Keeping Promises

From an interview with Elder Kenneth Johnson of the Seventy, currently serving in the Australia/New Zealand Area Presidency.

by Hilary Hendricks

Fail not to continue faithful in all things (Doctrine and Covenants 84:80).

When my wife, Pamela, was growing up in England, the Church was not very well established where she lived. They had a little branch, and they had a building to meet in, but they didn’t have a temple in England or anywhere nearby. Pamela remembers vividly her parents saying, “One day you will go to the temple,” and she believed them. The faith of her parents and her own belief in their faith was a wonderful thing.

Pamela’s father, Thomas Wilson, would go with the missionaries on Sunday evenings to the marketplace in the city centre, where they held street meetings. A crowd would gather as the missionaries preached the restored gospel, and Pamela’s father went along to bear his testimony.

When Pamela was a little girl, she used to ask if she could accompany him and
he’d say, “No, I don’t think that’s the best place for you to come.” He knew thatthe crowds were not always friendly.

Sometimes people yelled to distract the missionaries and threw rotten fruit at them. Just before Pamela turned eight, her father agreed that she could go with him one Sunday.
While she was there, she saw the hostility toward the missionaries and toward
her father. She relates that her father was standing on a box, so as to be seen,
bearing his testimony. She was standing behind him, holding on to his coattails.
She heard him bear his witness of Jesus Christ. To see her father stand in those circumstances and declare his testimony made a great impression on her life; it
anchored her to faith in the Savior.
And so she grew up participating in the tiny Primary they had, still determined
to go to the temple one day. She knew no young men, except for two cousins, who were members of the Church, and very few young women. Yet she grew up believing that she would be able to find someone she could marry and be
sealed to in the temple.
Pamela and I met at a dance when we were teenagers. I asked her for a dance, and as we talked, she told me that she was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That was the first time I had ever heard of the Church.

I wasn’t interested in religion then—but she was so different from the other young ladies I knew!
She had a strong character; she knew what she believed, and she knew what she wanted. Early on, she let me know that there would be no chance of any marriage between us, because in the temple was the only place where she would marry. She had made promises, covenants, with Heavenly Father, and she had the loyalty to keep those promises.Soon I realized that what made her so attractive was the gospel. She reflected truths of the gospel in her life. We met in April, and I was baptized that August. Three years later, she agreed to
marry me. We were sealed in the temple at last. I think one of the things that drew me to Pamela was her loyalty. My parents were not members of the
Church, but they taught me that it is important to keep our promises and be dependable.
When I was a boy, I played a lot of football (soccer). My father watched me play and gave me pointers. He bicycled long distances, often, to do that. But
I always knew that if he said he would come and watch me, he’d be there. His quiet dependability meant a lot.
At age sixteen, I started to deliver newspapers. I had anold trade bike, a bike that has room to carry papers on the front. I loved cycling! One day I was cycling through the city, and in the bicycle-shop window, I saw a  Coventry-Eagle bicycle. It was magnificent! It was lilac-colored with black trimming, and it had racing handlebars. I went home and told my father
about it.
The next day, he said, “If you’ll save up half the price of the bike, I’ll give you the other half.” Great! It took me many months to get half the money
together. I did not realize until long after the event that my father would not have had sufficient money to contribute to the purchase when I first asked
concerning the possibility. He knew that as I was saving, he could also save. That way, between us, we could raise the amount needed. My father always kept
his promises.
Loyalty and dependability are essential qualities for members of the Church. At
our baptisms and in the temple, we make promises with Heavenly Father. Keeping those promises blesses our lives and the lives of our families.
I’m grateful for Pamela’s loyalty, which anchored her in the gospel and led me to the Church. It is a privilege to be sealed to her for eternity.

