With General Conference Approaching, I wanted to suggest something that can help you to draw closer to our Heavenly Father, closer to Christ, and draw closer to your Family as well. You can get your children involved in any of these, and can create age-appropriate activities that will involve them. Your Family Members experiences with Conference
Take some time today, this week, or maybe between sessions of Conference to ask some older members of your family about their Favorite General Conference experience or talk. It can strengthen your testimony, and help make Conference more meaningful.
Your Ancestor's Experiences
You can also go onto the Family Tree Mobile App or the Family Search website, and search through family stories of your ancestors that may have been uploaded by some of your relatives.
You may find out that you are not alone, and that your ancestors may have faced many of the challenges you are facing.
Watch for Invitations to engage in Family History
Also, this Conference, listen for what our Leaders say about Family History and Temple work, including indexing, and pray to know if it is something the Lord would have you participate in in.
One final suggestion. Watch or read the talks from this last General Conference to prepare for this coming General Conference. To get started, here is a 2 minute clip from one of President Nelson's talks last Conference that was shared by our Bishop.
On this pioneer weekend, I wanted to share some amazing features with you that might draw you closer to your ancestors, and to the Lord. It made the world of difference to me, especially on this Weekend. And it's for everyone. You are not alone in this world.
The Facebook for Ancestors The Family Tree Mobile App is wonderful, and you can find some wonderful memories of your ancestors that others have uploaded. However, did you know that the The Family Search website has a stream, similar to Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest where you can find stories and pictures about your ancestors?
Sharable on Social Media and with Family And guess what? There are links so you can share these memories to social media like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and What's App.
That's right, pictures, stories, Headstones, Family Bibles, and many other things are available there on the main page of Family Search.
And better, you can share these memories of your ancestors with those you love on social media or email. And you can draw closer to them.
They sacrificed for us and are a part of us Many of our ancestors sacrificed so that we could have a better life. They had faith in God, and they often understand our trials. As we will draw closer to them, the heavens will draw near, and we will also draw closer to our Heavenly Father.
I encourage you this Pioneer Day Weekend, wherever you are from in the world, to take some time on the Family Search website main page, and scroll through the memories of your ancestors.
And if you have stories to add, you may want to do that by uploading it to the Memories section of the person's page.
More to come I'm going to do some more posts in the future about the benefits of moving from the Family Tree Mobile App to the website, but for now, I encourage you to look at some of your ancestor's stories. It will make your Pioneer Day Weekend more memorable as the heavens draw near.
We are engaged in the work of the Lord. He lives, and stands at the head of this work. Enjoy this weekend.
If you have never done Family History on Family Search, I've done a 10 Minute Quick Start Guide on another post.
This is the story of Rachel, a teenager who turned to the Lord when things got difficult. And she describes how her life changed when she did.
Here's a quote from the video. "when you have trials, you can
either turn to the Lord, or turn away from him...If we will put God
first, everything else will fall into place"
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.
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.
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.
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
Ella never would have believed she would be here 3 months ago. As she sat in the foyer of the temple, she realized that just a few months ago, her life had been without meaning. She placed the chin of her freckled face on her hand that rested upon the table in the waiting room of the temple, and reflected upon the last few months.
She remembered how her life had come crashing down. A friend at school had turned on her, and started bullying her. At the same time, she was notified that she wouldn't be able to get into the advanced program for cello. And on top of that, her dad lost his job, and they had to move. Now that made it easier because she would move schools. But she felt alone, and hesitated to make friends.
As she went to the new ward, she sat with her family. She moved her red hair out of her face, and looked around. There were a lot of people and other girls her age. But no one reached out to her. She had to ask someone where she would meet for young womens, and she found the other girls weren't very friendly. But she kept coming with her family.
The second Sunday, she listened to a young boy give his testimony about the importance of Family History. Ella remembered a talk by Elder Bednar saying that youth could do family history, but this was the first time her heart felt touched by the spirit. She listened to this young boy talk about how his mother showed him how to do family history, and how he was turning 11 and would soon go to the temple to do their baptisms for them.
