In the quiet of the temple, Margaret sat, and looked at the name of the person on her card, Helene. She tilted her brown haired head to the side a bit, got a pensive look on her freckled face, and wondered who this person was, what she did in her life, and whether she was waiting for her ordinances.
In the temple, hovering over her, Helene, dressed in white, quietly spoke to the Glorious, glowing spirit named Arthur who was supervising the other spirits who had come to the temple because their ordinances were being done. He told her she could go down close to Margaret.
As Helene slowly floated closer, she had such a feeling of love for Margaret, and longed to reach out to her. In this session, Helene felt a connection to Father in Heaven so strong, and that love she felt from him through the spirit only increased her gratitude for Margaret, who was doing her ordinance work for her.
For Margaret, it was a glorious session. She sat her small frame down in the chair, breathed deeply and tossed her dark hair behind her shoulder, and focused on the session. The spirit testified to her that what she was doing was needed. It filled her with joy. She had felt the love of the Lord for her, and also felt that Helene was a real person, and she could feel her gratitude.
Helene, as she accepted the promises of the session, had never felt such joy. But she was a bit sad because her relatives still hadn't been found, and they were unable to experience this with her. She wanted to try and impress upon Margaret something, but Arthur, his white hair glowing, told her to wait until she got a prompting from the Lord. So Helene waited for awhile and when it was time to move to the celestial room, she got her confirmation and started to move towards Margaret. It was amazing how the spirit of the Lord carried her righteous desires to Margaret.
In the Celestial room, Margaret got the impression there were more people, grandparents. As she left and went home, she couldn't stop thinking about it.
She turned on the computer, and went to Helene's record in her Family Tree online, and found some records there of parents, and they were there and their work was done, but no Grandparents. Then she looked to the side, and she was able to see a record hint from Family Search! With just a few mouse clicks, she attached the new record and was able to find and add Helene's Grandparents, and after adding another record, Helene's Grandparents' brothers and sisters and Parents as well.
Margaret reflected upon times when it was difficult to do Family History. It was now worth the price she paid to learn-and it was easier than she had originally thought. But there was something even more rewarding that overcoming obstacles.
As she reserved their names so she could do their ordinances, she felt a peace and a joy that lifted burdens off her she never even knew were there. And that feeling of peace lasted for days. And it happened almost every time she found more ancestors, and took them to the temple.
This story was based off real true stories that are similar. This work is a supernal work where the heavens and the earth meet. As Elder Scott has said, it is a monumental work of Love from both sides of the veil. These are not just names we take to the temple, they are people who lived, but didn't have the opportunity to have the spirit testify of the truth of the gospel when they were alive.
And it is our job to do the work for all of the family of Man who will come unto Christ. I testify that the Lord Beckons all to come unto him, and he is calling for us to rise up as saints, and labor in his vineyard, where we can experience our own joy beyond compare.
As Mark was scrolling through his Facebook, he wondered if there was more to life? It was even a chore to binge watch his favorite shows. His calloused hands shifted his phone to a different position, and he scrolled through a few meaningless posts until he found something.
He saw someone had posted a link to the Family Tree Mobile App. He remembered the cute brown-haired, green-eyed girl who had given a lesson a few Sundays ago with a challenge to get started on Family History (more about her later).
He remembered the challenge, and that in mind, Mark decided to follow the instructions, and downloaded the app. He didn't know how to login, but then remembered that it used his church universal login, the one he had gotten using his membership number when he used the tools app to look up a ward member's phone number.
His dark brow furrowed, and he squeezed his eyes closed in pain as he remembered the tragic events of months ago. He had gotten in an accident that left him in the hospital for a week. They hadn't expected him to live, but he did.
But his friend didn't. He was thrown through the windshield, and by the time the paramedics got there, he was gone.
A thousand ifs kept going through his brain, both day and night, and they only stopped with television. Until the lesson on Family History.
