The Temple is a Blessing for Me and My Family.

Salt Lake University 2nd Ward June Family Home Evening

Song: “Families Can Be Together Forever”, CS #188

Scripture: D&C 124:40

Thought: adapted from The Friend July 2004, 37.

To help children learn about the ordinances and blessings of the temple, cut a picture of a temple into four puzzle pieces. You can easily print off a temple picture picture from ww.LDS.org. Label each piece with the following scripture references and songs:

(1) Baptism for the dead—D&C 127:6–7, “When Jesus Christ Was Baptized” 

(p. 102, second verse),
(2) Confirmation—D&C 20:41, “I Like My Birthdays” (p. 104, third verse),
(3) Endowment—D&C 105:12, “I Love to See the Temple” (p. 95),
(4) Marriage and Sealing—D&C 132:46, “Families Can Be Together Forever” (p. 188).

Using two people, have one stand outside the room while another hides the first puzzle piece. Have the first person come back in and look for the puzzle piece as the family gives clues by singing the suggested song more loudly as the person gets closer to the puzzle piece and more softly as he or she moves farther away. Stick the puzzle piece on the wall. Read the scripture references and discuss the ordinance. For younger children you may want a picture to illustrate the ordinance. Choose more family members to repeat the process.

General Authority Message: Special Witness: Elder Russell M. Nelson Friend, April 2008, 22.

I’m not old enough to go to the temple. What can I learn about it?
A temple is literally the house of the Lord, reserved for ordinances of eternal significance. Those ordinances include baptisms, marriages, endowments, and sealings. The temple is closed on the Sabbath so that people can attend church and be with their families on that hallowed day. We must qualify for admission to the temple. We prepare physically, intellectually, and spiritually. In the temple, all are dressed in spotless white. Obedience to the sacred covenants made in temples qualifies us for eternal life—the greatest gift of God to man.

President Henry B. Eyring, Special Witness of Christ Video segment “I Love to See the Temple”

Song: “I Love to See the Temple”, CS #95

Preparing for the Temple

Twice today, Andrew pointed to pictures of temples and called them "castles." I figured we needed a refresher course on temples!

Preparation:

1. Obtain 7 pictures of temples (clip art, GAK, Friend, etc.). On the back of each temple, print: Pray, Obey Parents, Love each other, Go to church, Pay tithing, Eat good foods, Be honest.

2. Post the temples on the wall.

Scripture:

Psalms 24: 3-5

Lesson:

1. Have the children stand and sing or say the words to the first part of “I Love to See the Temple” (Children’s Songbook, p. 95), using the following actions:

I love to see the temple (interlock fingers and raise the forefinger of each hand to make a spire). I’m going there someday (walk in place).
To feel the Holy Spirit (put hand over heart),
To listen and to pray (put hand behind ear, then fold arms).

2. Read the above scripture.

3. Tell the children that if they keep Heavenly Father’s commandments, they can go to the temple when they are older. Explain that in the temple we make special promises to Heavenly Father to obey his commandments. We can also be married in the temple, and we can be baptized for people who weren’t baptized while they lived on the earth.

4. Have each child find a temple that is around the room and talk about what is written on the back. Explain that these are things we can do to prepare to go to the temple.