FHE Lesson #1

I am SO sorry it took me so long to get this posted! I've tried all day to get onto the blog, but my computer apparently had a virus which prevented me from getting onto certain sites! UGH!!!
But, alas...I conquered the virus. (or rather, my HUSBAND conquered the virus.)

...and then the document wouldn't work. So, for today, we're improvising a little. I have this lesson in a nice format with beautiful fonts and well organized layout, but it won't work on the blog for whatever reason. But, I had promised to get this up for you this week, so here it is.

You'll need to copy and paste the lesson into a Word document, for now. (I'll keep working throughout next week to clear up this problem...so you don't have to do this next week.)

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Temples FHE

Part One: A House of God

Opening Song:

Prayer:

Encourage family members to close their eyes. Imagine traveling through the desert without water. What does it look like? What does it feel like? What can you hear there? How long could you survive?

Now, imagine you came across an oasis, filled with lush vegetation and pools of cool, crisp water. Now, how do you feel?

Display a picture of the temple

“The holy temple, the house of the Lord, can be compared to an oasis—a place of renewal and refreshment in a world which has a spiritual drought. Within its walls, all is peace. Those who enter leave the world behind. It is a structure of beauty and reverence, but most of all, it is a place where the Spirit speaks.” (Richard M. Romney; House of Holiness, House of The Lord; Sept. 1987)

Listen to “I Love to See the Temple” (track #5 on “I Know The Scriptures Are True” by Jenny Phillips)

The temple is a house of God, a place holy enough for the Godhead to reside. It is a place where we are taught and instructed. It is a place where families are sealed together forever. It is a place where we can perform sacred ordinances for people who died before having the chance to hear of the gospel. The joy and happiness and fulfillment it brings to us is like that of coming across and oasis in a dry desert.

When Joseph Smith was in Kirtland, Ohio, he was commanded to build a temple of God. They were told that they were to build “…a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God:…” (D&C 88:119)

From the scripture we just read, what sort of house does Heavenly Father want His temple to be?(full of faith, prayer, learning, etc…)

The temples we build today are built in the same manner. They are designed to bring the same type of feeling into our lives. They are still houses of faith and order. Because of this, beautiful feelings exist in the temple. We can feel love and peace and joy when we go to the temple.

Heavenly Father gave us temples to teach us how to draw closer to Him.

What kinds of things do we do in the temple? (baptisms for the dead, marriage ceremonies, etc.) And how can these things help us draw closer to our Heavenly Father?

Bear your testimony about the temple and the joy it brings.

Closing Song:

Prayer:

Optional Activity: Go for a long walk or hike. Make sure you don’t take any water or treats. When you’ve reached your destination, pour a big, cold glass of water for everyone. Make sure to comment how delicious the refreshment feels. Relate that to what it feels like to go to the temple, as is described in the quote above.