As he was pondering this, he felt something strange but good. It seemed like he felt his friend near. He couldn't explain it, but he knew his friend was happy where he was. Mark was still having a hard time, and he almost found his friend's happiness hard to believe, but he couldn't deny it. And these thoughts had originally started with that lesson about doing Family History.
He logged into the Green Family Tree Mobile app, and on the first page, saw that there weren't any people on his pedigree. But his mom had done a lot of work! Where was it? He had heard that Family Search can find more names than in the past, and could help you, but where were the ones already done?
He called his mom, and as he was talking to her, he imagined her smiling face and dark hair bobbing, as they always did when she spoke about something she loved. She told him he needed to put the names, birthdates, and birthplaces of his parents and grandparents, back to where he found one that had died, and it would pull in his tree from the main Family Search Tree.
About fifteen minutes after getting the information he needed from his mom, he had his family tree. He looked at some of his ancestors, saw that there were some stories there, and one of them had to do with his great-great grandfather, a tough but wounded man who had accidentally run over his sister with a farm tool, and killed her. His ancestor wrote in his journal that the gospel of Jesus Christ was the only thing that got him through it, and the only thing that helped him to feel forgiven.
Mark could not hold back the sobs. His rough hands wiped away some tears, but some fell on his grey levis. He still felt a bit like he couldn't be forgiven, but something changed a bit as he read this account by his ancestor. He wasn't alone, and there was something happening to him that made him feel like there was hope for him.
A half hour later, Mark picked up his phone again, wiped the tears from his dark brown eyes, and then remembered the lesson on Family History, something about the "ordinances ready" section. He tapped the 3 lines, and then went to the part that said "ordinances ready."
He chose endowment, and found that there were a few that pulled up there. There was one his mother had shared. He took the name and went to the temple where they printed it out for him before the session.
As he was there, he put his fingers through his dark hair, and sat his long frame into the seat. He felt a peace come over him, and though he loved being in the temple, he was still wondering if he was worthy to be there. Near the end of the session, he felt a quiet peace, and for a moment, it seemed like his self-imposed guilt was gone. Tears flowed down his freckled cheeks again.
And as the impression started to subside, there was another one. To open the app when he got home.
After looking peacefully at the chandelier and feeling the peace of the Celestial room, Mark finally prepared to leave, and there was purpose in his long-legged stride as he did.
At home, he hurriedly took the phone out of its case, opened up the app, and went to the "ancestors with tasks" to see what he could find. Now Mark was eventually able to use the "Ancestors with tasks" to find his relatives names to take to the temple, but I won't explain that now, since there are a couple of otherposts that deal with how to use the app to find names, and most importantly, other posts that deal with the expanded definition of Family in the church and Family History. There are now millions more names than there used to be when "Aunt Edna" was compiling the Family History.
But back to Mark's story. Just know that Family History work becomes a big thing in Mark's life, almost as big as a certain cute brown-haired green-eyed girl who once taught him a lesson about Family History.
And his healing? That took time. A lifetime. But each time he found his ancestor's names, or went to the temple, he was one step closer to fully healing from the trauma of the past.
And their kids? Well, Mark and his wife did the one thing that, more than anything else, ensures kid's future activity in the church. More about that on this blogpost. And if you want more stories, there are a few more on this blog.
Discover your story on the Family Tree Mobile App, or on the Family Search Website. I testify that, as President Nelson has said about Family History, "We are engaged in the work of Almighty God. We are his covenant children. He can count on us."
Picture is the Provo Temple in Winter, Courtesy of the Media Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
I chose this picture, because it was in the Nauvoo temple that the heavens were opened for the Saints, and a greater number of them first received their endowments and sealings, and the Heavenly Fire of the Covenant burned in their souls. It is hoped this post will help that same Fire of the Covenant burn in your soul as well.
President Nelson has testified that this great saving work of our dead that we are engaged in is the Work of Almighty God. He further stated; "we are his covenant children, he can count on us." I wanted to dispel a myth, then the incredible videos.
