Lesson 51: Malachi

December 12-18
Malachi 
"I have loved you saith the Lord"

Materials: Elijah appearing in the Kirtland temple picture, family history video, computer or tablet that has access to familysearch.org
Opening Song: "I love to see the temple" (Children's Songbook, 94)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Tell a story about a relative like a grandparent who has passed away. What did you love about them? Why is it important to cherish the memories of people who have died?

Lesson: 

Congratulations! We have made it to the final book in the Old Testament. This week, we are going to be learning from the prophecies of Malachi. Malachi was a prophet around the time of Nehemiah when the Jews were returning to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. We don't know much about Malachi's life, but his prophecies are very important. Malachi taught about giving our best offerings to the Lord and about tithing. Malachi also prophesied of Christ and the second coming. 

When Joseph Smith was 17, the angel Moroni appeared to him while he was sleeping. Moroni quoted selections form the book of Malachi to him and repeated the same message several times. 

Read Malachi 4: 5-6 and JSH 1:38-39. Who is Malachi prophesying about? Who is Elijah? Elijah was a prophet we learned about earlier this year. He prophesied in the Northern Kingdom and asked the Lord to burn a wet offering to show the priests of Baal who the true God was. Malachi prophesied that Elijah would come back to earth prior to the second coming. Has Elijah returned? Show the picture below and ask your family member to recount the story of Joseph Smith receiving the Heavenly Messengers in the Kirtland temple including Elijah as recorded in D&C 110. 

Elijah Appearing in the Kirtland Temple by Dan Lewis

What does it mean that the hearts of the fathers will turn to their children and the hearts of the children will turn to their fathers? Elijah restored the sealing keys to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. 

Watch: "The Promised Blessings of Family History" from the churchofjesuschrist.org. 

Activity: Go onto Familysearch.org and take a look at your family tree (Note: All baptized members can create a family search account. It helps for this activity to look at the family tree of your children so they can see both sides of their genealogy.) Here are some recommendations of things to do on familysearch.org:

• Look at the pictures and documents for recently deceased family members. 
• Show older family members how to utilize the "hints" under the "tasks" section to link people or documents to your family tree. 
• Under the "Get Involved" tab, explore how to review names and index historical documents.
• Explore the different things to do under the "Activities" Tab
• Show Family members how to print names for baptisms for the dead under the "Temple" tab using the "ordinances ready" link. 

In recent years, people all over the world have gotten involved with family history. People use at home DNA kits to learn about where they came from. Ads for ancestry.com and others like it are frequently shown on tv. Even television programs featuring celebrities learning about their family history have become popular. The hearts of the children are turning to their fathers all across the globe. 

As we learn more about our family history, we feel more connected to our eternal family. That connection is expanded as we take the names of our deceased loved ones to the temple to perform ordinances in their behalf. Malachi's revelation is coming true every day.

Bear your testimony of the temple and your experience with proxy ordinances. 

Closing Song: "Family History" (Children's Songbook, 95)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: my Grandma Evy's Carmelita Bars

50 soft caramels (Brach's are best)
Slowly melt the caramels with 1/2 c light cream or evaporated milk. 

2 cups flour
1 c softened butter
2 c oatmeal
1/2 t salt 
1  1/2 brown sugar
1 t baking soda

Press 1/2 of the above mix into a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. While still warm sprinkle 1 package of semi sweet chocolate chips and 1 c chopped nuts on the cooked crust. Spread a bit. Carefully drip the caramel mixture and top with remaining crumb mixture. Bake at 350 for and additional 15-18 minutes. Or until golden brown. Chill 1-2 hours. Cut into 48 bars.