Family History Class Lesson 1

Page 1 of your lesson manual, first paragraph

“Before you were born, you lived with Heavenly Father. He wanted you to be happy and to become like Him. He presented a plan for you and for all His children to come to earth and then return to His presence. Your life is intended to be a homeward journey to the presence of God in His celestial kingdom.”

What is Heavenly Father’s plan for the His children?

What is the role of temple ordinances in our Father’s plan?

Boyd K Packer’s statement on page 1

“Ordinances and covenants become our credentials for admission into [God’s] presence. To worthily receive them is the quest of a lifetime; to keep them thereafter is the challenge of mortality. Once we have received them for ourselves and for our families, we are obligated to provide these ordinances vicariously for our kindred dead, indeed for the whole human family”

What do we believe is the goal about providing temple blessing for every child of God?

President Hinckley’s statement on Page 2

“God is the designer of the family. He intended that the greatest of happiness, the most satisfying aspects of life, the deepest joys should come in our associations together and our concerns one for another as fathers and mothers and children”

What does God want for families?

How can we help our ancestors receive the joy and happiness that come from family life?

In this video look for how family work is like the Savior’s Atonement, all though on a much smaller scale

What does it mean to become saviors on Mount Zion?

Joseph Smith’s statement on page 3

“How are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances... upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them”

Let’s review three scripture that speak on the subject

Malachi 4:5-6 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

3 rd Nephi 25:5-6 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse

Doctrine and Covenants 2:1-3 1 BEHOLD, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 2 And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. 3 If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.

Why is Elijah’s return repeated so often in the scriptures?

How can we turn our hearts to our ancestors?

In this video, look for how we can turn our hearts to our ancestors

How was the prophecy of Elijah’s return fulfilled?

What can we do to turn our hearts to our ancestors?

How might we expect to have our ancestors’ hearts turned to us?

Have any of you had any experience that helped to turn your hearts to one of your ancestors?

President Monson’s message on Page 4

“Today is a day of temple building. Never before have so many temples been erected and dedicated.... Temples will bless all who attend them and who sacrifice for their completion. The light of Christ will shine on all—even those who have gone beyond”

How have you been blessed as you have participated in temple and family history work?

My testimony of temple and family history work.

Assignments for next week Logon to new.familysearch.org and get registered and find yourself Read Chapter 2 for next week

Closing Prayer