How James's sacrifice of time Opened the Heavens

James was so frustrated. It had been a difficult day with his friends, and trying to do Family History on the Family Tree App was more difficult than he thought. It didn't seem worth it. 

He had felt the spirit a few weeks ago prompt him to do Family History, but hadn't been able to find any names.  His family tree went back to the 1600's, and he would need a professional Genealogist to help him find more. Or so he thought.

As he struggled, he decided to exit out of the Family Tree App.  He then went to the Gospel Library Mobile app, and went to the Family History section and watched "A Sacrifice of Time," by President and Sister Nelson. 

Something happened.  He watched and was impressed with Sr Nelson's testimony that "when we show the Lord that we are serious about helping our ancestors, the heavens will open, and we will receive all the help we need."

He watched President Nelson state that if we just remember stories of our ancestors, we haven't done enough if our ancestors ordinances aren't done.

And when President Nelson invited members to make a sacrifice of our time to do Family History work, James felt the spirit confirm again what he had felt before. 

He got onto his knees, and asked the Lord for help to do this work.  As he prayed, he felt the confirming peace of the spirit, and felt like he needed to reach out to the Family History Consultant. 

He opened the Family Tree App, tapped the 3 lines, went to Help, and then tapped "Contact Family Search."

He called them and explained everything about his situation, and then Brother Hillam, the fatherly Family Search member asked him two questions.

"So did your ancestors 100-200 years ago have brothers and sisters?"  James replied that they did, and Brother Hillam said to him "Well, if they did, and they had posterity, you are related to them, and you can research them and do their work."

A light bulb went off in James head. He had thought that he could only do his direct line ancestors, but here he could do more of his extended family line! Almost before he could recover, the second question was there.

"How are you checking your ancestors with tasks?"  James said that he was viewing the record, but couldn't see anything there. 

Brother Hillam told him there was a blue circle at the end of each record in the ancestors with tasks section, and if he would tap on them, they would show additional records for that relative, and sometimes it would list a wife or children if it was a census or death record.  Then, he gave him a quick tutorial on how to check for duplicates or existing people in Family Search.

Excitedly, James thanked Brother Hillam, and ended the call gratefully. 

He started looking through his ancestors with tasks, and found one of his ancestors in 1870 had some brothers and sisters who were on census records that listed spouses and children. 

After a flurry of tapping Review on the records, and adding new names, he had 5 new family names. 

Jonathan, unseen by James, looked to William, the Glorious spirit being with him, and said excitedly to him "I'm finally going to get my temple work done!" William hugged him, and Jonathan felt like he was filled with Light.  He asked William if he would be able to have that spirit with him when James did his baptism, and William confirmed that he would. 

William smiled, and then told Jonathan he could come with him as he told Jon's brothers, sister, and mother that James and his friends would soon be baptized for them, and soon after that, would seal them as a family.  But first there was something they needed to wait for the spirit to do. 

James couldn't hear anything, but as he reserved the names, he felt the spirit confirm that he had done the Lord's work.  He almost felt like there was an ancestor that was grateful he was doing this work.  And he felt the love of the Lord. 

All of the frustration, all of the difficulty was worth it now.  He couldn't wait to try to find more, and soon was off checking more hints. 

And somewhere, off in the spirit world, a part of James's family was preparing for their chance to be members of Christ's church, something they had been waiting for about 150 years to do. 

Never before in the history of the World have we had the resources to do Family History that we do today.  If you can order something from an app or online, you can do Family History. 

I testify that as President Nelson says in the below video, "we are engaged in the work of Almighty God. He lives, Jesus is the Christ.  This is his church, we are his covenant children.  He can count on us."

Here is the video referenced in this post.

Discover your story, and help your ancestors return to the presence of the Lord by beginning on the Family Tree Mobile App, or at the Family Search Website, and signing in.

If you use the website- you can find hints by going to a person on your tree, and look for "Research Help" with record hints on the top right hand side of each record.  

Picture is the Florida Ft Lauderdale Temple, courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Media Library.  

