Temple
A family visits the Oakland California Temple together.2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.This story appears here courtesy of TheChurchNews.com. It is not for use by other media.
By Mary Richards, Church News
In January of the year they turn 12, Latter-day Saint boys and girls move from Primary to join Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Young Women classes.
Young men become eligible to be ordained to a priesthood office in January of the year they turn 12, 14 and 16. Youth become eligible to obtain a temple recommend beginning in January of the year they turn 12 — based on their “individual worthiness, readiness and personal circumstances,” wrote the First Presidency in 2018.
January is a critical time, said Young Men General President Steven J. Lund, and parents and leaders can help prepare 11-year-old children for what is ahead for them.
Recently President Lund said he met a father and two boys at an event. He asked the 11-year-old what would be happening next year. The boy replied that he would join the Young Men program. President Lund asked, “What else?” The boy said he would start 6th grade in school. “Anything else?” asked President Lund. Then the younger boy told his older brother, “You are going to get the priesthood.”
“We want to flip that mindset,” President Lund said. “The exciting thing that happens when a young man leaves Primary and comes into the Young Men program, is that he has hands laid on his head, and he is empowered with the power of God, to change his world and the world of those around him.”
Temple
A group of youth attend the Taipei Temple together.2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman said this is complemented by the opportunity that young men and young women have to begin making covenants in the house of the Lord — “teaching them that important concept of accessing His power and experiencing what covenant relationship looks like and let that become the pattern of their life.”
While parents have the primary responsibility to teach their children about the temple and the priesthood, ward Primary presidencies have a responsibility to support them in these efforts.
Primary General President Susan H. Porter said priesthood and temple preparation is essential for both boys and girls to understand the blessings of the priesthood in their lives.
“Priesthood preparation is not just for an ordination to a priesthood office for our 11-year-olds who will be ordained deacons, but for both boys and girls to better understand the power of the priesthood they have in their lives as they keep the covenants they have made with Him,” she said. “And, as we help children prepare to enter the temple to participate in baptisms for their ancestors, they will grow in their testimony of and love for the Savior. The blessings of eternal families are possible because of His atoning sacrifice.”
Ward Primary presidencies plan a Temple and Priesthood Preparation meeting each year. The General Handbook Section 12.2.1.2 explains that the purpose of this meeting is to:
- Help children understand priesthood purposes, responsibilities and blessings.
- Help children participate in temple and family history work and prepare to make and keep sacred covenants.
- Help boys prepare to receive the Aaronic Priesthood.
- Help children prepare to receive a temple recommend.
The Primary presidency plans the meeting under the direction of the bishopric. A member of the bishopric conducts the meeting, and at least one member of the Primary presidency attends.
This meeting may be held during Primary on Sunday, at another time on Sunday, or at a different time. If a unit has few children, the meeting may be held under the direction of the stake presidency. Some or all of the wards in the stake may meet together.
Several resources to help plan the meeting are available under Temple and Priesthood Preparation on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
The ward Primary president may assign a counselor to help parents with priesthood and temple preparation, as outlined in a January 2022 Church News article about an update to the General Handbook.
Resources in the Gospel Library can help parents, such as “Preparing Your Children for a Lifetime on God’s Covenant Path” in “Come, Follow Me — For Individuals and Families.” Presidency members may work with ministering brothers and sisters, teachers, and others to support parents.
For more information on what can be done next month, see this Church News article: For bishoprics and youth leaders: 6 things to do in January.
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