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 Check with your priesthood advisor first to see if this
activity will work in your meetinghouse without disrupting others in the
building. If not, designate areas of the children’s meeting room to represent
the rooms mentioned. Divide the children into groups and take them on a tour of
the meetinghouse, much as they might go on a tour of a temple during an open
house. (See Friend, Feb. 1993, pp. 2–4 and Jan. 2001, p. 22.) Ask them to
be reverent and listen to the guides who will explain how a temple is similar to
and different from a meetinghouse. Have an adult accompany each group, as well
as a guide at each of the following stops:
Chapel—a gathering place in both buildings.
Classroom—similar to an ordinance room because it
is where we are taught what Heavenly Father wants us to know and do.
Baptismal font (if there is not one in your
building, use a picture)—in a meetinghouse baptisms are performed for the
living; in the temple baptisms are performed for the dead.
Kitchen—in a meetinghouse, a place to serve food
for ward or stake activities; in some temples there are cafeterias where food is
served.
Bishop or branch president’s office—the bishop or
branch president is responsible for his ward or branch; each temple has a temple
president’s office. The temple president is responsible for the temple and the
work done there. If possible, have the bishop or branch president explain what a
temple recommend is at this stop.
Return to the Primary room and explain that temples have
some other special rooms, such as the celestial room and sealing rooms. Have the
children sing . Invite a speaker to talk about his or her experiences at a
temple open house or dedication.
Families can be together forever
Eternal Chain: Make several strips of paper representing the family.
Cut them apart so that each child will have enough strips to represent his
family members. Have the child draw a picture of each family member on
each chain (you could have them include grandparents and aunts/uncles if you
wanted to). Explain that mothers and fathers are joined together forever
when they are married in the temple. Every member of the family belongs to
the chain. Each person is important.
Marshmallow Temple
Temple Box from Jenny Smith
Temple Craft: (Idea by Helen from South Australia) "We recently had a lesson which talked about
families and temples. For our craft after our lesson, I drew a simple
picture of a temple for each child. I cut some aluminum foil into small pieces and had
some glitter and confetti. The children glued the foil etc. onto their picture.
They loved the foil and the colors in the confetti. It was simple to prepare and
very effective. After, we made a bus (chairs lined up one behind the other) and
went on a bus ride to the temple. Our temple is 16 hours drive away! As we drove
along we "spotted" all sorts of animals. The children soon got into it and were
pointing out kangaroos and lizards. It was lots of fun, really simple and got
the imagination going!!"
The Lord's Temple
For sunbeams: play pin the family or tree on the temple.
Blindfold one child, give them a spin, and then let them see if they can stick
the figure onto the temple picture. Discuss each piece as it is placed on the
temple scene. For nursery/younger children: let each child choose one item to
place on the temple scene. As they put up each piece, talk about it. The trees
have things written on them that we need to do to prepare to go to the temple
similar to what is in the lesson manual. You may have to print out another set
of family members, etc. in order to have enough for all the kids or just reuse
the first set and take turns.
Temple Clipart and Handouts
Temple Puzzle (scroll down)
LDS Primary Lesson Helps for Lesson 26
My Family Can Be Forever
“I Love to See the Temple” (p. 95)
What Lasts?
A House of God
The Greatest Gift
Together Forever
A
Place of Love and Beauty - Print out pictures
and read story to children
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