 

 

Filed under: Family, Temples, Doctrine and Covenants 84:80, Elder Kenneth Johnson, Keeping Promises

LDS Operating Temples 1-6

St. George Utah  Temple ~1st operating temple

Logan Utah Temple ~ 2nd operating temple

 

Manti Utah Temple ~ 3rd operating temple

Salt Lake Temple ~ 4th operating temple

Laie Hawaii Temple ~ 5th operating temple
Cardston Alberta Temple ~ 6th operating temple

Filed under: Temples, Cardston Alberta Temple ~ 6th operating temple, Laie Hawaii Temple 5th operating temple, Logan Utah Temple ~ 2nd operating temple, Manti Utah Temple 3rd operating temple, Salt Lake Temple 4th operating temple, St. George Utah Temple ~1st operating temple

Questions and Answers about the Temple

What is a temple?

A temple is a sacred place to worship Heavenly Father.

It is a place to make covenants with Heavenly Father.

It is a place to feel His Spirit.

It is a place of reverence, peace, beauty, and learning.

When can I go to the temple?

You can go to see a temple at any age. Your family can walk or drive around the temple grounds.

If you are worthy, when you are 12 you can go inside the temple and be baptized for people who didn’t get baptized when they lived on earth. Baptismal fonts in temples are set on the backs of 12 oxen. The oxen represent the twelve tribes of Israel.

When you are an adult, you can go to the temple to receive your endowment. The endowment is a gift of knowledge and blessings from Heavenly Father.

What are some other rooms in the temple?

After you receive your endowment, you go into the celestial room. The beauty and reverence help you feel close to Heavenly Father.

A sealing room is where a man and a woman are sealed in marriage for eternity. They receive blessings, and if they are faithful they and their children will be together for eternity.

What is a temple recommend?

To enter another country, you need a passport to show that you are a citizen of your country. To enter the temple, you need a temple recommend to show that you are a worthy member of the Church. Beginning at age 12, young men and young women may get a temple recommend to do baptisms for the dead. Young men need to hold the Aaronic Priesthood. You can get a recommend by going to your bishop or branch president or one of his counselors. He will ask you if you keep the commandments and if you have a testimony. If you do, he will sign your recommend, showing that you are worthy to enter the house of the Lord. Children who are going to the temple to be sealed to their parents also receive recommends.

What do I wear to the temple?

You should wear the same kind of modest, clean clothes that you wear on Sundays when you go to church.

What do I wear in the temple?

After you enter the temple, you will be given white clothes to change into. In the temple everyone wears white.

Why is a statue of the angel Moroni on top of many temples?

Moroni wrote the last book of the Book of Mormon on the gold plates and buried the plates in the Hill Cumorah. Many years later, Joseph Smith translated the plates. Moroni reminds us that the gospel has been restored to the earth.

Can people who are not members of the Church go inside temples?

After a temple is built but before it is dedicated, an open house is held. Those who attend are invited to walk through the temple with a guide who explains the purpose of temples and why they are so important to members of the Church. After temples are dedicated, only Church members with temple recommends may enter.

Where in the scriptures can I read about temples?

Isaiah prophesied about temples: Isaiah 2:1–3

Jesus taught in the temple when He was 12 years old: Luke 2:42–49

Jesus taught in the temple during His ministry: John 8:2

Jesus cast people who were buying and selling out of the temple: Matthew 21:12–14

Jesus taught daily in the temple: Mark 14:49

Nephi built a temple: 2 Nephi 5:16

King Benjamin spoke to the Nephites at the temple in Zarahemla: Mosiah 1:18–2:7

Christ appeared at the temple in Bountiful: 3 Nephi 11:1–17

The Lord described what a temple is like: D&C 88:119

 

Filed under: Sharing Time, Temples, Can people who are not members of the Church go inside temples?, Questions and Answers about the Temple, temple sharing time, What are some other rooms in the temple?, What do I wear in the temple?, What do I wear to the temple?, What is a temple recommend?, What is a temple?, When can I go to the temple?, Where in the scriptures can I read about temples?, Why is a statue of the angel Moroni on top of many temples?

Sharing Time: A Place of Love and Beauty

Who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart. (Ps. 24:3–4.)

A Place of Love and Beauty

Have you ever seen a temple lighted at night or walked on the temple grounds during the day? Do you have a picture of a temple in your home? Do you have a happy, peaceful feeling when you see a temple? Why are temples such special places? Other buildings are also built with the finest materials and landscaped with beautiful flowers. But temples are places where Heavenly Father and His Spirit may dwell. Each is a house of the Lord.

