2024 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction: An Overview
In February 2024, Church leaders convened to discuss temple blessings for new and returning members. They introduced a tool to aid proxy baptisms preparation. This instruction, available with a discussion guide, aims to enhance temple experiences, especially for new members joining the Church.
The 2024 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction session, released in February, offers guidance to Church leaders and members. Senior leaders convened to explore temple blessings for new members, both young in age and new to the Church, as well as returning members seeking renewed connection. This instruction emphasizes creating positive first temple experiences, simplifying the process for new members.
The session also introduces a new tool designed to help leaders assist members in preparing family name cards for proxy baptisms efficiently. This resource streamlines the process, making it more accessible and less daunting for those new to temple work. By focusing on simplicity and personal connection, the instruction aims to foster a welcoming and spiritually enriching environment within the temple.
The full leadership instruction, along with an accompanying discussion guide, is readily available for viewing and download, providing comprehensive support for leaders and members alike. The goal is to encourage greater participation in temple ordinances and strengthen the bonds of family, both living and deceased, through temple service.
Key Themes and Emphases
The instruction highlights fostering positive first temple experiences, especially for new members. It emphasizes simplifying name preparation and creating supportive environments. The focus is on making temple service accessible and spiritually meaningful for all participants.
Fostering Positive First Temple Experiences
The 2024 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction underscores creating uplifting initial temple visits, particularly for new members. Key strategies include thorough pre-temple preparation, highlighting the profound spiritual significance of temple ordinances, and cultivating a welcoming, supportive atmosphere. Leaders can assist new members by simplifying the process of preparing family names for temple work, ensuring it feels personal and meaningful rather than a technical task.
Emphasis is placed on helping new members connect with their families through proxy baptisms, often for grandparents. The instruction encourages leaders to facilitate these experiences soon after a new member receives their recommend, making the temple accessible early in their gospel journey. This proactive approach helps new members feel immediately integrated into the Church’s vital work.
By focusing on simplicity and spiritual preparation, the instruction aims to make initial temple experiences positive and impactful, reinforcing the new member’s connection to the Savior and their eternal family.
Focus on New Members
The 2024 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction places significant emphasis on integrating new members into temple service. Recognizing that new converts may feel isolated, particularly when joining the Church alone, the instruction highlights the importance of early temple experiences in fostering a sense of belonging and connection.
Leaders are encouraged to assist new members in identifying family names for proxy ordinances, simplifying the process and making it a personal, spiritual experience. Often, new members already have a specific ancestor in mind, such as a grandparent, making the initial temple visit deeply meaningful.
The goal is to help new members experience the excitement and spiritual connection associated with temple work soon after baptism. This early engagement can strengthen their faith, deepen their conversion, and provide a powerful foundation for continued participation in temple and family history efforts.
Guidance from Church Leaders
Senior leaders shared insights during the 2024 instruction, focusing on helping new members. They emphasized simplifying the temple process, creating personal experiences, and fostering a sense of belonging. Their counsel aims to enhance faith and connection to covenants.
Elder Neil L. Andersen’s Insights
Elder Andersen emphasized the importance of actively involving the temple in the lives of all Latter-day Saints, particularly focusing on new members. He posed the critical question: “How do we help them in those first few weeks?” He shared his personal experience of ensuring his children attended the temple promptly upon turning twelve, striving to make it a memorable occasion despite the distance.
He suggested that parents and leaders can play a significant role in guiding new members to the temple as soon as possible, recognizing that this initial temple experience can be unforgettable, particularly for eleven-year-olds and recent converts.
Elder Andersen concluded the leadership instruction with an Apostolic blessing, assuring that every effort to assist new converts in finding their way to the House of the Lord would not only bless them but also the members of the ward, increasing their faith in Jesus Christ. He emphasized the profound impact of facilitating these early temple experiences.
President Susan H. Porter’s Perspective
President Porter highlighted the unique position of new Church members, who may feel isolated as they embark on a new spiritual journey. She emphasized that offering the opportunity to attend the temple early in their membership can create a sense of belonging and participation in the Church’s significant work;
She shared her personal experience of being baptized for her father’s grandmother after joining the Church, underscoring the profound connection to family history and the blessings of temple ordinances. President Porter emphasized that the temple is the House of the Lord, a place where Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ reside, offering a sense of belonging and eternal connection to families through the Savior’s Atonement.
