Preparing Children for Temple Covenants

I was recently asked to speak on parents can prepare their children to make covenants in the temple. I would like to share a few of the things I learned:

1. Many times children understand that they should prepare to go to the temple but they don't know how or why they need to. Parents can help children understand their goal by teaching their kids about covenants.

2. Use Duty to God and Personal Progress. Both of these booklets help prepare youth not only to make covenants, but more importantly, to keep them.

3. Study the Scriptures. Elder Russell M. Nelson lists some specific things to study in order to prepare for temple covenants, "Spiritual preparation is enhanced by study. I like to recommend that members going to the temple for the first time read short explanatory paragraphs in the Bible Dictionary, listed under seven topics: “Anoint,” “Atonement,” “Christ,” “Covenant,” “Fall of Adam,” “Sacrifices,” and “Temple.” Doing so will provide a firm foundation. One may also read in . . . the books of Moses and Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price. Such a review of ancient scripture is even more enlightening after one is familiar with the temple endowment. Those books underscore the antiquity of temple worship."

4. Finally, perhaps the most important preparation for youth is having righteous examples in their lives. Children whose parents regularly attend the temple are more likely to have that same habit or practice in their lives.

Obviously there are more ways than these to prepare children for temple covenants but it's a good start. For families can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan. I always want to be with my own family and the Lord has shown me how I can. And that's only possible through temple blessings.