Many of us will, this next week, gather to celebrate Christmas. In this short post, I wanted to share a few suggestions that can make your Christmas more meaningful, and draw you closer to Christ. Then I'll close with a short video that I've shared before, but it's my favorite.
Favorite Traditions One favorite I have is of course, on Christmas Eve, spending time in Luke 2, or watching the Nativity, or maybe this year watch the new Christmas movie put out by the Church. And the spirit of the Lord often is so strong. And especially as I look at this picture, and read the scriptures, I realize that Christ had a family, too. And he wants to preserve it and all of ours. And during this holiday time, maybe on Christmas Day, there is something you can add that can draw you closer to Christ, and your Family.
That little bit extra that adds the world In the time you spend this Christmas, whether alone or with family and friends, I challenge you to take some time on the Family Tree Mobile App, or on the Family Search Website, and look at some of your ancestors' stories and histories, and maybe read some of their testimonies of the Savior, if recorded.
Or, if you don't have any stories, and you are with family, get your family talking about family stories, and their testimonies of the Savior. Then you can record them, and upload them.
You will feel even closer to your family, and especially closer to Christ this Christmas as you draw in those who have gone before. That baby in Bethlehem made it possible for families to be forever. In addition to feeling the spirit of the Lord, you may be able to feel the presence of your ancestors from beyond the veil. You will realize you are not alone, and that, as the scripture says, those who are with you are more than those against you.
For Families or for those who are alone This can help, especially for those of us who feel alone, or sad, or in other ways have a difficult time at Christmas. And I have another suggestion that can be the icing on the cake.
Take another step Then, take a moment to tap the "ancestors with tasks" section of the Mobile App, and try to discover new records of deceased relatives whose work hasn't been done. There is another post on this blog that help you know how to use that, as well as another post on how to discover an insider tip that reveals your family history work really hasn't been done. Hint, your work isn't already done-no one's is.
Go to the temple with your own names or others As Christmas Day draws to a close, make a plan so that sometime this next month, maybe during your Christmas Break if your local temple is open, you take either your own names to the temple, or go to "Ordinances Ready" on the Family Tree Mobile App, and take some relative's names to the temple. It will be the perfect start to the new year, and can be the perfect close to this Christmas Season.
My testimony of this Work As I have engaged in Family History and Temple work, I have felt the spirit draw near, and have experienced the heavens open, and blessings poured out upon me and my family.
I have drawn closer to the Savior. I have had miracles happen in my life, and I have felt the Love of God comfort my soul, and lift my burdens.
Now that doesn't mean that everything is made all right. There are still trials. But the Lord is there to help me through them.
What is most important is that my testimony of Christ, this church, and this work of salvation has increased. I testify that Christ is at the head of this work. One of the greatest joys of my life is to know I'm teaming with the Savior to help him in this vicarious work of Salvation, and that he magnifies my tiny little efforts.
My Greatest Hope is that others may feel of the Love of God. It's also why I write this little blog.
I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and I hope that some of these suggestions will help you draw closer to the Savior this Christmas. It's about him. I know he lives, I know he loves all of his children, and I pray that we all may feel of his love this Christmas.
The family sat around a sumptuous dinner table, with steaming hot, savory mouth watering food, but there was no happiness there. Something had happened, and everyone seemed disconnected.
The only time they had felt together was when they were putting up the Christmas tree and their nativity set. There was Christmas music, laughter, and a feeling of family.
But since then, Helen had gotten caught up with problems with her online purchases of presents for Christmas, her husband Mark had to work overtime until Christmas, and the kids seemed to be pulling away. Both of them new teenagers, they seemed to be withdrawing.
That one Sunday In a spare moment on Sunday a few weeks before Christmas, Helen was pondering about what that first Christmas Eve was like. As she thought of the Savior of the world as a little baby, she was reminded of how it felt to hold each of her own babies when they were born.
How it must have been that sacred night for Mary to hold this baby. Helen folded her legs undeneath her, and grew thankful for this Heavenly Father who sent his Son to save all of hers.
She walked into the living room where Mark was sitting, reading, and then looked at her two children, one on a tablet, and another playing a video game. She decided something had to change.
She told stocky, brown haired, brown eyed Jake, lithe, athletic, blue eyed and blonde Ellie, and her husband Mark to gather around.
Amidst a pile of complaints that their fun had been interrupted, she gathered her teens together, and as Mark quizzically put down his book, she began.
The story unfolds She related what she had been thinking about the Savior, and how sacred that night was, and how grateful she was for each of them. And gradually, they started to soften.
Mark suggested they read a bit of Luke now, even though Christmas was a couple of days away. So, with the blinking lights of the Christmas tree casting a dim glow over the room, Mark started reading from his phone the story of Christ's birth that still captures hearts today.
As he did, he felt a sense of gratitude for his Father in Heaven who gave his only begotten son so that his family could be together forever.
What can we do? As the spirit touched them, there were still questions. Tender hearted Jake spoke the words that Mark was also thinking. He said, "If Jesus came to save everyone, what about the ones who aren't sealed as a family? I know they say that Family History work can help people return to Christ and be sealed together, but how can it be done?"
Ellie excitedly spoke up. She said "I saw a quote someone put on Facebook from the prophet Joseph Smith where he said that everyone who accepts Christ's gospel, and their ordinances, would eventually be sealed together and to Christ in one grand link!"
Mark nodded his dark haired head and agreed, "The gospel is going to touch everyone, and everyone will have the chance, but I'm not sure how to get started."
The Change-Following the Spirit Then, unexpectedly, there was a peace that descended upon the Family. No one spoke for a bit, but each one felt the power of the ordinances that sealed them together as a Family. They knew that Christ came so that could happen. And each of them, in an individual way, knew that they could do something to help.
Video games and Streaming movies forgotten, the Family opened up the Family Tree Mobile App on each of their mobile devices, and for Helen on the Family Search Website, and read some stories about their Ancestors to each other.
And all of a sudden, they didn't feel so alone in the world. They felt connected to the Lord, and to others. And it almost seemed, even though they couldn't see anyone, that their ancestors were there in the room with them. And there was the spirit of the Lord there as well, encouraging them.
The Beginning that changed the family Then Ellie saw a section of the app called "Ancestors with Tasks," and after looking at some instructions on what that was for, and how to use that section of the App to find people to add to their family tree, they excitedly set to work. And they began to find people.
