Writing Your Personal Family History

 Directions:

Start with either the first chapter or any of the others that may interest you. Pick a question to answer and begin to write! You can write just a sentence or two, a paragraph, or a whole page if you want. Remember, you don’t have to answer every question!

You can write your personal family history by hand or on a computer, just make sure to back up your work if you do!

Put each page in a notebook, such as a 3 ring binder. You can even include a copy of the questions you answer to help organize your personal family history. 

Optional items you can include in your binder are:

• Charts (pedigrees, graphs, tables, maps)
• Pictures, drawings
• Lists of names and birthdays
• Letters to/from family and friends
• Copies of certificates, awards, and achievements
• And anything else you’d like to include in your personal family history

Index of Family History Chapters:

1. Ancestry
2. Home and Childhood
3. Teen Years
4. Continuing Education
5. Love and Marriage
6. Children
7. Employment
8. Church Service
9. Community Service
10. Grandchildren
11. Memories of Significant Events
12. Testimony

Chapter One: Ancestry

1. Who was the first of your ancestors to come to America? (Or the country of your residence)
2. Write about your father’s heritage.
3. Write about your mother’s heritage.
4. Write about your pioneer heritage. (If you don’t have any, how do you feel about being the “pioneer” in your family)
5. Write about the oldest relative you remember.

Chapter Two: Home and Childhood

1. Write about your father. (Birth, upbringing, talents, education, occupation, appearance, church and community service)
2. Write about your mother.
3. Draw a detailed floor plan of your home.
4. Write about your brothers and sisters.
5. Write what you know about your birth and first year. 
6. Write about your elementary school. (Teachers, first day of school, bomb drills, favorite activity at recess, etc.)
7. Who was your best friend in elementary school?
8. Did you have a pet?
9. How did you do laundry? (By hand, wringer washer, cloths line, automatic?)
10. What radio programs, TV shows, cartoons, and movies do you remember?
11. Tell about family vacations and visits to grandma.
12. What ward did you live in? Who was your Bishop? Tell about Primary activities. (If you weren’t a member at the time, write about spiritual aspects or traditions from your childhood and family life)
13. Do you have a favorite Primary or Sunday School teacher or favorite lesson?
14. Write about your baptism.

Chapter Three: Teen Years

1. Write about your Junior High/Middle School. Who was your favorite teacher and class?
2. Write about your best friend.
3. Who/what was popular in fashion, music, TV, movies?
4. What High School did you attend? (Size of school, favorite teacher, class, activities, student government)
5. Did you participate in Young Women/Young Men activities? Girls camp/scout camp?
6. Tell about stake conference.
7. Have you ever met a general authority or prophet?
8. Did you participate in a dance festival?
9. Did you attend General Conference?
10. Did you attend Seminary?
11. Write about your first boy/girl friend, first kiss. 
12. Did you work during your teen year as?
13. Were you in school plays or musicals?
14. Did you take private lessons for music, singing, sports?
15. Tell about your senior year.
16. How was your testimony then?
17. Write about your most traumatic experience.

Chapter Four: Continuing Education

1. Did you go to college or a trade school? 
2. Were you active in church during your college years? 
3. Did you have roommates? What were they like? Do you still keep in contact?
4. Write about your first real job in your career field.
5. Did you continue education to a Master’s or PhD?
6. Do you have any published works?

Chapter Five: Love and Marriage

1. Tell about meeting your future mate. Describe him/her.
2. What kind of dates did you have?
3. Was it love at first sight?
4. Write about your engagement. (Proposal, parties, showers, wedding plans)
5. Write about your wedding day, marriage/sealing, and reception.
6. Write about your honeymoon. 
7. Draw a floor plan of your first apartment. 
8. Was yours a match made in heaven or did you work toward blissful peace?
9. Were there subsequent marriages? 
10. What was your spouse’s most important quality then and now? Is it different?
11. Were there years of sacrifice? How did you get through them?
12. Did you travel or take vacations?
13. Draw a floor plan of subsequent homes.

Chapter Six: Children

Answer these five questions for each child.

1. Tell about your (or your wife’s) pregnancy. (Sickness, spiritual experiences, food cravings, etc.)
2. How was the delivery? Quick or bad, was your husband (or you) there? Did you/your wife breast feed or use a bottle?
3. Write about your baby’s blessing, first word, step, tooth.
4. Experiences with: primary, school, baptism, blessings, priesthood, mission, college, marriage, work. 
5. Write of other important experiences about your child. 
6. What are they doing now, their special talents, skills.