The last work she would ever do (with music video)

Sister Jeffries sat in her home, and diligently kept working on the altar covers she was making for the temple.  She decided to complete that before she finished going to the temple to do work for her parents and ancestors who had gone before. As she thought of doing that, she felt such a feeling of peace. 

Suddenly, she saw the room grow brighter than midday, and two glorious white robed messengers appeared, and between them, her mother, who had passed on years before, was standing there. 

Her mother pleaded with her daughter to right away do her temple work for her, and to make it possible so she could get her "White dress," so she could go with the angelic messengers to her reward. 

Sister Jeffries answered that she would do it as soon as she had completed one more day of work on the altar covers.  Her mother insisted that she do the work "before you do anything else," so that she could take her place with the glorious beings.  After urgently stating that, her mother and the two messengers disappeared from her view. 

So the next day, Sister Jeffries took her mother's name to the temple, and did her temple work for her.  It was the last temple work she ever did.  Sister Jeffries came home sick from the temple, never to recover.  She passed away in a few weeks, no doubt to join the Mother whose salvation she had made sure. (Story taken from the Biographical Record of Martha Cragun Cox, an unpublished manuscript, pp 214-272)

Most of us have a long life ahead of us, but there will come a time when we leave this life.  In the end, we will not find joy in the television programs we watched, the movies we saw, or the video games we played. 

However, if we will engage in this great work of saving our dead when we are here, what joy will fill our hearts when after this life, we reunite with the people whose work we have done.  It will be by the power of Christ that they will be saved, but it will have been accomplished by the work we do on this earth both with Family History, and with Temple work.

If you just do one of your ancestor's work, how great shall be your rejoicing with them in the Kingdom of the Father.  How much more joy will you feel if you bring many. 

Family History isn't as it used to be.  If you can place an order for something on the internet, you can do Family History.  The tools we have now can greatly accelerate the speed at which you do this great work. 

There will be a story next week that weaves in some Family History hints when doing Family History on the App.  Stay tuned for that.  For today, here is a hint, and below that, the music video that inspired this post.

Open the Family Tree Mobile App, tap the 3 lines, and then tap "Ancestors with tasks." It will take a few minutes for your ancestors to come up, but you will get a list of ancestors that have record hints. Choose and ancestor and tap the blue record hint circle at the end of their name.

It will give you a list of new records that have been found for that ancestor, and there may be census records that list other family members there. 

Tap the record, click review, and see if the record matches, or there are other family members in those records that aren't already listed. 

If you run into roadblocks, don't worry, you aren't the only one.  Many of the posts on this blog talk about running into roadblocks, and future posts will deal with that a bit more.  

To close, I'm sharing Kenneth Cope's song called "White Dress," where he relates Sister Jeffries Story, and other similar stories.  "Heaven's rejoicing as Jesus draws near"

Discover your own story on the Family Tree Mobile App or the Family Search Website or discover memories on the Family Tree Memories App.  You can also follow this blog by entering your email in at the top of the sidebar.  

Picture is Angels Among us by Simon Dewey

The key to unlocking the Windows of Heaven by following a Prophet

Today I wanted to share something about how following the counsel from a prophet unlocked the windows of heaven, and helped me to find more of my ancestors whose work needed to be done. My heart is full when I think of what blessings came when I followed the counsel to get me through a time when I lost hope with Family History.

About 5-6 years ago, I was given a calling that involved family history work. I asked for some help from my mom, because I knew nothing about Family History work, but here I was supposed to be helping others with it! She was able to give me some help, and we found the first names I had ever gotten, and we had some sacred experiences doing their work in the temple. I never will forget some of those experiences.

And then, I ran into some roadblocks. I struggled to find more names.  It seemed like I couldn't find any ancestors at all.  I would sit at the computer for an hour or two, and find nothing, not even any leads. It was so frustrating, and for a bit, I lost hope.  I didn't think I could find more. I mean, my last name is a staunch old church name, pretty sure there can't be any more.  But I was wrong.

