YOUTH CAN TEACH with these LESSON LIFESAVER activities.
FOREVER FAMILY
Fun Activities for CHURCH & HOME
“Marriage and family are ordained of God. The family is the most important social unit in time and in eternity.
Under God’s great plan of happiness, families can be sealed in temples and be prepared to return to dwell in His holy presence forever. That is eternal life!” – Russell M. Nelson, Talk “Thanks Be to God”
Start with these 18 FOREVER FAMILY activities
Part 1 How Can Families Be Together Forever?
Part 2 How Can Families Prepare For Temple Blessings?
FIND MORE
• See our FAMILY LOVE Index (HERE).
PART 1
How Can Families Be Together Forever?
WHY WE NEED TEMPLES to Create Eternal Families
“The priesthood power to bind families eternally is one of the greatest gifts of God. Every person who understands the plan of salvation longs for that lasting blessing.
Only in sealing ceremonies performed in dedicated temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does God offer the promise that families can be bound together forever.”
– President Henry B. Eyring “Families Can Be Together Forever”
HOW CAN I BE WITH MY FAMILY FOREVER?
YOUTH CAN TEACH the children that our Heavenly Father has a plan in place that makes it possible for families to be together forever. That plan includes sealing families in His holy temples. The HOME ACTIVITY helps children talk to their parents about temples and forever families.
ACTIVITY:
Cut the handout into a puzzle (cutting out individual family members).
Explain that after a couple is married they can be sealed to each other in God’s holy temple. Their children are born in the covenant and automatically sealed to their parents. Some convert families who already have children may go to the temple to be sealed (put the puzzle together as you discuss this).
Take away one family member and place him/her in an envelope as you say, “When we die, we are separated for a time, but we can have joy knowing we are sealed together (seal envelope by taping it shut).
After we are resurrected, we can be with our family again (unseal the envelope and have the children put the puzzle together again).
PREPARE FOR THE TEMPLE:
Word of Wisdom, Tithing, Prayer, Attend church, Love others, Obedience.
Discuss the HOME ACTIVITY.
HOW CAN FAMILIES PREPARE FOR TEMPLE SEALINGS?
YOUTH CAN TEACH children that the temple is a holy place where families can be sealed together forever. They can prepare to enter God’s temple by doing important things. This “LET’S BE TOGETHER FOREVER” wheel is a fun way to learn how to prepare.
ACTIVITY:
President Nelson said, “The home is to be God’s laboratory of love and service.”
The home is the best place to learn how to love and serve each other. Children can learn at home how to prepare to enter God’s holy temple, by doing the things found on the wheel:
• Obey the commandments
• Love one another
• Obey the Word of Wisdom
• Pay their tithing
• Attend church
• Be honest
CAN I LIVE WITH MY FAMILY AFTER DEATH?
YOUTH CAN TEACH by sharing the visuals to teach this song, e.g.
“Fam’lies can be together forever
Through Heav’nly Father’s plan.
I always want to be with my own family,
And the Lord has shown me how I can.
The Lord has shown me how I can.” …
ACTIVITY:
There is great comfort knowing we can be with our family forever. Ask the children to think about the words to the song and how they make them feel.
• “I have a family here on earth, they are so good to me.”
• “I want to share my life with them through all eternity.”
• “While I am in my early years, I’ll prepare most carefully.”
You can also ask questions relating to forever families then have children answer the questions using the words from the songs. For example:
(1) “What do we need to do to be with our family through eternity?” The answer would be “Marry in God’s temple for eternity.”
(2) “Who can show us how we can live with our families forever?” The answer would be “The Lord . . ..”
WHAT ARE THE KEYS THAT BIND Families Together Forever?
“The priesthood keys that make this possible were restored to the earth by the prophet Elijah to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple. Those priesthood keys have been passed in an unbroken line through living prophets in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the present day.”
– President Henry B. Eyring “Families Can Be Together Forever”
IS PRIESTHOOD NECESSARY TO DO GOD’S WORK?
YOUTH CAN TEACH other youth about the keys given to us by ancient Prophets to do God’s work.