Chapter Seven: Employment and Leisure

1. Tell about your day job. Have you moved up the ranks? Do you still have passion for your work? 
2. What do you enjoy the most? The least?
3. Do you ave plans for retirement? Or are retired?
4. What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes?
5. What is your favorite book and why?
6. What is your favorite movie and why?
7. Have you traveled abroad?
8. If your had a free day to spend on yourself, what would you do?

Chapter Eight: Church Service

1. What was your first calling?
2. Subsequent callings?
3. Did your serve a mission?
4. Who did you teach?
5. Who did you serve with?
6. Who was your mission president and his wife?
7. What were your most spiritual experiences?
8. What was your hardest trial?
9. Write about the people, culture, and customs of the area you served in.
10. Write your testimony about missionary work.
11. How was your testimony at 25? 
12. Have you witnessed miracles?
13. When did you received your testimony of the Church?
14. When did you first read the Book of Mormon?
15. Have you seen prophecy fulfilled?
16. Write down the spiritual experiences you want your family to know about. 

Chapter Nine: Community Service

1. Did you participate in PTA, VPO, Booster club, or other community service?
2. Have you ever run for a government office?
3. Did you serve in the military, Air Force, etc.?
4. What is your view on politics?

Chapter Ten: Grandchildren

1. Write about your first grandchild. Did you attend the birth?
2. Tell about him/her: healthy, happy, appearance, talents. (Write about each grandchild)
3. What do you do to be a good grandmother/grandfather?
4. How is it different than being a mom/dad?

Chapter Eleven: Memories of Significant Events

Write about any of the following

1. The Depression, WWII, Korea, Vietnam
2. The release of POWs, Pueblo incident, Cuban Missile Crisis.
3. The assassination of JFK, RFK, and Martin Luther King Jr.
4. Do you remember the National Guard being called in to integrate schools in the south?
5. Do you remember the first man in space, first man on the moon, Apollo 13, Challenger?
6. The Berlin Wall coming down, Hostages in Iran.
7. Visits to significant historical church sights.
8. Visits to other significant history sights.
9. Fairs, theaters, amusement parks, Disneyland, Disneyworld, or other significant locations.
10. What did you do about food storage and emergency preparedness?
11. 9/11
12. The loss of your parents and/or other relatives.

Chapter Twelve: Testimony

1. Summarize your patriarchal blessing.
2. Write about other blessings you have received, given, or witnessed.
3. Write your testimony. 
4. What do you want your family to know and remember about you?
5. When you meet the Savior on the other side, what do you hope He will say?

Isaiah an Open Book

AIDS to Uncover the Treasure of Isaiah

Key #1: Have a positive attitude—I can understand Isaiah

    2 Nephi 25:8

Key #2: Know the time periods in which he wrote

    His day

    Dispensation of the meridian of time (Christ’s day)

    The Latter-days, 1,800 to present and future events

Key #3: Realize that Isaiah wrote in symbols

    Ask yourself questions such as “How is this like . . . ? What can that be compared to?” etc. 

Key #4: Use other scripture as you study

    The best commentary on Isaiah is the Book of Mormon

Key #5: Know Isaiah’s chief doctrinal topics

    Historical commentary of his day

    Prophecies of Christ and his day

    Prophecies of the Latter-days

    Prophecies of the second coming of Christ and millennium

Key #6: Liken the scriptures unto yourself

    “Since I realize that Isaiah knew many things concerning my time, what could he be trying to tell me?” (1 Nephi 19:23)

Key #7: Keep in mind the plan of salvation

    Isaiah assumes we know the plan and how the house of Israel fits in that plan

Key #8: Read commentary by modern prophets

    Look for interpretations given by the Brethren to help understand Isaiah’s writings