A couple of hours later, after alternating between focusing individually, and occasionally chattering to each other, they found 6 people to add to their family tree. And their ordinances weren't done yet. And since Ellie and Jake were old enough to do baptisms for the dead, they reserved the names, and made plans to go as a family to the temple before Christmas.
Though Mark and Helen are fictional, their experience is representative of the real life changes that come to all who engage in this work. One Sunday, and one Christmas season can change the lives of all who engage in this work. And it won't just change your life. Your ancestors on the other side of the veil can rejoice this Christmas to know their work will be done soon. You don't need to do Family History every day, but could gather once a month, and could find more of their ancestors to take to the temple. Even if just ten minutes on a Sunday. That's all it takes. Other ways to help Sometimes you, either individually or together as family, can try to find more family names, and sometimes, you can just use the "Ordinances Ready" part of the app to reserve names for the temple that someone else has done. And each time you go, your life can change.
If you do that, the spirit of Christmas can last all year round. Over a lifetime, each of you can end up finding many more people to take to the temple. And the heavens and earth will rejoice as your actions answer Jake's question of how it could be done. You are the answer to that question. Each of us are.
Getting Started, Promises You may not be an expert, but there is always a way to get started. This blog has several resources. Maybe you use the "Ordinances Ready" section of the Family Tree Mobile App to do the temple work for someone who can't go to the temple, but is doing Family History work.
And maybe after a few months of that, you start to learn just a bit more, and you find your first name to take.
I know that as we will start doing Family History, we will realize many promises given by the Lord himself. There are a couple of other blog posts with promises from Elder Renlund, and from Elder Scott and Elder Bednar about blessings that come from engaging in this work.
And while many of us have some time this Christmas, it's a great time to get started.
Testimony of he whose season this is I testify of the divinity of this work, and that the once tiny baby from Bethlehem, now the Resurrected Lord, is at the head of it. I know he lives. As we engage in his work, we will feel of his love and gratitude. And our lives will change.
What is the best way to start the Christmas Season? Black Friday or Cyber Monday? What about a White Weekend in the House of the Lord?
I'm also sharing this video on this post to remind us of the real reason for the season. I encourage you to take some time in the House of the Lord this Christmas season to draw closer to him. Grab Ordinances Ready on the Family Tree Mobile App (instructions), and go to the temple.
This time of year is not about the Gifts we get, but it's more about Him, and the gifts we give to him and to others.
The Best Christmas I ever Had The best, most memorable Christmas I ever had was one where my parents didn't have enough money even to get a tree (until on Christmas eve, someone gave my dad a tree that had many of the needles falling off). And our presents were new socks.
And yet, as I look back, that Christmas was the most memorable one of all.
The Reason for the Season As we will focus on Christ, and serve others, our Christmas will be more memorable. And I encourage you to start the season out right by going to the temple. And find other ways to remember the reason for the season. Here's the video:
Light The World You can find out more about Christ this Christmas Season, and how you can Light the World at the Church Website. Get text reminders to serve others, Find a Giving Machine, watch a new movie about the Birth of Christ, and share the message of Christ on Social Media.
Picture of the Fortaleza Temple Courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
How do you engage in the work of Salvation when you aren't an expert, or haven't done it before? The church has one answer to that!
I'm sharing this edited article from the church which shows how easy it is to use the Ordinances Ready feature of the Family Tree Mobile App to find names to take to the temple. It's incredibly simple.
Ordinances Ready is a FamilySearch tool that simplifies finding names for the temple, allowing you more time to serve your family and enjoy the blessings of the temple. You'll get to try it for yourself and also read how others are using the Ordinances Ready feature. Quick Start You can try it now! And you can use Ordinances Ready for your next temple visit!
2. Sign in and find the Temple page. *For iOS, tap the temple icon at the bottom of the app screen. *For Android, tap the 3-bar menu at the top left. Then select Temple.
3. Tap the Ordinances Ready button and then choose an ordinance—baptism and confirmation, initiatory, endowment, sealing to parents, or sealing to spouse.
4. The app will search the tree and temple inventory for available ordinances, and soon you will have some names pop up!
Note on family names: If no available ordinances are found for family members, Ordinances Ready will retrieve available ordinances that have been submitted to the temple by other patrons. These ordinances from temple inventory will be provided in the same order they were submitted to the temple. You can perform ordinances that have been submitted to the temple by others, whether or not you are directly related to those individuals.
Get to know each person, and take the names to the temple Using the Family Tree Mobile App, you can get to know each person you are about to do ordinances for. Tap View Relationship to see how you are related, and tap View Person to look at life events, memories, and photos in Family Tree.
After you have looked at the names, tap Continue at the bottom of the screen to reserve the ordinances and print cards to take to the temple. (If you need help printing cards, the app will also give you a number you can take to the temple, where the cards can be printed for you.)
How others are using Ordinances Ready The new Ordinances Ready feature has already inspired many members, bringing them closer to their family and helping them participate in temple work. Here are Sarah, Garrett, and Kirsten’s stories.
Feeling the spirit at all times: Sarah’s story “Ordinance[s] Ready has made it more rewarding to go to the temple because I am always able to have my own names to work on. … I have truly felt the Spirit so much stronger as I’ve taken my own family names to the temple,” says Sarah Rocha.
Recently, Sarah and her roommates at BYU–Idaho decided to start their semester by attending the temple together. Sarah showed her friends how to use the new Ordinances Ready feature on the Family Tree app, and each of them were able to find names of family members needing ordinances.
Sarah shared, “Being able to use the FamilySearch app has made it so much easier to feel the Spirit closer to me at all times. … It has helped me to feel closer to those who have passed and feel the love of my Father even stronger beside me.”
Each person can take family names: Garrett’s story Before using Ordinances Ready, Garrett had never really done family history or temple work for his own ancestors. However, he did enjoy helping Amy, his wife, do temple work for her deceased family members. Several weeks ago, Garrett and his wife tried the new Ordinances Ready feature and found five of Garrett’s family members who needed temple work, including the cousin of his beloved grandfather. He felt that an instant bond was formed.
Garrett and his family use the Ordinances Ready feature often now and feel it has elevated the temple experience for them individually and as a family. “Ordinances Ready has been such a blessing for our family,” they say, “and it is bringing promised blessings and spiritual power [as we perform] temple work for ancestors.”
Ordinances Ready is becoming “the norm”: Kirsten’s story Kirsten’s son Bennett just turned 12 and has loved the new Ordinances Ready feature after using it on one of his very first temple trips. Kirsten says, “It’s amazing to me that children who are going to the temple for the first time can take names as a norm in their temple attendance.”
