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Friend to Friend Teaches Children about Preparing to Enter the Temple

“The temple is part of the covenant path that leads us to our heavenly home ... through the Savior Jesus Christ,” says Primary General President Camille N. Johnson

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By Sydney Walker, Church News


To help Primary children worldwide understand the importance of the temple, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles joined the Friend to Friend broadcast released on July 30 from the Tokyo Japan Temple.

Elder Stevenson took five Japanese children on a personal tour of the temple during the open house prior to its July 3 rededication and interviewed them about their experience.

“I thought about Jesus Christ,” one of the children told Elder Stevenson. Others described the temple as “an important place,” “Jesus’ house,” and “a place where we can be closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.”

When Elder Stevenson asked how they are preparing to enter the temple, one child said, “I’m reading five pages of the Book of Mormon every day.” Another answered, “I go to church to learn about Jesus.”

At the end of the video segment from Tokyo, Elder Stevenson testified of temple blessings and God’s love for His children.

“Heavenly Father loves each one of His children; He especially loves Primary children,” the Apostle said. “He loves every child of God. I know Heavenly Father lives. I know the temple is literally the house of the Lord. I know Jesus Christ lives. I testify that He is the Son of God.”
 

A Focus on the House of the Lord


The third Face to Face-style event of its kind and second this year, Friend to Friend: Temples Are the House of the Lord originated in English, Spanish and Portuguese and includes videos, songs and activities focused on the temple. The 20-minute broadcast is hosted by native-speaking children hosts.

The July 30 Friend to Friend is now available on the Church’s website, Gospel for Kids YouTube channel and in Gospel Library for on-demand viewing. See past Friend to Friend episodes now.

Outgoing Primary General President Camille N. Johnson participated in the English version of the Friend to Friend, with Sister Susan H. Porter, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, in the Spanish version and Sister Amy A. Wright, Second Counselor, in the Portuguese version. Beginning August 1, President Porter will serve as Primary General President.

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Friend-to-Friend-Temples
Primary General President Camille N. Johnson greets Anthony Parker and Alice Cartwright, the child hosts of the Friend to Friend episode about temples released on July 30, 2022.2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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“The temple is part of the covenant path that leads us to our heavenly home and back to our Heavenly Father through the Savior Jesus Christ,” President Johnson said during the Friend to Friend.

She taught the children about the power associated with covenants made in the house of the Lord. “For me, that power is being bound to our Savior Jesus Christ, who makes our return to our heavenly home possible,” she said.

Most of the Friend to Friend was filmed at the Church History Museum’s “Temples Dot the Earth” exhibit, designed to help children ages 1–11 discover the history and purpose of temple building. The exhibit features colorful wall-to-wall graphic design murals, imagery from actual temples, historical artifacts and hands-on activity stations.

Friend-to-Friend-Temples
Friend-to-Friend-Temples
Sister Susan H. Porter of the Primary General Presidency interacts with Anthony Parker and Alice Cartwright, child hosts of the Friend to Friend episode about temples released on July 30, 2022.2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Continuing on the Covenant Path

In the February Friend to Friend, an explorer navigated a trail representing the covenant path. Along the way she learned about baptism, the Holy Ghost and the sacrament.

The July Friend to Friend began with the explorer getting lost. She was distracted by a talking toucan and couldn’t find her way back to the covenant path. Hosts Anthony Parker and Alice Cartwright encouraged her to look up. When she did, she saw a temple spire and followed it back to the path.

“Sometimes we might be tempted or distracted by something or someone that looks good or fun,” Anthony told the audience. “It's great to know that we can find our way back to Heavenly Father’s covenant path by focusing on Christ. He’ll always show the way.”

A woman called “Grandma” came on set to teach the children what happens inside the temple. Showing them a model of rooms inside the temple, she said: “Each one has a special purpose. We can worship our Heavenly Father, learn more about His plan of happiness, and we can make sacred promises with Him. And He makes sacred promises with us.”

She explained that those promises — or covenants — include trying to be more like Him, following His plan and being part of His family forever. Jesus taught that there are certain promises that everyone must make in order to live with Him again. The first of those promises is made at baptism.

In a video filmed in Tahiti and French Polynesia, a 12-year-old girl named Felicia shared her experience performing baptisms for the dead at the temple for the first time and being sealed to her family. “I testify that families can be eternal through temple ordinances,” Felicia said.

At the building blocks station, Anthony and Alice pointed out that just as temples are built block by block, each good decision and goal invites the Holy Ghost and helps one become more like Jesus.

Pictures on screen featured children around the world with drawings of the temple and other temple crafts. Grandma showed Anthony and Alice a temple she made out of pasta. They invited the audience to make their own temple craft to help them remember to stay focused on the covenant path.

Friend-to-Friend-Temples
Friend-to-Friend-Temples
Primary General President Camille N. Johnson and Sister Susan H. Porter, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, look at a model of a temple made of pasta at the Church History Museum exhibit "Temple Dot the Earth" during the filming of the Friend to Friend episode about temples released on July 30, 2022.2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Download Photo

After the segments with President Johnson teaching about the power associated with covenants and Elder Stevenson and the children in Tokyo, President Johnson concluded the broadcast by asking Anthony and Alice what they learned about temples.

“I learned that even though temples are pretty buildings on the outside, there’s a lot more special covenants and promises we make on the inside,” Alice said. Anthony told President Johnson he’s excited to be baptized in the temple for his ancestors who haven’t been baptized yet.

“Remember,” Alice told the audience, “Jesus always leads us to the temple so make sure to follow Him and stay on the covenant path.”

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