Family History…“We are Sealed Together”

Compiled by Janetta Graham 3/08

Materials: scriptures, family history worksheets, two jars (one sealed and one with seal already
broken), choose an activity

Suggested Songs:
Here We are Together p. 261 Children’s Songbook (add grandma/pa, aunt, uncle, cousins, etc.)

I Love to See the Temple p. 95 Children’s Songbook (small picture book included)

Families Can Be Together Forever p. 188 Children’s Songbook (link to pictures for song below)
http://members.aol.com/jollyjenn/FamiliesCanBe.pdf

Family History-I am Doing it p. 94 Children’s Songbook

The Hearts of the Children p. 92 Children’s Songbook

Prayer:
Scripture: Malachi 4:6 “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of
the children to their fathers. “

Attention Activity: Display two jars. One jar needs to be sealed and one jar that’s
already been open. Have the children talk about their similarities and differences (i.e. sealed and not sealed).

Story and Questions: Brad Wilcox, “Preserving Jam (and Families),” Friend, Jul 2004,
5

To adapt for younger children, talk about the sealing process of canned goods. Discuss how the jar needs to be
properly sealed to be preserved and last long. Our families need to be sealed together to last forever.
Activity Ideas: (choose one or more of the following)

1. Look through family albums. Point out grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great-grandparents, etc. Ask
your children if they know who they are? What are their names? Put together a small family album for
them to remember their extended family by. (younger and older children)
2. Family History ABC’s. Each letter stands for something related to family history. Guess what the pictures
describe. (younger and older children)
3. Using the family tree, have the children place the children, parents, and grandparents in the proper spot.
Ask your children if they know each person’s name. Write their name below their picture. (younger
children)
4. Fill out a four generation pedigree chart. Have them write in the information. Use the Family History
heart as a pedigree chart if you choose. Display or hang hearts somewhere prominent in your home. (older
children)
5. Answer the clues to “Relative Puzzle” and “Climbing my family tree” (younger and older)

Prayer:
Treat Idea: Make homemade rolls and spread raspberry jam on top. Mmmm! Talk about the “sweet”
rewards of doing family history.
Extended Family History Activities:

1. Help to organize a family reunion.

2. Choose a picture of a temple and hang it up in your individual rooms as well as a larger one placed
in a prominent place in the home.
3. Write a letter or draw a picture and send it to a relative.
4. Have a grandparent interview. Ask them about their favorites and what life was like when they
were little. Write down or record their answers for family history. (see attached sheet)
5. Learn a new talent from a grandparent or other relative.
6. Make a photo book of all of your relatives. Name each person as you look at the pictures. Have a
parent tell stories about the family members as you look in the book.
7. Choose an ancestor and share a story about them. Tell what you know about where they lived,
what life was like, how long ago they lived, etc.
8. Write clues on different cut out hearts about different family members (past and present). Have
the family guess who the clue is about.
9. Go to a family gravesite and place flowers on the graves. Make an etching of the gravestone by
placing a paper over it and make a crayon rubbing of the details.
10. Write down names in family history and “seal” them in a jar. Display somewhere in the home to
remember ancestors.
11. Talk about small plates and large plates in the Book of Mormon. Which purpose did each have?
(spiritual and history).
12. Share personal stories from your childhood at bedtime.
13. Pick fruit and vegetables and can it. Use the sealing process.
14. Make your own wire family tree. Instructions given. http://www.mormonchic.com/crafty/family-
tree-pictorial.asp
15. 165 Fun Family History Activities for kids. http://www.eprimary.dk/index_uk.htm (Family Home
Evening/F/Family History/+101 Family History Activities)
16. Pratt’s Family History theme. http://www.fastq.com/~jbpratt/education/theme/family.html (books,
coloring pages, links, etc.)
17. Fun Family History activities. http://www.christysclipart.com/fam_history_ideas.html (family history
journal jars, ancestor scavenger hunt, cooking family recipes, graveyard visits, etc.)
18. Family Calendar. Write down the birthdays and anniversaries for everyone living in your extended
family. Send cards in the mail or send an e-card to remember them.
19. http://www.ywsuggestions.net/Family_Tree.pdf . Print and write in your own family names.
20. Journal Jar. Answer questions about your family each day.
http://www.christysclipart.com/journal_RS.html

Fun Activities in the Friend:

