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Oct 2010 Issue
By Alison Palmer
Scripture: D&C 128:14
Song: “Truth from Elijah,” Children’s Songbook, 90
Preparation: Gather a picture or a temple and another of an extended family member that your family interacts with often: a grandparent, cousin, aunt or uncle, etc.
Prayerfully read “Generations Linked in Love” Elder Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, May 2010, 91-94.
Lesson:
Show your family the picture of the relative you chose. Ask them to identify who is in the picture, then invite each person to share what they like best about that individual, what they respect about them, or what they enjoy doing most with that person. After the ways that this particular relative blesses your family have been discussed, ask the family to consider what would be different in their lives if they did not know this relative.
Read and discuss the paragraph on pg. 92 beginning, “Consider the spiritual connections. .
.” What kinds of activities does your family engage in to feel closer to family members both living and dead? Is there something more that could be done to reinforce those eternal bonds?
Present the picture of the temple next. What role does the temple play in keeping families close? First, discuss the ordinances and covenants available to each of us. Then, remind the family that these blessings extend to everyone in our family, whether they are living now or whether they lived many years ago.
Heavenly Father has made provisions for all His children to stay connected to each other and to Him. Remind the family that this is one of the reasons we return to the temple again and again. Each time we go we take another relative, or other spirit, along with us. We open a way for them to gain the same blessings we have.
Ask the family to think back on the discussion about the relative you chose. How would it be to miss that person for eternity? Understanding the importance of our own family relationships can help us understand how important we are to Heavenly Father. Share the following quote from page 93, “While temple and family history work has the power to bless those beyond the veil, it has an equal power to bless the living. It has a refining influence on those who are engaged in it.”
The more we reach out to our family, both present and past, the greater love we feel: for each other, for them and for Heavenly Father.
At a level of understanding appropriate for your family choose information from pages 92 and 93 of Elder Nelson’s talk. Discuss the blessings that smaller temples and technological advances have made in our ability to easily and efficiently seek out and bind ourselves to our ancestors.
End with Elder Nelson’s words from the second column of page 91 as a reminder that Heavenly Father loves each of us individually, He wants to see us surrounded by people who love us as well. He values our families and their ability to return us to His presence above everything else. What can you do as a family that shows you have the same value for each other as Heavenly Father has for you?
Activity:
Younger children: Gather a large poster board, marker, scissors, glue and expendable pictures of as many family members as possible. Work together to create a family pedigree chart- cut and paste in each person’s picture as you go.
Older children: Explore new.familysearch.org together. Plan a family trip to the temple and set a goal for how many family names you will take with you.
Treat:
A recipe or favorite food that has been passed through the generations of your family.
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