Lesson #1: The Purpose of Temple and Family History Work

I teach the Family History Sunday School class in our LDS Ward. These are the lessons that are taken from the Member's Guide to Temple and Family History Work. But I also add a bit to the lessons to create a more informative lesson to my students. I present them here on my blog to share this knowledge with everyone who can benefit from them. Thank you - Jill

Lesson #1: The Purpose of Temple and Family History Work

One thing to keep in mind, when I teach these classes, I go beyond what the lesson teaches. I don’t believe there is enough information to really make a difference in your personal family history research. I want to give you the tools so you will succeed. If we just followed the lesson plan as outlined, you may not have success, it is that basic. This will be an incredible journey for each of us, it has even recommitted myself to work on my personal research.

FIRST VIDEO "Saviors on Mount Zion" (3:38)

SECOND VIDEO "To Turn the Hearts" (4:15)

To save time in our class, we will not show the videos. (The videos could take up to 10 minutes of class time but they are essential for the course of study.) This will be apart of your homework. You will be able to view them right in your browser. These are the videos that accompany the lessons in your manual.

Here are some of the classes we will cover the course of 9 weeks
(These classes are subject to change and may cover 2 weeks if needed.)

Lesson #1: The Purpose of Temple and Family History Work - Why we as Latter-day Saints do family history work. Overview of course outline.

Lesson #2: Getting Started - Learning how to Get Help and to Navigate on FamilySearch. Learn to Hover over names, printing abilities including Fan Charts and Pedigrees.

Lesson #3: Gathering Information from Home - The 5 S’s in FamilySearch - Learning what is available on FamilySearch to Search Records.

Lesson #4: Recording Family History Information that you have collected - Standardization of recording information. Bridging what you found in your search for your dead with the living on FamilySearch. 3rd Party Software to record your family history on your desktop.

Lesson #5: Gathering Additional Information from Family - How to Interview Family Members. The World of Google. Backup what you have found.

Lesson #6: Gathering Information from Public Records - Research Log’s, FREE Websites/Databases online to search.

Lesson #7: Providing Temple Ordinances - Learning how to submit and reserve names to the temple. Go over guidelines/policies to submitting names.

Lesson #8: Introduction to Indexing - How to Serve Others and Learn More about Genealogical Records.

Lesson #9: Organizing What you Have Collected with plastic bins, hanging folders and color coding.

Here are the talks recommended for reading that will enhance the lesson:

Boyd K. Packer, "The Family and Eternity," Ensign, Feb. 1971, 7-11

"Plan of Salvation," in True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, 115-17

Ezra Taft Benson, "What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children about the Temple," Ensign, Aug. 1985, 6-10

J. Ballard Washburn, "The Temple Is a Family Affair," Ensign, May 1995, 11-12

Elder Richard G. Scott, “The Joy of Redeeming the Dead”, Ensign November 2012

HOMEWORK this week:

Read over Lesson 2, 'Getting Started' in your Member’s Guide. Obtain your membership record number which can be found on your temple recommend or you can get it from your membership clerk. We need this to establish your LDS Account online. Start to prayerfully think of at least one name or one family of names you can prepare to take to the temple. You don't need it right away, but towards the 4th week of lessons.

1. Create a LDS Account if you haven’t already. CLICK HERE to Create and Account.
2. Pray. Start thinking about what name you want to take to the temple.
3. Start to fill out your pedigree charts and family group records from what you know.
4. Ask relatives questions to fill out any blanks you have after you filled out your records. Ask oldest living relatives first. Be sensitive to possible situations in your family. There could be unexplained deaths, sticky divorces or hidden stories. Use your Sources Checklist to assist you in your search.
5. Pray. Always when working on your family history, pray for guidance. Only the spirit knows where you need to go and who to ask. Ask for that guidance and to remember that the adversary will try to thwart the work, pray to keep him away. Pray that you will remember what you have learned and that you retain the information that is being taught.
6. LDS Account has been established, sign onto http://www.familysearch.org and look around. See yourself by clicking on the ‘Family Tree’ tab at the top, after signing in and see how far it goes. Just look around, don't add anything yet. Just become familiar with the website and all that it offers. Especially check out the Help Center. But if you don’t see your parents or children, don’t panic. We may need to add them, and that is okay. Just navigate around and get familiar with the feel of the site.
7. Be prepared for this Sunday. Bring the information you have learned to class.
8. Questions: Let me know. Email me at jillealogy@gmail.com and/or 1-866-406-1830 (notice that this is date of the restoration?) and/or support@familysearch.org for direct help from FamilySearch.

A few quotes to help you through your journey:

“It doesn’t matter whether your computer is able to compile all the family group sheets for everyone that ever lived on the earth, it remains the responsibility of each individual to know his kindred dead...Even if the work is done, then it is still each person’s responsibility to study and become acquainted with his ancestors.” President Joseph Fielding Smith.

"The Lord will bless us as we attend to the sacred ordinance work of the temples. Blessings there will not be limited to our temple service. We will be blessed in all of our affairs. We will be eligible to have the Lord take an interest in our affairs both spiritual and temporal... "Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people" (The Holy Temple [1980], 182, 265). President Boyd K. Packer.

“Whoever seeks to help those on the other side receives help in turn in all the affairs of life...Help comes to us from the other side as we give help to those who have passed beyond the veil.” John A. Widtsoe, Ensign, May 1980, 40.

“Revelation comes to individual(s)...as they are led to discover their family records in ways that are miraculous indeed. And there is a feeling of inspiration attending this work that can be found in no other. When we have done all that we can do, we shall be given the rest. The way will be opened up.” Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Nov 1975.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Enjoy,

Jill Holmes