All of Heavenly Father’s children who are worthy and old enough can enter the temple to learn more about His plan of happiness. In a temple, worthy members of the Church covenant with (make promises to) Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father, in turn, makes promises to them.

Members of the Church go to the temple to participate in ordinances ^* for themselves. Many receive these ordinances when they are preparing for a mission or marriage. They also go to the temple to perform ordinances in behalf of those who have died. For example, young people who are worthy and at least twelve years old can go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. Children who are at least eight years old can attend temple dedications. Younger children may enter the temple to be sealed to their parents.

In each case, those who enter must be clean in body and spirit “because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples” (Alma 34:36).

Before you go to the temple, your bishop or branch president interviews you and asks you about your testimony and if you are keeping the commandments and following the prophet. Only then does he sign a recommend that allows you to enter the temple to participate in ordinances or to attend temple dedications. When you are an adult, an additional interview takes place with the stake president or mission president if you want to go to the temple to be endowed, ^† married, or sealed.

Each day as you choose to live the commandments, keep your baptismal covenants, and try to be more like Jesus Christ, you are preparing to go to the temple. If you are pure and clean when you enter the temple, you will feel His Spirit. The temple will always be a place of love and beauty for you.

The Temple—I’m Going There Someday

Make a temple booklet to add information to throughout the coming year.

1. Remove page 31 from the magazine. Glue it onto construction paper, then trim it.
2. Glue a photograph or drawing of yourself in the space on the front cover. Write your name on the line. Enter information about a temple dedication that you know about or learn about during the coming year on the back cover.
3. Fold the covers along the hinges and punch holes where indicated. Fold or cut paper to fit in the notebook and punch holes in the pages, aligning the holes with the ones in the covers. Place the blank pages between the two covers.
4. Thread a 2′ (60 cm) piece of string or yarn through the holes and tie a bow on the front of the booklet. Record the things you learn about temples this year in your booklet and share them with your family.

Illustrated by Brad Teare

I Love to See the Temple My Name I’m going there someday. Your picture here My record of the dedication of the _____________________ Temple Dedication date: ____________________________ Dedicatory prayer given by: ____________________________ In the prayer, he said: ____________________________ ____________________________ It made me think: ____________________________ ____________________________ I can prepare to go to the temple by: ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ I will go to the temple. ____________________________ Your name ____________________________ Date ____________________________
Sharing Time Ideas

(Note: All songs are from Children’s Songbook unless otherwise indicated. GAK = Gospel Art Kit; TNGC = Teaching, No Greater Call)

1. Discuss the times when Jesus Christ went to the temple in Jerusalem during His mortal ministry. He went as a young boy and declared He was doing Heavenly Father’s work (see Luke 2:41–49); He drove out the people who were defiling it (see John 2:13–17); He taught at the temple (Matt. 21:23–46; John 7:14–53).

Ask a child to step out of the room. Hide a picture that represents one of the following things we need to do to be worthy of going to the temple: baptism, paying tithing, living the Word of Wisdom, being kind to family members, sustaining the prophet, gaining a testimony of the Savior. Bring the child back into the room and have him or her search for the picture. Have the rest of the children sing “I Love to See the Temple” (p. 95), singing louder as the child gets closer to the picture and softer as he or she moves away from the picture. Once the picture is found, discuss how the principle represented will help the children prepare to go to the temple. Explain that finding the picture was easier when the child listened to those who were trying to guide him or her. Explain that it is easy to be ready to go to the temple if we study the scriptures and follow the teachings of the prophet, other Church leaders, and parents. Sing a song that relates to the picture: tithing—“I’m Glad to Pay a Tithing” (p. 150); Word of Wisdom—“The Lord Gave Me a Temple” (p. 153); love for family members—“A Happy Family” (p. 198); heeding the prophet—“Follow the Prophet” (pp. 110–111); gaining a testimony of the Savior—“The Church of Jesus Christ” (p. 77).