It was the first time she had felt peace in a long time. She couldn't stop thinking about it. when she was home, she wanted to get started, so she searched for the Family Tree Mobile App. She found it, and remembered that all church apps would work with her one Account login, so she signed in.
After signing in, the Family Tree section came up, and she spent some time exploring her ancestors stories. 2 hours later, she had discovered she had 2 great grandmothers who had experienced severe trials in Nauvoo, and as they came across the plains. As she read their stories, she felt a connection to them, and she didn't feel so alone in the trials she faced that often tormented her. She put her hand behind her head, brushing her hair down, and she felt a bit of hope come into her life, and it felt for a bit almost like she knew these women were there. The comfort of the spirit calmed her like nothing else.
And then she got an idea-but how could she follow the impression? She didn't know anything about Family History, and no one in her home did. Still, she couldn't ignore the impression. She tapped the 3 lines on the top of the app, then tapped help, and called the Family History Help line. When Sister Benbow asked how she could help, Ella asked her how she could get started on the app?
She was surprised how much Sister Benbow knew about the app, and she told her to look for ancestors who had new records under the "Ancestors with tasks" bar. After a few minutes with Sister Benbow, Ella felt like she was ready to try on her own. In closing, Sister Benbow recommended she try looking for the app help videos, so she could become better acquainted with the app.
The videos were long, so she just watched part of one, partly because of the strength of the impression, and she wanted to get started right away. She felt something alive in her like never before, and there seemed to be some sort of purpose to her doing this. She had never experienced this before-this sense of purpose pushing her onward.
But after all Sunday researching and trying to find names, she found nothing. It was discouraging. The same thing happened the next Sunday. She flopped onto her bed with a harrumph. She remembered the spirit she had felt originally, but that had faded a bit. And she began to doubt the impression.
Then she remembered that boy's talk. She could still see his earnest face, clear brown eyes and dark hair, and hear his confident voice-strange there was such confidence in an 11 year old. He stated that he couldn't find names, and so had asked the Lord for help, and that soon after that, he had found some records with some of his ancestors names on the Family Search Website-and they hadn't had their work done yet.
Ella admitted, she didn't know of any other way to go, so she prayed, and asked the Lord to help her to find some of her ancestors names. She related how she had felt her ancestors near, and how she had thought he wanted her to work on her Family History but needed help. As she closed the prayer, she felt a sense of peace. As she was pondering, about 20 minutes after the prayer, she got the impression to call the Family History Center again.
So she did. And after a short conversation with a very delightful Consultant named Elder Oakenberry, who had a good sense of humor and a deep voice, Ella went back to work, this time trying to see if there were any additional hints on her ancestors with tasks. After checking through five of them, she saw a relative from another posterity line who had a census record. On her records, it showed he was just single, but the census records showed a wife and five children!
She tapped review, and then quickly added the names, remembering to search for duplicates, and when she didn't find any, got very excited. She said a little silent prayer, and felt an overwhelming peace. She felt as if heaven were near, and a sense of Joy. She also felt like these people were real, and needed their work done.
She tossed her hair behind her shoulder, and was able to reserve all 6 names, 4 women, and 2 men's names. And she knew that the impression she had gotten weeks ago was true. She knew she was doing the Lord's work, and she felt of his gratitude. Her blue eyes filled with tears as she realized she would be able to do these baptisms and confirmations.
Unbeknownst to Ella, in the same room, but in the spirit world, the Glorious being with the Hansen Family showed them this girl named Ella, and let them know that Ella and her father would be getting baptized and confirmed for them in a few weeks. And as he spoke, they felt something else.
The spirit filled the room, and Blue eyed Hans, blonde Etta, and their children were filled with such joy as they hovered there just by Ella. They had just finished their proxy lessons when they learned that their names would be found soon, and when they realized it was almost time, they were filled with joy.
