Chapter 8: Temple Blessings for Ourselves and Our Ancestors

The purpose of temples is to provide a place where holy
ordinance are performed for the living and for the dead.

 Teachings of George Albert Smith
1. In the temple we receive sacred ordinances, including ordinances that bind families for eternity.

**Ponder the feelings you have when you attend the temple, and think about the experiences that have strengthened your testimony that the temple is the house of the Lord.

2. Through temple work we make eternal blessings available to our deceased ancestors.

Each [temple] has been built to one great eternal purpose: to serve as a House of the Lord, to provide a place sacred and suitable for the performing of holy ordinances that bind on earth as in heaven—ordinances for the dead and for the living that assure those who receive them and who are faithful to their covenants, the possession and association of their families, worlds without end, and exaltation with them in the celestial kingdom of our Father.⁵

Grateful should we be for a knowledge of the eternity of the marriage covenant. If in this life only had we hope, we would indeed be of all men most miserable [see 1 Corinthians 15:19]. The assurance that our relationship here as parents and children, as husbands and wives will continue in heaven, and that this is but the beginning of a great and glorious kingdom that our Father has destined we shall inherit on the other side, fills us with hope and joy.⁶

If I were to think, as so many think, that now that my beloved wife and my beloved parents are gone, that they have passed out of my life forever and that I shall never see them again, it would deprive me of one of the greatest joys that I have in life: the contemplation of meeting them again, and receiving their welcome and their affection, and of thanking them from the depths of a grateful heart for all they have done for me.

**What can we do to encourage young people to prepare to be married in the temple?

**What are some simple ways for someone with many other responsibilities to participate in family history work? What can priesthood quorums and Relief Societies do to participate?

3. The Lord will assist us in searching for our kindred dead.
**How has the Lord helped you as you’ve tried to find information about your ancestors? What other blessings have you received as you have participated in family history work?

This is another "sweet treat Sunday". Read the lesson and leave a comment in the blog, or simply email me abbiefroerer@hotmail.com, and I will have a little something for you in class.

Blogging Again

Note from the Editor: This blog was created and used as a resource for a Gospel Doctrine course that I taught in our last ward. When we moved I was released from the call to teach and it no longer made sense to continue posting each week for a class and discussion that I was no longer privileged to lead. I was recently called to teach Relief Society and am thrilled to be able to utilize this blog as a resource for preparation once again. It seems appropriate to share the responsibility for the success of our class with each of you, Doctrine & Covenants 50 explains " Wherefore, he that preacheth (by the spirit) and he that receiveth (by the spirit), understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together." I hope that together we are edified and can rejoice together. Of course we will both have to be prepared by the spirit in order for that to happen.

I will teach the 2nd week of each month. The material for this course comes from Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith.

In preparation for our lesson on April 8th, please review the following:

Chapter 6: Sustaining Those Whom the Lord Sustains (pg57)

PURPOSE: Help students understand that leaders are chosen by the Lord, and He expects us to sustain them in word and action.

Discussion Outline
1. Those who preside over the Church are prepared, chosen, and inspired by the Lord.
2. Through His servants, the Lord teaches us the pathway to happiness and safety.
3. Those who are humble and faithful sustain and defend the Lord’s servants.
4. When we criticize our leaders or disregard their counsel, we allow the adversary to lead us astray.
5. When we sustain our leaders, we commit to follow their counsel and magnify our own callings.

Conclusion:
"God grant that we who have been so bountifully blessed may hold up the hands of the servant of the Lord who presides over us; that we may help him not only by our faith and prayers but by loving kindness as opportunity offers; that we may march under the banner that he shall hold aloft as God continues to sustain him as President of the Church, as the prophet of the Lord in these latter days.20

Let us sustain these men whom God has raised up to preside over us. Let us bless them, not only by our lips, but by assisting in every possible way to carry this burden that rests so heavily upon their shoulders. … Pray for and bless them and help them."