2. Teach the relationship between the covenants we make and the blessings we receive. Hang the following pictures from the GAK down the middle of a wall: baptism (601), gift of the Holy Ghost (602), sacrament (604), and temple marriage (609). On one side of the pictures, post a wordstrip that says I Promise; on the other side, The Lord’s Blessings. Divide the children into four groups. Have a teacher direct each group in reading one of the following scriptures and then discussing the covenants (promises) and blessings mentioned: Mosiah 18:8–10; D&C 121:45–46; D&C 20:75–79; D&C 109:20–23.

Prepare two containers for holding wordstrips with quotations from the above scriptures. Label one container “I Promise” and the other “The Lord’s Blessings.” In the I Promise container, put these twelve wordstrips: Bear one another’s burdens, Mourn with those that mourn, Stand as witnesses of God, Serve Him, Be full of charity, Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly, Take upon them the name of Thy Son, Always remember Him, Keep His commandments, No unclean thing shall be permitted to come into Thy house, Reverence Thee in Thy house, and Bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings.

In the The Lord’s Blessings container, put these ten wordstrips: Be redeemed of God, Numbered with those of the first resurrection, Have eternal life, Pour out His Spirit more abundantly, Confidence wax strong in the presence of God, The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, Always have His Spirit to be with them, Armed with Thy [God’s] power, Thy glory [will] be round about them, and Thine angels have charge over them.

Have the children take turns choosing a wordstrip from either of the containers and reading it out loud. Have the group whose scripture the quote comes from raise their hands and tell which ordinance it pertains to. Have the child hang the wordstrip under the correct heading by the picture depicting that ordinance. Repeat until all of the wordstrips are in place. Sing “Covenants Are Promises” (Friend, Aug. 1999, p. 38) or “Keep the Commandments” (pp. 146–147). Bear your testimony of the blessings we receive from keeping our covenants.

For younger children: Divide the children into three groups. Have a Primary leader assigned to each group prepare in advance simple materials (props, costumes, flannel-board figures, etc.) for the children to present their story. Have the leader tell the story to their group, then help the group prepare to share the story with the rest of the Primary. Stories: “Abraham Covenants with the Lord” (Gen. 22:1–18; Friend, Aug. 1998, pp. 34–35); “Joseph ‘Holds to the Iron Rod’” (Gen. 39–41; Friend, July 1998, pp. 42–43); the people of Ammon bury their weapons (Alma 23–24; Friend, Aug. 2000, pp. 34–35).

3. Learn “I Love to See the Temple” (p. 95) by cutting out four pieces of paper to form a simple foundation and three spires of a temple. On the foundation, write “love” and “see.” On the left spire, write “feel,” “listen,” and “pray.” On the middle spire, “house of God,” and on the right spire, “prepare” and “young.” For younger children, use simple pictures instead of words. Ask the children to discover which three senses are mentioned as you sing the first two lines of the song. As you sing, place the foundation and the first spire on a flannel board. Have the children name which senses were mentioned. Explain how feeling with your hands is different from feeling the Spirit. Have everyone sing the first two lines. Ask them to find three things that a temple is (a house of God, a place of love, a place of beauty) as you sing the next line. Add the middle spire as the children sing the third line with you. As you sing the final line, have the children discover what their sacred duty is (“prepare myself while I am young”). Place the final spire on the flannel board as the children sing that line. Sing the entire first verse several times. As you do, remove the strips one by one until the children can sing the song without the wordstrips. Teach the second verse in a similar manner.

4. Check with your priesthood advisor first to see if this activity will work in your meetinghouse without disrupting others in the building. If not, designate areas of the children’s meeting room to represent the rooms mentioned. Divide the children into groups and take them on a tour of the meetinghouse, much as they might go on a tour of a temple during an open house. (See Friend, Feb. 1993, pp. 2–4 and Jan. 2001, p. 22.) Ask them to be reverent and listen to the guides who will explain how a temple is similar to and different from a meetinghouse. Have an adult accompany each group, as well as a guide at each of the following stops:

Chapel—a gathering place in both buildings.