Understanding Isaiah

As taught in the Book of Mormon

Basic Principles

1. God dispenses (reveals) his gospel to prophets and they teach it to the people (Amos 3:7 and Romans 10:13-17)
2. Each time God re-reveals his gospel it is called a Dispensation. There have been seven major dispensations in the history of the earth (that we know of). (Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith)
3. With each dispensation there has been a warning: Keep my commandments and you will prosper in the land—break my commandments and you shall be swept off the land (scattered and smitten)
4. God has held true to his covenant: (Were these not smitten and scattered?)
1. People in Noah’s day
2. Jaredites
3. Lost 10 tribes
4. Jews
5. Lamanites and Nephites
5. During Isaiah’s day the people had been warned and they had rejected the warning. Therefore, they were scattered and smitten (Lost Ten Tribes).
6. Lehi, Nephi, and Jacob see the same comparison in their family in America. Laman and Lemuel had rebelled against the Lord and had been cut off (2 Nephi 5).
7. Jacob and Nephi saw the parallel with Isaiah’s day and so they likened the writings of Isaiah to their people as a warning. 
8. Since we are living in the same Prommised Land and are under the same covenant, we too should see the parallels to Isaiah, the days of Nephi/Jacob, and our day. 
9. By reading the words of Isaiah (as recorded in the Book of Mormon) we should look for the ways: (a) in which the Lord warned the people, (b) how the people reacted to the warnings, (c) the consequences that followed either obedience or disobedience and (d) how these may show up in our lives.
10. In light of the “Likening Principle” we would be wise to ask the following questions while reading the Isaiah writings: What is he saying to me? How is this like my day? What warning is he giving and am I listening to that warning? What happened to them for failing to listen and will it happen to me? Does any of this match up with what our current leaders are saying today?
11. Don’t worry so much about the details of Isaiah’s writings, but rather look for this match up with what our current leaders are saying today?
12. Along with the scattering that comes from disobedience, there has always been a promise of a gathering back following the scattering (once the people had been sufficiently humbled and had fully repented).
13. Since today all the house of Israel has now been scattered, the gathering is occurring with the restoration. So, as you read Isaiah also look for gathering principles and you will see the nature of God revealed. You will see his yearnings for his people, his willingness to forgive, and his constant reaching out for them to come back to him. Here too you can see a likening. Have we not all drifted to some degree and have a need of his yearnings and reaching out to bring us back?

Background on Isaiah and his day

1. Isaiah lived around 700 B.C. In the land of Canaan (in NT times called Palestine and today called Israel)
2. His people had divided into two groups—10 tribes living in the north of the country and 2 tribes living in the south. The ten in the north had taken up on themselves the name Israel. They had become very wicked and were worshipping idols and were steeped in immorality. The two tribes in the south called themselves Judah or Jews. They were led by a king named Hezekiah. Isaiah lived in Jerusalem and also traveled and taught in both lands. 
3. The people in the north (Israel) did not give heed to Isaiah and his warnings. The people in the south (Judah) did obey. 
4. The Assyrian army entered their land, beginning at the north and conquered all the cities of the people of Israel. They were smitten and scattered as God had warned and promised through his prophet Isaiah.
5. The army proceeded south and encircled the city of Jerusalem. Isaiah resided in the city and had prepared the people spiritually to withstand the attack of the invading army. 
6. Because the people listened and obeyed the prophet Isaiah the city was spared in a miraculous way. One night a plague went throughout the Assyrian army and over 185,000 men died. The king fled to his homeland and there was assassinated. They were never again a powerful nation. 
7. God had kept his covenants with the people. He had scattered the northern tribes and spared the southern tribes based on their disobedience or obedience. 

Our Day

1. We have a prophet in our midst that is teaching, testifying, and warning us of the evil of our day. We too are under covenant to obey or be swept off.
2. One day powerful armies will gather to destroy the righteous.
3. One day the righteous will be gathered into places for safety and prophets will reside to protect and strengthen.
4. The message will be the same as that of Isaiah (and all the prophets throughout each dispensation).
5. Failure to heed the words of the prophets will bring the same consequences as experienced by Isaiah’s people and those of the Book of Mormon. We too will be destroyed and not be able to enjoy the millennial presence of Jesus Christ in the Promised Land.
6. We have all the words of the prophets (because this is the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times) and so if we read, ponder, liken, and listen to the Spirit we will be gathered back to our God and his land (the Celestial Kingdom).
7. To make all this work we must come unto Christ—which was also Isaiah’s message, as well as, Jacob’s in the Book of Mormon. 

Our Hands Can Serve

 An old Jewish legend tells of two brothers, Abram and Zimri, who owned a field and worked it together. They agreed to divide both the labor and the harvest equally. One night as the harvest came to a close, Zimri could not sleep, for it didn’t seem right that Abram, who had a wife and seven sons to feed, should receive only half of the harvest, while he, with only himself to support, had so much. 

