May 2-8
Exodus 35-40; Levitcus 1; 16; 19
"Holiness to thee Lord"
Materials: Temple Matching worksheet, "The Tabernacle" video, The Ancient Tabernacle picture
Opening Song: "I Love to See the Temple" (Children's Songbook, 95)
Opening Prayer:
Attention Activity: Give everyone a copy of the worksheet below. Have them match the item in the tabernacle to it's spiritual significance listed. (The answers will be given in the video we will watch later)
Lesson:
The Lord often gives His children holy place where they can go to feel close to Him and have spiritual experiences. Abraham and the patriarchs had beersheba, and we have the temple. But the Israelites were traveling in a desert for forty years. They couldn't build any buildings or keep coming back to the same spot every time they needed spiritual guidance so, the Lord instructed them make a portable holy place called the tabernacle.
Watch the video, "The Tabernacle" from churchofjesuschrist.org.
What was the tabernacle used for? What were the 3 parts of the tabernacle called? (The outer courtyard, the holy place, and the holy of holies) What do these 3 parts of the tabernacle represent? (the celestial, terrestrial, and celestial kingdoms) Show the picture The Ancient Tabernacle, by Bradley Clark located in Come Follow Me For Individuals and Families 2022 (page 84).
The tabernacle of the ancient Israelites has some differences from the temples we attend today. We no longer offer animal sacrifices as a way to repent of our sins for example. There are also a lot of similarities between the tabernacle and our modern day temples. What are some similarities you noticed?
Why do you think we need temples and tabernacles? The Lord told the Israelites, "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy" (Lev. 19:2) On the outside of every temple is the phrase "Holiness to the Lord." What does it mean to be holy?
Sister Carol F. McConkie said, "Holiness is in the striving and the struggle to keep the commandments and to honor the covenants we have made with God. Holiness is making the choices that will keep the Holy Ghost as our guide. Holiness is setting aside our natural tendencies and becoming 'a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord.'Every moment of [our lives] must be holiness to the Lord” ("The Beauty of Holiness" Ensign, May 2017).
Just like the ancient Israelites, we are tasked to become more holy. This means being righteous, reverent, and christlike. Attending the temple helps connect our hearts to heaven and keeping the commandments shows our Heavenly Father our effort to become more holy like He is. Think of one thing you can do this week to focus on your personal holiness. How can you be more holy?
Bear your testimony.
Closing Song: "More Holiness Give Me" (Hymns, 131)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Reese's Peanut Butter Ball recipe here