They now felt a connection to this dear girl Ella, and committed that when her life was over, they would be there to meet her. For over 150 years they had waited to receive the blessings of the true church, and now it would become a reality. The thought that they might be able to return to the Savior they loved so much was almost more than they could imagine. Later, as they were in the temple, they felt the presence of the Lord. And it seems Ella had felt it, too, because they saw tears falling down her freckled cheeks as they were confirmed.
And Ella, sitting in the foyer of the temple afterwards, reflected upon how much her life had changed. She had more peace in her life. She didn't feel alone. She felt a connection to the Lord, and to people she couldn't see or hear, but knew were there. And it had changed her.
She watched her Father walk out of the baptistry, see her, and then they walked out of the temple together, not speaking, and enjoyed the lingering feeling of the unspoken experiences.
I testify that as you will engage in Family History and Temple work, your life will change in ways you can't imagine right now. You will see miracles happen in your lives, you will feel more connected to your Father in Heaven, and maybe more importantly, you will find a purpose and meaning to your life.
You will become a Savior on Mount Zion, and you will join the multitudes who are sowing and reaping to help hasten the Lord's work in preparation for the second coming. Jesus Christ lives. He stands at the head of this work. Engaging in this great vicarious work of salvation brings its own reward. It is joy, peace, and comfort to the weary soul. It will enlighten your mind, and bring you the peace you never thought you needed.
Discover your own story on the Free Family Tree Mobile App or at the Family Search Website. Below is a one minute video about how youth and children are doing Family History work. "We are doing an eternal work, we are doing the Lord's work." Picture is the Accra Ghana Temple courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Media Library
A dear mother from early church history relates the following story. She had 2 daughters, Lizzie and Amelia. She said that her dear Amelia died in 1890 at the age of twelve. The mother didn't believe that her daughter needed any more ordinances.
After some time, Amelia appeared to her sister, Lizzie in a dream, and asked her to make a white dress so she could go with her companions. Lizzie told Amelia she should go tell their mom about it, but Amelia said that she couldn't reach her mother.
When Lizzie recounted the dream to her mother, her mother felt so bad. She knew that because she believed so strongly that Amelia didn't need more ordinances, her dear departed daughter wasn't able to appear to her but instead to her other daughter, Lizzie. So this dear mother promptly made inquiry into Amelia's ordinances.
She'd been baptized and confirmed, but hadn't been endowed. On May 31st, 1894, this mother went through the temple for her daughter's endowment, thus preparing her to return to the presence of the Lord.
Revelations 3:4-5 states “…they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” (Revelation 3: 4-5).
Do we sometimes let our own ideas get in the way of us doing our Family History work? Do we have things so set in our minds that we are not open to doing Family History?
I used to be that way until I followed the advice of a prophet, and prayed for help. And it took a long time, but the way was opened. I wouldn't trade the Family History and temple experiences I have had since then for any amount of money. They have been that sacred and life-changing.
I testify that it can be that way for you. Just spend maybe 5 minutes a week, maybe after your Come Follow Me Gospel Study, and open up the Family Tree Mobile App, or go online to Family Search and discover your story, and have your own experiences. You will draw closer to the Lord, and will feel of his love, and the gratitude of your ancestors. And you will find a purpose to your life. You will realize that your life matters to others, and you will be preparing the way for the salvation of souls. And that will last for eternity. And you will have teamed with Christ to do that, and will feel of his love as you do.
I've posted this before, but this story I related was part of the inspiration to this song by Kenneth Cope called white dress.
Picture is the St George Temple, courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Media Library.
Sitting in the backseat of the car, Tabitha turned her brown eyes out the window, and saw the temple come into view. It reminded her of something. Her youth advisor's words seemed to play over and over in her mind;
"In the next 3 months, I challenge you to take these lessons I have taught you about the Family Search Mobile app, and use that to find one of your ancestors who needs their work done so you can take them to the temple."
