Lesson 28

TEMPLES A HOUSE OF GOD

Objective:  What is a temple, what we do there and how can we prepare to go there.

Visual Aid:  Picture of a temple or a miniature temple.

Lesson ideas:

* When Christ was on the earth, at the beginning of his ministry he referred to the temple as his Father’s house but at the end it was his house. (John 2: 16) and (Matthew 12: 13)

* Temples are a place where we can be sealed, do baptisms for the dead and other ordinances.

* While in the temple people wear white clothing and enter being worthy and clean.

* Prepare to go to the temple by:  keeping the commandments, saying our prayers, keeping the word of wisdom, paying our tithing and being worthy to enter the temple.

* Families can be together forever.

* Receive the blessings of exhalation (eternal life).

* Jesus was taken to the temple as an infant. (Luke 2:22)

* Jesus was found in the temple at age twelve. (Luke 2:46)

* Work now to be worthy to enter the temple.

Scriptures:

Bible

John 2:16 make not my Father’s house

Matthew 21:13 my house shall be called a house of prayer

2 Samuel 7:5 build me a house to dwell in

LDS Scriptures

1 Nephi 2:7 built an alter
2 Nephi 5:16 did build a temple

Alma 15:17 gathered in sanctuary to worship God

Activities:

* In a jar with easy to open lid:  Have words to help prepare you to go to the temple and draw the words out one by one: Pray, obey, go to church, eat good foods, and pay tithing.

* Name some people we would be able to dwell with in Heaven. (Jesus, Grandparents, etc.)

* Search for names that need to have temple work done.

* Make paper chains to represent families being linked together.

* Where possible visit a temple or do baptisms for the dead.

* Bring out ten pennies and show how tithing works.  Bishop’s Store house:  People used to pay tithing in kind with ten apples given for 100 apples or ten carrots for 100 carrots grown.

* Tic-Tac-Toe, this time us temple questions:  On a piece of paper, draw nine boxes with a number in each box from 1-9.  Divide into two teams and ask a question.  If the question is answered correctly, that team gets to mark off one of the boxes.  Keep trying until a team gets three checked off boxes in a row.
1.  Can you name a temple?
2.  What is the baptismal font used for?
3.  Do only grownups go to the temple?

4.  What color clothing do people wear in the temple?

5.  Can anyone go into the temple?

6.  Did Jesus go in a temple?

7.  Can anyone go to the temple grounds?

8.  Do people get married in a temple?

9.  What is something you do to prepare to go to the temple?

* Urim & Thumnin Game: The sentence could be, “I want to see the temple”.  Convert the alphabet to numbers and write out a sentence using the numbers then have family find out what the sentence is. A=1 B=2 c=3 d=4 etc. so 214 would be BAD.

Songs:

Hymns

# 5 High on a Mountain Top

# 300 Families Can Be Together Forever

# 247 We Love Thy House, O God

Children’s Songbook

# 95 I Love to See the Temple

# 94 Family History – I Am Doing It

# 188 Families Can Be Together Forever