Suggestions for Study - Consider these ideas as you prepare to participate.
1. As you study this chapter, consider ways you can show by your words and actions that you sustain the leaders of the Church.
2. How is the Lord’s way of choosing leaders different from the world’s way? What experiences have you had that strengthened your faith that our leaders are chosen by the Lord?
3. What specific counsel has the Lord given through the current President of the Church? through your stake or district president? through your bishop or branch president? What blessings have you received as you have followed this counsel?
4. What does it mean to you to sustain Church leaders? How does sustaining Church leaders strengthen our families and homes?
5. Why is it dangerous to criticize the leaders of the Church? What would be an appropriate way to respond if someone were to point out a fault in one of your local leaders?

**For those who read the lesson I am offering a sweet treat! Leave a message on this post and I will have a little something for you Sunday. Pass the word on so that everyone leaves with a treat!

Lesson 16: I Was Blind, Now I See

Purpose: To help class members have a greater understanding and appreciation of Jesus Christ as the Light of the World and the Good Shepherd.

John 9–10
• Jesus healed a man who had been born blind (John 9:1–7). How did the healed man’s testimony grow as he continued to share it? (See John 9:11, 17, 33, 38.) How has your testimony grown as you have shared it?

• How did the parents of the man who had been blind respond when the Pharisees asked them about the miracle? (See John 9:18–23.) Why did the parents respond this way? (See John 9:22.) How are we sometimes like this man’s parents? How can you be more valiant in your testimony?

• In Jesus’ discussion of the shepherd and his sheep, whom do the sheep represent? (See John 10:4, 27.) Who is the shepherd? (See John 10:11.) What are some qualities of a good shepherd? (See John 10:3–4, 7, 9–15.) How is Jesus the perfect example of a shepherd?

Suggestion for Family Discussion
Read John 9:1–38, asking family members to look for ways the Savior helped the blind man see both physically and spiritually. Discuss how spiritual sight and physical sight are alike and different. Ask family members to discuss ways they can increase their ability to “see” gospel truths.

Scripture Chain: Jesus Christ—“The Good Shepherd”
Psalm 23:1–6
Isaiah 40:11
Ezekiel 34:11–12
John 10:11
Mosiah 26:21
Alma 5:60

Conclusion: Jesus is the Light of the World and the Good Shepherd. The Lord has helped me to see spiritually and to follow him both through trials and through time of celebration. My life would not be what it is without his guidance, love, and support. May each of us come to know the Good Shepherd so that we may be guided and protected through this life.

Lesson 15: I Am the Light of the World

Purpose: To strengthen class members’ testimonies that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that by following him we can gain true freedom.

John 7–8
• What did Jesus instruct the people to do to gain a testimony of his teachings? (See John 7:17.) How can you apply this instruction in your life?

• What does it mean that Jesus is the light of the world? (See the scripture chain in this section.) How can you help others see the light that Christ offers? (See Matthew 5:16; 28:18–20; Philippians 2:14–15.)



• What did Jesus promise to those who would continue to follow him? (See John 8:31–32.) What does truth free us from? (See John 8:33–34.) How does committing sin place us in bondage? (See Alma 12:11; 34:35.) How has knowing the truth made you free?

Suggestion for Family Discussion
Turn off the lights in the room, and close the curtains or blinds. Ask a family member to do a simple task requiring sight, such as reading a scripture or describing a picture. Then turn on the lights, open the curtains or blinds, and ask the family member to do the task again. Discuss why it is easier to do the task with the light on. Read John 8:12, and ask family members to discuss ways that Jesus Christ is the light of the world.

Jesus Christ—“The Light of the World”
Scripture Chain:

John 8:12
Psalm 27:1
Isaiah 2:5
Alma 38:9
3 Nephi 15:9
D&C 88:6–13

Conclusion: Jesus Christ is our Savior; only he can free us from the bondage of sin. May we follow Christ, “the light of the world,” so he may guide us to spiritual safety.

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

Lesson 14: “Who Is My Neighbour?

