Weekly Family History Activities

Doctrine and Covenants 29

Heavenly Father has a plan for the salvation of His children.

From Come, Follow Me :

Doctrine and Covenants 29 teaches many truths about God's plan for His children. As you read, look for truths you learn about each of the following parts of the plan:

• Premortal life (see verses 36–37)
• Creation (see verses 31–33)
• The Fall of Adam and Eve (see verses 40–41)
• Mortal life (see verses 39, 42–45)
• The Atonement of Jesus Christ (see verses 1, 42–43, 46–50)
• The Resurrection (see verses 13, 26)
• The Final Judgment (see verses 12–13, 27–30)

What new insights did you gain? How do these truths influence your life?

By following the steps of the plan of happiness or the plan of salvation, families can be united eternally.




The Plan Of Salvation

“Heavenly Father prepared a plan of salvation that teaches us where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going after mortality. Understanding our place in the plan of salvation helps us develop faith and find joy in a world with many inequities. We can use our knowledge of the plan of salvation to help us in our earthly challenges.” Read more here. 

This activity works for families, groups, and wards. Ahead of time, reserve a church meeting house or another place with several available rooms. Prepare the menu and materials for the "carnival." Collect discarded keys or make paper cut-outs. You will need two keys for each participant, except for one or two adults who know ahead of time that they will not get keys. Find a place to begin such as a church building or temple grounds. A home will also work.

Step #1: PRE-MORTAL EXISTENCE

Bring a picture of the temple (representing life before we came to earth), or if you live near a temple visit it if possible and do Step #1 outside the temple. Explain what the premortal life was like (see Abraham 3:22-28 and Moses 4:1-6). See The Family: A Proclamation To The World. 

We felt happy and secure there in the care of our Heavenly Father, and we shouted for joy when we heard the plan. We knew our Savior would help us through mortality and be the means by which we could return to our Father in Heaven. "... in the Grand Council of Heaven He loved us and was [so] wonderfully strong, that we triumphed even there by the power of Christ and our faith in the blood of the Lamb." Jeffrey R. Holland, This Do In Remembrance

What specific things can we do in our home to rely on the Savior? What were our hopes in premortal life, and how does the Savior make it possible to reach our dreams? At this point, give each group member three keys and tell them that they are important.

Step #2 BORN INTO MORTALITY

As you gather and go toward the next room (or return from visiting a temple), share stories of what it was like to welcome new babies into your family.

Explain that the purpose of mortality was "for spirit sons and daughters to obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life;" (see The Family: A Proclamation To The World). Explain why the "veil was drawn and why we don't remember what the premortal existence was like. Discuss Alma 43:32.

You are all now "born" and the room representing "mortality" could be set up like a big carnival with food, party hats and decorations, tokens to play games that are available, and birthday cake because it is your collective imaginary "birthdays." Earth life is filled with wonderful opportunities! Give out plenty of tokens (tickets) for games and prizes for those who win games. You could also go to a fun venue for this part. 

During this phase, some of the adults could try to talk others out of the keys by offering to trade three tokens for one key. Some of the kids will figure out that the keys must be very valuable, and they will keep them. Some may trade them for tokens.

Step #3: DEATH

Suddenly it will be time for mortality to end. At the end of life on earth, all the material prizes, food, party hats and decorations, etc. must be left behind. Discuss death and its part in the plan of salvation (See Romans 5:12). Have everyone walk to the next room without anything extra except keys they still have. Discuss what mortality was like. What do the treats, games, prizes, and decorations represent? (worldly pleasure) What do the keys represent? (ordinances and covenants).

Step #4: THE SPIRIT WORLD

In the "Spirit World," begin by asking those who have keys if they are prepared for their reward. Make sure that one or two adults did not get keys. This is a prime opportunity to explain that there are those people who do not have the knowledge of the gospel, or who did not have the opportunity to understand it fully. 

Those with keys represent people who have made covenants and received ordinances. In D&C 138:32-35 we learn that in the spirit world, those who did not have the gospel in mortality will have an opportunity to learn about, understand, and accept the gospel. 