Aunt Edna didn't complete your Family History-not even close But many people think Family History doesn't apply to them, and they tune out because they think "Well, my work has already been done by Aunt Edna," or some other family member who is a Genealogist and has found all my family clear back to where there aren't records. Well that is false. Your Family History work isn't anywhere near done, and it's easier than ever to do it now.
That's right. That false idea has stopped so many people from enjoying the blessings of Family History, and so we sit here, enjoying the blessings of the gospel, while millions of our relatives on the other side are praying for the day that someone can do their work so they can return to the presence of the Lord.
I have some critical information here that will dramatically change how you see Family History and Temple work, and how critical it is you engage in it.
The Definition of Relatives is not limited-an example Most of us think of our Family Tree as our parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and so on until we reach the 1600's or 1400's and can't go any further. But that view of Family has changed with Family History in the church now.
Let me give you an example that just illustrates the point, and is just to illustrate a point though it's based on real genealogies. First some definitions. I will speak of my ancestors, and my ancestor's posterity along other descendency lines, which are his children and children's children to now. Please keep in mind these are estimates to illustrate, I'm not a math major, so it's not 100 percent accurate, though I have attempted to be conservative in my estimates to make up for it. Now part of this is a bit dry, but it gets really good after that.
One of my Great Great (many more) Grandfathers converted in Missouri, and was in Nauvoo, and emigrated to Utah in the mid 1800's. It shows he had 14 brothers and sisters. And just one of his children had at least that many or more children. Now if you go back to include His Grandfather from the 1700's, then go through my ancestor in Missouri, and assume his kids had 5 children each (many back then had many more), an estimate of their total posterity could be tens of thousands or much more (one estimate was 40 thousand, but we will use the smaller number of 10 thousand). Now his grandfather wasn't a member.
Now one point: I haven't checked in detail on this line, but If there is posterity on alternate lines moving forward from this ancestor in the 1700's to today, they are considered my family, too, and I can do their Family History and Temple work if it's not done, provided it is 110 years after their birthdate. And so can you on your alternate posterity lines. Let that sink in a bit. So with 7-8 generations back with tens of thousands posterity, and with each generation back further that number can increase exponentially. And you are wondering, can I do that?
Family Search Helps you to find them! Guess what? Family Search will even help me to find them, will show me how I am related, and will give me hints with records that may contain more of my family-and some of their posterity are so recent that Family Search can give hints to records that help you find them.
Hopefully you can see by now that this is more people than one person can do in a lifetime. And that Family Search helps you to find more of them. So Let me blow your mind a bit more now, then the good stuff after.
Hundreds of Thousands? Not even close This was just one line back. If you go back 4 generations, your ancestral view will have about 16 great grandparents. But they also had other posterity that didn't go to you. So go back further to 7 generations, which many members have, and there you have potentially 128 parents or 64 potential posterity lines. So 7 generations times 64 with tens of thousands of posterity each amounts to maybe 640,000 in alternate posterity lines moving forward from a 7th Generation ancestor. Beyond what Aunt Edna could do.
But wait there is more. If an ancestral line goes up 2 more generations back further than 7 generations, that brings it to 512 grandparents and many great grandparents or about 256 posterity lines. Straight math says that 256 times 10,000 is about 2.5 million posterity. The math gets fuzzy here, because this is just a limited estimate, and doesn't account for compounding, but this just shows we are now exponentially far beyond what hundreds of Aunt Ednas could do.
Finally the Point: More to do and you can easily work on those alternate posterity lines from a common ancestor. Some of the lines working back have gone from your ancestor in the 1600's forward to the 1800's where there are census records online that can add to your family tree with just a few taps or mouse clicks.