Kirsten’s other teenage sons attend the temple almost every week, and they use this new feature to find and print temple names regularly using their own FamilySearch accounts. When Kirsten taught the youth in her ward how to use the feature as well, many ward members discussed how life-changing Ordinances Ready can be for the youth. As Kirsten summarized, “For the kids, this ease will be normal to them. Ancestors will always be on the forefront of their minds, and temple attendance will forever be more personal for all.”
I hope you loved the article. The original can be found at the church website. I testify that as we will engage more in the work of the Lord, we can find meaning to our lives, and we will develop a love for the Savior and for those we do the temple work for. And it will change your lives. I know the Savior lives. I know he is at the head of this work. And I know that he loves each of his children, and stands ready to embrace all who will come unto him. Watch the windows of heaven open as you engage in this work.
Today's post is a simple challenge. I want to ask you to pray about something.
But First... But I want to give you something to ponder first. What if you didn't have the gospel in your life? What would your life be like without it? What blessings would you be missing?
Many of your ancestors, or ancestors' posterity through other lines now believe in the gospel, having been taught it on the other side. But since they never got a fair chance to accept it on earth, they cannot progress, and enjoy the same blessings that we take for granted sometimes. They have to wait for us.
What will your reunion be like? When this earth life is over, you will be able to see your ancestors. If you have spent your time researching to try to find them and do their ordinances, how will your reunion be with them? And more importantly, with the Savior?
If you have not, will they not ask you why you didn't seek them out? In a now famous story, the Forefathers of this great country appeared in to Wilford Woodruff and asked him the same question. They told him they had laid the foundation of freedom so the gospel could be restored. They had done the work the Lord gave them to do. But their ordinances hadn't been done.
It wasn't long before President Woodruff did their ordinances.
Study and Pray about it Don't wait until you get on the other side to see if work needs to be done. Because by that time, it will be too late for you to do it. Begin to study more about Family History on the Gospel Library Mobile App, or on the Church Website. And offer a heartfelt prayer asking the Lord if you should start to learn more about Family History or Indexing (Indexing is how I started). It doesn't matter what age you are, young and old are needed in this work. Then, as you get your answer, the link to get started is at the bottom of this post.
Feelings of Inadequacy You may think you can't do it. I know that feeling. I felt it myself when I started. But the Lord will prepare a way for you as you seek him out. He did for me, and he does for everyone who seeks his help. We have the words of Apostles and Prophets who promise that.
Testimony and Challenge I know this work is real. I know these people are waiting for their work to be done. I know of no greater reward than the spirit we have when we engage in this work of salvation. And if you aren't very outgoing, this is the perfect work for you to do.
Study. And Pray. I guarantee you, the God of Heaven, the author of this work and of our Salvation will answer you through the spirit. And as you engage in this work, you will be able to do the work that will allow your ancestors to return to the presence of the Lord.
They are praying that will happen soon. Are you going to be the answer to their prayers? We have such a short time in this life. But as we engage in this work, the heavens will open, and angels will attend us.
Then get started on the Family Tree Mobile App or the Family Search Website. But first pray for the spirit to turn your heart, and that can give you a love of this work, a love of the Lord, and a love for your ancestors. And it will change your life. There are other posts on this blog with hints and suggestions on how to get started.
Picture Courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Media Library
Each of us has a yearning to find out who we are, and where we come from. I've got a few quotes about how Family History work, temple work, indexing, or discovering family stories can help with that.
“The home, family, and temple are inseparably connected. One leads to the other. In no other work are we more home-centered than in temple and family history work.
“Understanding the eternal nature of the temple will draw you to your family. Understanding the eternal nature of the family will draw you to the temple.” (Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction, February 2019)
Family history is about finding inspiration in your family’s story, both past and present. It includes discovering and sharing interesting details about your family, homelands, and traditions.
Further, when we engage in family history, we discover more about ourselves and our ancestors. We then connect with them by performing needed gospel ordinances. This discovery and connection is part of the Gathering of Israel. (Ephesians 1:10)" Quotes courtesy of FamilySearch
I add my testimony, as Elder Renlund said a couple of conferences ago, that as we engage in this great work, we will find healing, peace, protection from the adversary, and many more blessings too numerous to name, but which I have blogged about before on this blog.
Your ancestors and their posterity are being taught the gospel in the spirit world, and they need your help. Now some of you may think your family history work is done, but it isn't. You see your ancestors had brothers and sisters, with posterity through other lines. And you can do their work as well.
And Family Search and the Family Tree Mobile app will show you how to find those relatives through the "ancestors with tasks" section of the App (Just open the app, tap the 3 lines, and you will see it). Then follow these steps:
Choose an ancestor in the "ancestors with tasks" section:
1. Look at the person's record in family tree. see whether they have children or a spouse listed, or brothers or sisters. Keep a mental note. The next step shows you how to compare this relative to other genealogical records that have been found that may show more family members.
2. There is a blue dot on your relative's name. Tap it, then tap one of the records that comes up, and then tap "review and attach," and you will be able to compare these side by side. If the new record found lists new siblings, a spouse, or parents, you will find the option to add a new person to the tree. If there are not any new people there, go back to the ancestors with tasks section, and choose another ancestor and repeat the steps.
3. If you do find someone you can add, Family Tree will do a quick search to make sure there aren't duplicates. a. if there aren't, add them in and request the ordinances. b. if there are, make sure the names, birthdates, and relatives are the same before adding the new person. You may want to call Family Search before moving forward with this. It's an extra step, but worth it.
Final step, take the names to the temple, and enjoy feeling of the spirit that is there. You are doing something for people they can't do for themselves. You have become a Savior on Mount Zion.
Now it's not always that easy. Sometimes you have to merge duplicates, and you have to be careful, but don't be afraid. You will figure it out, sometimes with the help of Family Search Genealogists who are just a phone call away (tap the 3 lines, tap help, and call).
Additionally, you will have help from the Lord, and from the other side of the veil. When you exercise faith, God can inspire you to find their information needed for the temple. As Quentin L. Cook taught, you should not “underestimate the influence of the deceased in assisting your efforts” (“Roots and Branches,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 46–47).
1. Pray to be led to find your ancestors who have accepted the gospel in the spirit world but haven’t been baptized yet.
2. Pray frequently that you can be a gatherer in this great work and that you can help God’s children receive the gospel.
