“Find, Take, Teach: Join the Temple Challenge,” Liahona, February 2017
Find, Take, Teach: Join the Temple Challenge
The author lives in Utah, USA.
The challenge has been extended—have you accepted it?
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has invited the youth to “prepare as many names for the temple as baptisms you perform in the temple, and help someone else to do the same.”1 Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also promised that participating in this Apostolic challenge can bring spiritual protection and healing for families.2
Think about it—Apostles of the Lord have encouraged everyone to join in family history work by taking their own family names to the temple. Wouldn’t it be great if every ordinance you performed in the temple was for your own family? Elder Andersen has invited youth around the world to do just that and to help friends and family do the same.
As you accept this challenge, you can feel the Spirit, increase your testimony, and enhance your temple experience. Not sure how to start? Let’s break the challenge down step by step:
Find
First, find names to take to the temple and add them on FamilySearch.org. If you have over four generations complete, try FamilySearch’s Descendancy view. Or if your family tree is pretty empty, you can start by checking out FamilySearch.org/findnames.
Take
After reserving and printing the ordinances through FamilySearch.org, then, with a recommend, you can take the names to the temple for baptisms and confirmations! Invite endowed family or friends to complete the rest of the ordinances, or submit them to temples through FamilySearch to have the work done.
Teach
Share the joy of family history with those around you! Have a family history night with your friends, or sit down with your parents and siblings and fill out your family tree together. You can share your experience on social media using #TempleChallenge.
Are You Ready?
No matter your experiences with family history, there are many ways that you can participate in the challenge. Think about how you can help the Lord’s work move forward today.