Handbooks and Callings
Lesson 2: Getting Started

“Lesson 2: Getting Started,” Instructor’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work (2008), 4–7

“Lesson 2,” Instructor’s Guide, 4–7

Lesson 2

Getting Started

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Objectives

When class members complete this lesson, they should be able to:

  • Understand the three-step process for doing temple and family history work.

  • Feel a desire to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost in their efforts to identify and redeem their ancestors.

  • Register on the FamilySearch Internet site and view the information it contains about themselves and their families. The site is found at new.familysearch.org.

Preparation

In preparation for this lesson:

  • Prayerfully study pages 6–9 of the Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work.

  • Give the ward clerk a list of those who will attend your class. Ask him to print an Individual Ordinance Summary for each class member and then come to class during the last five minutes to give each class member his or her form. The Individual Ordinance Summary provides information that class members will need to complete their assignment for this lesson.

  • Go to new.familysearch.org and review the helps and resources available in the Help Center. These online helps provide the most current instructions for using the FamilySearch Internet site. You may want to print some of these materials to use as handouts for the class members.

  • Watch the following segments of the Temple and Family History Course DVD. (If you are not able to show the segments, you can cover some of the same information by presenting the discussion activity that follows the showing of the segments.)

    • “Begin Your Family History” (3:24 minutes)

    • “Follow the Spirit” (6:35 minutes)

  • Reserve a DVD player from the meetinghouse library for the class session.

Review Assignments

Begin the class by briefly reviewing the assignments from the previous lesson. Ask class members:

Key Points

1. A Process for Temple and Family History Work

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DVD Presentation

Before showing the following DVD segment, explain that it will provide an overview of a process for doing temple and family history work. It also shows class members where they can get help as they begin doing this work. As class members watch the segment, ask them to look for what resources are available to help them.

Show “Begin Your Family History” (3:24 minutes).

Discuss

Briefly review the following points from the DVD segment:

  • There is a three-step process for doing temple and family history work. (You may want to point out the diagram on page 6 of the Member’s Guide.)

  • The FamilySearch Internet site is a central place for finding information about your family and preparing names for temple work.

  • Resources are available to help you with your family history work.

Answer any questions the class members might have.

2. Where to Get Help

Explain to class members that on pages 6–9 of the Member’s Guide they can find information about resources available to help them with their temple and family history work.

Help class members understand what a family history consultant does (see page 7 of the Member’s Guide). Tell them who the family history consultants are in your ward or branch.

Also explain the services available in family history centers, which may include:

  • Free classes

  • Research assistance

  • Ordering of microfilms

  • Photocopy services

  • Internet access

3. Follow the Guidance of the Holy Ghost

Invite someone to read 1 Nephi 4:6–7. Then ask class members the following questions:

  • Why was Nephi able to go forward despite not knowing what he should do?

  • How can you exercise similar faith as you do temple and family history work?

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DVD Presentation

Before showing this DVD segment, ask class members to look for ways in which the Holy Ghost guides people in temple and family history work.

Show “Follow the Spirit” (6:35 minutes).

Discuss

Ask class members to describe ways in which the Holy Ghost communicates with people (see page 7 of the Member’s Guide).

Invite a class member to share an experience when he or she was led by the Holy Ghost.

4. Begin with the FamilySearch Internet Site

Explain that the FamilySearch Internet site is a powerful resource for those who are doing temple and family history work (see pages 8–9 of the Member’s Guide). It allows Church members to do the following:

  • See what information the Church has about them and their families.

  • View, record, and edit their family information.

  • Prepare names for temple work.

  • Work together with other family members.

Tell class members that as they begin their temple and family history work, the first thing they should do is register on the FamilySearch Internet site and find what information is available about themselves and their families. If class members do not have a computer, they can ask a family history consultant to find their family information on the FamilySearch Internet site and print it for them.

Activity

During the last five minutes of class, ask the ward clerk to give the Individual Ordinance Summary forms to the class members. These forms have each person’s membership number and confirmation date, which they will need to do the assignment for this week. (The information on the forms is confidential, so be sure that each form is seen only by the person to whom it belongs.)

Also, give each class member copies of any instructions that you have printed from the FamilySearch Internet site. Class members may find these instructions useful as they begin using the site during the week.

Optional Workshop

If class members need help registering on the FamilySearch Internet site, you may want to teach workshop 1, “Registering on the FamilySearch Internet Site,” found in appendix A. You can teach this workshop to a small group or use it to provide help to an individual.