The Lord is hastening his work in his time. The tools we have to find our relatives and do their work has made it so easy. I have found relatives who were related to me by an ancestor in the 1600's, but on a different posterity line. And Family Search gave me hints on how to find more relatives on these lines. In fact, the Mobile App, and the website are designed to show you these hints.
One thing to make sure of. You need to click on the "view my relationship" to make sure there is a relationship before adding to your family tree.
Now I'm including an incredible newer video that first shares our Prophet and Apostles promising us blessings as we engage in Temple and Family History work. "This latter day work will destroy the powers of darkness, and bring to pass the salvation of the human family". And after that, a get started video walkthrough where you can watch how to do it. Here's the first one.
And here is the get started video
A simple step to start To start, open the Family Tree App, or go to the Family Search website, and if your family tree isn't there, input your parents, grandparents, and maybe great grandparent's names, birthdates, and relationships there, and it should pull in the family history that has already been done.
Read their histories Take a moment to read the histories your relatives have put in there. You may feel the spirit of Elijah start to stir in you. You may feel like you are not alone on this earth or in the heavens.
Ancestors with Tasks or Recommended tasks And then, if you are on the app, go to the "ancestors with tasks" section (recommended tasks on the website), go to one of the people, and then look at their record. See if they have any spouse or children there. Check their birthdate and place.
Then tap the blue circle and it will take you to a vital record like a census record, birth record, or other record that they are on. Tap "review" or "compare." It will show you both records, your relative in your family tree, and the record found by Family Search. If it is a match, it will show you if the record found by Family Search lists additional Family Members that are not in your Family Tree.
And with a few taps, you can add additional family members and with a few taps more, you can reserve their temple work. Now these are not just names. They are people. Your people. Your Family. And they have been waiting for their work to be done.
Once they are reserved, you can use the "ordinances ready" part of the app to print ordinance cards, or it will give you a number, and you can give that to the temple office, and they can print the cards for you.
Now it's not always as simple as that. But when you run into roadblocks, reach out to Family Search using the help section of the app or website, or contact a Family History Consultant, and then pray. Apostles and prophets have promised that if we will do that, the Lord will open up a way. I've followed that counsel, and have always found that the Lord opens up doors for us.
Testimony, Promise, and President and Sr Nelson's words I testify that this work is the work of the Lord. It will redeem and save all who will come unto him. It will bring us blessings untold. We will have a greater testimony of the Savior and this work. We will grow to have a love for our ancestors. And as we engage in this work, we will not stray from the Savior and his gospel.
And when we pass away, we will see the people whose work we have done, and we will be able to embrace and weep tears of joy as we together enter the Kingdom of Heaven, to dwell in the presence of the Lord forever. Here's a video of President Nelson and his wife inviting us to engage in this great work. Discover your story on the Family Tree Mobile App, or on the Family Search Website. You can also view other posts on this blog for how to use the App to get started
Picture of the Nauvoo Temple courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, available in the Media Library.
Please note that I have attempted to make approximate estimates based on the best numbers I had, however I make no claim to exact accuracy. In most cases, I have used significantly conservative estimates. These cases are just illustrations, though based upon actual genealogies.
Today's post I'm sharing an amazing vision from President Nelson's Grandfather, shared by President Nelson. His Grandfather learns how important this work to save our dead is. After the story will be a video of this story, with President Nelson relating a part of this story to his family and to us, and an invitation to get started or continue today in this work of salvation.
President Nelson relates "When my grandfather A. C. Nelson was a young husband and father, just 27 years old, his father died. Then about three months later, his father, now deceased, came to visit him. The date of that visit was the night of April 6, 1891.
Grandfather Nelson was so impressed by his father's visit that he wrote the experience in his own journal for his family and his friends. Listen to my grandfather's words about that sacred experience:
"I was in bed when Father entered the room. He came and sat on the side of the bed. He said, 'Well, my son, as I had a few spare minutes, I received permission to come and see you for a few minutes. I am feeling well, my son, and have had very much to do since I died.'