#1 Moses gave us the keys to the gathering and leading of the ten tribes of Israel (D&C 110:11). These keys are given to mission presidents and stake presidents, who delegate authority to do this missionary work.
#2 Elijah gave us the keys (D&C 110:13-16 to do temple work “turn the hearts of the fathers” to seal families forever).
ACTIVITY:
What type of keys are we familiar with? (car keys, house keys, locker keys, post office box keys, a key to your diary, etc.) Years ago there were skeleton keys, a key modified to open multiple locks. Keys open (unlock) and lock things.
There are other kinds of keys that we cannot see or touch that were given to our latter-day Prophet Joseph Smith. They were given to him by the ancient Prophets, Moses and Elijah. They unlock GOD’S priesthood authority to perform ordinances.
Anyone can operate a regular key but not anyone can operate a key from God. God’s keys only operate under the principle of righteousness. We need to be obedient and worthy to use His keys.
This PRIESTHOOD KEYS REMINDER door hanger activity reminds us that the priesthood keys restored authority to do missionary work and temple work.
HOW CAN MY MARRIAGE LAST AFTER DEATH?
YOUTH CAN TEACH others about eternal marriage using THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD” PARAGRAPH 1 “Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and . . . the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”
ACTIVITY:
President Henry B. Iring said, “From my office window I see brides and grooms every day having their pictures taken among beautiful flowers and shooting fountains. The groom often carries his bride in his arms, at least for a few staggering steps, while the photographer shoots wedding pictures. Every time I see that, I think of couples I have known who in time—sometimes in a very short time after their wedding day—had to carry each other in other ways when life became hard.” … (continued … read to the last paragraphs about the trials in marriage HERE in “Families Can Be Together Forever”). “The Savior, through the power of His Atonement, makes possible the change in our hearts we need to make in order to enter holy temples, make covenants we can then keep, and in time live in families forever in celestial glory—home again.”
HOW AND WHERE ARE FAMILIES SEALED FOR ETERNITY?
“Only in sealing ceremonies performed in dedicated temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does God offer the promise that families can be bound together forever.
The Savior in His mortal ministry spoke of the power to seal families in words to Peter, His chief Apostle, when He said, ‘Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven’ (Matthew 16:19).”
– President Henry B. Eyring “Families Can Be Together Forever”
Also, see this same verse in Matthew 18:19 (see scripture poster below) where “All of the Twelve receive the keys of the kingdom.”
HOW AM I SEALED TO MY FAMILY?
YOUTH CAN TEACH other youth about temple covenants as they memorize this verse on binding families for eternity: Matthew 18:18 “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
ACTIVITY:
To BIND (from the Webster’s 1828 dictionary) means To oblige by a promise, vow, stipulation, covenant, law, duty or any other moral tie; to engage.
To LOOSE means To free from obligation.
Because priesthood keys have been restored, families can be sealed together in the temple. When they marry in the temple they are sealed for time and eternity. Or if they are all ready married and have children, they can take their children to the temple and be sealed as an eternal family. Children born to a couple already sealed in the temple are “born in the covenant.” and are automatically sealed to their parents for eternity.
HOW CAN I BE WITH MY FAMILY IN HEAVEN?
YOUTH CAN TEACH by helping youth memorize and talk about this Proclamation “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.”
ACTIVITY:
Have you ever wanted something very much? What did you do to obtain it? Did you work hard and save money? What other sacrifices did you make? When you received it how did you feel after putting in all that effort?
OUR FAMILY is a vital part of our lives. They help us learn how to love, serve, repent, and forgive. Living in a family requires sacrifice, hard work, and effort.
Our heavenly Parents knew we would have the best chance to return to Them if we lived in families where parents guide and care for us. They gave us prophets, scriptures, and the Holy Ghost. They provided ordinances and covenants that can bind us forever to our family. We enter the Church of Jesus Christ through baptism. We follow our Savior through covenants and ordinances, and when we are ready someday, we can partake of the ordinances and covenants that eventually create our own ETERNAL FAMILY!
WHERE DO WE LIVE WITH OUR FAMILIES FOREVER?