3. Make a plan to act; consider family or ward members who can help you.
I testify that this is the Lord's work. As you engage in it either on the Family Search Website, or the Family Tree Mobile App, you will find a peace beyond compare, and your life will change. You can also find other resources and stories on this blog.
Picture is the Fort Lauderdale Temple, courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Media Library.
Temple and family history is not a task. It’s a journey, one that begins in the home, where we learn—perhaps for the first time—the stories of our ancestors, and ends in the temple, where we perform the ordinances of salvation in their behalf. (Family Search quote)
President Russell M Nelson has said the following: "Consider the spiritual connections that are formed when a young woman helps her grandmother enter family information into a computer or when a young man sees the name of his great-grandfather on a census record. When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of something greater than ourselves. Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors through sacred ordinances of the temple."
He goes on to say: "While temple and family history work has the power to bless those beyond the veil, it has an equal power to bless the living. It has a refining influence on those who are engaged in it. They are literally helping to exalt their families.
Those links, welded through sacred ordinances, lead to the exaltation of our families. That this sacred goal may be realized for each of us is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." (Generations Linked in Love, April 2010 General Conference)
I'm closing with a quote from Joseph Smith in D&C 128:24: “The great day of the Lord is at hand …, ” he said. “Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter‑day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple … a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.”
President Nelson has also said we are preparing the world for the second coming of the Lord. I testify that as we will engage in this work of Salvation, we will see the heavens open in our lives, and we will experience as much a fulness of joy as we can in this life, and in the life to come, our joy will be full as we dwell together with those whose work we have done in the Celestial courts on high.
This is the work of God, and it's made available to us by the Atonement of his only Begotten Son, who stands at the head of this work and this church. We will come closer to him as we engage in this work. Of that I know.
Charlotte sat down on her bed, frustrated from the day. She tossed her dishwater blonde hair behind her shoulder angrily. Jean had irritated her for the last time. And she definitely wasn't in the mood to pay attention to the unrelated gentle nagging in her head that had been there for weeks. So she called a different friend.
After chatting a bit, she felt a bit better, but things still didn't feel right. After sitting and thinking as she rested her tired head and body in the chair, that quiet, peaceful, yet nagging feeling came back. Ready now, she opened up the Gospel Library Mobile app, and looked up Family History. She saw a talk by Sister Elaine Dalton that she felt she needed to read.
It caught her interest from the start. She stood up, kicked her shoes off, and sat down again in the old worn out brown armchair, and folded her beige socked feet underneath her as she read.
Sr Dalton said the following, and though long, she felt drawn to the story:
"A little over a year ago, my husband and I visited Nauvoo. As we walked through the Old Pioneer Cemetery searching for the grave of an ancestor, Zina Baker Huntington, I was touched by the peaceful solitude and spirit I felt. I walked through the trees and read the names on the gravestones, many of them children and families. I wept as my heart was turned to our forefathers, many of whom had joined the Church and come to Nauvoo. In my mind I asked many questions: Why did they leave their comfortable homes and families? Why did they suffer persecution, sickness, even death? Why did they sacrifice all that they had to come to this place and build a temple? They hardly had shelter, and yet they were building a temple! Why did they do it? And when the temple was nearly completed, how could they leave it behind? As I sat silently contemplating this scene, the answer came forcefully yet softly to my mind and heart: “We did this for you.”
Those words, “We did this for you,” reminded me that our ancestors, along with many other faithful Saints, sacrificed everything because of their testimonies and faith in Jesus Christ. They knew that the gospel had been restored to the earth once more and that they were led by a prophet of God. They knew that the Book of Mormon was true and understood its message and witness. They knew that through the restoration of priesthood keys, families could be sealed together for eternity through holy priesthood ordinances available only in a temple. They knew that temple work was the key to the salvation and exaltation of the human family. They knew the importance of this work, and they were willing to give all that they had in order to provide a house acceptable to the Lord wherein this holy work could be performed. They sacrificed everything so that past and future generations would have access to the eternal blessings of the temple."
Charlotte remembered her aunt telling her that her ancestors had come from Nauvoo Illinois, and Far West, Missouri. The words "we did this for you seemed to take root in her mind, and as she leaned back a bit, she felt a calm peace come over her, and she read further. A bit later, she read the following:
"Zina Baker Huntington, along with so many other faithful Saints, sacrificed everything in order that we might have the blessings of the restored gospel. It is my prayer that we might understand our role in this great work and remain worthy to enter His holy temples. I know that if we will do this, the joyful day will come when we shall meet our ancestors once again and be able to say to them, “We did this for you.” In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." (We did this for you, October 2004 General Conference)
Charlotte closed her eyes, and almost cried a bit. Life had gotten so difficult, and she often felt battered for her beliefs. But she wasn't alone. And she could do something. So she decided to follow the impression she had received.
She opened up the Family Search Website, and went to the help tab. She found the phone number to Family Search, and decided to make a call.
Ten minutes later, after speaking to Sister Horner on the phone, she confidently went to the hints section of Family Search, where after a bit of time, and after finding a few records that didn't have any other relatives on them, she finally found one!
There was a record of a man in the late 1800's who had descended from her ancestor back in the 1700's, but was on a different posterity line than her. And his work had been done, but there was a census record that listed his wife and children!
Charlotte clicked the Review button, compared the two records, cross referenced with the birthdates, birth places, and birth places, and then finding them correct, added his wife's name and their 4 children. She recalled that Sr Horner reminded her that census records were not exact with birthdates, and that if it was off by a year but all other information matched up, it was good enough.
And after a quick check, there were no duplicates, at least according to Family Search!
In the spirit world, next to Charlotte, a broad smile came over Logan's ruddy face, and he hugged his dear wife Amelia, together with their children Logan, Mason, Eva, and Sophia, who were hovering close by. The glorious white robed spirit that had announced their work would be done was there with them, and he told them that if there was anything they wanted to tell this girl, to pray for the Lord's approval, and wait for the spirit to confirm that the Lord approved.
There was a peace and joy unlike anything else that came over Charlotte. She happily brushed tears away from her eyes as she took a deep breath of satisfaction. She knew these people were real, and that they were grateful for what she had done. In some way incomprehensible to her, she knew that her life mattered to these people. More importantly, she felt close to her Savior, and was able to feel of his love for her through the spirit.
Epilogue: Now the Charlottes in Family History occasionally run into some roadblocks, as all occasionally do. But as they have kept with it, are able to find more of their family. They find more meaning to their lives that can't be found any other way.