It was a bit later that I read President Monson's First Presidency's message in June 2014 about Family History work called "Hastening the Work."  This message seemed like it was written just for me.

I wanted to share the following from his message:

"As you pursue family history work, you are going to find yourself running into roadblocks, and you are going to say to yourself, “There is nothing else I can do.” When you come to that point, get down on your knees and ask the Lord to open the way, and He will open the way for you. I testify that this is true."

I did exactly that. I didn't know how to proceed, but I felt the spirit testify of the truth of what a prophet of God had promised.

So I prayed, and I kept at it.  I reached out to the Family History Center, and to Salt Lake (phone numbers in Family Search), and it wasn't more than a week or two later I discovered a record hint, and found a few more names!  At that time, I felt the spirit impress upon me that because I reached out in faith, and took action, the Lord helped me both through the spirit and through his church.

But it didn't stop there.  I have since kept praying, and kept working at it, not giving up, and since then have found so many of my ancestors who haven't had their work done, and have been able to "take them to the temple." I've now found so many that I have to give them to others or share them with the temple system.  And it has blessed my life just as much as it has them.

It gives me joy when the spirit impresses upon me that sacred ordinances have been done or are in process which allows my ancestors to return to the presence of the Lord.  And I have felt both the love of my ancestors, and most importantly, the love of the Savior, as those ordinances were sanctified by his power through the spirit.

I am not going to relate all of the blessings and impressions and experiences, for some of them are sacred, but know that I have been blessed beyond what I am able to comprehend as I have heeded the counsel of a prophet to pray to the Lord to help accomplish his work.

I testify that as we will follow the counsel of the prophets to engage in the work of the Lord (and there are many talks given in Conference about that), we will find a joy beyond compare, and we will find ourselves lifted out of the confusion of a world in turmoil, and will find ourselves filled with the peace of the spirit.  And we will see miracles happen in our lives.

I hope and pray that you might be able to follow the spirit as you ask yourself if you really can learn about Family History.  You can, for you have the promises from prophets and apostles unlocking that door.  We just need to exercise faith.  

Discover your own ancestors and do their work at Family Search Online or by downloading the Family Tree Mobile app.  You can also follow this blog by entering your email in at the top of the sidebar.  

To close, here is a song called "How many Hearts have been turned," (how many souls have been saved)


Picture of the Sapporo Japan Temple courtesy of the Media Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

How the Windows of Heaven were opened for Josh (with video)

Josh turned off the television and sat there for a moment. He felt no joy, and even television didn't help him.  In fact, it seemed to be making things worse.  For the last couple of months, he had felt like the usual things he did weren't bringing him joy.

Is this all there is to life?" was the question that was the center of his thinking.  There was an unsettling feeling in him that made him wonder if there was something more he should be doing.

He was praying, but reading scriptures had become perfunctory, almost a chore. Then he remembered Sunday.  He had been assigned the Family History class for Sunday school, and when the Bishop told him, he wondered why?  He knew almost nothing about Family History, except that he had setup an account on Family Search one time a year ago. 

But last Sunday was different. As he started hearing about the experiences others related about doing Family History, he felt the first bit of joy in a few weeks. He tried to remember the talk they had shared, something by Elder Renlund.  He felt like he should look it up.  He pulled out the gospel library mobile app and searched for Renlund Family History, and came up with a Conference talk. 

He started reading through it, just skimming like usual, and found himself being drawn to the stories told of people being drawn closer together through Family History work.

His heart still ached because his wife had died a few years before, and it had left a huge hole in his life, because they hadn't been able to have children yet.  And yet it was almost as if she was here, encouraging him to read this. 

