Helping 11-year-olds participate in temple and family history work is a wonderful opportunity—first, because doing so is an important part of strengthening youth and preparing them for the future, and second, because it’s so much fun!
As it turns out, most 11-year-olds are naturals when it comes to learning about ancestors and helping with temple ordinances. They love the online features available at FamilySearch.org and through the Family Tree app. And in many cases, they can’t get enough of stories about the people who came before them.
Parents have the primary role in teaching their children about temple and family history service. Primary leaders and ward temple and family history consultants can offer great support in this important aspect of the gospel. No matter your role, don’t stress out over this important responsibility.
You can plan to help someone who is 11 as you would plan to help anyone—that is, by carefully considering the person’s life circumstances, praying for guidance, and then preparing in advance. With that said, here are a few general strategies that can help.
1. Use a home-centered, Church-supported approach.
Primary leaders and consultants, your efforts are more likely to have an impact when parents are involved. In fact, if you’re in the position of helping an 11-year-old prepare for the temple, it is a good idea to talk with their parents first. Parents can consider their family’s temple and family history goals and how those who have offered to help can provide support.
Parents may appreciate extra resources and tips as they help their son or daughter. A leader or consultant can show them how to:
- Help their child sign up for a free account at FamilySearch.org. (Under COPPA laws, a parent or legal guardian needs to grant permission during the sign-in process for an 11-year-old to open an account.)
- Access the Church’s new website for preparing youth for temple and family history work.
2. Be brief.
Family history experiences for youth can be short. If you’re a parent, a 5-minute conversation at the dinner table, for example, may be more meaningful than a structured lesson.
3. Focus on conversation and activities.
Make sure that the bulk of your time working with an 11-year-old is spent in actual conversation rather than demonstrating a specific research technique. In fact, consider shelving research altogether.
You might begin with activities that allow youth to share what they know about their own family. Listening to their interests is always a good starting point. Again, communication with the family will help you know what focus is most appropriate.
At FamilySearch Discovery, you’ll find dozens of activities to choose from, all of which will get youth and their families thinking about ancestors and contributing to their personal histories in unique and inspiring ways.
4. Talk about why family history and temple work is so important.
You can help youth understand that honoring our ancestors and helping with their temple ordinances is part of the gathering of Israel. President Russell M. Nelson has called the gathering of Israel “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on the earth” (“Hope of Israel,” worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018). He has repeatedly asked for youth to join this cause.
As they do, youth will qualify themselves for magnificent blessings.You can talk about some of these blessings, which include:
- Protection from the adversary.
- Greater faith in the Savior Jesus Christ.
- Increased family unity.
- Strength to overcome difficulties.
The list of promised blessings is even longer.
5. Introduce Ordinances Ready, and plan a trip to the temple.
The Family Tree app has a tool called Ordinances Ready that members can use to find ancestors who need gospel ordinances. You can show 11-year-olds the tool and then help them prepare a trip to the temple to perform the ordinances. (If you are working on the FamilySearch website, the Ordinances Ready feature appears in the Temple menu.)
Note: Ordinances Ready will always give you ordinances that are qualified for temple work and that you are allowed to reserve. It may sometimes give you names of persons who are not your relatives. Those names have all been shared with the temple list, a repository of names for which relatives have given permission for others to perform the ordinances.
Here are simple steps for using the feature:
- Sign in to the Family Tree app. (Make sure the youth you are helping uses his or her own sign-in information.)
- Tap the Temple icon.
- Tap Ordinances Ready.
- Tap Baptism and Confirmation.
- The app will help you reserve family names and give you the option to print the cards at home or bring a QR code (or reference number) to the temple office for printing.
If the system can’t find any of the youth’s ancestors, it will provide the names of the ancestors of fellow Church members instead. You can remind the youth that completing the ordinances for these individuals is just as important, since we are all part of the family of God—in other words, we are all related!
Remember Your Audience
Take a few minutes to pray and think about the person you are trying to help. This time for reflection gives the Holy Ghost an opportunity to inspire and guide you in your approach. This principle is especially true when you find yourself helping youth. Their needs and interests can be profoundly different than those of adults.
For more on planning around the needs of a specific individual or family, visit How to Help Others.
