Training Happy Hearts: For the Temple... and For the Modern Day, Too {A Heirloom Audio Productions Review}

Our family has come to absolutely love Heirloom Audio Productions and were so excited to receive their latest release - For The Temple by G. A. Henty - just after we had finished re-listening to an old favorite (In Freedom's Cause).

In fact, as soon as my children brought the package containing our copy of For The Temple into our house, a little ritual unfolded: They ripped the package open and cheered, and, then, we immediately began listening to the audiodrama during driving time and laundry time, eagerly immersing our imaginations in history and adventure!

An Old Story for a Modern Time

By the time we had finished For The Temple, I was thinking, Such a wise selection for these times, Heirloom Audio Productions! Of all the G.A. Henty stories you could have adapted for your award-winning audio theater productions next, you truly chose a relevant one! For today's world seems wrought with in-fighting in politics, among Christians, and more - and it also is easy for people to get so caught up in a cause that we can miss truth if not looking for it.

In my opinion, For The Temple dramatically tells a tale set in history, but, at the same time cautions and inspires us for the current day - making it a fantastic addition for pleasure listening, history studies, character inspiration, and faith-building.

When Ancient History Speaks to Children

All three of my children love listening to G.A. Henty stories produced by Heirloom Audio Productions for the sheer excitement and adventure of them. They also "get" the stories on a deeper level - sometimes on their own and sometimes with help.

When I asked my eight year old for his thoughts on For The Temple, he said:

When I saw For The Temple, I was excited, because I like Heirloom Audio Productions CD's. (A note with the CD) said it was the best yet. I didn't think it was. I think either In Freedom's Cause or the Dragon and the Raven are the best, but this one is very good, too.

For The Temple is about the Romans and the Jewish people battling. The story focuses on John, a young Jewish farmer who turns into a soldier and leads other young men to protect the temple. I liked the battles, especially the one with the battering ram smashing down walls.

In the story, some Jewish people were fighting each other. That wasn't smart. They could have had more people to fight the Romans if they were not fighting each other.

Then, when I asked him if what was happening in the story is still happening today with anyone and if he could tell me a lesson the story taught him, he said:

Today, Christians fight each other sometimes. That's not smart. We should focus on faith not fighting, not focus on earthy stuff, but the heaven stuff.

My eleven-year-old had a lot to say when I asked her for her review of the CD-set:

I enjoyed For The Temple.

For The Temple takes place in the time when Jewish people and Romans were fighting.

This story is about a young man named John from a grape farming family who goes on a boat ride. When a storm hits, he is saved by a galley ship. He is invited to go fight the war, and he does.

Later, he ends up making his own force of young, unmarried Jewish men to antagonize Roman soldiers. He becomes a legend as he tries to protect the temple.

This story throws you into the past - an exciting adventure. Will a young man have to choose between being with his family or fighting for the temple? Will a Roman leader who makes a promise to a Jew keep his oath? Will the Jewish people continue to fight amongst themselves or will the ban together to fight the wrath of Rome? I guess you'll just have to listen to find out.

When I asked her if the CD made her think about anything nowadays, she said:

When I listened, I wondered, will we, as believers in Christ continue to quarrel amongst the different branches of believers or will we choose to put away our differences and preach the gospel through our actions?

I liked this CD set, because it's an exciting adventure.

My thirteen-year-old enjoyed the story a lot - and related it to a hot-button current events topic:

For The Temple is another exciting tale brought to life by the talented people at Heirloom Audio Productions. It tells the story of one of the wars between the Jews and the Romans shortly after Christ's death and resurrection.

John, a grape farmer's son, who is played by Joseph Reed, decides to join the fight against Rome. He forms a band of young, unmarried men who harass the Romans, striking them fast and hard when they least expect it.
For The Temple is probably in my top five Heirloom Audio Productions CD's, because it is fast-paced, filled with battles, and set in a time period I like. Also, many of the characters show vigor and honor. In fact, there are honorable (and dishonorable) people on both sides.

This CD-set teaches a few things:

(1) To fight against each other is sometimes worse than not fighting against a common enemy.

(2) Sometimes, things you believe all your life are not always true.

(3) Sometimes, those you are fighting against may be better people than those you are fighting with.

Today, in this time, it is a time when we all must unite - Catholic and Protestant, Christian and Jew, against the evils of the modern world.

When I listened to this CD-set, even though it had nothing to do with abortion, it made me consider how we need to stop fighting among ourselves and stop this horrible thing. Abortion is against the will of God and always will be. We need to ban together to fight for the will of God.

I just love how For The Temple sweeps you away with top-notch voice acting, sound effects, score, and storytelling while also moving you to apply the lessons of the past to the modern day!

There's a Study Guide, Too!

In addition to the physical audio CD-set we received, we also got a link for a downloadable study guide.

We've never been ones to use a study guide as written as we tend toward a more relaxed and eclectic homeschool style than a super structured and bookish one, but, I still appreciate the careful thought and design of Heirloom Audio Productions study guides and find them helpful to browse and to share parts of with my children.

The For The Temple study guide is well-designed and user friendly, with sets of "Listening Well" comprehension questions that can be used with younger children and "Thinking Further" ones that can be used for writing assignments with older students.

There are also well chosen lists for "Defining Words" to help you focus your children on vocabulary that may be new or unfamiliar, helping them to learn what the words means after hearing them in context.

Also included in the guide "extras", like a brief history of the historical character Josephus and a description of typical foods in Ancient Jerusalem, a Bible Study, and a bibliography.

In my family, we read the brief articles in the study guide and chatted about them, plus I sometimes pulled ideas from the questions to pepper organic conversation with. I also browsed the vocabulary lists and discussed some of the words I was not sure my children already knew.

I can see other families using he guide in a more formal way for journaling, formal discussions, reports, papers, unit studies, etc.

Learn More

If you'd like more takes on For The Temple, click on over to read reviews from the 80 Homeschool Review Crew families that were blessed to listen to it!

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Discover other audiodramas that can help you "live the adventure". We've happily reviewed all of the Heirloom Audio Productions to date and encourage you to check them out. They are all top-notch historical adventures told from a Christian perspective.