Why was this thought coming back to her? She tossed her dark brown hair behind her shoulder as she wondered. And yet, despite her inexperience, she felt a sense of peace when she thought of doing family history. She only remembered the lessons vaguely, and had no experience with it.
At home she was still thinking about it, and as she flopped onto her bed with her phone, she realized she needed to do something about it. She opened the Family Search Mobile App, and did as the Family History Consultant who came to her class had instructed her to do.
She went to her app, tapped the 3 lines, and went to her "Ancestors with tasks" and waited while the app searched, gently tapping her toes against the foot of her bed, desperately hoping the search didn't take too long.
Three minutes later, she saw the list. Tossing her head, she slowly began to tap the blue record hints on the side, and then tapping review to see if the records found were the same as the person in her tree.
And after an hour, no one matched, or else it was matched to someone who already had their work done. And Tabitha was done, too.
It was a week before she picked up the app again. She almost had lost hope, but during church, she was thumbing through the Family History videos in the Gospel Library App, and she saw a short video where Elder Anderson stated the following:
"Our ability to find our ancestors online has only emerged in the last few years with tremendous advancements in the last few months. Where [you youth] have become extremely devoted to visiting the temple, in the months and years ahead, you will be just as outstanding in finding and bringing names to the temple with you"
It was as if he was saying it would happen! She felt the spirit testify that it could. She decided to watch another video before the opening prayer. She watched a video where a girl was able to take the names of her ancestors to the temple, and become more acquainted with her family. And the peace she had felt before came back to her.
3 hours later, after church, She opened the app again, went to her ancestors with tasks, waited, and then found some new names in the list. She tapped the blue circle on the first one, worried she would just find records and nothing else. She clicked review, and under the name Jonathan Keller, it showed a census record with a wife and children that weren't in the tree!
She said a quick prayer, and then got to work. The interface allowed her to add the names into the family. Then, she went to each new name, and even though the app did a duplicate search, she did another quick search to see if there were duplicates. She didn't want to take these to the temple if their work had already been done.
There were no duplicates! As she was getting ready to reserve the names, she felt the spirit confirm to her that what she had done was correct.
Hidden from the view of Tabitha, though in the same room, Jonathan hovered with his wife, Ennis and 3 children, Anna, Helen, and Thomas. The glorious spirit being beside them had just brought them there so they could see that their temple work would be done soon.
They had felt the spirit testify to them it was true, and had seen the spirit bring peace to Tabitha. All of them felt this kinship to this girl whose faith would bring them into the presence of the Lord.
Thomas was excited! After 150 years of waiting, they could receive their ordinances, and return to the presence of the Lord. Anna said she was never so excited to have finished their proxy lessons. And as Ennis felt the spirit, she put her arms around her husband and children, and they all felt the promise of returning to their heavenly home. It filled them with anticipation, and a promise of joy that would be full as soon as their ordinances were done. As the spirit was receding, Tabitha felt a sense of gratitude that she had taken her youth leader's challenge. All the frustration was worth it now. She now had names to take to the next youth temple trip, and she felt a closeness to her Savior that filled her with a joy she had never known. She knew this work came from the Lord, and felt of his love, through the spirit. And she had a feeling that tears were being shed on both sides of the veil.
All of us have our story. But it isn't really our story. It's effects echo into the eternities. We work to help bind our ancestors to the Lord, and to do for them what they can't do for themselves. And it's not work, really, it is joy. And it lasts for eternity.
And this work is hastening. I've mentioned in another post how amazing it is to see the baptistries filled with youth who have brought their own Family History names to do their work. I've also seen how the sealing sessions are more filled with people doing their own names.
It didn't always used to be that way. You can be a part of the Lord's hastening his work as you will engage in this great saving work of Family History and Temple work. As President Nelson has said, "We are preparing the world for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ...we are his covenant children. He can count on us."
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.
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"
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
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.