“It is only in the celestial kingdom that we can live in families forever. There we can be in families in the presence of our Heavenly Father and the Savior. The Prophet Joseph Smith described that wonderful experience this way in the Doctrine and Covenants:
“When the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is. We shall see that he is a man like ourselves.
‘And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy’ (D&C 130:1–2).”
– President Henry B. Eyring “Families Can Be Together Forever”
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONE TO MARRY?
YOUTH CAN TEACH views of a latter-day Apostle in this quote to memorize: “Celestial marriage is a pivotal part of preparation for eternal life. It requires one to be married to the right person, in the right place, by the right authority, and to obey that sacred covenant faithfully.” – Bruce R. McConkie
ACTIVITY:
As we approach ADULTHOOD there are important decisions we must ponder like serving a mission, our career, education, and finances.
The most important decision is choosing an eternal companion. Wisdom suggests a, “Long courtship short engagement.” Taking time to know each other is important.
Here’s an example. A young man asked a young woman on a date. He had just purchased ice cream cones for them when a nearby child, eating his cone bumped into this young woman and smeared ice cream on her skirt. She, not concerned, quickly knelt to comfort the child. That day this young man took mental note of his date’s character.
Wise young couples considering marriage discuss finances, children, in-laws, careers, religion, physical intimacy, etc.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
YOUTH CAN TEACH other youth that couples can be sealed for eternity in the temple. Civil marriages are only for time. Some family members are not members of the Church and cannot attend a sealing ceremony in the temple. Therefore, some couples marry in a civil ceremony celebrating with all their family then go to the temple to be sealed for eternity.
ACTIVITY:
As you put together this puzzle think about what the Prophet, Russell M. Nelson said in his talk “Choices for Eternity” (HERE).
“Every righteous choice that you make here will pay huge dividends now. But righteous choices in mortality will pay unimaginable dividends eternally. If you choose to make covenants with God and are faithful to those covenants, you have the promise of ‘glory added upon [your head] for ever and ever’ [Abraham 3:26].
These truths ought to prompt your ultimate sense of FOMO—or fear of missing out. You have the potential to reach the celestial kingdom. The ultimate FOMO would be missing out on the celestial kingdom, settling for a lesser kingdom because here on earth you chose only to live the laws of a lesser kingdom.”
SEALING ANCESTORS TO OUR ETERNAL FAMILY
“We can care enough about our family members, living and dead, to do all that we can to offer them the priesthood ordinances that will bind us in heaven.
Many of you, young and old, are doing that. You have looked for names of ancestors who have not yet received the ordinances that can seal you together.”
– President Henry B. Eyring “Families Can Be Together Forever”
HOW CAN I HELP CONNECT MY FAMILY?
YOUTH CAN TEACH other youth about doing temple work as they match temple workers with those on the other side waiting to have their work done. For example, Emily discovered that one of her relatives needed to be sealed to their parents. In the activity youth will match HEARTS of Fern and Colleen, looking for Emily.
ACTIVITY:
Temple work helps us seal families who have passed on to be together forever. This TURN THE HEARTS match game can help us understand the importance of temple work.
Talk about writing in a journal your family history and share stories of parents and ancestors. Share about things they did in the past that we don’t do now, e.g., dial telephones, VHS, old records, books, and games they played. Project 10 or 20 years ahead and what might be invented by then.
Show a picture of a large tree and talk about in family history what represents the “roots” (parents, grandparents, and other ancestors) and what represents the “branches” (children, grandchildren, and other descendants).
Watch the video/talk “Roots and Branches” by Elder Quintin L. Cook, Apostle (HERE). He said, “Hastening family history and temple work in our day is essential for the salvation and exaltation of families.”
Here are ways we can help do temple work. Do baptisms for the dead, interview an ancestor, write our history, interview parents or grandparents, or do Indexing to gather names for temple work (see Family Search HERE).
HOW CAN I HELP MY ANCESTORS?
YOUTH CAN TEACH other youth ponder the importance of baptism for the dead as they have fun TRACING THEIR ANCESTOR’S hair and facial features on the chart to identify each charted ancestor. While doing so, they can say, “I can be baptized for … my family and others.”
