Family Activities

At RootsTech 2018, Elder Renlund quoted President Nelson: "We encourage everyone to get on the covenant path as soon as possible—even, especially, when they are new and tender in the gospel—and then stay focused on the blessings of the temple.” He added: “This encouragement is because the data are incontrovertible that young men who participate in temple and family history work have a higher rate of being ordained elders and going on missions. New converts who participate in temple and family history work are retained at a higher rate ... Those who are new and tender in the gospel, he said, include 12-year-old youth and new converts ... As they are focused on temple and family history work, more will remain active, more will be protected when the storms and fierce winds strike...We invite all new converts and new 12-year-olds to discover and gather their families and become active participants in the plan of salvation. We desire to involve 11-year-old children and even younger children in family history work and encourage them to qualify for a limited-use temple recommend when they turn 12 years old...Thus, they can and are encouraged to perform proxy baptisms in temples whenever and wherever possible...Involvement of 12-year-olds and new converts will have a “halo effect” on all who help...Faith in the Savior will increase."(watch Elder Renlund's full address here.)

At the same conference, Sister Joy D. Jones, Primary General President and a member of the Temple and Family History Executive Council, said, "Children love to learn about their ancestors. Family stories can teach them important lessons and help them develop a foundation of strength they can draw from throughout their lives.” She talked about the fact that temple and family history consultants can lead young people into the world of family history along with their parents and other family members, and how working with children might require different methods than working with adults, “but I promise you that it’s worth the effort and the necessary adaptations and creativity ... Plus, it can be fun ... children can be the initiators to family history work in their families. Parents and leaders can share stories and experiences with children in the car, at the dinner table, at bedtime, and one on one ... Acting out a meaningful family story, learning about their family culture or even family recipes, viewing pictures of their relatives as children, or talking about and recording their four generations in the My Family booklet are all simple ways to begin connecting children." Watch Sister Jones's full address here.

Additional resources:

• Temple and Priesthood Preparation
• Family History: Stories/Activities/Media
• The Hearts of the Children
• The Taproot that Anchors Our Children
• The Promised Blessings of Family History: LDS.org
• Their Hearts Are Bound to You
• Helping 11-Year-Olds with Temple and Family History Work
• How Can We Engage Children In The Work of Salvation?
• President and Sister Nelson: Open The Heavens Through Temple and Family History Work
• Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing
• Discover, Gather, and Connect Your Family Together
• Connected To Eternal Families - President and Sister Oaks (watch full presentation here)
• Latter-day Saint Video Presentations - Rootstech 2018
• Latter-day Saint Section of The Family History Guide: Discover, Gather, Connect
• How Parents and Youth Leaders Help Youth Learn to Do Family History
• Engaging Youth in Family History
• Making Family History Fun for Youth
• Organizing a Youth Family History Event