Purpose: To help class members humble themselves, forgive others, and show charity for one another.

Matthew 18; Luke 10
• What is Jesus’ counsel to those who desire to achieve true greatness in his kingdom? (See Matthew 18:2–4; Mark 9:35.) How can we become more childlike and more submissive to the will of our Father in Heaven?

• In teaching the parable of the unmerciful servant, Jesus emphasized the importance of forgiving others (Matthew 18:23–35) . How are we like the king’s servant in our debt to the Lord? What can you learn from the king’s example in forgiving others? What are some of the dangers of not forgiving others? (See Matthew 18:34–35.)

• What can you learn from the parable of the good Samaritan? (See Luke 10:25–37.) How have you been blessed by “good Samaritans”? How can you be a “good Samaritan”? (See Mosiah 4:26.)

**There is a remarkable article that provides incredible insight that I would highly recommend reviewing! Here is the link: http://lds.org/liahona/2007/02/the-good-samaritan-forgotten-symbols?lang=eng&query=parable+unmerciful+servant . The title is: The Good Samaritan: Forgotten Symbols By John W. Welch; Brigham Young University professor, J. Reuben Clark Law School, and editor in chief, BYU Studies

Suggestion for Family Discussion Read the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). Give particular attention to the Savior’s invitation to “go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37). Then make a list of your friends, relatives, and other acquaintances, asking each family member to contribute at least one name to the list. Make plans to serve one or two of the people on the list in the coming week.

As part of this family discussion, you may want to sing together “Have I Done Any Good?” (Hymns, no. 223).

Scripture Chain: “Love Thy Neighbour” Luke 10:25–37
Leviticus 19:18
Matthew 22:35–40
John 13:34–35
Mosiah 2:17
D&C 38:24–25

Conclusion: We can follow the Savior’s example by humbling ourselves, forgiving others, and showing charity for one another. May each of us live these teachings.

Lesson 9: Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

One of the things I do to prepare to teach is to write the lesson outline on a sticky note; I include the purpose and conclusion as well. This practice has been especially helpful as it gives me a framework within which to prepare and points that are important to convey. As an instructor who often feels unequal to the task of standing in front of my peers, I take comfort in knowing that the lesson manual was prepared with purpose and prayer. It has been approved by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. My job is to make sure that the purpose of the lesson is communicated. Having the outline written defines in my mind the major points that need to be made. I've included a sample of what is on my sticky note this week.

Purpose: To encourage class members to become more dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ.
1. True disciples do right things for right reasons.
2. True disciples follow the Savior’s example of prayer.
3. True disciples treat others kindly and fairly.
4. True disciples serve God and do his will.
Conclusion: It is ever so important that we follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. I would encourage you to consider what you need to do to become better disciples of Christ.

Matthew 6-7
• What will be the reward for people who do good things to be seen by others? (See Matthew 6:2, 5, 16.) What things might we do to be seen by others instead of to please God? How can we purify our motives for serving and performing other good works?

• The teaching in Matthew 7:12 is often called the Golden Rule. What experiences have shown you the value of this principle? How does following the Golden Rule make us better disciples of Jesus Christ?

• Jesus promised that if we “seek … first the kingdom of God,” we will be given all other things that we need (Matthew 6:33). What experiences have helped you gain a testimony of this promise?

Suggestions for Family Discussion
1. Display a stone and a pile of sand. Ask family members which material they would use as a foundation for a house. Read Matthew 7:24–27, and discuss how building our lives on the Savior’s teachings is like building a house on a firm foundation of rock.

2. Display a map. Ask family members how a map could help them plan a trip. If your family has recently taken a trip or will take one soon, discuss how a map was used or will be used on the trip. Explain that in our journey toward eternal life, the scriptures and the teachings of the living prophets are like a map, helping us know how to return to our Heavenly Father.

Scripture Chain: Living as Disciples of Christ
Matthew 16:24–25
Matthew 7:21
John 8:31
John 13:35
2 Nephi 31:10–13
Moroni 7:48