Unite Families for Eternity through Temple and Family History Work
“Because Jesus Christ is at the center of everything we do in the temple, as you think more about the temple you will be thinking more about Him.”
President Russell M. Nelson, Ensign or Liahona, May 2024, 115
As we serve our ancestors in the temple, we join with our Savior in His sacred mission to offer all the blessings of His atonement to all of God’s children.
This optional resource helps class members easily find family names to take to the temple by learning how to use the Ordinances Ready feature in FamilySearch. This resource also instructs class members how to add what they know about their ancestors to FamilySearch so that these ancestors may qualify for temple ordinances.
The ward temple and family history leader, or another ward member (including youth) with an interest in family history, could be invited to lead the instruction.
It might be helpful to invite class members to download the Family Tree app and sign in before the meeting.
Focus first on Jesus Christ
A discussion of temple and family history work should begin with a “focus … on the Savior, then on the covenants and ordinances that bind us to and with Him” (David A. Bednar, “2023 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction” [video], Gospel Library; Elder Bednar’s teaching from 2:00 to 3:30 in the video).
Invite class members to read Doctrine and Covenants 84:20 and this statement by Elder Quentin L. Cook: “The temple provides a continuing remembrance of the Savior’s Atonement and what it overcomes. And, even more important, temple attendance allows us to provide a spiritual rescue for our deceased loved ones and more distant ancestors” (“The Atonement of Jesus Christ Provides the Ultimate Rescue,” Liahona, May 2025, 20).
Consider asking class members to discuss questions like these: What would you say to a friend who asks, “Why do members of your Church care so much about family history?” How would you explain to your friend why family history work is important to you, as a Christian? Encourage class members to share their thoughts.
How to use Ordinances Ready
Show class members how they can use Ordinances Ready (a feature of the Family Tree app and FamilySearch.org) to find names of people who need ordinances performed for them in the temple. You could:
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Demonstrate using Ordinances Ready on a computer or mobile phone.
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Show one or more of the following videos:
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Give class members a copy of the handout that is included with this lesson, which provides instructions for using Ordinances Ready.
Give class members time to try using Ordinances Ready on the Family Tree app or FamilySearch.org. Offer help if they need it.
Discussion: Invite class members to share their experience. What names did they find using Ordinances Ready? Are they relatives? Refer to Elder Cook’s quote above as you answer the question: “How can preparing a name in advance enrich the temple experience?” This can be a time to show the video “Discovering Jesus Christ Through Family History”
Note: If participants—especially new members of the Church—have trouble logging in to FamilySearch, a ward council member can use Family Name Assist to prepare a name for baptisms and confirmations. Learn more about Family Name Assist on FamilySearch.org.
3. Add information about ancestors
You may invite participants to ponder if they know of a deceased family member they would like to gather to the Savior. For those who do, you can use the Family Tree app, the My Family Booklet, or a piece of scratch paper to help document their ancestor’s vital information to qualify their ancestor for temple ordinances. Vital information includes the name of the ancestor as well as an approximate birth or death date and an approximate birth or death place.
You could also invite class members to add photos, stories, and testimonies they know of their ancestors using the Family Tree app or the My Family Booklet.
When class members add information to FamilySearch, the system will search for additional ancestor connections and help class members discover more ancestors needing temple ordinances.
Consider doing the following:
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Demonstrate how to add information about ancestors on a computer or mobile phone.
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Give class members a copy of the handouts that are included with this lesson, which provides instructions for adding what they know about their ancestors.
Discussion: Invite class members to share experiences they have had while adding what they know about their ancestors to FamilySearch and performing temple ordinances for deceased loved ones. How have these experiences helped them draw closer to Jesus Christ? Ask the class if they would like to learn more about how they can add what they know about their ancestors.
4. Conclusion
Encourage class members to continue using what they have learned about Ordinances Ready and adding what they know about their ancestors to FamilySearch.
Consider sharing your feelings about how you have drawn closer to the Savior by providing temple ordinances for your ancestors.