Furthermore, she added that those unable to visit the temple can still study about it and the covenants from baptism to draw closer to the Savior.
Elder Kevin R. Duncan’s Counsel
Elder Duncan emphasized the responsibility entrusted to leaders in guiding new members into the House of the Lord. He cautioned that the initial temple experience can be daunting for new members and suggested ways to alleviate their concerns. He highlighted the importance of simplifying the process and providing support to make it less overwhelming.
He also mentioned that the Lord entrusts leaders to help new members into His house. Duncan suggested ways to help ease potential anxieties, ensuring a positive and spiritually enriching experience. By simplifying the process and offering guidance, leaders can help new members feel more comfortable and prepared to participate in temple ordinances.
Elder Duncan encouraged leaders to create a welcoming and supportive atmosphere, fostering a sense of belonging and connection for new members as they embark on their temple journey. This support system can help them feel confident and empowered to embrace the blessings of temple service.
Sister Kristin M. Yee’s Experience
Sister Yee shared a heartfelt experience ministering to a new member, witnessing the ward’s unified support in preparing her for the temple. This collective effort brought blessings to all involved, highlighting the power of community in fostering spiritual growth. The ward rallying around the new member showcased the positive impact of shared temple experiences.
Yee’s account emphasized the importance of personal connection and support in helping new members feel comfortable and prepared to attend the temple. By witnessing the ward’s love and encouragement, the new member felt empowered to embrace the blessings of temple service. This experience underscored the significance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
She highlighted the transformative power of temple attendance and the profound blessings that come from serving others. Sister Yee’s experience served as a reminder of the importance of reaching out to new members and offering them the support and encouragement they need to embark on their temple journey.
The Family Name Assist Tool
A new resource is available to assist with family name preparation. This tool simplifies creating FamilySearch accounts, preparing family names, and reserving ordinances. Bishops can delegate assistance, making the process more personal for new members.
Purpose and Functionality of the Tool
The Family Name Assist tool, introduced during the 2024 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction, serves a vital purpose: simplifying the process for new members to participate in temple ordinances, specifically proxy baptisms. Recognizing that genealogical research can be daunting, the tool focuses on enabling a simple, beautiful first experience. The tool addresses the need to help new members, who often wish to perform ordinances for known relatives like grandparents, prepare family name cards efficiently.
Functionally, the tool, accessible to bishops or designated helpers, provides guided prompts. It assists in creating FamilySearch accounts, preparing family names, and reserving ordinances. This streamlined approach helps overcome technical hurdles, making the process more personal and less intimidating. By simplifying these initial steps, the tool aims to encourage early and frequent temple attendance for new members, fostering a stronger connection to the Church and its vital ordinances. The tool aims to help create a simpler, more accessible experience.
Blessings and Promises
Elder Andersen promised blessings for assisting new members in the temple. This includes personal blessings, blessings upon the ward, and increased faith in Jesus Christ. Helping new converts enter the House of the Lord brings profound spiritual rewards to all.
Apostolic Blessing by Elder Andersen
Elder Andersen concluded the 2024 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction with an Apostolic blessing. This blessing emphasized the profound impact of assisting new converts in their journey to the temple. He highlighted that every effort to guide new members, those newly baptized children of Heavenly Father, into the House of the Lord would yield significant blessings.
Elder Andersen promised that these efforts would not only bless the new convert but also extend to the individuals providing support. Furthermore, he assured that the members of their ward would be blessed, fostering a stronger sense of community and shared purpose. Ultimately, he declared that their faith in Jesus Christ would increase as a result of these acts of service.
The Apostolic blessing underscored the spiritual power and transformative potential of temple service, particularly in welcoming and supporting new members. It served as a reminder of the eternal significance of temple ordinances and the profound blessings available through participation in this sacred work. Elder Andersen’s words offered encouragement and a powerful incentive for members to actively engage in helping others experience the joys of temple worship.