ACTIVITY:
What physical features are prominent in your family? Red hair and freckles? Blond hair and blue eyes? How about dark skin and dark eyes? Or big ears? Large noses? High cheekbones? We all look different. This TRACING MY ANCESTORS pedigree chart is a fun way to express the unique traits of your ancestors.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 356.)
Perhaps explain the different ways to seek after our dead (indexing, finding names on family search and taking them to the temple and do their baptisms, reading their stories, writing your own history).
PART 2
How Can Families Prepare For Temple Blessings?
WITH GOD’S HELP WE CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER
“My assurance to you is that, with the Lord’s help and with repentant hearts, we can catch a glimpse in this life of the kind of life we want to have forever. Heavenly Father loves us. He wants us back with Him.
The Savior, through the power of His Atonement, makes possible the change in our hearts we need to make in order to enter holy temples, make covenants we can then keep, and in time live in families forever in celestial glory—home again.“
– President Henry B. Eyring “Families Can Be Together Forever”
HOW CAN I PREPARE TO ENTER GOD’S TEMPLE?
YOUTH CAN TEACH the children that they can use this as a reminder of ways to get ready to enter the temple doors to God’s house. Learn about keeping bad things out of your body (Word of Wisdom), when older pay your tithing, pray, go to church, love others, and obey your parents.
ACTIVITY:
Help the children understand that when they are older ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS they can do in God’s temple is be baptized for their ancestors. This is done by proxy (proxy means YOU acting for YOUR ANCESTOR).
You can demonstrate this by putting a white glove on your left hand representing a deceased ancestor. Raise it up in the air waving and say “This is your great grandpa Ben.” Hold up your right hand, representing you, just a little with finger legs down and say, “This is you here on earth.” “When you are 12 you can go to the temple (right hand fingers walking) and be baptized (fingers and hand dip down like being immersed in water) for your great grandpa Ben (ancestor waves).” You may want to do it a few times WITH THE CHILDREN DOING IT WITH YOU.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PREPARE FOR THE TEMPLE?
YOUTH CAN TEACH children about temples and their importance by flipping through these temple visuals on rings. Write the words on the cue cards (in your language) to place on the back. For example, “I love to see the temple. I’m going there someday …”
ACTIVITY:
Some fun IDEAS TO PRESENT THIS SONG:
Option #1: Bring pairs of sunglasses or crazy glasses for the children to wear. Have the children come up front, put on glasses, and sing sing sing.
Option #2: Have children come up and place their thumbs around their eyes in a circle to make glasses as they sing the song.
ASK the children if they have gone to temple grounds and what they saw and how they felt.
HOW SHOULD I LIVE MY LIFE TO BE TEMPLE WORTHY?
YOUTH CAN TEACH other youth about temple worthiness. On one side of this card, youth can read that they “should begin today to so live their lives that they will be found worthy” … to enter the temple. On the back, they can set goals “Things I will do now to prepare for my temple marriage.” For example, Be morally clean, pay tithing, be honest, and choose a worthy companion.
ACTIVITY:
The word DISCIPLINE (Webster’s 1828 dictionary) means: To instruct or educate; to inform the mind; to prepare by instructing in correct principles and habits; as, to discipline youth for a profession, or for future usefulness. The word DISCIPLE means: A follower; an adherent to the doctrines of another. Hence the constant attendants of Christ were called his disciples… Ask the youth how a DISCIPLE of Christ prepares to enter God’s temple.
THINKING AHEAD is wise. Ask each youth to sit for five minutes with their eyes closed and imagine themselves in FIVE years, in TEN years, in TWENTY years. Perhaps discuss what they saw! This may help them set their goals and make their list of things they can start doing TODAY!
HOW DO I SUPPORT MY FUTURE COMPANION?
YOUTH CAN TEACH other youth that a sealing in the temple brings God into the picture making it a covenant of three. That kind of companionship is where the husband and wife believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ and want Their influence and guidance in their lives. This COVENANT TENT CARD is a fun way to list ways the youth can prepare to be a support to a FOREVER spouse.
ACTIVITY:
President Nelson said, “Once you and I have made a covenant with God, our relationship with Him becomes much closer than before our covenant. Now we are bound together. Because of our covenant with God, He will never tire in His efforts to help us, and we will never exhaust His merciful patience with us. Each of us has a special place in God’s heart. He has high hopes for us.”
