaring through the skies in a supersonic jet. Keeping a covenant with God is both protective and enabling. (Prepare for the Blessings of the Temple By Elder Russell M. Nelson)
Object Lesson: My Family Can Be Together Forever Through the Saving Ordinances of the Temple. (This is a power point presentation that reviews ordinances and covenants then discusses what we do with them in the temple. Part or all of it can be used to introduce the concepts of this lesson.)
Video: Temples Are a Beacon
Lesson Activity: For younger children this matching game can be fun to try!
Give each family member a copy of Elder Richard G. Scott’s talk “Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need,” and ask them to find the suggestions Elder Scott gives on how to benefit from temple attendance. Invite them to share what they find. Which of these suggestions do they feel apply best to them? Invite them to select one or more that they will follow the next time they attend the temple.
This Week's Challenge: Set a goal as a family for your temple attendance or preparation. Discuss the importance of temple covenants and discuss ways to help each other honor those covenants that have been entered into.
Temples Are A Beacon
Pres. Monson tells the story of a family's desire to go to the temple and the sacrifices they made to get there.
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