Promises: As we will engage in Family History and Temple Work, we will experience a joy beyond compare. We are what ancient prophets saw when the Lord showed them our day. We are the ones tasked with preparing the earth for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Even if we just for a few minutes on a Sunday, once in a great while, we will find the promises by modern-day prophets fulfilled in our own lives as we help others find salvation. Heavenly help will transform our lives, and heaven will descend. My how we need that in this world today!
You can find the hints section of Family Search online, and can also find the Get Started quick guide on another post. There's also another helpful article to help you resolve duplicates. To close, here is one of my favorite songs about the Temple, by Janice Kapp Perry
Picture of the Apia Samoa Temple courtesy of the Media Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Next week is General Conference, and there won't be a post to this blog then, so to help prepare, I wanted to share just a few quotes from our Leaders regarding Temple and Family History work.
We begin with one by Elder Cook
"Love is also at the center of our temple and family history effort to gather Israel on the other side of the veil. When we learn of the trials and hardships our ancestors faced, our love and appreciation for them is magnified." (Great Love for our Father's Children, April 2019 General Conference)
Elder Renlund had some incredible quotes from another conference:
"As Church members, we do have a divinely appointed responsibility to seek out our ancestors and compile family histories. This is far more than an encouraged hobby, because the ordinances of salvation are necessary for all of God’s children."
Elder Renlund also shared a quote from President Nelson that I have shared before, but it's really good. He stated:
"President Russell M. Nelson, however, cautioned: “We can be inspired all day long about temple and family history experiences others have had. But we must do something to actually experience the joy ourselves.” He continued, “I invite you to prayerfully consider what kind of sacrifice?—preferably a sacrifice of time?—you can make [to] do more temple and family history work.”
Elder Renlund then added his own remarks to President Nelson's words by giving the following promises; "As you accept President Nelson’s invitation, you will discover, gather, and connect your family. Additionally, blessings will flow to you and your family like the river spoken of by Ezekiel. You will find healing for that which needs healing." (Sealing and Healing, April 2018 General Conference)
Other promises by Elder Renlund are on this blogpost
President Eyring's remarks in another General Conference were similar to President Nelson and Elder Renlund's words:
"Our Heavenly Father is anxious to gather and bless all of His family...For example, as you follow the promptings to learn about your family history, you may discover that a distant relative shares some of your facial features or your interest in books or your talent for singing. This could be very interesting and even insightful. But if your work stops there, you will sense that something is missing. This is because to gather and unite God’s family requires more than just warm feelings. It requires sacred covenants made in connection with priesthood ordinances.
Many of your ancestors did not receive those ordinances. But in the providence of God, you did. And God knew that you would feel drawn to your ancestors in love and that you would have the technology necessary to identify them. He also knew that you would live in a time when access to holy temples, where the ordinances can be performed, would be greater than ever in history. And He knew that He could trust you to accomplish this work in behalf of your ancestors." (Gathering the Family of God, April 2017 General Conference)
The final quote is from Elder Cook in the April 2018 General Conference, where he quoted President Joseph Fielding Smith as follows:
“None is exempt from this great obligation. It is required of the apostle as well as the humblest elder [or sister]. Place, or distinction, or long service in the Church … will not entitle one to disregard the salvation of one’s dead.” (Doctrines of Salvation, quoted in Prepare to meet God, Elder Cook in April 2018 General Conference)
This is not a comprehensive list, but I hope you can see that each of you are needed in this great vicarious work of the Lord, either through family history or Temple work.
I encourage you to prepare for #GeneralConference this next week by taking some time on the Family Tree Mobile App, or the Family Search Website to look up your ancestors, discover their stories, and then use the ancestors with tasks section of the app to see if you have departed relatives that Family Search has found new records for. You may have family members that haven't been found yet or attached to your family tree. You can view some tips on this blog that can help you.
It will help you prepare for Conference in a whole new way, and as you watch, you will be strengthened from both sides of the veil.
I know this work is real, and is true. Some of the greatest joys I have experienced have come from Family History and Temple Work. I testify that it can change your life for the better, and as Elder Renlund has said, it can heal you.
You can watch #GeneralConference next weekend on BYUTV through your cable provider, or the church has a list of streaming platforms and apps it will be broadcast on.
It's now been several months that this blog has been active, and as I have looked back, I hope that you have been able to feel a bit of the spirit of Elijah as you have read these stories, and have been able to find some tips to help you get started. Or at least, that it has inspired you to attend the temple more often using the Ordinances Ready part of the app. I wanted to share something personal with you in this post.
I'm not an expert, and you don't have to be either I'll share something with you that may surprise you. I'm not an expert in genealogy or Family History. I rely on tips from Family Search-for most on the app, it is the "Ancestors with Tasks" section. And with all the tips I've given to people about the mobile app, you would think I know my way around a smartphone. But I don't own one. I have to use my wife's to figure out how to use the app, and then share it.
Typically I use the website. And with just a few instructions, I have been able to find many of my ancestors, from either my own direct line or from other posterity lines.
Here's the point. If I can learn to do Family History, so can you. As Elder Scott and other Apostles and prophets have said, you don't have to be an expert anymore. And you can do it at home.
Become involved in this great work. The first time I did temple work for my ancestors, I felt for the first time that my life mattered to someone besides just me. The spirit impressed upon me the reality of this work. I could feel the joy of those whose ordinances were being done. I wish all could experience that joy. Doing work for your own family amps the temple experience.
Blessings for engaging in this work As I have engaged in this work, I have experienced blessings from beyond the veil that have strengthened my connection to the Lord, and have helped me to develop a greater love both for my ancestors, and for the Savior whose work this is. And there are blessings I will not go into that await all who serve the Lord in bringing his children to him. Some more about those promises are in other posts on this blog. If the veil were rent today, we would see the Savior of all inviting us to engage in his great work. We would see the whole of humanity that haven't had their ordinance work done, and who are waiting for it to be completed before they can return to their heavenly home. I invite all to take the Savior's invitation, given through our prophet, to make a sacrifice of time to engage in this work of salvation. It doesn't have to be much, but it can change your life. When the Heavens Open-concluding thought I wanted to take a moment and offer a thought that fills me with joy. President Nelson has said, referring to Family History, that we are preparing the world for the Second Coming of the Savior. Is it possible that part of the reason there is more Family History and Temple work to complete is that, in addition to making sure the earth isn't smitten with a curse, our ancestors and relatives, once their ordinances are done, will be among those hosts of heaven who will appear with the Savior as he descends with his "chariot of fire," to help inaugurate his Millenial reign on the earth? Perhaps part of the reason we will sing and shout with the armies of heaven at that millenial day is, in addition to praises to our King, that those angels who descend will be people who we have found as we did Family History, and/or have done their ordinance work in the temple.