This is true in a marriage. When a couple makes sacred covenants with God they have access to His “merciful patience” and constant “efforts” to help.
A COUPLE can’t just expect God to do the work. A good marriage takes TWO, a husband and a wife, giving 100% effort each. Put on your thinking caps and ponder ways YOU can give 100% to your spouse. List them on the back of this TENT CARD and set it on your dresser.
“He is a half part of a blessed man,
Left to be finished by such as she.
And she a fair divided excellence,
Whose fullness of perfection lies in him.”
– William Shakespeare
HOW CAN I HELP MY FAMILY BE HAPPY?
YOUTH CAN TEACH about these principles “Successful . . . families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”
ACTIVITY:
FROM THE BEGINNING Our heavenly Parents patterned our earth life after Their heavenly family. They knew the best way for us to learn obedience, repentance, and forgiveness is through a FAMILY experience.
Our first mortal parents, Adam and Eve, were taught God’s laws and were told to teach them to their children. They had children who grew up and had children, who grew up and had children, who grew up and had children ’till one day YOU were born! Adam and Eve taught their children about faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, and work as they had fun together!
Discuss how these enrich and strengthen families.
HOW MY PARENTS HELP ME LEARN OBEDIENCE
YOUTH CAN TEACH children to show-and-tell how they can listen to and do the good things parents ask them to do with this smiling house. By pulling the images through they can spotlight specific ways to follow the teachings of Jesus.
WAYS (found on the slideshow): To Pray, Be Kind, Love Each Other, Choose the Right, Help, and Tell the Truth.
ACTIVITY:
When someone trains a puppy they always make sure the puppy looks at them when they give a command. This creates a habit of obedience in the puppy. No matter what the command is the puppy always looks at the master! Obedient puppies are happy puppies.
THIS SLIDE SHOW helps you see things MOMS AND DADS teach you. They help you learn to do more and more for yourself each day. They teach you about eating healthy food, how to work, and how to help others. They also help you learn how to be obedient so you will be safe and happy. You look to your parents for guidance.
HOW CAN I HELP BUILD A HAPPY HOME?
YOUTH CAN TEACH this activity with children and others to review what brings family happiness. FAMILY PRAYER, FAMILY SCRIPTURE STUDY, and FAMILY HOME EVENING. The quiz asks them to tell when certain trials and problems come up, which of the tools will they use.
ACTIVITY:
Have you ever built a birdhouse or a doghouse using just ordinary hand tools? Have you ever watched someone build something using POWER TOOLS?
GOOD HABITS are like having POWER TOOLS. These habits make READING OUR SCRIPTURES, HAVING FAMILY HOME EVENING, and PRAYING more powerful in many ways. They enhance these tools as we create a FOREVER FAMILY. What would the difference be between hand tools and POWER TOOLS in building a happy family?
Hand tool scripture study is reading once in a while, only on Sunday, or letting weeks or months go by. POWER TOOL scripture study is daily, personal, with family, diligently searching them, seeking answers to questions, or receiving revelation.
When we study the words of God, Jesus Christ, and the prophets we can bring great POWER into our lives and strengthen our family in beautiful ways.
THE QUESTION IS, “WITH WHOM DO YOU WANT TO BE WITH ETERNALLY?”
“Marriage between a man and a woman is sacred—it is ordained of God. I also assert the virtue of a temple marriage. It is the highest and most enduring type of marriage that our Creator can offer to His children.
While salvation is an individual matter, exaltation is a family matter. Only those who are married in the temple and whose marriage is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise will continue as spouses after death and receive the highest degree of celestial glory, or exaltation. A temple marriage is also called a celestial marriage. Within the celestial glory are three levels. To obtain the highest, a husband and wife must be sealed for time and all eternity and keep their covenants made in a holy temple.“
REACHING YOUR POTENTIAL
“The celestial kingdom is the highest of the three degrees or kingdoms of glory in heaven. Those who inherit this kingdom dwell in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.”
Celestial Kingdom (overview)