1. Janet Kruckenberg, “Genealogy Word Square,” Friend, Nov. 1988, 11 (word search)
2. Hilary Hendricks, “Grandma’s Trunk,” Friend, May 2006, 24–25 (match items in trunk to journal
statements)
3. Crossword Puzzle,” Friend, Mar. 1972, 26 (crossword about family history)
4. Robert J. Lystrup, “Family History Heart,” Friend, July 1995, 14 (enclosed)
5. Jennifer Cloward, “Family Treasure,” Friend, July 2000, 38 (place treat by family history
information).
6. Vicki F. Matsumori, “Sharing Time: ‘The Heart of the Children,’ ” Friend, Aug. 2002, 36 (make a
heart necklace with the generations together).
7. My Eternal Family,” Friend, Feb 2004, 38 (pictures) Blessings of the temple.
8. Marlene Cameron Thomas, “Family Facts Game,” Friend, Sept. 1995, 14 (possibly could make this
part of lesson)
 9. Marlene Cameron Thomas, “Happy Birthday, Dear Ancestor,” Ensign, July 2001, 70 (choose an
ancestor and have a birthday party each month and talk about them).
10. Marlene Cameron Thomas, “Family Facts Game,” Friend, Sept. 1995, 14
Stories about Family History:

1. David E. Sorensen, “The Doctrine of Temple Work,” Ensign, Oct 2003, 56–63
2. Lori Stevens, “The Story Quilt,” Friend, Jan 1999, 16
3. Janet Peterson, “Family Treasures,” Friend, Oct 1999, 35
4. Lorraine Feather, “Just Like Me,” Friend, Jan 1993, 5 (poem)
5. Jay White, “Heirloom,” Friend, Mar 1993, 40
6. Chuck Newhouse, “Family History You Can Do,” Ensign, Aug. 1995, 62
7. Boyd K. Packer, “Your Family History: Getting Started,” Ensign, Aug 2003, 12–17
8. Dennis B. Neuenschwander, “Bridges and Eternal Keepsakes,” Ensign, May 1999, 83
9. Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Spirit of Elijah,” Liahona, Nov 1996, 19
10. Howard W. Hunter, “We Have a Work to Do,” Ensign, Mar 1995, 64–65
11. Dallin H. Oaks, “Family History: ‘In Wisdom and in Order’,” Ensign, Jun 1989, 6
12. “The Sealing Keys Restored,” Friend, Feb 2002, 44. Discuss how the priesthood “seals” us.
13. Florence C. Youngberg, “A Tour Back in Time,” Ensign, July 1998, 72
14. George D. Durrant, “Branching Out on Your Family Tree,” Ensign, Apr 2007, 44–47
15. Boyd K. Packer, “Your Family History: Getting Started,” Ensign, Aug 2003, 12–17
16. Shirley Bock Testi, “Involving Children in Family History,” Ensign, Jan. 2001, 75
17. Koral Slight, “Question-a-Week Family History,” Ensign, June 1998, 73.
18. Chris McAfee, “Acid Free, Worry Free,” Ensign, Apr. 2006, 70–71

Family History Websites/Resources:

1. www.familysearch.com (includes free PAF 5.2 download, Ancestral File, IGI, census, Social Security
Death index, etc.)
2. www.familyhistory.com
3. www.ancestry.com (Monthly fee: census and other records online, family trees, print a book; lots of
info.)
4. Other materials available through Distribution Center.
 Brad Wilcox, “Preserving Jam (and Families),” Friend, Jul 2004, 5
(Based on a true story)