So Zimri dressed and quietly went into the field, where he took a third of his harvest and put it in his brother’s pile. He then returned to his bed, satisfied that he had done the right thing. 

Meanwhile, Abram could not sleep either. He thought of his poor brother, Zimri, who was all alone and had no sons to help him with the work. It did not seem right that Zimri, who worked so hard by himself, should get only half of the harvest. Surely this was not pleasing to Good. And so Abram quietly went to the fields, where he took a third of his harvest and placed it in the pile of this beloved brother.

The next morning, the brother went to the field and were both astonished that the piles still looked to be the same size. That night both brothers slipped out of their houses to repeat their efforts of the previous night. But this time they discovered each other, and when they did, they wept and embraced. Neither could speak, for their hearts were overcome with love and gratitude. 

This is the spirit of compassion: that we love others as ourselves, seek their happiness, and do unto them as we hope they would do unto us.

Dating & Virtue

 Ten things parents can do to help their children prepare for dating.

As worldly morals continue to degenerate, they challenge and even threaten traditional beliefs of dating and marriage. These threats are aimed forcefully at the rising generation. Particularly when it comes to relationships with the opposite sex, members of the Church need to hold to the iron rod This has never been more true with the principles of dating than it is now, say the leaders of the Church’s youth organizations. 

“There’s a big challenge today, just being in the world,” explains Brother David L. Beck, Young Men general president. “Do we need to teach? Do we ever! We’ve got to counteract all the wrong messages that are coming, not only though the media, but also through associates and friends. Parents have a solemn responsibility to teach. It starts in the home.”

Here, Brother Beck and Sister Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women general president, share 10 ideas to help parents teach their children appropriate methods of dating and help safeguard young people from the pitfalls of the world.

1. Understand the doctrine of dating and celestial marriage

“The first thing parents need to do is understand the doctrine,” says Sister Dalton. “The doctrine is the plan of salvation and includes celestial marriage, family, and parenthood. ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World’ states that ‘marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.’ That’s why we’re here on the earth—to form eternal families.”

“I agree,” says Brother Beck. “The family proclamation also declares that ‘the family is central to the Creator’s plan . . . [and] is ordained of God.’ Marriage between a man and a woman is essential to His eternal plan and our eternal possibilities. The proclamation also has the doctrine for dating; it describes the boundaries on our physical relationships in that ‘the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between . . . Husband and wife.’” 

Sister Dalton adds that young people also need to understand the role of agency and their own identity. “In the premarital council in heaven, all of us fought to have agency. But when you step over the line into immortality, you've compromising the agency of another person. You’re actually tampering with a power that God has entrusted us with to create other lives. If Satan can get youth to break the law of chastity, he can frustrate the purposes that we fought for valiantly in the premarital realm. 

“If we could see each other for who we really are—children of our Father in Heaven—we would treat each other with the reverence, respect, and dignity that our spiritual heritage demands,” says Sister Dalton. “When we understand our divine identity, it will define all of our relationships with each other.”

2. Don’t be influenced by the ways of the world

The world, especially the media, would have us violate or ignore Heavenly Father’ teachings on dating and marriage. We don’t have to do that, says Brother Beck. “When we cross a line and engage in immoral behavior, we offend the Spirit, and when we lose that influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives, all those wonderful things that the Spirit provides to us are lost. Immoral behavior destroys faith. Nothing I’ve seen seems so destructive to faith as immoral behavior.”

That’s one of the main reasons parents have to be so careful about what messages their children receive. “We’re just immersed in incorrect worldly messages through the media. It’s an overflowing scourge. You can’t spend an hour on television without getting false messages that create distorted views of reality which are against God’s purposes for us here on earth. That’s why pornography—and all the immorality it portrays—is so destructive to relationships. It dehumanizes. Be very careful with the media you let into your home.”

3. Teach that virtue is not outdated

With all those messages, parents have to remain their children that prophetic counsel hasn’t changed. “The prophets and seers have been telling us this for years,” says Sister Dalton, “and we have the words of current prophets, seers, and revelatory as well. That is why we added the value of virtue to the Young Women theme and values. The word ‘virtue’ means chastity. The core of a virtuous life is chastity and sexual purity.

“Parents, teach your children that the body is a temple. Make sure they understand that we must be pure in heart to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost. That means we need to live so that we are worthy to enter the temple—now!