Take just ten minutes a week, maybe on Sunday after the Come Follow me Study. Make it a habit to try. It will be worth it. Prophets have promised that.
You can learn more and be entertained by other posts on this blog, and you can also Discover your story on the Family Tree Mobile App, or the Family Search website. To close, here is a song that best reflects the spirit inside the temple. It's always made me want to go.
Picture of the Oakland Temple courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Media Library
I've written quite a few posts about promises our leaders have made about how the windows of heaven can open as we engage in Family History and Temple Work. But this time, instead of a long post, the meat of what I would want to say will be shared in the video below. It contains promises from the Lord.
Some of the promises given here include that as you engage in Family History and Temple work, your love and gratitude for your ancestors and Savior will increase. The power of the Savior's love and healing will enter your life, and you will receive a more certain witness that life continues beyond the veil. In the video, there are blessings invoked by apostles upon all who engage in this work. Every 15 seconds in the video, more promises are given.
I testify that this is the work of the Lord. I know that as we will sacrifice our time to engage in it, we will realize the promises given in this video.
And one last thing.The Lord is pleading with you to help in this work. He sees all of creation, and longs for his children to return to him, just as a mother longs for her children to come home.
Be that covenant child the Lord can count on to engage in his work of Salvation. I promise that as you help your ancestors, you will draw closer to Christ, and will feel of his love. Enjoy the video.
Jonathan flopped his large, stocky frame down on the old tan sofa after church, and let out a sigh. Sundays could be so tedious. Even television got boring after a few hours.
He picked up his phone, and went to the Gospel Library Mobile app, and was thumbing through older talks by President Nelson and saw one called "the Sabbath is a delight," and decided to take a look at that. As he read, he saw something that caught his interest. President Nelson said,
"I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, “What sign do I want to give to God?” That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear."
Jonathan thought about it, and felt the spirit gently encourage him to keep reading. He was glad he did, because there was something he had missed that would change his life:
"In addition to time with family, you can experience true delight on the Sabbath from family history work. Searching for and finding family members who have preceded you on earth—those who did not have an opportunity to accept the gospel while here—can bring immense joy.
I have seen this firsthand. Several years ago, my dear wife Wendy determined to learn how to do family history research. Her progress at first was slow, but little by little she learned how easy it is to do this sacred work. And I have never seen her happier. You too need not travel to other countries or even to a family history center. At home, with the aid of a computer or mobile device, you can identify souls who are yearning for their ordinances. Make the Sabbath a delight by finding your ancestors and liberating them from spirit prison!"
A calm peace settled over Jonathan. He didn't know how he was going to do it, but he knew he needed to get started on Family History.
He shook his blonde head in disbelief. He knew absolutely nothing about Family History. How could he get started? He had downloaded the Family Tree Mobile App a long time ago as a part of a church class, but hadn't opened it yet.
After opening it, he tapped the 3 lines, and then saw something that said "help," and then called the number. He shifted in his chair, and as his mom walked past, sandy brown hair bobbing, he could see in her face a puzzled look that showed she had questions about what he was doing.
But she started smiling from the brown armchair she had folded her knees cross legged into when she heard him start speaking to a Brother Moore with Family Search. She had prayed he might find something to get him more involved in the gospel, and as moisture came to her eyes, she felt some hope for her son.
Ten minutes later, Jonathan got off the phone, and started on the App. His mom by this time had slowly stepped into the next room, her lined hand patting his broad shoulder as she did.
An hour later, after reviewing several of the "ancestors with tasks" section, he finally found a record that added new family to his family tree! They were from different posterity lines, but he could reserve the names! His blue-hazel eyes brightened.
As he reserved the names, unseen but in the same room, 3 spirits and their guide watched him do that. Hank, Allen, and their sister Elaine looked at each other excitedly, knowing their work would be done. They had waited years for this! The church was in its infancy when they were alive, and they had never heard it taught, only rumors. Here in the spirit world, they had felt the spirit of the Lord testify of the truth of the gospel, and knew. But they had to wait many years before they could have someone baptized for them.
Jonathan felt a peace, and a connection to the Savior that was undeniable. He had never spent a more meaningful Sabbath in his life. Little did he know how much of this joyful work he would do over his lifetime.
As President Nelson had said, The Sabbath Truly is a Delight, and Jon felt like the sign he gave the Lord today was accepted of him.
Now here is a very short video of some of the prophet's statements above, and real stories of people who are finding joy in this work of Salvation. Picture is the Phoenix, Arizona Temple, courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Media Library
In the quiet of the temple, Margaret sat, and looked at the name of the person on her card, Helene. She tilted her brown haired head to the side a bit, got a pensive look on her freckled face, and wondered who this person was, what she did in her life, and whether she was waiting for her ordinances.
In the temple, hovering over her, Helene, dressed in white, quietly spoke to the Glorious, glowing spirit named Arthur who was supervising the other spirits who had come to the temple because their ordinances were being done. He told her she could go down close to Margaret.
As Helene slowly floated closer, she had such a feeling of love for Margaret, and longed to reach out to her. In this session, Helene felt a connection to Father in Heaven so strong, and that love she felt from him through the spirit only increased her gratitude for Margaret, who was doing her ordinance work for her.
For Margaret, it was a glorious session. She sat her small frame down in the chair, breathed deeply and tossed her dark hair behind her shoulder, and focused on the session. The spirit testified to her that what she was doing was needed. It filled her with joy. She had felt the love of the Lord for her, and also felt that Helene was a real person, and she could feel her gratitude.
Helene, as she accepted the promises of the session, had never felt such joy. But she was a bit sad because her relatives still hadn't been found, and they were unable to experience this with her. She wanted to try and impress upon Margaret something, but Arthur, his white hair glowing, told her to wait until she got a prompting from the Lord. So Helene waited for awhile and when it was time to move to the celestial room, she got her confirmation and started to move towards Margaret. It was amazing how the spirit of the Lord carried her righteous desires to Margaret.
In the Celestial room, Margaret got the impression there were more people, grandparents. As she left and went home, she couldn't stop thinking about it.
