Fort Lauderdale Temple Dedication Countdown

a 4-week activity guide for LDS families

Fort Lauderdale Temple Dedication Countdown

Dear Families, In the hopes of helping our Primary children learn about, get excited, and prepare for the upcoming dedication of the Fort Lauderdale Temple, I have created this simple (and hopefully fun!) countdown activity.

In the following pages, you will find a template for your family’s countdown chain links and daily corresponding activities.

The countdown begins Monday, April 7 and goes until the dedication on Sunday, May 4. Each Monday during the countdown, there is a Family Home Evening lesson and activity outlined. The lessons are very simple and, depending upon the ages of your children, can be expanded or adapted, as needed.

Basic Supplies Needed:• Printer• Paper (card stock recommended) • Scissors• Tape• Crayons/Markers/Colored Pencils• Tithing envelopes

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me. I look forward to creating my own chain and enjoying the countdown with your children.

I have such a strong testimony of the work we do, and the covenants we make, in the temple. I know it’s the house of the Lord. I have felt His presence there. I know that families can, indeed, be eternal. May we all take advantage of, and teach our children about, the peace and promises this new temple brings closer to us.

Sincerely,

Sister Krista MaurerLehigh Ward Primary President

Family Home Evening Outlines Day 1 // Monday, April 7 :: Families are Forever

Song – Families Can Be Together Forever (Primary Songbook, lds.org)

Lesson – Family ties can be eternal. Temples have been built around the world so we can participate in the sacred ordinances that link generations together. Elder Russell M. Nelson has taught, “Those links, welded through sacred ordinances, lead to the exaltation of our families. Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors through sacred ordinances of the temple.”

Activity – Cut out the paper strips provided in this activity guide (pgs 4-7) and create your family ’s

countdown chain. Make sure you link them in the right order! Hang the chain somewhere you will see it daily. Every morning tear off one link and do the activity outlined.

Day 8 // Monday, April 14 :: I Will Look to the TempleSong – I Love to See the Temple (Primary Songbook, lds.org)

Lesson – Read Mosiah 2: 1-6 in the Book of Mormon. Talk about what it means when it says the families “pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple.” Make a list of ways your family can figuratively “pitch your tents” with your door towards the temple.

Activity – Using paper, scissors, tape, play-do, cardboard, etc. (whatever you have!), see if you can build a temple and a few tents. On the tents, write ways your family can pitch your tent with your door facing the temple. Arrange them around the temple just like it talks about in the Book of Mormon.

Day 15 // Monday, April 21 :: What is Geneology?Song – Family History, I Am Doing it (Primary Songbook, lds.org)

Lesson – Tonight, let’s talk about geneology and why it ’s so important for temple work! Watch this fun video and read Malachi 4:6 (this is our 2014 theme scripture in Primary!). One of the ways we can turn our hearts to our fathers is to learn about them. Ask your parents to share some stories about your grandparents and your great-grandparents.

Activity – With help from your parents, see if you can fill out (or color) the enclosed family tree (pg 10).

Day 22 // Monday, April 28 :: The Temple is the House of the LordSong – Keep the Commandments (Primary Songbook, lds.org)

Lesson – Cut out the enclosed puzzle (pg 11) ahead of time. Put the puzzle together as a family. While doing so, talk about what temples are for: A temple is a sacred building where we can make special promises with the Lord. The temple is the house of the Lord. The temple is a place where we can learn about the gospel. The temple is a special place of peace. The temple is where we make covenants or promises with the Lord. The temple is a holy place where we can talk to God and hear His voice. It ’s also a place where we perform ordinances, or ACTIONS that signify our promises to God. We do these ordinances for ourselves and for our ancestors who died before they could do them themselves. We can also be sealed as families for forever. Going to the temple helps us build strong lives and strong families.

Activity – Use the enclosed coloring page (pg 12) to draw yourself in front of the Fort Lauderdale temple.

Day 7 // Sunday, April 13Take a walk as a family. While you’re walking, try to list all your family ’s blessings.

Say them outloud! See how many you can name. Do you think you can get to 100?

Day 6 // Saturday, April 12Using the paper temple template enclosed (pg 8), build a temple today! (Print one for each child.)