Classroom—similar to an ordinance room because it is where we are taught what Heavenly Father wants us to know and do.

Baptismal font (if there is not one in your building, use a picture)—in a meetinghouse baptisms are performed for the living; in the temple baptisms are performed for the dead.

Kitchen—in a meetinghouse, a place to serve food for ward or stake activities; in some temples there are cafeterias where food is served.

Bishop or branch president’s office—the bishop or branch president is responsible for his ward or branch; each temple has a temple president’s office. The temple president is responsible for the temple and the work done there. If possible, have the bishop or branch president explain what a temple recommend is at this stop.

Return to the Primary room and explain that temples have some other special rooms, such as the celestial room and sealing rooms. Have the children sing “I Love to See the Temple” (p. 95). Invite a speaker to talk about his or her experiences at a temple open house or dedication.

5. Tell the story “Samuel’s Scriptures” (Friend, Jan. 1998, pp. 2–3). Have the children mark D&C 131:2–4 in their scriptures. Hand out pieces of paper cut to fit in the children’s temple booklet (see Sharing Time, pp. 30–31). Have the children list five reasons why they want to be married in the temple. Ask them to add this sheet to their temple booklets.

For younger children: Enlarge the game board in the back of the Primary 2 manual. Change the beginning space to “Not Preparing to Go to the Temple” and the ending space to “Preparing to Go to the Temple.” Color the spaces on the board five different colors, and in a sack have five small pieces of paper the same colors. Divide into two or more teams. Provide a marker for each team. Play the game, having a team member take at random a piece of paper, move their marker as directed, and return the colored paper to the sack. Read what the square says and briefly discuss why what is written will or will not help us prepare to go to the temple. The arrow on each square indicates which direction the team will move on its next turn. Have the teams take turns and continue playing until all the teams reach “Preparing to Go to the Temple.” If possible, give the children copies of the game board to color and take home to play as a family home evening activity.

6. Additional Friend resources: “Keeping My Promise,” Aug. 1998, pp. 12–13, 11; “Temple Light,” Aug. 1999, p. 19; “I Can Keep My Covenant,” Aug. 1999, pp. 44–46; Friend to Friend, May 2000, pp. 6–7; “Sticking to Standards,” May 2000, p. 47. Additional resources: “Nauvoo’s Holy Temple,” Ensign, Sep. 1994, pp. 59–62; “Building Temples, Building Lives,” Ensign, Oct. 2000, pp. 23–27.

Filed under: Family, Lesson 26: Families Can Be Together Forever, Sharing Time, Temples, Lesson 26: Families Can Be Together Forever, Sharing Time: A Place of Love and Beauty, temples, The temple is a sacred place

A Special Day

Click to View Larger Format
Illustrated by Thomas S. Child

Sheila E. Wilson, “Sharing Time: A Special Day,” Friend, Jul 2004, 37

Let this house be built unto my name, that I may reveal mine ordinances therein unto my people (D&C 124:40).

Have you ever been excited for a special day? Maybe it was your birthday or a vacation. Seven-year-old Adair was excited for a special day. Her family set a date to go to the temple one year from the time of their baptism.

Adair’s family held a special family home evening. Her dad and mom explained how important it was for everyone to prepare to go to the temple. They made a list of the things they could do: pray individually and as a family, read the scriptures, pay tithing, keep the commandments, and follow the prophet.

Adair’s mother gave her a picture of the temple and wrote Adair’s name and the date that her family would be going to the temple underneath. Every day Adair tried her best to prepare for when her family would be sealed in the temple. Adair felt good inside as she realized that each day she prepared to receive the blessings of the temple was a special day. She felt a surge of excitement as the special day came. Being sealed as a family was a blessing Heavenly Father gave them that brought them closer to Him and to each other.

Families can be together forever through making and keeping temple covenants and ordinances. The prophets have encouraged each of us to prepare to go to the temple. You can prepare to go to the temple with your family. You can also prepare to go at age 12 to do baptisms for the dead or to go when you are an adult—perhaps when you receive a mission call or before you are married.

Great blessings come from going to the temple. As you prepare now to receive the blessings of the temple, each day will be a special day!

Sharing Time Ideas

(Note: All songs are from Children’s Songbook unless otherwise noted; GAK = Gospel Art Picture Kit, TNGC = Teaching, No Greater Call.)

1. To help children understand that being baptized and keeping their baptismal covenants helps them prepare to receive the blessings of the temple, make road signs using these words: Stop, Caution, One Way, Yield, Go. For each sign write one of My Gospel Standards on paper and cut into wordstrips. Put each standard in an envelope and paste one to the back of each sign. Post the road signs and a picture of the temple in the front of the room. Make a traffic light with red, yellow, and green circles. Write out 2 Ne. 31:17–18 on a strip of paper and paste on the other side of the traffic light.

Hold up the traffic light and read the scripture. When we are baptized, we open the gate to the path back to Heavenly Father. We must be baptized to go to the temple and to enter the celestial kingdom. After baptism we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which will help us choose the right. Turn the sign around. My Gospel Standards are like road signs on our path. In making choices we can (point to red circle) stop and remember Heavenly Father’s plan for us, (yellow circle) slow down and remember our baptismal covenants, and (green circle) go and listen to the Holy Ghost.

Divide the Primary into five groups. Have each group choose two helpers. Blindfold one of the helpers from each group and have him or her stand at the back of the room. After they are blindfolded, have the other helpers stand by one of the road signs. In a soft reverent voice, they should direct their blindfolded partner to their road sign. After they reach the sign, have the group put together their My Gospel Standard wordstrip in order, and prepare to act out for the Primary one way they can live their standard. Have each group hold their sign backwards and take a turn acting while the Primary guesses the standard. They then turn their sign around and explain how their standard can help us to be temple worthy.

2. To help children learn about the ordinances and blessings of the temple, cut a picture of a temple into puzzle pieces. 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 helpers, have one stand outside the Primary room while another hides the first puzzle piece. Have the first helper come back in and look for the puzzle piece as the Primary gives clues by singing the suggested song more loudly as the helper gets closer to the puzzle piece and more softly as he or she moves farther away. Post the puzzle piece on the board. Read the scripture references and discuss the ordinance. Choose more children to repeat the process. Have the children repeat D&C 124:40. Bear testimony of the importance of temple ordinances.

3. Prepare the room by displaying a picture of the temple and the following statement: “The spirit and blessings of the temple can fill our homes as we live worthy lives. Even before we are old enough to go to the temple, we can prepare our hearts by being obedient and choosing the right” (“Temple Blessings,” Friend, Aug. 2001). Teach the children about obedience by playing a game called “Being Obedient: Then and Now.” Prepare five items that represent challenges to obedience during pioneer times, or “then” (for example, a stick = steep rough hillsides, blue fabric = rivers to cross, rock = rocky trails to walk, picture of a sun = hot days and cold nights, picture of a wagon wheel = wagon wheels to constantly repair). Make up five case studies of “now” challenges (for example: Your best friend invites you to go to a movie on Sunday. What commandment would help you choose the right?) (See TNGC,pp. 161–62.) Inside five numbered sacks, place a “then” item, a “now” case study, and the name of a song about obedience.

Though the pioneers had difficulties, they followed Brigham Young and were obedient in keeping the commandments. Read the statement about the temple above. As the children sing “Keep the Commandments” (pp. 146–47), have them listen for (1) the words of a prophet (keep the commandments) and (2) the blessings of obedience (safety and peace).

Hand out the sacks to the children. Choose a child to stand up front and give two or three instructions for the Primary to pass the sacks (for example, pass it three people to the right, pass it forward once). He or she then calls out a number from 1 to 5. The person holding that sack opens it and guesses what challenge the “then” item might represent for the pioneers. He or she then reads and answers the “now” challenge. Sing the song that goes with the sack and have the children listen for the commandment(s) to follow and the blessing(s) that will be theirs. Choose a new child to be a leader and repeat for each sack. Remind the children that we have challenges in our lives today, but we can become temple worthy as we follow the prophet and keep the commandments.

