Check out these I Love to See the Temple singing time ideas for keeping kids engaged while you sing this oldie-but-goodie Primary song! It’s so well-known that you probably don’t need to do much teaching but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still engage with it in singing time!
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Temple Pictures
Our Primary and nursery sings I Love to See the Temple quite often! My favorite way (probably because it’s the easiest!) is to have the kids hold a picture of the temple as we sing.
If you have various temple images, kids can pass them around as you sing. Susan Fitch created these temple images
They are available to purchase in my shop HERE.
Or simply gather pictures of temples. There are several ways to do this:
- Purchase a few copies of the Temples magazines and pull out the full-size temple images (6 pictures). Find more details HERE (scroll down into the post a bit).
- Download and print temple images from the Church’s website HERE.
- Check out your ward library as they typically have lots of temple pictures.
As you sing, hold and pass pictures around, ask the following directive listening questions:
- When will I prepare to go to the temple? [While I am young]
- Why is it so important that we prepare ourselves? [This is my sacred duty]
- What kind of place is the temple? [a place of love and beauty]
- What is another name for the temple? [A house of God]
- What 2 things will I do there? [Listen and pray]
- When I go to the temple someday, what will I feel? [The Holy Spirit]
- Because I love to see the temple, where will I go someday? [Inside]
- What two things will I do there? [Covenant with my Father & promise to obey]
- In the first verse, the temple is called “a house of God.” What does this verse call it? [A holy place]
- What special blessing will we receive when we go there? [We will be sealed together]
- What important truth do we learn in the temple? [A family is forever]
Pin Moroni on the Temple
This is another way to sing I Love to See the Temple that your kids will LOVE! Pin Moroni on the Temple and sing the song over and over again as everyone gets a turn!! Check out more details HERE.
Actions
Try these I Love to See the Temple actions shared on the Primary Music Leaders Facebook group:
Here are the suggested actions:
Verse 1
- I love to see the temple: Cross arms over chest
- I’m going there someday: Draw arms up so they are overhead
- To feel the Holy Spirit: cross hands over heart
- To listen: cup hands around ears
- And to Pray: Fold arms
- For the temple is a house of God: Hands in front with fingers touching, making a steeple
- A place of love and beauty: Cross arms over chest
- I’ll prepare myself: Thumbs to chest (proudly)
- While I am young: raise one hand in the air, palm down like you’re measuring. As you sing, lower your hand, making a “stair” motion.
- This is my sacred duty: Point finger of right hand and shake in time.
Verse 2
- I love to see the temple: Cross arms over chest
- I’ll go inside someday: Hands in front with fingers touching, making a steeple, then opening hands like doors
- I’ll covenant with my Father, I’ll promise to obey: Right hand over heart
- For the temple is a holy place: Hands in front with fingers touching, making a steeple
- Where we are sealed together: Clasp hands together
- As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth: Tap forehead with index finger.
- A family is forever: Put hands together to make a circle with thumbs together and fingers touching.
Simplified ASL
Take the actions one step further and teach simplified ASL! Holly shared her videos that include an explanation of the signs and then just the signs. Check them out here:
Build a Temple
Another great and simple idea was shared HERE. In a nutshell, you build a temple by passing out a “brick” (square post-it-notes) to the kids. Good singers get to come up and add their brick to build the temple. They can build it pretty much any way they like! When it’s finished, top it with an Angel Moroni!
I bought white post-it notes from here (Amazon affiliate link):
The October 2021 Friend also has a “Build a Temple” puzzle that is similar to using post-it notes. Pass out pieces and good singers get to come place theirs on the board. Find it HERE.
A Children's Songbook Companion
A Children’s Songbook Companion contains a singing time lesson plan for every single song in the Children’s Songbook including I Love to See the Temple. More details on this book can be found HERE.
Access this in my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing my Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
Merry Bells
Merry Bells has handbell charts for I Love to See the Temple. There are several options to choose from:
- Play Along DVD Primary Songs HERE
- Digital Download Multi-Note Harmony HERE
- Digital Download Single-Note Melody HERE
- Printable Handbell Charts HERE
Make sure to use coupon code CPI for 10% off your entire order!
More Singing Time Ideas
Primary Singing has several ideas for teaching I Love to See the Temple.
As does LDS Primary Printables. Check out a few more ides HERE as well!
I Love to See the Temple History
This information comes from Stories from The Children’s Songbook by Sister Pat Graham (more information on that book HERE).
As a child, Janice Kapp Perry [author and composer] loved to travel to the Idaho Falls Temple to do baptisms for the dead. “I Love to See the Temple” reflects her feelings on those trips.
Now she lives in Provo, Utah, and can see the temple from her home. After her tiny baby died, she was especially grateful that their family had been sealed. She is reminded of that blessing every time she sees the spire of the temple.
She said, “The temple always gives me comfort because our sealing there ensures we will have that child again in eternity if we are worthy.’56
The song was first printed in Supplement to More Songs, 1982 edition, and included an introduction. It was also published in the children’s sacrament meeting presentation.
Leave your I Love to See the Temple Singing Time Ideas
How are you teaching I Love to See the Temple in singing time? Leave a comment with your suggestions!
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > I Love to See the Temple.