“When young men and young women start dating, teach them to ask themselves, ‘Will this person in this relationship lead me to the temple?’ If they can’t honestly answer yes, then they ought to think about what they are doing and make some changes.” 

4. Teach the appropriate seasons of dating

In the Young Men and Young Women programs, youth receive guidance in addition to what they may receive in the home on interacting with the opposite sex, explains Brother Beck. To help youth interact properly and successfully, “the Church sponsors group activities. We hold mutual and combined activities for youth beginning at age 12. These teach youth the fundamental lessons about respect. At age 14, youth start having youth conferences, dances, and other activities. For the Strength of Youth clearly points out that dating can occur at age 16 under conditions such as group and double dates that are positive and help maintain self-respect.”

Dating in these circumstances doesn’t mean youth can’t or won’t have fun, according to Sister Dalton. “I’ve watched a lot of stake and ultimate dance festivals, as well as mutual and service activities. Both the girls and the boys are excited to attend. And while they are having a good time, they learn appropriate social interaction and how to be respectful of one another, how to be careful about the way they dress. Even the Beehives and deacons learn how to honor one another in these wholesome settings. I believe that is why our prophet, President Thomas S. Monsoon, says that he is an advocate of these activities.”

5. Encourage good friendships

Proper dating and developing wholesome friendships are really about being a disciple of Jesus Christ, says Sister Dalton. “When I talk to young women about dating, I like to ask them to define what a friend is. I married by best friend. We became friends first. And he’s still my best friend.

“I love Elder Robert D. Hales’s definition of a friend,” Sister Dalton continues. “‘True friends make it easier to live the gospel.’ It is pretty simple. A person who brings out righteous qualities in you makes you better.” 

Brother Beck says, “Teach young men about their priesthood responsibilities in the context of dating and how they should treat young women. Doctrine and Covenants 20 explains that a teacher should watch over the Church always and be with and strengthen the members. To the young men, I would say, “Think about that in the context of a relationships with a young woman You are watching over. You have this priesthood responsibility to watch over her when you are in her presence, to strengthen her. When you are with her, how are you strengthening and inviting her to come unto Christ?”

Sister Dalton adds, “I call that being a guardian of virtue. i believe that these young men with priesthood power must be guardians of virtue. They must be virtuous themselves so that they can access that priesthood power and exercise it in purity and in holiness, and they also need to protect others’ virtue. And the young women also have to be guardians of their own virtue and guardians of the boys.”

6. Set a positive example of dating and relationships

“One of the most important thing is parents can do,” says Brother Beck, “is set the example by the respect they show each other and the joy they have in their relationship—seeing that it really is a wonderful thing. I don’t know that we could overstate what a motivator that is. Parents should try to model what a marriage can and should be.”

“I agree,” says Sister Dalton. “Those things make a big difference when we start dating and looking for qualities we want in an eternal relationship. I think parents can teach and model respect in their homes.”

7. Use Church resources

Brother Beck explains that in addition to the Church programs already mentioned, there are a number of excellent resources to help parents teach their children. “Parents can use For the Strength of Youth to teach what the prophets have written to us about dating. Don’t just read or memorize it. Take these standards and appreciate them as words from the Lord’s anointed, and really listen to make sure our children understand them. For the Strength of Youth will provide a great protection for them.”

Sister Dalton concurs. “I think every parents would be wise to use For the Strength of Youth as family home evening resource, especially with teenagers.”

“There’s also the Family Guidebook,” adds Brother Beck. “It teaches the organization and purpose of a family. We also need to point out that families bring happiness to Heavenly Father’s children by teaching them correct principles in a loving atmosphere. Those principles are best taught by example in the home.”

“There’s another powerful resource—the Book of Mormon,” says Sister Dalton. “Dating practices and principles are contained right there. For example, Alma 39, with Alma’s advice to his son Corianton, is a very good place to start. Also in Doctrine and Covenants 88:40, the scripture says that light cleaveth to light and virtue love the virtue. I think that’s a relationship scripture. We need to remember that good attracts good.”

8. Teach and influence by listening and spending time together

Every point of teaching works better when we listen, says Brother Beck. “We need to emphasize the ability to listen to the Spirit so parents can really understand and have the kind of relationship in which a child will want to talk and open up.

