Purpose: To teach children about the legacy of the Provo City Center Temple and that great blessings, as well as God's peace, always rise out of the ashes of the fires of tragedy.
Song: "I Love to See the Temple" (Children's Songbook, 95) "High on the Mountain Top" (Hymns #5)
Scripture: Haggai 2:9, Doctrine and Covenants 124: 39-41, Isaiah 2:2-3
Lesson: The Provo City Center Temple has an extraordinary legacy. As we approach this historic dedication, we can use Judy Fletcher Davis's new book Out of the Ashes: From Tabernacle to Temple to teach children that out of tragedy can come triumph. The book follows Davis’s family through the generations and recounts their experiences with the Provo Tabernacle.
As you read the story, help your children understand that everyone has felt sad at some time or another, but God's love can be felt even in the midst of tragedy.
Discussion: Review the scriptures at the bottom of each page and discuss some of them with your children. You can ask them questions such as:
- How have you felt Heavenly Father’s comfort in your life?
- Christ is the foundation on which we build our lives. What things can you do to build your life on Christ?
- Many of the characters in the story experienced trials. How can our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ help us overcome trials?
- Sometimes bad things happen and we don’t see the blessings until later. What blessings have you seen when you have experienced trials?
If you have had a chance to go through a temple open house, ask your children to think about the story as it relates to their experience walking through the temple. Invite your children to write down their thoughts and feelings about what they experienced.
Find a copy of the book at deseretbook.com, or at any Deseret Book store today.
