New ways to engage in the Work of the Lord at home

Today's post is a simple and short one.  It's just sharing a bit from a rather new article from the church about how we can help with the sacred work of the Lord even though temples are closed.

The article is at the church website, and includes a list of blessings we have been given by church leaders if we engage in Temple and Family History work.  This is a supernal work, one the mind of man could not conceive.  The Lord is at the head of it, and we have a part to play in it.  

If you have never done Family History on Family Search, I've done a 10 Minute Quick Start Guide video on another post.  

A great Followup to it is the Resolving Duplicates post.

Discover your story in Family History on the Family Tree Mobile App or the Family Search Website.  You may also view tips on getting started, woven into inspirational stories on this blog.

Temples Opening: An answer to our prayers and an invitation (with video)

Before General Conference, and also on Good Friday, we as saints followed the Counsel of our prophet, and fasted and prayed that this current pandemic would be controlled, and that our lives would be normalized. 

As you may remember, in last week's post, I mentioned that I miss the temples the most, and stated I would Fast this last Fast Sunday, May 3, that temples would open. And I invited people to fast with me. 

I'm not a prophet, and I didn't make any promises that temples would open.  But the prophet had invited us previously to fast that things would normalize.  And just a month after the first 2 fasts, and 4 days after this last Fast Sunday, just today, the church made the following announcement;

“With profound gratitude to our Heavenly Father that He has heard our prayers, we rejoice in announcing a careful, phased reopening of temples. With this letter,we are authorizing the reopening of 17 temples.”

They went on to say that just live ordinances are being done now, with limitations, but proxy ordinances may soon be done, and that more temples would open as conditions permit.

How knowing he heard our prayers changed my heart
As I prayed about it, my soul was filled with love, and I knew the Lord had heard my prayer.  To receive that confirmation was worth every sacrifice.  And the words of the First Presidency confirm that the Lord heard all of our prayers. 

An invitation to feel the love of God

So I have another invitation.  I invite all people who participated in any of the fasts to pour their hearts out in prayer, and ask the Lord in the name of Christ if he has heard their prayers. And wait for the confirmation from the spirit.

As you read the announcement, you may have already felt the confirmation of the spirit that the Lord did hear your prayer.

But whenever it happens, I pray that you might feel of the Love of the Lord, and know that your faith joined with saints of all ages, and helped these temples to reopen. 

Though there may be some more time before the temples are operating at full capacity, and still some time before proxy ordinances may be done, my heart is rejoicing with the knowledge that the Lord heard my prayer, and I feel such a sense of unity with all of the Saints on both sides of the veil whose prayers opened the windows of heaven.

One thing we can do to prepare
While we are waiting for proxy ordinances to start, I encourage you to prepare by opening the Family Tree Mobile App or go to the Family Search website, and check the "ancestors with tasks" section and see if there are more of your ancestors you can add to your Family tree, and then reserve their names.

Our prayers joined with the Saints across the ages

Because I believe the prayers of those who have passed on, whose ordinances need to be done were joined with ours as we fasted and prayed. 

The Heavens and Earth are rejoicing
It is my opinion that the heavens and the earth, and multitudes of our kindred dead are rejoicing today. And I hope you can feel of that. The Lord pleads with us to turn to him so that he may bless us with his love. And today's announcement lets us know that he has blessed us as we have done just that.  To close, here is a brand new 2 minute long video with a message of hope from President Nelson

The announcement is at the Church Newsroom, and the details are in the following letter from the First Presidency.  Pictures courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This Fast Sunday, an Invitation to pray for the Reopening of Temples

When President Nelson invited us to Fast last Conference, he did so that things might normalize soon, and the pandemic be controlled.

It's now another Fast Sunday, and as I have reflected upon things I miss during this time, I have missed the temple the most. And I think many of us have missed it too.

An Invitation
I suggest that we as Saints, for those who can, continue our fasting and prayer this coming Fast Sunday, and pray that the Temples may be opened soon, in addition to any other things you may be fasting for.

Join with the prayers of Saints through the ages
I'm of the opinion that the strength of our petition will join with the prayers of those who are on the other side of the veil who are waiting for their temple work to be done.

President Nelson has told us that the Lord will do some of his mightiest miracles in this time before his second coming. And isn't it the faith of his people that helps bring about miracles? We certainly see that as a pattern through the scriptures.

The Blessings of Heaven while Temples are Closed
I do not know when temples will open, and I'm not a prophet, so I can't promise they will open soon.  But as we will unitedly fast and pray as Saints, the Lord can hear and answer our prayers, and perhaps he will hasten the work in his time so that temples can reopen. And he can bless our lives until that happens.  Below I'm going to share a link to where you can read an article by Elder Bednar specifically about the topic of being blessed while temples are closed during these uncertain times.

How to feel the heavens near before the Temples Open
Secondly, while we are waiting for temples to open, I'm suggesting each of us login to the Family Tree Mobile App, or go to the Family Search website, and check the "ancestors with tasks" section and see if there are more of our ancestors we can add to our tree, and then reserve their names. Preparation for the temple always adds power to our prayers. 

And it's another way we can feel the heavens near while the temples are closed. 

Testimony and videos
I know God the Father and Jesus Christ live.  This is their work, and we have a chance to engage in it.  I love them, and am grateful for the ways I've been blessed. And I hope that all may feel of the Lord's love. To close with, here are 2 videos.  The first is a video with President Nelson, Elder Bednar, and Elder Rasband discussing temples, and a reminder of the promises we make when there.  

The second is a song about the temple by Janice Kapp Perry called "The Power of Heaven," sung by Tammy Simister Robinson.  The song to me represents what I experience when I'm in the temple.


Here is the promised Article by Elder Bednar about Temples and us during this pandemic.  I highly recommend it because it comes from one of our church leaders, someone with the vision of God, and revelation for us in our times.  And another good one is Elder Holland's Shelter in Place Article.  

Picture courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints