Lesson 4

Lesson 4

The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

Read before the lesson:

 

Life is Eternal by Ezra Taft Benson

Dear are the Sheep that have Wondered By James E.Faust

Song:

“I love to see the Temple” p. 95 (children’s song book)

1. I love to see the temple.
I'm going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit,
To listen and to pray.
For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I'll prepare myself while I am young;
This is my sacred duty.

2. I love to see the temple.
I'll go inside someday.
I'll cov'nant with my Father;
I'll promise to obey.
For the temple is a holy place
Where we are sealed together.
As a child of God, I've learned this truth:
A fam'ly is forever.

Scripture:

Alma 34: 10 and 14

10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.

Lesson:

Show a picture of the parents getting married in the Temple. Talk about what it means to be sealed in the temple and what it means for them. Also explain to them what they had to do to be able to go inside the temple to do the sealing, and what you have to do to keep those covenants. Explain to them that because you love them so much you want to keep those covenants that you made in the temple so that no matter what they can be together after they pass away in this life.  After you are done explaining to them what all of this means show them a picture of a mom and dad holding hands (or being close to one another) Tell them a story of how they got married in the temple and were as happy as they could be. Then hold up a boy picture. Tell them that this was their first son. He was a very obedient and loving child who was baptized in the church but started to make bad choices. Then hold up a picture of a girl and tell them that the mom and dad also had a little girl and she was a very enthusiastic little girl who loved life. She was also very active in the church but one day she became friends with a not so very nice girl and she started to change and be not so very nice herself.  As the two children got older there mom and dad were very worried for them and would pray for them every night and they were doing the best they could to be a good example for them. But the boy and girl were still not doing what they should be doing and over time they kept getting further and further away from the things they should be doing in life.  Ask them how they think the mom and dad felt. Then ask them if there is anything else they think the mom and dad should do to help out their kids. Then ask them if they remember what the mom and dad did at the beginning of the story. (get married in the temple) then explain to them that the sealing powers that they made in the temple is the best way to help their boy and girl. Share with them the quote from the talk you read earlier form James E. Faust. “Perhaps in this life we are not given to fully understand how enduring the sealing cords of righteous parents are to their children. It may very well be that there are more helpful sources at work than we know. ¹⁴ I believe there is a strong familial pull as the influence of beloved ancestors continues with us from the other side of the veil.Let us not be arrogant but rather humbly grateful if our children are obedient and respectful of our teachings of the ways of the Lord. To those brokenhearted parents who have been righteous, diligent, and prayerful in the teaching of their disobedient children, we say to you, the Good Shepherd is watching over them. God knows and understands your deep sorrow. There is hope. Take comfort in the words of Jeremiah, “Thy work shall be rewarded” and your children can “come again from the land of the enemy.” ²¹ I so testify and pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” (if children are really little summarize this statement and explain it to them)

Ask them if they know what he meant when he said that there was  a strong family pull. If they can’t answer it tell them that he is talking about the people in our family who have already passed away. Then show them pictures of some of your ancestors and tell them a little bit about them and get them wondering how they can help you out from the other side and what they would want to say to them right now if they could talk to them. Have fun with this. Begin to build a bond with their ancestors.

End with a testimony of temple sealings and the importance of doing what is right and the blessings of family.

Game:

Choose the best activity to fit your family

1.       Play family match game. (prepared in advance: take pictures of your family living and deceased and make a memory game out of them)

2.       Make a sugar cube temple. Have everyone make their own. (if not sugar cubes you can use legos, or blocks)

3.       Make a family picture into a puzzle and while they are putting it together explain to them that even if they are apart whether through disobedience or death, they will always be together through the sealing powers of the Temple.

4.       Get some old magazines and have them create a collage of what their future family will be like. Have each of them explain to the family. 

Treat:

Make s’mores  and tell them that each member of the family is different but without even one of them the family wouldn’t be complete just like all the ingredients that make a yummy s’more. 

Follow up:

Find ways throughout the week to share with them family experiences. Share pictures and stories with everyone so that they can get a better feel for their extended family, or gain a better interest in genealogy.