She turned on the computer, and went to Helene's record in her Family Tree online, and found some records there of parents, and they were there and their work was done, but no Grandparents. Then she looked to the side, and she was able to see a record hint from Family Search! With just a few mouse clicks, she attached the new record and was able to find and add Helene's Grandparents, and after adding another record, Helene's Grandparents' brothers and sisters and Parents as well.
Margaret reflected upon times when it was difficult to do Family History. It was now worth the price she paid to learn-and it was easier than she had originally thought. But there was something even more rewarding that overcoming obstacles.
As she reserved their names so she could do their ordinances, she felt a peace and a joy that lifted burdens off her she never even knew were there. And that feeling of peace lasted for days. And it happened almost every time she found more ancestors, and took them to the temple.
This story was based off real true stories that are similar. This work is a supernal work where the heavens and the earth meet. As Elder Scott has said, it is a monumental work of Love from both sides of the veil. These are not just names we take to the temple, they are people who lived, but didn't have the opportunity to have the spirit testify of the truth of the gospel when they were alive.
And it is our job to do the work for all of the family of Man who will come unto Christ. I testify that the Lord Beckons all to come unto him, and he is calling for us to rise up as saints, and labor in his vineyard, where we can experience our own joy beyond compare.
As Mark was scrolling through his Facebook, he wondered if there was more to life? It was even a chore to binge watch his favorite shows. His calloused hands shifted his phone to a different position, and he scrolled through a few meaningless posts until he found something.
He saw someone had posted a link to the Family Tree Mobile App. He remembered the cute brown-haired, green-eyed girl who had given a lesson a few Sundays ago with a challenge to get started on Family History (more about her later).
He remembered the challenge, and that in mind, Mark decided to follow the instructions, and downloaded the app. He didn't know how to login, but then remembered that it used his church universal login, the one he had gotten using his membership number when he used the tools app to look up a ward member's phone number.
His dark brow furrowed, and he squeezed his eyes closed in pain as he remembered the tragic events of months ago. He had gotten in an accident that left him in the hospital for a week. They hadn't expected him to live, but he did.
But his friend didn't. He was thrown through the windshield, and by the time the paramedics got there, he was gone.
A thousand ifs kept going through his brain, both day and night, and they only stopped with television. Until the lesson on Family History.
As he was pondering this, he felt something strange but good. It seemed like he felt his friend near. He couldn't explain it, but he knew his friend was happy where he was. Mark was still having a hard time, and he almost found his friend's happiness hard to believe, but he couldn't deny it. And these thoughts had originally started with that lesson about doing Family History.
He logged into the Green Family Tree Mobile app, and on the first page, saw that there weren't any people on his pedigree. But his mom had done a lot of work! Where was it? He had heard that Family Search can find more names than in the past, and could help you, but where were the ones already done?
He called his mom, and as he was talking to her, he imagined her smiling face and dark hair bobbing, as they always did when she spoke about something she loved. She told him he needed to put the names, birthdates, and birthplaces of his parents and grandparents, back to where he found one that had died, and it would pull in his tree from the main Family Search Tree.
About fifteen minutes after getting the information he needed from his mom, he had his family tree. He looked at some of his ancestors, saw that there were some stories there, and one of them had to do with his great-great grandfather, a tough but wounded man who had accidentally run over his sister with a farm tool, and killed her. His ancestor wrote in his journal that the gospel of Jesus Christ was the only thing that got him through it, and the only thing that helped him to feel forgiven.
Mark could not hold back the sobs. His rough hands wiped away some tears, but some fell on his grey levis. He still felt a bit like he couldn't be forgiven, but something changed a bit as he read this account by his ancestor. He wasn't alone, and there was something happening to him that made him feel like there was hope for him.
A half hour later, Mark picked up his phone again, wiped the tears from his dark brown eyes, and then remembered the lesson on Family History, something about the "ordinances ready" section. He tapped the 3 lines, and then went to the part that said "ordinances ready."
He chose endowment, and found that there were a few that pulled up there. There was one his mother had shared. He took the name and went to the temple where they printed it out for him before the session.
As he was there, he put his fingers through his dark hair, and sat his long frame into the seat. He felt a peace come over him, and though he loved being in the temple, he was still wondering if he was worthy to be there. Near the end of the session, he felt a quiet peace, and for a moment, it seemed like his self-imposed guilt was gone. Tears flowed down his freckled cheeks again.
And as the impression started to subside, there was another one. To open the app when he got home.
After looking peacefully at the chandelier and feeling the peace of the Celestial room, Mark finally prepared to leave, and there was purpose in his long-legged stride as he did.
At home, he hurriedly took the phone out of its case, opened up the app, and went to the "ancestors with tasks" to see what he could find. Now Mark was eventually able to use the "Ancestors with tasks" to find his relatives names to take to the temple, but I won't explain that now, since there are a couple of otherposts that deal with how to use the app to find names, and most importantly, other posts that deal with the expanded definition of Family in the church and Family History. There are now millions more names than there used to be when "Aunt Edna" was compiling the Family History.
But back to Mark's story. Just know that Family History work becomes a big thing in Mark's life, almost as big as a certain cute brown-haired green-eyed girl who once taught him a lesson about Family History.
And his healing? That took time. A lifetime. But each time he found his ancestor's names, or went to the temple, he was one step closer to fully healing from the trauma of the past.
And their kids? Well, Mark and his wife did the one thing that, more than anything else, ensures kid's future activity in the church. More about that on this blogpost. And if you want more stories, there are a few more on this blog.
Discover your story on the Family Tree Mobile App, or on the Family Search Website. I testify that, as President Nelson has said about Family History, "We are engaged in the work of Almighty God. We are his covenant children. He can count on us."
Picture is the Provo Temple in Winter, Courtesy of the Media Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
I chose this picture, because it was in the Nauvoo temple that the heavens were opened for the Saints, and a greater number of them first received their endowments and sealings, and the Heavenly Fire of the Covenant burned in their souls. It is hoped this post will help that same Fire of the Covenant burn in your soul as well.
President Nelson has testified that this great saving work of our dead that we are engaged in is the Work of Almighty God. He further stated; "we are his covenant children, he can count on us." I wanted to dispel a myth, then the incredible videos.
Aunt Edna didn't complete your Family History-not even close But many people think Family History doesn't apply to them, and they tune out because they think "Well, my work has already been done by Aunt Edna," or some other family member who is a Genealogist and has found all my family clear back to where there aren't records. Well that is false. Your Family History work isn't anywhere near done, and it's easier than ever to do it now.
