More and more youth today are teaching others how to get involved in family history. This is one of the best ways for them to claim the blessings of protection and safety that the Brethren have promised. As youth get involved, they can have experiences that deepen their testimony of the temple. Here are a few examples.
Leadership
Thousands of youth around the world now serve as family history consultants, and many of them are helping others get to the temple. One stake in Lehi, Utah, had youth family history consultants who came up with the 40-day challenge. They decided to help their peers find names and take them to the temple. More than 100 youth attended the temple, and 98 brought family names. Read the story here.
Julene Davidson was a family history consultant in New Mexico and tried to help people get involved in family history. She said, “When you’re already going to the temple, . . . you are already receiving blessings. So sometimes it’s hard to see how it can be so much better.” She tried a different approach that was quite successful with a family. See how she did it.
Mission Preparation
Several youth have used family history as a way to prepare for their missions. Elder Bednar spoke of the impact this work has had on young people and reminded us, “Missionary work and family history and temple work are complementary and interrelated aspects of one great work.” Click here to read the article and watch the videos.
Did you know that 25 percent of all family history consultants in Latin America are youth? Eduardo Casafranca from Lima, Peru, has a testimony that temple worship and family history helped him go on a mission. He started helping others when he was 12; this service helped him find his family and better understand the plan of salvation. You can watch his story here.
Come Follow Me Youth Curriculum
Temple worship and family history can be incorporated into many lessons and activities in the Come Follow Me youth Sunday School program. One of the questions for the month of July is “How can I prepare to receive temple ordinances?” The new Youth Activities website gives ideas, including a Temple and Family History section. A youth and family history website has also been created in multiple languages where youth share their experiences in their own words.
As you can see, youth throughout the world are going to the temple and helping others while there. Do you work with young men or young women as an adult adviser or as a parent, grandparent, or friend? If so, let them discover their own family and encourage them to help others. Share your comments and suggestions for working with youth in family history below.
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Youth Temple Challenge: Promised Blessings
Youth in Action: Finding Family Names
