How to Prepare Your Child for Their First Temple Experience

By Becky Squire

There are moments in parenting that feel especially sacred, and preparing your child for their first temple experience is one of them.

Whether it’s baptisms for the dead, a temple open house, or simply beginning to understand what the temple means, this is more than just a “lesson.” It’s the beginning of helping them build a personal relationship with the house of the Lord.

And if you’re like me, you might feel a little pressure to get it just right.

But here’s what I’ve learned: it doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful.

Start with simple, consistent conversations

You don’t need a big, formal lesson. Some of the most powerful teaching happens in small, everyday moments.

Talk about the temple naturally:

• When you pass one

• When you see a picture

• When it comes up in Come, Follow Me

Keep it simple and positive. Focus on what your child can understand: that the temple is a peaceful place, a place to feel close to Jesus, and a place where we make special promises with Him.

Focus on feelings, not just facts

Kids don’t need to understand everything doctrinally. They just need to feel something.

Ask questions like:

• “How do you think it feels inside the temple?”

• “When have you felt peaceful like that before?”

Helping them connect the temple to the Spirit will stay with them far longer than any explanation.

Create visual reminders in your home

One of the easiest ways to keep the temple top-of-mind is to make it visible.

We often underestimate how powerful this is, but what our kids see every day shapes what they value.

Having a small, tangible reminder—like a temple replica—can turn something that feels far away into something familiar and personal. It becomes a quiet invitation to ask questions, start conversations, and remember what matters.

I’ve found that when something sacred is part of our everyday environment, it naturally becomes part of our everyday thinking.

I also love these temple cookie cutters or this unique and custom-made wall decor!

Connect it to their identity

This is the part that matters most.

Your child isn’t just learning about the temple, they are becoming the kind of person who belongs there.

Remind them:

• “You are preparing to go to the temple.”

• “You are someone who makes covenants with God.”

• “You are worthy of being in His house.”

That identity will guide their choices long before they fully understand why.

Keep it calm, not overwhelming

You don’t need to teach everything at once.

Let their understanding grow over time. Let them ask questions. Let it feel peaceful, not pressured.

The goal isn’t to prepare them perfectly, it’s to help them feel comfortable, curious, and excited.

Preparing your child for the temple isn’t about one big moment. It’s about creating a home where the temple is talked about, thought about, and remembered.

And sometimes, it’s the smallest things like a conversation in the car, a question at bedtime, or even a simple reminder sitting on a shelf, that help their testimony begin to grow.

Line upon line, just like everything else.