Weekly Family History Activities

“The Order of the Son of God”

Doctrine and Covenants 107

The Lord leads His Church through priesthood authority.

From Come, Follow Me:

The purpose of the priesthood is to unlock “all the spiritual blessings of the church” so that all of God’s children can "have the heavens opened unto them" and "enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant" (verses 18–19). In teaching us about His priesthood, the Savior is teaching us about Himself and how we can come unto Him.

“The priesthood is the power and authority of God, which He gives to us to help carry out His work of salvation...The Lord has given His priesthood to chosen servants since the days of Adam. Because the priesthood is given to worthy men by the laying on of hands and a record is kept of those ordinations, priesthood holders today can trace their line of authority back to Joseph Smith, who received the Melchizedek Priesthood from Apostles of Jesus Christ.” (The Source of Priesthood Authority) 

“Since ancient times, holders of the priesthood of God have recorded their priesthood line of authority...For holders of the priesthood today, tracing back a personal priesthood line of authority to the Savior is unique to the restored gospel.” (Members Can Request Priesthood Line of Authority - Church News and Events) 

To request a priesthood line of authority, read Request a Priesthood Line of Authority, which states:

“A Melchizedek Priesthood line of authority may be requested for:

1. Any Melchizedek Priesthood holder living in the same household as the requester.
2. A young man currently serving a full-time mission.
3. A deceased ancestor.”

"The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World) “Some ordinances are essential to our exaltation. These ordinances are called saving ordinances….With each of these ordinances, we enter into solemn covenants with the Lord." (Ordinances)

Discuss with your family what it means to each of you to be a “together forever” family? Where does your family stand on receiving the saving ordinances? What do you need to do to prepare to receive those ordinances? How can you keep the covenants you have already made? What commitments would you like to make as a family so you might perform saving ordinances in the temple for those who have died without having the opportunity to receive these ordinances? The dead are taught the gospel in the spirit world and have the choice to accept these ordinances performed on their behalf.

As a family, list all the ordinances you can name. Which of these ordinances are considered saving ordinances? (Baptism and confirmation, Melchizedek Priesthood for men, endowment, and sealing) Write the saving ordinances down on a sheet of paper.

Discuss which ordinances are performed in the temple. Include in your discussion the ordinances listed on the family name ordinance card and the Ordinances Ready app. (Baptism, confirmation, initiatory, endowment, sealing) Compare these ordinances with those written on your sheet of paper. Discuss why all saving ordinances are performed in the temple? Learn more about Temple Baptism and Confirmation for the Dead, Temple Endowment, and Temple Sealing (Temple Marriage).

(For a more visual activity, get a picture of a temple. Write down the ordinances on separate strips of paper. Place these below the temple picture to symbolize steps leading to the temple and eventual exaltation by accepting these ordinances.)

Check out Ordinances Ready or Request Temple Ordinances for Family Names to learn how to print your own family names for the temple. If you are able to attend the temple, print and take them to the temple. You can now use your cell phone—see Taking names to the temple.

Doctrine and Covenants 106; 108

The Lord supports me when He calls me to serve.

From Come, Follow Me 2021:

When Elder Carl B. Cook received a difficult Church assignment, he drew strength from the experience of an ancestor. Read about it in his message "Serve" (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 110–12). Consider writing a letter to encourage your descendants—or your future self—to accept opportunities to serve the Lord. Include in your letter the truths you learn from Elder Cook's message, Doctrine and Covenants 106 and 108, and your own experiences.

Your ancestors helped build the foundation on which you stand. Perhaps they gave you an example of giving service to the Lord. Writing a letter of gratitude to an ancestor, living relative, to yourself, or to an early saint will document your feelings about how life is different for you because of the decisions they made. See instructions and suggestions for preserving your recording on FamilySearch Memories.

You may want to post photos and your gratitude to ancestors in your home to view during the week.

You can also share the document or audio recording with others via facebook, email, etc. by tapping the "Share" symbol.

Pick a time in your future you want to write to. Here are a few ideas:

• 1, 5, 10, or 25 years from now
• When you graduate from high school
• When you graduate from college
• When you get married
• When you have your first child
• When you turn a certain age
• When you first go to the temple

Consider questions such as these:

• Where do you predict you will be at this time?
• What do you predict you will be doing in your work, school, and family life?
• In what ways do you hope you will be the same?
• In what ways do you hope you will be different?
• What do you want to learn from now until then?
• What advice do you have for your future self?
• What family and friends do you hope you are still close to?
• What do you want to do with your life from now until then?
• What goals do you want to accomplish from now until then?
• My greatest example is_________. I hope I can become like them in the following ways….
• Ask yourself, “Do you still….?”
• I hope I never ...
• I hope I always ...
• What will your testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel be like?

Write or audio-record your testimony of the plan of salvation and how you have been blessed by the priesthood of God. Write about your ancestors and what they have given you.