Weekly Family History Activities

Genesis 28–33

“Surely the Lord Is in This Place"

Genesis 28; 29:1–18

I am promised the blessings of Abraham in the temple.

See also: 5 Gifts We Are Given When We Receive Our Temple Endowment 

From Come, Follow Me

How has the house of the Lord brought you closer to God?

Make a collection of the stories of how you and those you love have been blessed by temple worship. Share with your family. This collection would make a beautiful gift for anyone preparing to go to the temple for the first time.

You can scan or take a photo of hand-written testimonies to preserve in Memories on FamilySearch, or type directly into a document. See instructions in The Family History Guide here. Record using the FamilySearch Memories app or the Record My Story feature.

You can also share these memories from FamilySearch via text, email, etc. by tapping the "share" symbol. Your testimony may contain the very words that will help strengthen someone’s testimony of the temple. Read more here.

Now that youth as young as 11 can enter the temple, parents and leaders have an even greater responsibility to prepare them early for temple service.

Resources for activities:

• Your Path to the Temple
• Know Before You Go: Temple Baptisms 
• FamilySearch In-Home Activities
• See churchofjesuschrist.org/temples. Use Google Earth to see temples.
• Preparing Youth for the Temple: Seven Simple Steps
• Helping 11-Year-Olds with Temple and Family History Work 
• Ancestors To The Temple 
• Ordinances Ready
• Temple Opportunities

President and Sister Nelson:

“It’s wonderful to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers by telling important family history stories in ways that are accessible and memorable. Perhaps having family history documents, stories, photos, and memorabilia always before our eyes can strengthen our testimonies (see Mosiah 1:5). As we place them on our walls, our tables, our computers, our iPads, and even our cell phones, maybe we will be prompted to make better choices and draw closer to the Lord and to our families.” Open the Heavens through Temple and Family History Work 

Discover specific temple details in My Ancestors's Temples. You will need to have a free FamilySearch account and four generations entered into the family tree.

Genesis 29:31–35; 30:1–24

The Lord remembers me in my trials.

From Come, Follow Me

Ponder how God has “looked upon [your] affliction” and “remembered” you.

In his October 2007 General Conference address, O Remember, Remember, Henry B. Eyring relates why he began writing things down and the blessings of recognizing the Lord's hand in his life. Consider keeping a gratitude journal. A family journal can be a wonderful experience also.

Genesis 32–33

The Savior can help us overcome discord in our families.

From Come, Follow Me

As Jacob returned to Canaan, he was “greatly afraid and distressed” about how Esau would receive him (Genesis 32:7). As you read in Genesis 32–33 about Jacob’s encounter with Esau and his feelings leading up to it, you might ponder your own family relationships—perhaps one that needs healing. Maybe this story could inspire you to reach out to someone.

"Family relationships can be some of the most rewarding yet challenging experiences we encounter. Many of us have faced a fracture of some sort within our families. Such a fracture developed between two heroes of the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days. Parley and Orson Pratt were brothers, early converts, and ordained Apostles...During the Nauvoo era, their relationship became strained, culminating in a heated, public confrontation in 1846. A deep and prolonged rift developed. Parley initially wrote to Orson to resolve the rift, but Orson did not reply. Parley gave up, feeling that correspondence was over forever, unless initiated by Orson. Several years later, in March 1853, Orson learned about a project to publish a book on the descendants of William Pratt, the brothers' earliest American ancestor. Orson began to weep "like a little child" as he glimpsed this treasure trove of family history. His heart melted, and he determined to repair the breach with his brother.

Orson wrote to Parley, 'Now my dear brother, there are none among all the descendants of our Ancestor, Lieut[enant] William Pratt, who have so deep an interest in searching out his descendants as ourselves.' Orson was one of the first to understand that Latter-day Saints have an obligation to research and compile family histories so that we can perform vicarious ordinances for our ancestors. His letter continued: 'We know that the God of our fathers has had a hand in all this. ... I will beg pardon for having been so backward in writing to you. ... I hope you will forgive me.' Despite their unshakable testimonies, their love for their ancestors was the catalyst to heal a rift, mend a hurt, and seek and extend forgiveness." 

"... as we participate in family history and temple work today, we also lay claim to 'healing' blessings promised by prophets and apostles. These blessings are also breathtakingly amazing because of their scope, specificity, and consequence in mortality. This long list includes these blessings:

• 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; and
• Increased assistance to mend troubled, broken, or anxious hearts and make the wounded whole.

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. When ordinances are performed on behalf of the deceased, God's children on earth are healed. No wonder President Russell M. Nelson, in his first message as President of the Church, declared, 'Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.” Dale G. Renlund, Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing

Check out the Promised Blessings Activity corresponding to Elder Renlund’s talk (see above). Plan together to find what works for you and your family to make temple and family history work more a part of your lives. Search The Family History Guide for ideas and help.

Sharing family history stories, events, photos and memories on social media is one way to help unite your family. Check out these links to get started::

• Hashtags, Tweets, and Blogs: the New Language of Family History 
• Using Social Media For Family History
• Think Outside the Book: Use Social Media Storytelling to Share Your Family History

Perhaps simply making a family history connection with family members will be the beginning to healing troubled relationships. Pray as a family for help to clear up any misunderstandings, and become closer to those you love. Attend the temple. Take the names of ancestors to the temple to do their work. Rely on the promises!

Training Made Easy

Check out the Course Catalog in the Trainers Menu for The Family History Guide. (Click here for the Instructor Tips page.) There are full-length classes—60 minutes each—and mini-classes, from 15 to 30 minutes each. For each class, links are provided to the starting Goals. You can also create custom classes by combining two or more mini-classes as needed.