The great work to be done in the temples of the Lord … for … the sealing of the children to their
parents (D&C 138:48).
The raspberries were red, ripe, and juicy. Whitney had never seen quite so many. Mom had bought
several large containers when they were on sale, and now she wanted Whitney to help her make jam.
Whitney loved jam on toast in the mornings or on hot rolls when they came out of the oven. Her
mouth watered at the thought of the treat.
Mom lifted a sack of sugar out of the storage bucket. “Start putting the raspberries in the strainer,”
she instructed. “Then run them under the water in the sink until they’re clean. Be sure to pick out any
bits of leaves you find.”
Whitney filled the strainer, cleaned the berries, and dumped them into a big bowl. She refilled the
strainer and went through the process again and again. It hardly felt like work to her.
After Mom finished measuring the sugar, she took lots of clean jars out of the dishwasher and
stacked them on the countertop. Once the dishwasher was empty, she pulled several more jars out of
a cardboard box and placed them in the dishwasher.
“Why are you doing that?” Whitney asked. “They don’t look dirty to me.”
“Some of the jars have been sitting on the shelf downstairs for a while. I just want to make sure that
they are all clean before we fill them with jam.”
Mom and Whitney worked together for several hours before Dad and Wendee, Whitney’s sister, came
home. “Put on some aprons and come give us a hand,” Mom called to them. Dad started mashing up
the last of the berries while Wendee began labeling the finished jars.
“Honey, before you put away those jars, make sure all the lids are sealed,” Mom said to Wendee.
Whitney stopped stirring and laughed. “Sealed?” she asked. “Are they getting married or something?”
Now Dad, Mom, and Wendee laughed.
“Well,” Whitney said defensively, “Mom told you to make sure the lids are sealed. So what are you
going to do? Take them to the temple?”
Wendee picked up a jar and showed her younger sister the lid. “See, the lid has to seal to the jar so
the jam won’t spoil. If the lid doesn’t seal, the jam won’t last. We’re not talking about the temple.”
“Well,” Dad said, “maybe we are. Think about it—isn’t it the same with families? The ones sealed in
the temple by priesthood authority can last forever. Those that aren’t sealed aren’t going to last.”
“Keep mashing the rest of those berries while you preach your sermon,” Mom said as she started
spooning finished jam into the jars. Whitney reached out to steady the jars while Mom worked.
“I thought getting sealed just meant getting married,” Whitney said.
“Not exactly,” Mom explained. “A man and a woman can get married anywhere, but when they marry
outside of the temple, it’s only for this life. Couples married, or sealed, in the temple can be married
forever.”
“Now who’s preaching?” Dad asked with a smile.
“Sealed means linked together or hard to break apart,” Mom explained. “When you get married in the
temple, you are linked eternally to your spouse and your children. We seal the lids to preserve the
jam. Being sealed in the temple preserves families.”
“These berries are all mashed. What’s next?” Dad asked.
“Just take those last few jars out of the dishwasher.”
“I feel another lesson coming on,” Dad said. “See, Mom cleaned the jars before she filled them with
jam. Sealing jam in a dirty jar would not work. It’s the same way with the temple. We have to be clean
and worthy to enter the temple. That’s the only way the sealing counts.”
“I’m impressed,” Wendee said. “Dad, you’re pretty good.”
“So is this jam,” Mom said. “Now, who wants some before we put it all away?”
Over the next few weeks, everyone in the family enjoyed the jam. Whitney liked it best of all.
One Sunday Sister Garcia assigned Whitney to give a talk in Primary the following week. Whitney
didn’t usually like giving talks because she never knew what to say. But this time was different.
Whitney could hardly wait to get home and begin writing.
“What are you supposed to talk about?” Wendee asked on the way home from church.
“Well,” Whitney said, “Sister Garcia said the theme should be ‘families are forever.’ The way I look at
it, forever families are a lot like making raspberry jam!”

Questions and Answers:

• Talk about when mom and dad were sealed together in the temple. Was that a special day?
• How were you sealed to your parents on that day? (born in the covenant)
• How can we make sure we are sealed with our ancestors?
• What work is done in the temple to help this process? (baptisms for the dead, initiatories,
endowments, sealings to family and spouse)
• What can you do now to make an eternal family?

1.

A Relative Puzzle (for older children) Mary Ellen Jolley, “A Relative Puzzle,” Friend, Nov.
1972, 26
Complete the following statements by writing the correct answer in the proper blanks.
1. Your father’s wife is your __ __ __ __ __ __.
2. Your mother’s father is called your __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
3. Your sister’s mother’s mother is called your __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
4. Your father’s sister is called your __ __ __ __.
5. Your father’s mother’s son’s daughter would be called her __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
6. Your mother’s sister-in-law’s husband is called your __ __ __ __ __.
7. A boy child (not yourself) born to your mother is called your __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
8. Your father’s son’s daughter would be your __ __ __ __ __.
9. A child born to your uncle’s wife is your __ __ __ __ __ __.
10. Your mother’s son’s (not yourself) daughter’s brother would be your __ __ __ __ __ __.
11. Your grandmother’s husband’s daughter’s son would be called her __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
12. Your brother’s grandfather’s son who is married to your mother is called your __ __ __ __ __ __.
13. Your father’s wife’s daughter would be your __ __ __ __ __ __.

Climbing the Family Tree (for younger children) Marianne Wilson McKnight,
“Climbing the Family Tree,” Friend, June 1999, 35
How would each of these family members be related to you? Choose an answer from this list of
relationships: aunt, brother, cousin, father, grandfather, great-grandmother, mother, nephew,
niece, sister, uncle.
1. I am your sister’s sister. I am your ____________.
2. I am your brother’s son. I am your ____________.
3. I am married to your mother’s mother. I am your ____________.
4. I am the daughter of your father’s sister. I am your ____________.
5. I am your father’s father’s mother. I am your ____________.
6. I am the son of your mother. I am your ____________.
7. I am one of five girls in a family of seven. Your sister is my mother. I am your ____________.