Temples Are a Sign of the True Church

FHE exchange; author unknown

Purpose: To help family members to know that the Lord has provided temples on the earth when the true church has been on the earth.

Preparation: Sugar Cube Temple Activity
Need: sugar cubes (50 cubes/person), paper plates to build the temples on, Royal
frosting

Opening Song: I Love to See The Temple

Lesson:
Read D&C 124:31
"I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me."

Whenever there have been righteous people upon the earth, the Lord has commanded them to build temples. From the time of Adam to the present day, temples have been places of sacred worship. Temples have been erected in all ages.

MOSES built a tabernacle, a sort of portable temple, in the wilderness for the children of Israel.
SOLOMON built a magnificent temple in Jerusalem.
THE NEPHITES built sacred temples.
JOSEPH SMITH built houses of the Lord in Kirtland and Nauvoo.
LATER PROPHETS have built temples throughout the world.

These temples have all been built under the direction of God.

The Jewish people have looked forward to the return to the earth of the prophet Elijah, as promised by the prophet Malachi. Each year faithful Jews observe a Passover feast at which they leave a door open so that Elijah might come in and celebrate with them.

"It was on the third day of April, 1836," said President Joseph Fielding Smith, "that the Jewish people, in their homes at the Passover feast, opened their doors for Elijah to enter. (However), on that very day Elijah did enter - not in the home of the Jews, but he appeared in the House of the Lord."

Discuss how God's temples throughout history are alike - all houses of the Lord, all have sacred ordinances performed in them, etc. - and how they are different- opened courtyards versus closed buildings, ordinances performed for the living as well as the dead.

Throughout time people have gone to the temple to perform ordinances and prepare themselves for eternity. Everything in the temple points Latter-day saints to Jesus Christ and their eternal life with Him, their Heavenly Father and their family members on the condition of faithfulness to His teachings.

In conclusion, there is a quote from Brother Koelliker that sums up the purpose of the temple. "The purpose of temples is to help us understand where we came from before we were born, why we are here on earth, and where we intend to be after we leave this earthly experience. It's all about the process of helping us try to be more like Jesus Christ."

Craft Project:
Sugar Cube Temples

Instructions: "Glue" the sugar cubes together with the icing. It will take a few hours for the temples to dry completely. Let each person make up their own temple design, or look at a picture to do a modern day temple.

Royal Frosting:
3 egg whites (room temperature) 4 cups Sugar Confectioners
1/2 teas cream of tarter

Beat for 7-10 minutes. It is important to beat the frosting that long. The
frosting will harden so only make one batch at a time. Put the frosting in
sandwich bags, then cut off one corner to use as a decorating bag.


Treat:
Pudding in a Cloud
Instructions: Put whipped topping in a bowl. Make a spot in the middle to add your family's favorite pudding. Chill and serve.

Temples and Their Work

Received from FHE Group, author: unknown.

Preparation:
Playdoh or Sugar Cubes

Song: "I Love to see the Temple"

Lesson:
Read the following story by Elder Marion D. Hanks

A group of young members with recommends were going to the Salt Lake Temple to be baptized for the dead. One of them was hesitant because she felt that she didn't really understand what temples were about. Her teacher said, "If you don't feel that you're ready for this experience, maybe you'd be willing to help a young lady in a wheelchair. Would you go with her, help her dress, help her into the font, and take care of her?" The girl said she would.

In helping the young lady in the wheelchair, whom she hadn't even known before, this girl became close to the Spirit of the Lord. She was so touched that she asked for the privilege of doing baptisms herself.

One of the things Heavenly Father requires of us, if we are to return to Him someday, is that we be baptized. If our parents are members, this usually happens when we are eight years of age and are capable of understanding and being responsible.

But many people across the face of the earth have not been baptized because they haven't had a chance to be. So we send missionaries all over the world to teach them the gospel.

And what about the people who have died without a chance to be baptized? Heavenly Father has said that we who are in the world would now must help those who are dead by being baptized for them. So people go to the temple and are baptized for their ancestors or others who could not do it themselves. These people's spirits are still alive; only their bodies have died. The gospel is preached to them in the spirit world, and they may choose to accept or reject the work that is done for them.

One of the wonderful blessings of the temple is that a man and woman may be married there for time and eternity. Then they and any children they have will be sealed, or bound together, forever, as a family if they continue to live righteously.

A man and woman who have not been married in the temple can, if worthy, go to the temple later with their children and be sealed to each other by one with Heavenly Father's authority to perform this sacred act. It is a wonderful thing to see a mother and father kneeling with their children at an altar in the Lord's house, being sealed as a family. They're all dressed in white, and sometimes the younger children are a little bewildered, but they feel the spirit and are excited.

One of the sweetest experiences I had in the temple was working with children who were being sealed to their parents. I once asked a little boy, "What are you doing here in the temple?"

He said, "I came with my parents to be sealed."

I asked, "What does that mean?"

He said, "We will be a family forever."

I said, "That's a wonderful answer. You must have a good family if you want to be with them forever."

His eyes lit up, and he said, "Yes, I do." Children can feel the sacredness and seriousness of the temple.

Heavenly Father is the Father of all the people who have ever lived. He wants all His children to have all of these blessing, but He doesn't force them on anyone. He has established His church and revealed His gospel and restored His priesthood and then said to us who are members of His church, "You are the instruments, or agents, of my love. You are to find my other children who are seeking Me and teach them and help them."

Through His atoning love, Christ provided an opportunity for us to enjoy all these blessings. after the pattern of the Savior, we can help others. That is why we're here. God so loved us that He gave His son. And His Son so loved us that He gave His life. We're here to learn how to love as They do.

That's what the temple is all about. It's a place to learn about Jesus Christ and follow the principles that He taught. Adults can go to the temple and receive what is called an endowment. They learn very simple, basic principles and make covenants about them. These principles are the same ones taught by the life of the Savior--to do the will of Heavenly Father, to serve, to share, and to be totally unselfish with everything we have. We go to the temple not only to do work for the dead but also to rededicate our own lives to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Activity:
Gather the family together to make a temple out of sugar cubes. If you don't want to use sugar cubes, you can use playdoh. Explain as you are constructing the temple some of the reasons why we go to the temple.