"'What have you been doing since you died, Father?'
"'I've been traveling together with Apostle Erastus Snow ever since I died. That is, since three days after I died. I received my commission to preach the gospel. You cannot imagine, my son, how many spirits there are in the spirit world that have not yet received the gospel. But many are receiving it, and a great work is being accomplished. Many are anxiously looking forth to their friends who are still living to administer for them in the temples. I've been very busy in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.'
"'Father, can you see us at all times, and do you know what we are doing?'
"'Oh, no, my son. I have something else to do. I cannot go when and where I please. There is just as much and much more order here in the spirit world than in the other world. I have been assigned work to do, and it must be performed.'
"'We intend to go to the temple and get sealed to you, Father, as soon as we can.'
"'That, my son, is part of what I came to see you about. We will yet make a family and live throughout eternity.'
"'Father, is it natural to die?'
"'It is just as natural to die as it is to be born, or for you to pass out of that door.' And here he pointed at the door. 'When I told the folks that I could not last long, it turned dark and I could not see anything for a few minutes. Then the first thing I could see was a number of spirits in the spirit world. The paper you gave me, my son, is dated wrong, but it makes no particular difference. Correct records are kept here.'
"'Father, is the gospel as taught by this Church true?'
"'My son, do you see that picture?' Pointing to a picture of the First Presidency of the Church hanging on the wall.
"'Yes, I see it.'
"'Well, just as sure as you see that picture, just as sure is the gospel true. The gospel of Jesus Christ has within it the power of saving every man and woman that will obey it, and in no other way can they ever obtain salvation in the kingdom of God. My son, always cling to the gospel. Be humble. Be prayerful. Be submissive to the priesthood. Be true. Be faithful to the covenants you have made with God. Never do anything that would displease God. Oh, what a blessing is the gospel. My son, be a good boy.'"
My grandfather felt this was very sacred, and he said, "I write it for the benefit of my family and friends." And now that I'm a General Authority of the Church, I assume everybody in the world is part of my family, so I share it.
My grandfather's visit with his departed father happened 27 years before President Joseph F. Smith's vision of the redemption of the dead, dated 1918. That vision has become section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It's so precious to me that my grandfather would leave that record for us."
The work of saving our dead is a labor of love that blesses both those here on earth, and those in the spirit world. The Blessings of heaven are poured out upon all who engage in that great work. Below is the video of President Nelson relating this story.
I wanted to take a moment to share some things the Apostles have said about engaging in the work of Salvation with Temple and Family History work. Please don't tune out. I promise that this will be worth the time to read, and that it can change your life as you both read this and watch the video at the bottom.
First, though this article doesn't specifically mention this, there is always more work to be done with your ancestors, and it's easier than it has ever been before. If you can order something online, you can do Family History work. The tools are that good. I testify of that truth as well. Now to the talks.
Some people will remember Elder Bednar's talk to the youth relating the following "“It is no coincidence that FamilySearch and other tools have come forth at a time when young people are so familiar with a wide range of information and communication technologies...Your fingers have been trained to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord—not just to communicate quickly with your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among many young people today are a preparation to contribute to the work of salvation” (“The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn,” October 2011 General Conference)
Think of that a bit, whether you are young or old. Could it be that the technology we have today was specifically inspired by the Lord to help advance his work on the earth?
A year after Elder Bednar's talk, Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also said in regards to participating in family history and temple work: “I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life” (“The Joy of Redeeming the Dead,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 94).
In addition, Elder Scott and Elder Bednar have promised the following blessings as we will do Family History work, and do the work of our ancestors in the temple:
1. Your conversion to the Savior will become deeper. 2. You will receive light and knowledge through the Holy Ghost. 3. Your testimony will be strengthened. 4. Your patriarchal blessing will become more meaningful. 5. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will grow. 6. You will have greater opportunities to serve. 7. Your service in the temple will become more sacred.