Then, over the next few weeks, try to think of ways you can earn a little bit of money to give to the temple fund. Maybe you can do some extra chores around the house or help your neighbors in some way. Every penny helps! Put any extra earned money in your paper temple and once you’re ready, fill out a tithing contribution form (our

parents can help you if you need it!) and give it to the Bishop on Sunday.

Day 5 // Friday, April 11Ask your parents about their first trip to the temple—perhaps it was when they were a Young Man or Young

Woman, or maybe it was when they left on their mission, or when they were sealed. What was it like? How did they feel? What did they learn?

If your parents haven’t been to the temple yet, ask them to share their testimony of the temple and eternal families and set a goal for when your family can go to the temple and be sealed for all eternity!

Day 4 // Thursday, April 10Have you been praying to know who your family can invite to the Fort Lauderdale Temple Open House?

Today’s the day to invite that person! Trust that the Spirit will help you know who to invite. Call them up and extend your invitation. There are only two more Saturdays until the Open House is over!

Day 3 // Wednesday, April 9Visit this online temple gallery (https://www.lds.org/church/temples/gallery)

Look at all the temples all over the world! See how many can you count! Which one is your favorite? How many different countries can you find temples in?

Day 2 // Tuesday, April 8Today when you’re saying family prayers, ask Heavenly Father to help you know who your family could invite to

come see the Fort Lauderdale Temple Open House. Keep praying for this every day.

Day 1 // Monday, April 7Tonight for Family Home Evening:

Song - Families Can Be Together Forever (Primary Songbook, lds.org)Lesson - Talk about how family ties can be eternal.. See enclosed lesson outline (pg 3).

Activity - Cut out the paper strips provided below and create a countdown chain.

Day 14 // Sunday, April 20Draw a picture of your eternal family. Write one thing you love most about each person in the picture.

Hang your picture on the refrigerator or wherever your parents say you can.

Day 13 // Saturday, April 19Eternal families can show God’s love for His children through service. Think of a way your family can serve a

neighbor today. Maybe you can weed a garden or mow a lawn, write a note or color a picture for a widow, bake some cookies for a friend, or make a friendly phone call to someone who can’t leave their home. If you

can’t think of something, say a prayer! Heavenly Father will help you!

Day 12 // Friday, April 18Color the enclosed picture of the temple (pg 9) or find a picture of a temple online that you like best. Hang it on your wall in your room. One of our prophets, President Spencer W. Kimball, once said: “It would be a fine thing if …

parents would have in every bedroom in their house a picture of the temple so [their children] from the time [they are] infant[s] could look at the picture every day [until] it becomes a part of [their lives]. When [they reach] the age that

[they need] to make [the] very important decision [concerning going to the temple], it will have already been made.”

Day 11 // Thursday, April 17 Read together our prophet, Thomas S. Monson’s, testimony of temples: “I express my undying gratitude to my

Heavenly Father for the temple now being built in Rome and for all of our temples, wherever they are. Each one stands as a beacon to the world, an expression of our testimony that God, our Eternal Father, lives, that He

desires to bless us and, indeed, to bless His sons and daughters of all generations. Each of our temples is an expression of our testimony that life beyond the grave is as real and as certain as is our life here on earth. I so

Day 10 // Wednesday, April 16 Print and cut out one of the enclosed “Future Temple Recommend Holder” badges (pg 9) for each child in the family. Children: make a commitment in your heart today that you will stay worthy to go to the temple someday. Put your “future recommend” in a safe place (maybe in your scriptures or wallet!) to help you remember your

commitment.

Day 9 // Tuesday, April 15Families are forever. Show a member of your family that you love them by doing something nice for them.

See if you can do it without getting caught!

Day 8 // Monday, April 14Tonight for Family Home Evening:

Song - I Love to See the Temple (Primary Songbook, lds.org)Lesson - Read Mosiah 2: 1-6 in the Book of Mormon. See enclosed lesson outline (pg 3).

Activity - Using paper, scissors, and tape (or play-do), see if you can build a temple and a few tents.

Day 21 // Sunday, April 27The Bible teaches us: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16) Did you know your body is a temple too? How can you keep it clean so that the Spirit can come

into your heart? Today try extra hard to keep your body pure and holy like the temple in Fort Lauderdale.