“As a priesthood leader, I spend the vast majority of my time just listening. Sometimes you don’t need to say anything. It’s the same for parents. Parents need to teach, but they also need to listen and invite their children to express their feelings about what is going on.

“This can happen in family home evening, family council, at mealtimes, and in interviews,” Brother Beck continues. “During those times, listen and also express how you view these standards. Share your commitment, understanding, and appreciation for them.

“In addition, we need to spend time with our children and do things with them that they like to do—not just the things we want to do. This builds confidence and trust.”

9. Prepare in advance to deal with difficult situations

“Parents can also teach what I call ‘refusal skills,’” says Sister Dalton. “Discuss with your children what situations might occur on dates and how they would react. Ask: ‘So what if you get in this situation? What will you do?’ Then let them actually act it out. Chances are good that they will do what they actually planned to do.

“The other thing is to help youth make ‘preplanned decisions and commitments.’ There are certain things you can decide right now, and you don’t ever have to decide them again. Then, in the heat of the moment, you don’t have to make that decision again. It’s made! When I was a teenager, if someone offered me liquor or a cigarette, I’d respond, ‘Are you kidding? I made that decision when I was 12. I’m not doing that.’ I made those decisions once. I never had to remake them.

“But make sure you teach them to believe in the power and principles of repentance. They are young. They will make mistakes. But they need to believe they can repent and get back on track.”

10. Let them know their parents and leaders trust them

“Our youth need to know we believe in them,” says Brother Beck. “We need to encourage them to do hard things and sometimes to take the path that stretches them. When each of us as individuals confronts our fears, we discover who we are. We discover God in our lives and we develop confidence. Go forward in faith, knowing that the Lord will support you. His grace is sufficient to help us through challenging situations.”

Sister Dalton adds: “This generation of youth is the most noble and incredible ever. They’re uniquely positioned in the world right now to make a difference. And they are full of hope. They want to be validated for who they really are. They come with such nobility inside. We need to provide opportunities that foster authentic relationships and help them develop the feeling and knowledge of their own divine identity. Parents, you can do that. Teach them to focus on the temple and on being worthy to make and keep covenants. Teach them with love and respect, and they will develop those same patterns.” 

The Signs of the Times of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Like other Christians, Latter-day Saints believe and look forward to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It was prophesied in the Bible and the Book of Mormon that there will be certain signs that will precede His coming for the faithful to watch for. The following is a list of signs and events that were foretold by Jesus, ancient prophets, and Latter-day prophets that would need to happen before that “Great and dreadful day” (Doctrine & Covenants 2:1).

Has Happened

Apostasy

Wars and rumors of wars

Restoration of gospel

Restoration of the Priesthood

Coming forth of the Book of Mormon

Elijah returning

Persecution of the Jews

The Spirit shall be poured out on all flesh

Discovery and the use of printing

The Protestant Reformation and renaissance

The discovery and colonization of America

Establishment of the American Nation

Translation and printing of the Bible

Establishment of the U.S. Constitution

Latter-day Revelation

Opposition to the Book of Mormon

Messengers are to precede the second coming

Church and Kingdom of God are set up again

Growth of the Church

Building of Latter-day temples

The Lord is to come suddenly to the temple

Genealogical research will be increasing

Persecution of the saints

Worldly knowledge will increase

Strikes, anarchy, violence increases

Peace taken from Earth

Angels are now reaping the Earth

The American Civil War

Depression and economic turmoil

Many false churches arise

Refusal of men to believe in signs of times

Is Happening

Love of man shall wax cold

Iniquity shall abound

All things in commotion

People shall live in fear

Increased earthquakes

More diseases

More famines

Great storms, lightning and thunder

Hailstorms destroying crops

The Lamanites will become a great nation

The Jews will rise to be a great nation

Latter-day Revelation

Opposition to the Book of Mormon

Messengers to precede the Second Coming

Growth of the Church

The spiritual and physical gathering of Israel

Times of gentiles being fulfilled

The Jews will begin to believe in Christ

Building of Latter-day temples

Worldly knowledge to increase

Scientific and inventive progress

Elements in commotion/seasons shifting and changing

Disasters and calamities to abound

Strikes, anarchy, violence increases

Latter-day wickedness; including: murder, robbery, rape, whoredoms, every form of sexual immorality, increased juvenile delinquency, crimes against persons and property