4. Teach the children the importance of family history and temple work by drawing a pedigree chart on the board with spaces to fill in three generations (child, parents, and grandparents). Prepare signs with different family traits or characteristics (mother’s smile, father’s musical talent, etc.).

Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (p. 188). Read Abr. 1:31. Invite a child to write his name on the “child” line. Give him a sign and comment how his trait is like his “mother” or “father.” Sing “I Am a Child of God” (pp. 2–3). Invite two more children to represent a father and mother, and write their first names on the father and mother line. Give them a sign, then comment on how their traits are similar to one or both of their “parents.” Sing “A Happy Family” (p. 198). Invite four more children to represent two sets of grandparents and ask them to write their first names on the grandparents’ lines. Comment on how their traits are similar to those of one of their family members, and give each a sign. Have all seven family members turn their backs to the Primary. As you sing “Family History—I Am Doing It” (p. 94), tap a family member on the shoulder, which is their cue to turn around. When they are facing the Primary, have those children who have a family characteristic or trait like their sign join in singing. Remind the children that through temple ordinances our families can be together forever. Invite them to ask their parents about their family history.

5. To teach the song “Families Can Be Together Forever” (p. 188), see “Sharing Time: Together Forever,”  idea 5, Friend, Feb. 2002, 31.

To review songs for this year’s children’s sacrament meeting presentation, make several large keys (at least one for each song to be reviewed). Write the names of the songs to be reviewed on the keys.

Invite a child to choose a key and ask him to wait outside the Primary room. Have the Primary help you choose a keyword from the song chosen. This will be the word they will not sing in the song. Write the word on the blank side of the key. Invite the child to come back in. Hold the keyword above the child’s head as a reminder to the others of which word not to sing. As the Primary sings, ask the child to listen for the keyword that is missing. Let the child guess which word is missing. Review the gospel principle in the song. Repeat for the other songs to be reviewed.

6. Friend references: “Thankful for Temple Blessings,”  Nov. 2002, 44–45; “Stewart, a Commandment-Keeper, Too,”  Jan. 2002, 4–6; “Plain Words About Baptism,”  Jan. 2000, 39; “Worthy of the Temple,”  Sept. 2002, 42–43; “Guided by the Holy Ghost,”  Oct. 2001, 8; “A Covenant People,”  Jan. 2000, IFC; “Family History ABCs,”  Feb. 2002, 24–25; “The Heart of the Children,”  Aug. 2002, 36–38; “To Save Our Ancestors,”  Aug. 2002, 7.

Filed under: Temple, Temples, A Special Day, Families can be together forever, prepare to go to the temple, temple covenants

The Spirit of God

Pat Graham, “Sharing Time: The Spirit of God,” Friend, Jan 1986, 46

Help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices … with acclamations of praise, singing Hosanna to God and the Lamb! (D&C 109:79).

When a temple is completed, it is dedicated as a house of the Lord. A special prayer is offered, and those in attendance give the Hosanna Shout and sing “The Spirit of God” (Hymns, no. 2). A temple is a very sacred place, and when people are worthy, they often feel the Spirit of God when they go into His house.

When you live the teachings of the gospel, you can have a feeling inside that lets you know that what you are doing or thinking is right. Through prayer, you can receive answers to your problems. When you say that you know the true Church has been restored, others who hear you can have a feeling inside that helps them to know that what you have said is true. As you dedicate yourselves to doing good, the Spirit of God will guide and instruct you.

Pictured are the temples that were dedicated by September 1985. The date of dedication follows the name of each temple. Cut out the pictures and arrange them in order of dedication. Think of ways that you can prepare yourself to help with missionary and temple work.

Sharing Time Ideas

1. Relate personal experiences about visiting temple open house or dedication.

2. Attach each temple picture to toothpick and insert in gumdrop. Place each temple where it is located on large world map.

3. Sing “The Spirit of God” (Hymns, no. 2), and “I Love to See the Temple” (Supplement to More Songs for Children, page 4).

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