LDS Freedom Forum

I've been doing family history work off and on for many years but recently have spent a lot more time engaged in this great work. I've found a family line that connects to records of an entire city it seems, and the work is endless, connecting records and work that has already been completed, into one big family tree. There are few other things that bring me as great of joy as organizing all these families, and sharing their names with the temple system, or doing the work myself.

I'm fortunate to live near a temple that stays busy, and when I submit names, the baptism gets done within days. (I think recently they changed the policy so that when you share your reserved names with the temple, it gets in line at the temple you are within the district of.) I have almost 300 names on my reserved list, and feel an overwhelming sense of how important it is that we get this temple work completed.

I've always believed that when you help your ancestors receive the opportunity to make sacred temple covenants, including baptism/confirmation, the power they receive in turn helps them help you and your family. I also wonder if as we near the second coming, there is some urgency in the feelings of those on the other side. Will only those who are baptized be able to participate in the big event? I don't know, but as I sat in the temple before my session this last weekend I opened the triple to a random page and this is what I read: D&C sec. 84

64 Therefore, as I said unto mine apostles I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost.

65 And these signs shall follow them that believe—

66 In my name they shall do many wonderful works;

67 In my name they shall cast out devils;

68 In my name they shall heal the sick;

69 In my name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf;

70 And the tongue of the dumb shall speak;

71 And if any man shall administer poison unto them it shall not hurt them;

72 And the poison of a serpent shall not have power to harm them.

73 But a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak them before the world; for these things are given unto you for your profit and for salvation.

74 Verily, verily, I say unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized in water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may receive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my Father’s kingdom where my Father and I am.

As I read these words of the Lord, it was confirmed to me how important baptism is for all of God's children. We not only have access to his power when we are baptized, but all those who are not baptized cannot come where the Father or Christ dwell. I can't imagine how hard it would be to have accepted the gospel in the spirit world and not be able to progress, having to patiently wait and hope that someone on earth finds you and does the proxy work! I can testify that as I do this work, I feel their joy and love. I've had interesting experiences in helping me know what line to work on, and seeing some of them help me in a spiritual way.

I probably could write another long post about the importance of being sealed under priesthood authority, but for now, I just want to encourage anyone who hasn't delved into this great work to do so and experience the blessings that come from doing it. I heard from my husband who was at a training meeting that this is one of the goals of President Nelson with the changes, to help free up time for us to go to the temple more often. There is a huge backlog of endowments that need to be done, so please go and help me get all these names done that I'm finding!

One final thought - I encourage everyone to read all of sec. 128, Joseph's words on this matter. As he says, "Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation."

Keep up the good work. What a great time to do Family History work. Remember when they used to write it all on paper? They had to look up data on microfilm. I have just been called to help with Family History and Temple Work in my Ward. I pray I can inspire people to want to participate.

I once found a couple who had the same first names as my husband and I. It was really special to do all of their work from baptism to sealing and hear our own names again.

I bet they thought it was neat too.

Yay for family history!

I personally believe family history and temple work is more for us than for them (the dead). I have a hard time believing that God is really holding them back based on us doing all these things for them. D&C 137 kinda teaches that, too - Joseph sees his deceased brother Alvin, already in the Celestial Kingdom, in 1836, before he had even worked out baptism for the dead or any other proxy ordinances. God wouldn't be fair or equitable to punish people for not having essential spiritual steps even available to them during their entire lifetimes. We think we have it all figured out, but we really know so little. One thing I truly believe in is the impeccable, benevolent, & perfect character of God, Our Creator, Our Heavenly Parents, the Source of All. We mortals like to have an answer and a pigeon hole for everything in our belief systems & worldview, and many times I think we've just filled in the blanks with stuff.

Jesef wrote: ↑June 8th, 2018, 1:49 pm I personally believe family history and temple work is more for us than for them (the dead). I have a hard time believing that God is really holding them back based on us doing all these things for them. D&C 137 kinda teaches that, too - Joseph sees his deceased brother Alvin, already in the Celestial Kingdom, in 1836, before he had even worked out baptism for the dead or any other proxy ordinances. God wouldn't be fair or equitable to punish people for not having essential spiritual steps even available to them during their entire lifetimes. We think we have it all figured out, but we really know so little. One thing I truly believe in is the impeccable, benevolent, & perfect character of God, Our Creator, Our Heavenly Parents, the Source of All. We mortals like to have an answer and a pigeon hole for everything in our belief systems & worldview, and many times I think we've just filled in the blanks with stuff.

In that vision he also saw his parents in heaven. This was a vision of the future. My wife's grandmother, deceased, bugged her for many years to finish her temple work, sealing to parents. I don't think that would happen so often if it didn't matter, I know of many other instances of this happening. It is a requirement for the full blessings.