That's right. That false idea has stopped so many people from enjoying the blessings of Family History, and so we sit here, enjoying the blessings of the gospel, while millions of our relatives on the other side are praying for the day that someone can do their work so they can return to the presence of the Lord.
I have some critical information here that will dramatically change how you see Family History and Temple work, and how critical it is you engage in it.
The Definition of Relatives is not limited-an example Most of us think of our Family Tree as our parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and so on until we reach the 1600's or 1400's and can't go any further. But that view of Family has changed with Family History in the church now.
Let me give you an example that just illustrates the point, and is just to illustrate a point though it's based on real genealogies. First some definitions. I will speak of my ancestors, and my ancestor's posterity along other descendency lines, which are his children and children's children to now. Please keep in mind these are estimates to illustrate, I'm not a math major, so it's not 100 percent accurate, though I have attempted to be conservative in my estimates to make up for it. Now part of this is a bit dry, but it gets really good after that.
One of my Great Great (many more) Grandfathers converted in Missouri, and was in Nauvoo, and emigrated to Utah in the mid 1800's. It shows he had 14 brothers and sisters. And just one of his children had at least that many or more children. Now if you go back to include His Grandfather from the 1700's, then go through my ancestor in Missouri, and assume his kids had 5 children each (many back then had many more), an estimate of their total posterity could be tens of thousands or much more (one estimate was 40 thousand, but we will use the smaller number of 10 thousand). Now his grandfather wasn't a member.
Now one point: I haven't checked in detail on this line, but If there is posterity on alternate lines moving forward from this ancestor in the 1700's to today, they are considered my family, too, and I can do their Family History and Temple work if it's not done, provided it is 110 years after their birthdate. And so can you on your alternate posterity lines. Let that sink in a bit. So with 7-8 generations back with tens of thousands posterity, and with each generation back further that number can increase exponentially. And you are wondering, can I do that?
Family Search Helps you to find them! Guess what? Family Search will even help me to find them, will show me how I am related, and will give me hints with records that may contain more of my family-and some of their posterity are so recent that Family Search can give hints to records that help you find them.
Hopefully you can see by now that this is more people than one person can do in a lifetime. And that Family Search helps you to find more of them. So Let me blow your mind a bit more now, then the good stuff after.
Hundreds of Thousands? Not even close This was just one line back. If you go back 4 generations, your ancestral view will have about 16 great grandparents. But they also had other posterity that didn't go to you. So go back further to 7 generations, which many members have, and there you have potentially 128 parents or 64 potential posterity lines. So 7 generations times 64 with tens of thousands of posterity each amounts to maybe 640,000 in alternate posterity lines moving forward from a 7th Generation ancestor. Beyond what Aunt Edna could do.
But wait there is more. If an ancestral line goes up 2 more generations back further than 7 generations, that brings it to 512 grandparents and many great grandparents or about 256 posterity lines. Straight math says that 256 times 10,000 is about 2.5 million posterity. The math gets fuzzy here, because this is just a limited estimate, and doesn't account for compounding, but this just shows we are now exponentially far beyond what hundreds of Aunt Ednas could do.
Finally the Point: More to do and you can easily work on those alternate posterity lines from a common ancestor. Some of the lines working back have gone from your ancestor in the 1600's forward to the 1800's where there are census records online that can add to your family tree with just a few taps or mouse clicks.
The Lord is hastening his work in his time. The tools we have to find our relatives and do their work has made it so easy. I have found relatives who were related to me by an ancestor in the 1600's, but on a different posterity line. And Family Search gave me hints on how to find more relatives on these lines. In fact, the Mobile App, and the website are designed to show you these hints.
One thing to make sure of. You need to click on the "view my relationship" to make sure there is a relationship before adding to your family tree.
Now I'm including an incredible newer video that first shares our Prophet and Apostles promising us blessings as we engage in Temple and Family History work. "This latter day work will destroy the powers of darkness, and bring to pass the salvation of the human family". And after that, a get started video walkthrough where you can watch how to do it. Here's the first one.
And here is the get started video
A simple step to start To start, open the Family Tree App, or go to the Family Search website, and if your family tree isn't there, input your parents, grandparents, and maybe great grandparent's names, birthdates, and relationships there, and it should pull in the family history that has already been done.
Read their histories Take a moment to read the histories your relatives have put in there. You may feel the spirit of Elijah start to stir in you. You may feel like you are not alone on this earth or in the heavens.
Ancestors with Tasks or Recommended tasks And then, if you are on the app, go to the "ancestors with tasks" section (recommended tasks on the website), go to one of the people, and then look at their record. See if they have any spouse or children there. Check their birthdate and place.
Then tap the blue circle and it will take you to a vital record like a census record, birth record, or other record that they are on. Tap "review" or "compare." It will show you both records, your relative in your family tree, and the record found by Family Search. If it is a match, it will show you if the record found by Family Search lists additional Family Members that are not in your Family Tree.
And with a few taps, you can add additional family members and with a few taps more, you can reserve their temple work. Now these are not just names. They are people. Your people. Your Family. And they have been waiting for their work to be done.
Once they are reserved, you can use the "ordinances ready" part of the app to print ordinance cards, or it will give you a number, and you can give that to the temple office, and they can print the cards for you.
Now it's not always as simple as that. But when you run into roadblocks, reach out to Family Search using the help section of the app or website, or contact a Family History Consultant, and then pray. Apostles and prophets have promised that if we will do that, the Lord will open up a way. I've followed that counsel, and have always found that the Lord opens up doors for us.
Testimony, Promise, and President and Sr Nelson's words I testify that this work is the work of the Lord. It will redeem and save all who will come unto him. It will bring us blessings untold. We will have a greater testimony of the Savior and this work. We will grow to have a love for our ancestors. And as we engage in this work, we will not stray from the Savior and his gospel.
And when we pass away, we will see the people whose work we have done, and we will be able to embrace and weep tears of joy as we together enter the Kingdom of Heaven, to dwell in the presence of the Lord forever. Here's a video of President Nelson and his wife inviting us to engage in this great work. Discover your story on the Family Tree Mobile App, or on the Family Search Website. You can also view other posts on this blog for how to use the App to get started
Picture of the Nauvoo Temple courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, available in the Media Library.
Please note that I have attempted to make approximate estimates based on the best numbers I had, however I make no claim to exact accuracy. In most cases, I have used significantly conservative estimates. These cases are just illustrations, though based upon actual genealogies.
