Weekly Family History Activities

A Come, Follow Me Companion

2021: Doctrine & Covenants

Week 30, July 19–25

Come, Follow Me is a resource offered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is designed to be used in the home to support personal and family scripture study to build faith in Heavenly Father and His plan of salvation and in the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Come, Follow Me is self-contained and adequate, when used properly. Products and materials designed to supplement this resource, though they may be helpful in some instances, are not necessary for a successful home study program.

Doctrine and Covenants 81-83: Where "Much Is Given Much Is Required"

Doctrine and Covenants 81

I can be faithful in doing what the Lord asks of me.

From Come, Follow Me :

Perhaps studying Doctrine and Covenants 81:5 has brought to mind someone you could "succor," "lift up," or "strengthen." What will you do to minister to that person?

Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction is held during the RootsTech 2021 Conference. Church leaders teach about temple and family history work and share ways we can all serve and minister more effectively through these efforts. In 2020, our leaders focused on how temple and family history can be used to minister to all of God’s children—and emphasized that "all" really means "all." Elder Benar encourages us to watch the full presentation, which you can read or watch here. Watch an introduction below:

Family history ministering resources:

Ministering through Family History
The Family History Guide activities for families, individuals, youth, and children
The Latter-day Saint Youth "Service Ideas" page
The BYU Family History Technology Lab

The In-home and Online Activities on FamilySearch
The Come, Follow Me Companion
Ministering.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Create A FamilySearch Account

Many family history activities require a FamilySearch account. Helping others set up an account is definitely a way to minister to them.

See Create Account — FamilySearch.org, and FamilySearch Project 1, Goal 1.

See Add Ancestors: Project 1, Goal 7. Building your own tree will help you find where you connect to FamilySearch's global family tree.

With one link, your small family tree could suddenly stretch back hundreds of years! See also How to Start a Family Tree on FamilySearch.

FamilySearch Memories

To help others, see Project 2: Memories. Each section has step-by-step instructions to make it easy.

See the Trainers page on The Family History Guide for teaching suggestions, lesson plans, slides and more. See also Thanks for the Memories by Kathryn Grant, and the video below.

The Temple

When ministering to ward members, friends, family members, or those you are teaching as missionaries, you can bless their lives by helping them (and those they love) take the next step in their progression toward learning about and attending the temple, or by helping them prepare names for ordinance work and helping them complete the work.

Elder Matthew Cowley, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, once recounted the Saturday afternoon experience of a grandfather as hand in hand he took his small granddaughter on a birthday visit—not to the zoo or to the movies but to the temple grounds. With permission of the groundskeeper, the two walked to the large doors of the temple. He suggested that she place her hand on the sturdy wall and then on the massive door. Tenderly he then said to her, "Remember that this day you touched the temple. One day you will go inside." His gift to the little one was not candy or ice cream but an experience far more significant and everlasting—an appreciation of the house of the Lord. She had touched the temple, and the temple had touched her. (referenced by Thomas S. Monson, Blessings of the Temple)

Perhaps you could take someone to visit a temple (if you live close enough) to talk about the peace being in the temple can bring, and how doing work there for the dead blesses those on both sides of the veil. Share stories from your family history about the temple. Enjoy watching videos of temples or seeing pictures of temples, and talking about ways to increase temple blessing in your lives. You might want to share stories, photos or videos you have of temple marriages in your family. Ministering to others could include going to the temple together to do ordinances the dead.

See also:

The Family History Guide Latter-day Saint tabs in the activities for families, individuals, youth, and children
The Family History Guide, Youth: Latter-day Saints
Preparing Youth For The Temple
In Home Activities on FamilySearch (temple)
Prepare for the Temple
Temple Endowment Q&A
Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple

Doctrine and Covenants 82:8–10

Commandments are for my salvation and protection.

From Come, Follow Me :

If you—or someone you know—has ever wondered why the Lord gives so many commandments, Doctrine and Covenants 82:8–10 could help.

Gathering Israel

President Nelson spoke during the women's session about their role in gathering Israel. In 2016 he invited millennials to help in the cause, and promised that as they consistently gave the Lord a generous portion of their time, He would "multiply the remainder." Becoming True Millennials (see also this article).

President Nelson also invited the youth to gather Israel on both sides of the veil to prepare for the second coming of the Lord. "Are you willing to enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel?" See Latter-day Saint Youth: Gather Israel.

To consider the blessings of gathering Israel, you could copy each of the blessings listed below on small pieces of paper and put them into a basket. Take turns drawing them out one-by-one and discussing the reasons why you would want that particular blessing in your life (without mentioning how you receive them through temple and family history work):

Increased understanding of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice
Increased influence of the Holy Ghost to feel strength and direction for our own lives
Increased faith, so that conversion to the Savior becomes deep and abiding
Increased ability and motivation to learn and repent because of an understanding of who we are, where we come from, and a clearer vision of where we are going
Increased refining, sanctifying, and moderating influences in our hearts
Increased joy through an increased ability to feel the love of the Lord
Increased family blessings, no matter our current, past, or future family situation or how imperfect our family tree may be
Increased love and appreciation for ancestors and living relatives, so we no longer feel alone
Increased power to discern that which needs healing and thus, with the Lord's help, serve others
Increased protection from temptations and the intensifying influence of the adversary
Increased assistance to mend troubled, broken, or anxious hearts and make the wounded whole

Ask: What is the one thing you can do that can bring all of these blessings into your lives? Then read this quote:

"If you have prayed for any of these blessings, participate in family history and temple work. As you do so, your prayers will be answered." Dale G. Renlund, Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing

Decide as a family and as individuals what you will do to participate in temple and family history work. Make a plan. Use the resources available to you to carry out your plan to receive the blessings.

Fulfillment of Promises in Your Life

Note: President Nelson encouraged us to do the following for six months, but it may be a wonderful opportunity to carry this invitation through your study of the Doctrine and Covenants this year:

"As you study your scriptures during the next six months, I encourage you to make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel. I think you will be astounded! Ponder these promises. Talk about them with your family and friends. Then live and watch for these promises to be fulfilled in your own life." (President Russell M. Nelson, Let God Prevail, October 2020 General Conference)

Suggestion: Find what the Lord has promised He will do for Covenant Israel in Doctrine and Covenants 81-83. Write or audio-record what they mean to you and those you love.