Invite (or this may happen naturally) those with keys to share the gospel with those who don't have keys. Explain that only through the atonement of Jesus Christ, our Savior, can the opportunity to receive exaltation be possible for all of us. Talk about missionary and family history work on both sides of the veil (see Families Gathering Families on Both Sides of the Veil).

Step #5: THE FINAL JUDGMENT, RESURRECTION, AND ETERNAL LIFE

We will all be resurrected (see Revelations 20:12, 1 Cor. 15:22, D&C 93:33, and Alma 40:23). So, because keys were shared to those without keys, everyone now has them, and everyone receives his or her symbolic reward (treat or gift)! That is what missionary work and temple work is all about - gathering Israel on both sides of the veil!

View any other relevant videos from the ChurchofJesusChrist.org Video Collections. Share what it is like to lose a loved one, and the glory of the resurrection. Visit the grave of a loved one or view online, tell family history stories, rejoice together in the fact that families are eternal. Sing: Families Can Be Together Forever

Record your feelings and gratitude in FamilySearch Memories, and add photos. Consider making a video of your experience to share also. 

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Doctrine and Covenants 29:31–35

"All things unto me are spiritual."

From Come, Follow Me :

In what sense are all commandments spiritual? How does knowing that all commandments are spiritual teach you about the purpose of commandments? You might list a few commandments and consider the spiritual principles related to each one.

Consider looking for spiritual meaning or purpose in other aspects of your life as well.

From Even with Technology, Family History Is "a Spiritual Work": "There are more resources to search out your ancestors than there have ever been in the history of the world. The Lord has poured out knowledge about how to make that information available worldwide through technology that a few years ago would have seemed a miracle.

"With those opportunities there comes greater obligation to keep our trust with the Lord. Where much is given, much is required.5" (Henry B. Eyring, Hearts Bound Together, April 2005 General Conference)



How has technology helped you research, preserve, and share your family history? How are you taking advantage of some of the technological miracles available? Check out the following resources and make a plan to put them to good use.




Webinars



Webinars are live audio or video events hosted online, often for free. They are a great source for current genealogy knowledge and practices, delivered by family history experts. For example the BYU Family History Library has many free webinars. Check out some of the different options and choose one to watch. Have fun expanding your family history knowledge and skills.




FamilySearch Partner Accounts



Your membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides you the benefit of free subscriptions to many family history websites. Sign up for those websites that apply to your family tree at Partner Access—FamilySearch. Technology can truly be a A Heart-Turning Tool. You can find additional information about these partners at The Family History Guide Partners.




Discovering the FamilySearch Family Tree App



The FamilySearch Family Tree app enables you to do many essential FamilySearch tasks right from your mobile device. You can complete tasks, record hints, view your relationship, add memories, tag a photo, and search records that tell your ancestors' stories.

Try out some of the tasks below:

• Learn how to Complete Tasks on the FamilySearch Tree Mobile App.
• Check out what you can do using the app in Pedigree View.
• Have fun adding some memories.

For additional information and ideas, read How to Use FamilySearch's Mobile Apps or watch the following videos:




RootsTech

RootsTech is the largest family history conference in the world. Attend RootsTech in person or on-line to learn about all aspects of temple work and family history. Videos remain on the site for an extended period of time and can be accessed for free at RootsTech.org. Read more here: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/rootstech-2025-uniting-families-discovery-innovation

• FamilySearch Mobile Apps (approx 12 minutes)
• Discovering the FamilySearch Family Tree App—James Tanner (approx 40 minutes)

Sharing through Technology

In addition to the resources above, you can find stories of your ancestors to learn more about them. See 10 Ways To Discover, Gather, and Share Ancestor Stories.

There are numerous ways to share your family history using technology. Here are a few:

• Start one or more family history Facebook groups.
• Share on Instagram and Twitter.
• Create a family history blog.
• Create a family web page.
• Start your own famiy YouTube channel.

See Ideas and Help for Using Social Media—The New Language of Family History, 4 Enduring Ways to Share Your Family History Research, and 5 Great Ways to Share Your Family History. Also check out The Family History Guide Activities and the Youth section.

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Fulfillment of Promises in Your Life

Record your personal testimony of the plan of salvation.