What is an ordinance? The word has special meaning when we use it in the Church. (An ordinance is a sacred ceremony that has a spiritual meaning.  When we participate in an ordinance, we often make covenants or promises to obey Heavenly Father’s commandments.)

In advance, prepare the following wordstrips and post them on the chalkboard:

Sacrament
Baptism
Blessing a baby
Celestial Marriage
Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost
Baptism for the dead
Sealing

Then tape these pictures to the chalkboard (all the pictures are taken from Church Magazines).  Call a child to come foward and have them look at the pictures on the board and see if they can match the ordinances with the correct wordstrip.  After the first child has had a turn, call another child to choose a wordstrip.  When all seven ordinances have been matched correctly, emphasize that all these things are done by men who hold the priesthood.  Explain that ordinances always include covenants.  
 
OBJECT LESSON - To show that ordinances and covenants are inseparable, display a coin. Then ask which side of the coin is more important. (Neither side is more important.) Ask learners if they can separate the sides of the coin. Then explain that ordinances and covenants are inseparable, just as the two sides of a coin are inseparable. Also point out that ordinances and covenants are necessary for admission into God’s presence, just as coins are sometimes needed for admission to events. (Taken from Teaching, No Greater Call) 

SONG - I love to see the temple, pg. 95

Going back to the chalkboard and pictures, explain that some ordinances are called saving ordinances. These ordinances are necessary for salvation. Jesus described two saving ordinances when He said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Being born of water means being baptized, and being born of the Spirit means receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Other ordinances of salvation and exaltation are sealings and celestial marriage. (See D&C 131:1–2.)

 Call on a child to come forward and draw a star underneath the pictures that are saving ordinances.

Some ordinances are performed only in holy temples. Some of these ordinances include baptism for the dead, celestial marriage, and sealings.

 Call on a child to come forward and draw a heart underneath the pictures that are performed only in temples.

There are many other ordinances performed in the Church, such as partaking of the sacrament and the blessing of babies.

 Call on a child to come foward and draw a triangle underneath any ordinances that are performed in the Church.

One of greatest blessings from a temple sealing, is the opportunity to be a forever family.  Make paper strips to represent your particular family (see illustration on the right). 

Assemble this chain (in Primary) as you speak about each of your family members, what they are like and why they are an important part of your family.  Bring the first and last chain together making one big circle.  Explain that ONLY in temples can our families be sealed together making it possible for us to return to the presence of Heavenly Father and for our families to be united eternally.

SONG - Families Can Be Together Forever, pg. 188

SUMMARY - How grateful we should be for all the ordinances we have. We are particularly blessed to live in a time when we have holy temples upon the face of the earth and are able to receive the blessings of temples ordinances. Without temples those ordinances would not be available for us or for our loved ones who have died. Because of temples, we have the opportunity to be with our families forever.  What a wonderful blessing.  Share your testimony.