Then he found something that riveted him to his seat. Elder Renlund said

"as we participate in family history and temple work today, we also lay claim to “healing” blessings promised by prophets and apostles. These blessings are also breathtakingly amazing because of their scope, specificity, and consequence in mortality. This long list includes these blessings:

1.  Increased understanding of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice;

2.  Increased influence of the Holy Ghost to feel strength and direction for our own lives;

3.  Increased faith, so that conversion to the Savior becomes deep and abiding;

4.  Increased ability and motivation to learn and repent because of an understanding of who we are, where we come from, and a clearer vision of where we are going;

5.  Increased refining, sanctifying, and moderating influences in our hearts;

6.  Increased joy through an increased ability to feel the love of the Lord;

7.  Increased family blessings, no matter our current, past, or future family situation or how imperfect our family tree may be;

8.  Increased love and appreciation for ancestors and living relatives, so we no longer feel alone;

9.  Increased power to discern that which needs healing and thus, with the Lord’s help, serve others;

10.  Increased protection from temptations and the intensifying influence of the adversary; and

11.  Increased assistance to mend troubled, broken, or anxious hearts and make the wounded whole.

If you have prayed for any of these blessings, participate in family history and temple work. As you do so, your prayers will be answered. When ordinances are performed on behalf of the deceased, God’s children on earth are healed. No wonder President Russell M. Nelson, in his first message as President of the Church, declared, “Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.”

Josh read that and started weeping. The television had just been something to cover up the lingering sadness he always felt. And yet he felt a powerful comfort come over him both as he read, and after he read, and he knew it was the spirit. 

Before the feeling subsided, he went to the 10 Minute Quick Start guide given him by a member of his ward, and took a few minutes to watch it.  He wiped a few more tears away, and got started.  An hour later, he finally put things down, but his soul felt at peace for the first time in months. This was easier than he had thought, and the reward was so great.  

A Month later, as he was leaving the temple, having done the baptisms and confirmations for several of his ancestors, he realized that in his life, many of the promises in Elder Renlund's talk had come true.  He felt a healing power in his life.  He gradually felt more motivation and fulfillment.  Even more, he had felt a closeness to his departed wife in the temple, and even more, had felt the Savior near.  He had felt the gratitude of his ancestors, and these weren't just feelings.  They were real. 

His heart was full for the first time in years, and he couldn't wait to keep doing Family History.  His life had meaning. There was a reason he was left behind.  He had a work to do, and he could feel his loved ones near, helping him from the other side of the veil. 

There were so many times trying to find relatives that he wanted to quit doing family history.  And for a few weeks he did.  But he always came back to it, even if just for a few minutes a month. Because nothing gave him joy like this work did.  He understood the struggle made the reward more sweet.

And one last impression he received.  Many of his ancestors and their relatives hadn't been sealed for eternity as he had been to his wife. This comfort he had in his own sealing was something he wanted to share with them.  For a moment, it was almost like he could feel their longing to be sealed together.  And he wanted them to feel the same comfort he had.

A Lesson for us: Many of us are like Josh, who sometimes reach a point where we wonder "is this all to life?" or we may have trials, pains, and burdens that cause us to struggle.  Life is like that, and trials and pains will still come.  And we need healing, but sometimes don't know where to look.  But there is hope.

As we will engage in Family History and Temple work, the windows of heaven will be opened, and we will experience the healing power of the Lord as we help his children back to his presence.  If it is just one step you take by opening the app or using the quick start guide (below), take it today.  

And then go back again and again and drink from the healing waters of the blessings associated with this great saving work.  On that note, Elder Renlund closed his talk with this quote and commentary,

"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 concludes; "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."

I testify what Elder Renlund promised is true, for it has happened in my own life.  Below is a more comprehensive video of the promises of Family History from our leaders. And then below that is the quick start video that can show you how easy the church has made it to get started in Family History.  Enjoy

And an incredible 10 Minute Family History Quick Start Guide is below as well

Discover your story at Family Search online or on the Family Tree Mobile App and signing in.    

Though the story of Josh is fictional, the experiences are similar to very real experiences of healing that people experience every day through engaging in Family History work.  And the promises that Elder Renlund gave are real as well. I know because I have experienced many of them in different experiences in my own life.  

Picture is the Brigham City Temple at Sunrise, courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Media Library.