I wanted to close with a quote from Elder Scott's talk. It is an invitation to engage in Family History Work, it lets you know that you don't need to be a genealogist anymore, and gives more promises.
"Have you prayed about your own ancestors’ work? Set aside those things in your life that don’t really matter. Decide to do something that will have eternal consequences. Perhaps you have been prompted to look for ancestors but you feel that you are not a genealogist. Can you see that you don’t have to be anymore? It all begins with love and a sincere desire to help those beyond the veil who can’t help themselves. Check around. There will be someone in your area who can help you have success.
This work is a spiritual work, a monumental effort of cooperation on both sides of the veil, where help is given in both directions. Anywhere you are in the world, with prayer and faith, determination and diligence, and some sacrifice, you can make a powerful contribution. Begin now. I promise you that the Lord will help you find a way" (Richard G. Scott, “The Joy of Redeeming the Dead,” October 2012 General Conference).
I echo what Elder Scott and Bednar have said. I know that our lives will change for the better as we engage in Family History work. I have drawn closer to the Lord, closer to my ancestors, and I have a great love for them.
I want to do their work, so that when I leave this life, I can return to them, and state as Theodin in Lord of the Rings did, "In whose mighty company, I shall not now be ashamed."
And that is the greatest blessing. That we will be able to rejoice for eternity because we have made the sacrifice of time so we could save our ancestors and help them return to the presence of the Lord. That work we do for them lasts for eternity. Discover your story on the Family Tree Mobile App, or on the Family Search Website. You can also view other posts on this blog for how to use the App to get started, as well as another post with a more comprehensive list of of blessings that can come from Temple and Family History Work. Below is a one minute short video with clips from Elder Scott's talk. Picture is the Ogden Utah Temple, 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
This will be an intensely personal post. I hope it will help to change your life so you can draw closer to the Lord. It will be worth reading to the end. I want to share how coming face to face with my mortality helped me to see clearly what was most important in life, and what was not. Most importantly, I want to share how you can discover that as well.
About 10-12 years ago, I started spreading the gospel online. I've been doing it since then, and about 7-8 years ago I gave up watching television and movies to try to do more. Because the more I did, the more I saw there was so much that needed to be done to hasten the Lord's work on this earth. And Family History started to become a big part of that.
What changed my life A bit of history. For a time in my life, many years ago, I didn't go to the temple. Once I went back there, I went as often as I could. My life literally changed when that happened, and miracles did happen in my life. And Family History and indexing was a big part of that.
The Heavens Opened As I took my ancestors names to the temple, I
felt at times that the heavens were opened, and the
blessings poured out like rain. I have felt of the Love of the Lord,
and the gratitude of my ancestors. They feel very real to me, and I have developed a love for them and the Lord. And it changed my life.
Things were going
swimmingly. I was trying as hard as I could to try to spread the
gospel, and to engage in Family History and Temple work. And miracles happened. Then the problems started Then, about 2 and a half years ago, I started to get bouts of weakness. It would last about 7-10 days, and I would be so weak I would just lay around or would just be able to sit in a chair. I had shortness of breath, and my muscles were weak. After 7-10 days I would go back to normal functioning, and I could exercise regularly again, and so I let it go. But, a few months later, it came back again.
After a couple of trips to the urgent care, and a trip to the ER, and many tests, the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with me. And it went away for a few months more, and I just got used to having about a week every several months where I just got to rest a bunch. And then about a year and a half ago, things got worse. I did another test to see what was going on, and got nothing. And it got so bad I would have 7-10 bad days, and maybe 3-4 good days.
I would use a good day to go to the temple, and another one to help with chores around the house, and to try to do activities with my family. But it always came back, and kept getting worse. And most recently, I had what seemed to be a mini-stroke.
What is most important in Life is not the distractions Why am I relating all this? Because before the pandemic, my health problems interfered with my ability to attend the temple, and do the work for my ancestors that I have done Family History for.
