My Family Tree

By Kathryn M. Kleekamp

And he [Elijah] shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers (3 Ne. 25:6).

Ancestors are not just names but real people. Follow the instructions below, and you will create a family tree that will give you many happy hours of sharing and learning. Ask your mom or dad to give you the information you need.

Making a Family Tree

1. Remove page 43, and make copies or draw your own figures for extra people or pets needed for your family. Then color the figures, which represent four generations of family members. Color the hair and other features to match actual people in your family.

2. Print the given name and surname, birth date and place, and death date and place (if appropriate) of each person named on the white tab on the bottom of each figure.

3. Cover the page with clear plastic adhesive paper (optional); cut the figures out.

4. Remove pages 24–25 and mount them on cardboard.

5. For each person, do one of the activities before gluing the figure in the proper place on the tree.

Activities

1. Ask your parents about the kind of work the person does (or did).

2. Tell your family about a special experience you had with the person.

3. Ask a parent or grandparent to tell you what her or his life was like when she or he was your age.

4. Select an ancestor and ask a parent or grandparent to tell you an interesting story or fact about that person.

5. Learn the favorite game of one of your ancestors; play it during family home evening.

6. Ask a parent or grandparent what his or her mother’s or father’s favorite food or dessert was, then fix it for dinner one night.

7. Make up a story of an adventure with your pet—or with a pet you’d like to have—and draw pictures to go with it.

8. Write your testimony in your journal for your future children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to read someday.

Illustrated by Elise Black