Day 20 // Saturday, April 26Write a thank you note to our Fort Lauderdale Temple Presidency.

Thank them for serving in our temple so that we can come to the House of the Lord and become eternal families. Share your testimony with them. If you can’t write yet, draw a picture of the temple!

Mail your note or picture to: Temple Presidency, 3901 SW 154th Avenue, Davie, Florida 33331

Day 19 // Friday, April 25Say a prayer today specifically for the missionaries in Florida.

Pray that our new temple will open the way for them to teach more people about the gospel and about eternal families. Pray that people will ask them about our temple and about our beliefs.

Then try to be a missionary today. Tell someone you know about our new temple! Tonight, report back to your family how it went!

Day 18 // Thursday, April 24Watch this Mormon Message (“The Blessings of the Temple”) online today: http://youtu.be/XLXYxmaHWQs

Day 17 // Wednesday, April 23Today, see if everyone in your family can think of five ways you can prepare to go to the temple.

Say them outloud and work together to come up with ideas.

Day 16 // Tuesday, April 22Read this quote together. President Thomas S. Monson said this about the temple: “As we touch the temple and

love the temple, our lives will reflect our faith. As we go to the holy house, as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation.”

Day 15 // Monday, April 21Tonight for Family Home Evening:

Song - Family History, I Am Doing it (Primary Songbook, lds.org)Lesson - Talk about Geneology and why it ’s so important for temple work! See enclosed lesson outline (pg 3).

Activity - See if you can fill out (or color) the enclosed family tree.

Day 28 // Sunday, May 4Today is the day the temple will be dedicated! If you were able to attend the dedication (members age 8+),

write your testimony in your journal (or on the journal page enclosed) afterwards. Write down how you felt during the dedication and what it was like to be there. If you’re too young to attend the dedication, ask your parents

to tell you what happened and how they felt as they watched.

Day 27 // Saturday, May 3Give every single person in your family a big hug today. Look them in the eye and tell them that you love them.

Day 26 // Friday, May 2Why is the angel Moroni on top of the temple? Moroni was a real person, an ancient prophet in the Book of

Mormon who, in 1823, told Joseph Smith where to find the gold plates, which became the Book of Mormon. With the trumpet pressed to his lips and his right hand holding the outstretched horn, the statue of Moroni on top of

temples symbolizes the restoration of the gospel and the preaching of it to the world.

Day 25 // Thursday, May 1President Monson, President Uchtdorf, and other Church leaders are coming to Florida to dedicate our temple! When you say your family prayers today, don’t forget to pray for their safety, health, and strength as they travel.

Day 24 // Wednesday, April 30Print the maze on page 13 (one for each child).

See if you can finish the enclosed maze and get to the temple!

Day 23 // Tuesday, April 29Here are some facts about the Fort Lauderdale temple:

1) It will be the 2nd temple in Florida. 2) It has taken almost three years to build. 3) It ’s the 143rd LDS temple in the world. 4) Its spire is just under 100 feet tall. 5) It ’s over 30,000 square feet. 6) The temple’s interior design

features suns and palm trees, inspired by our local landscapes.

Day 22 // Monday, April 28Tonight for Family Home Evening:

Song - Keep the Commandments (Children’s Songbook, lds.org)Lesson - Talk about what temples are for. See enclosed lesson outline (pg 3).

Activity - Use the enclosed coloring page to draw yourself in front of the Fort Lauderdale temple.

Day 6 // Temple Template

Source: Cookie Nut Creation

Print this temple (one for each child) on cardstock.

Day 10 // Future Temple Recommend Holder

“I urge our people everywhere ... to live worthy to hold a temple recommend, to secure one and regard it as a precious asset, and to make a greater effort to go to the House of the Lord and partake of the spirit and the blessings to be had therein.”—President Gordon B. Hinckley

Day 12 // Color this Temple Picture

“I urge our people everywhere ... to live worthy to hold a temple recommend, to secure one and regard it as a precious asset, and to make a greater effort to go to the House of the Lord and partake of the spirit and the blessings to be had therein.”—President Gordon B. Hinckley

Source: LDS.org

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Day 15 // FHE Family Tree

Source: Ancestory.com

Day 22 // FHE Temple Puzzle

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Day 22 // FHE Coloring Page

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Day 24 // Temple Maze

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