As my health has gotten consistently worse, I have struggled with the question of "what if this doesn't get better?" And I have discovered what is most important in this life when pondering that. What will be most meaningful when life is done I want all to hear this next part. I look back on the last 7-8 years as the most meaningful years of my life, and the reason why is because I have made the sacrifice to give up many things of the world and have engaged in the Lord's work. Now I'm not perfect. I'm not saying that, and I'm not better than anyone else. I have so many faults and am trying to overcome those. However, because I have engaged in his work, I have drawn closer to the Savior. And Family History has been a big part of that. And that what is most meaningful to me. God, his work, and our families and relatives are what is most important.
I know the Savior lives, and is saddened when people don't come unto him. He longs for us to come unto him and engage in his work, and feel of his love. I know that there are many in the spirit world who haven't had their work done for them, and await for us here to do the work they can't do for themselves.
With all the love I have in my heart, I plead with you to follow President Nelson's counsel, and make the sacrifice of time to engage in Family History and temple work on the Family Search website or the Mobile App. It will change your life. It's easier than ever before to do Even though it takes time to learn, it's easier now. With the tools we have today, you can find many of your ancestors to take to the temple and do their temple work simply through using the app or logging in online to Family Search.
"Aunt Edna" really didn't complete all your Family's work I know some of you are thinking that your work is already done. Family History has evolved from when "Aunt Edna," or another genealogist in the family did all the work for the family. The work available to do has increased exponentially, and I explain this on another post. You are needed in this great saving work.
Promises as we plead with the Lord for Guidance and help
And sometimes it is hard. Sometimes you sit and can't find anything. When that happens, get on your knees, and then reach out to a family history consultant, or call the Family History Library. President Monson, President Nelson, and many apostles have said we will be blessed if we do.
They have promised the windows of heaven will open and blessings the likes of which you have never experienced will start to become a reality in your lives. I know I have experienced that in my own life.
Your testimonies will be strengthened, your connection with the Savior will become closer than you ever thought or dreamed, and your lives will fill with a joy beyond compare.
And like me, you probably will have hard times. But the Lord will strengthen you during those. As someone in the handcart companies said about the hardships they faced, "It was worth it to become acquainted with the Lord." It is even more so with learning to do Family History.
Your life matters to more than just you Take some time today, and determine to make a sacrifice of time, as President Nelson asked, maybe some time on Sunday after the Come Follow Me gospel study to do Family History work. Maybe just take a half hour each week and open the app or website and get started. It will make all the difference to someone else's eternity, and it will help you to realize your life matters to someone else. And you will see that your life has a purpose.
Start on the Family Tree Mobile App or on the Family Search website. And discover how the dead are really alive, and how they are filled with joy when their ordinances are done. Make the sacrifice of time, and you will experience that joy, along with the Love of the Lord.
Your reward at the last day is worth more than any distraction
And at the last day, you will stand before the Savior, together with those relatives whose work you have done, and with the entire family of mankind who has come unto Christ, and you will rejoice with them, and weep tears of joy with them as you and they are able to enter into the Celestial Courts on high, to dwell with God and our Heavenly Family at the time when the Great Jehovah has said the work is done.
And that will be worth more than any television show, any video game, or any movie to you. Make the sacrifice today so you may have joy now and in the eternities. Start on the App or online. Now here is a minute long video with youth who are engaging in Family History, and their faith promoting experiences.
Update - When I started this post months ago, I was feeling horrible, and had for a long time, and even had concerns about my mortality. I started feeling better for a bit, however I recently had a what appeared to be a mini-stroke. But despite all this, I have a great deal more hope for the future, and have the confirmation that I have a purpose here on this earth. So I have more peace, despite the health problems. And more importantly, each of us has a meaning and purpose here. And I sincerely hope that all who hear me may engage in this work, and find the same healing I have found. The healing of the soul. Thanks for reading.
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.