Birth control is a major issue

Spirit ceasing to strive with the wicked

Peace taken from Earth

Depressions and economic turmoil

Many false churches arise

Refusal of men to believe in signs of the times

Signs on earth and in heaven

Will Happen

Missionaries will be in every country of the world

The building of the new Jerusalem in Missouri

The Jews will assemble in Jerusalem

The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel shall return

A temple will be built in Independence, Missouri

The gathering at Adam-Ondi-Ahman

Final Great War involving 200,000,000 forces and armaments will last for 3 years

Two prophets will lie dead in Jerusalem street for 3 days and then will rise for everyone to see

Christ to win war for the Jews to fulfill the Jewish role as the Messiah

The Jews will acknowledge Christ as the Messiah and will know He was the same one that was crucified 

The wicked will be burned as stubble

Christ will come from the East 

I Can Be Happy When I Help

 Purpose: To help children realize that our attitude about helping our family and neighbors is often determined by our words and tone of voice.

Technique: Role play

Materials Needed:

• Laundry basket full of towels
• Rake, lawnmower, or outdoor broom
• Trash can
• Small table with placement, napkin, silverware, glass
• Word strips (tape underneath children’s chairs with the label #1, #2, etc. visible)
• Black poster board representing negative attitude; yellow poster board representing positive attitude

1. Can’t it wait until after this TV show?
2. Why do I always have to do it?
3. It seems like I just did that yesterday.
4. I’m too tired.
5. It looks like the trash is piling up. Can I take it out for you?
6. Can I help with dinner?
7. Is there anything I can do to make your day any easier?
8. It looks like the yard/patio needs to be moved/swept. Can I help out?

The four “chores” should be arranged in four different areas. A member of the primary board will role play the mother and walk into primary looking overwhelmed, hurried, tired, . . . Or any other emotion that might be appropriate. She could be talking to herself and going over her checklist of things to get done for the day. Then she stops and looks at the kids and says, “you know, I could share use some help around here today.” She looks at the trash can heaped with trash. “Let’s see . . . Who is helper #1?” (Helper raises hand.) “______, would you mind emptying the trash. The trash man should be here any minute.” (Helper #1 whines as he/she reads response.) Mother looks discouraged. A second primary board member asks children if this child is happily helping. If not, the word strip is placed on the black poster board. Role Play continues and repeats as outlined:

Chore/Response:

Setting the Table/#2

Folding Clothes/#3

Cleaning Yard/#4

By this time, mother is completely discouraged. Second primary worker asks Helper #5 if he/she could please say something that would make mother feel better. Helper #5 reads response and takes trash out into hall. Mother has a smile creep over her. Second primary worker continues asking Helper #6–he goes over and sets table. Helper #7 folds towels, and Helper #8 pretends to rake leaves. By this time, Mother is genuinely happy and comments on how much happier home is when children have a positive attitude about helping.

Children are given the following calendar and are asked to draw/color a picture of them helping someone in their family or neighborhood. Be sure that their picture shows them smiling! They can take chart home and have either parent or themselves fill in the chart daily. 

We Can Prepare to Go to the Temple By Paying Our Tithing

 Materials: Prepared chalkboard and chalk, scriptures, 20 small pieces of fruit, play money totaling $600.00, signs to represent businesses and expenditures. 

Chalkboard: Prior to the beginning of this sharing time, prepare chalkboard with the following scriptures and answers.

• Nehemiah 13:12 (Abraham)
• 2 Chronicles 31:5 (Jacob)
• Genesis 28:20-22 (Children of Israel)
• Alma 13:15 (People of Judah)

Read each scripture and by drawing a line, have the children match each scripture with the person or persons to whom it refers.

Ask what one thing all these people had in common (each paid tithing). Ask the question: What is tithing? (Ten percent of our total income.)

Ask the children if they know why we pay tithing. Explain the law of tithing is a commandment of God and that it has always been a part of the gospel. Explain in your own words that when we pay tithing we show our love for the Lord and help to build His kingdom. Tell them it is required of us before we can be worthy to go to the temple and that by learning to pay our tithing now we are preparing to go to the temple when we are adults. 

Ask the children to name possible reasons for paying tithing and write their answers on the chalkboard. If necessary, help them list the answers below. 

1. Show our love for the Lord.
2. Rewarded with many blessings.
3. Gain spiritual power.
4. Become closer to our families. 
5. Increases our faith in God.

Explain that all these blessings received when we pay our tithing will help prepare them to go to the temple some day.