1) No responsibility is more important than working for the dead.
2) We are responsible for our own ancestors, not someone else's.
3) We should do the work in an orderly and systematic way.
these are supported by the words of the prophets and apostles.
The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.... Those Saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation.
Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 6:313 and 4:426
We have a work to do just as important in its sphere as the Savior’s work was in its sphere. Our fathers cannot be made perfect without us; we cannot be made perfect without them. They have done their work and now sleep. We are now called upon to do ours; which is to be the greatest work man ever performed on the earth.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1941, p. 406
Oh, I wish many times that the veil were lifted off the face of the Latter-day Saints. I wish we could see and know the things of God as they do who are laboring for the salvation of the human family who are in the spirit world; for if this were so, this whole people, with very few, if any, exceptions, would lose all interest in the riches of the world, and instead thereof their whole desires and labors would be directed to redeem their dead...
Wilford Woodruff, The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham (1946), 152
When we go back into the other life and find our dead friends living there, if we have not performed the labor that is necessary for their exaltation and glory we shall not feel very happy and it will not be a very pleasant meeting. We ought not to wait for opportunities to be pleasant and agreeable always; but we should strive, even if it takes a little sacrifice on our part, to put ourselves in a condition to perform this labor.
Lorenzo Snow, The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, 97 (from April 6, 1895, General Conference, reported in May 28, 1895, Deseret News)
The Lord is helping us; it is marvelous how the way is opened and how other people frequently are prompted to prepare their genealogies. But sometimes we fail to take advantage of our opportunities to prepare our genealogies, notwithstanding the Lord has very pointedly said that unless we take care of our temple work we will be rejected with our dead. This is a very serious thing. This is something that we cannot change, if we have wasted our opportunities until life passes....
George Albert Smith, Sharing the Gospel with Others, compiled by Preston Nibley, Deseret Book (1948), 178
Many there are, it is true, who comprehend this great work and are faithfully discharging their duties in the temples of the Lord. This is a good sign, showing the willingness and activity of the Saints. But this does not relieve the inactive, dilatory members who are doing nothing for their dead. These persons cannot expect to receive credit for what others may be doing; the responsibility rests with equal force on all, according to our individual ability and opportunities.
It matters not what else we have been called to do or what position we may occupy or how faithfully in other ways we have labored in the Church; none are exempt from this great obligation. It is required of the apostle as well as the humblest elder. Place, distinction, or long service in the cause of Zion in the mission field, the stakes of Zion, or elsewhere will not entitle one to disregard the salvation of one’s dead.
Some may feel that if they pay their tithing, attend their regular meetings and other duties, give of their substance to the poor, or perchance spend one, two, or more years preaching in the world, they are absolved from further duty. But the greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead. We may and should do all these other things, for which reward will be given, but if we neglect the weightier privilege and commandment, notwithstanding all other good works, we shall find ourselves under severe condemnation.
Joseph Fielding Smith, “Message from the First Presidency: Salvation Universal,” Ensign, Feb 1971, 2 (first appeared in the February 1910 Improvement Era (p. 352))
No person has a right to select names promiscuously of any family and go to the temple to perform the work for them. This cannot be tolerated, for it would lead to confusion and duplication of work. Let each family do the work for their own dead kindred, as they may have the right, and if they do work for others, it must be at the instance and with the consent of the living relatives who are immediately concerned.
A few individuals have desired to do the work for men of renown, generals, presidents, magistrates, and others who have risen to prominent stations in the world. One object they apparently have in view is that they may say they have done the work for such and such persons. But there is an order in this work, as in all things pertaining to the gospel, and in no case should work be done in this manner, unless the circumstances are such that proper sanction of the temple authorities can be given.
Some of us get so enthusiastic over this temple work that we are not willing to abide by the rules and the regulations and to confine ourselves to our own line, but we want to spread out into the other fellow’s line, and we want to do the work because we readily find names that belong to somebody else, and that method of work for the dead is not permissible. It is all right to help others do their work, if we do that with proper consent, but each family group is entitled to do the work for its particular line.
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, Deseret Book (1955), 207
The kingdom of God is a house of order because all things therein obey the law. The temples of the Lord on earth should also be orderly for the same reason. Temple work should not be done in a haphazard or disorderly way. Those who labor for the dead should endeavor to prepare their records in an orderly and systematic manner.
When names are copied in an improper way and incomplete records are sent to the temples, but one thing will be the result-confusion. The compilers of records should try to find the information so that records can be made in family groups with all the necessary data for correct identification. When names are taken out of books without any accompanying information that will identify them, or show relationship to parents and other members of the family, little, if any, good can follow.
If work in the temples is done for such individuals, it is very incomplete and questionable. When the temple work is limited to baptizing and endowing because other ordinances cannot be performed for lack of information, it will more than likely have to be done over again. In this way the records are burdened with unnecessary matter which cannot be properly arranged.
Genealogical researchers will make fewer mistakes and in the end save time and means by giving more attention to their recording. It is the disposition of many of the people to hurry their work along in an unorganized fashion because of their zeal for temple work. Patience, accompanied by prayer and thorough research, will prove best in the end.
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, Deseret Book (1955), 208-9
It remains the responsibility of each individual to know his kindred dead.… Even if the [temple] work is done, then it is still each person’s responsibility to study and become acquainted with his ancestors.
Joseph Fielding Smith quoted in Hearts Turned to the Fathers: A History of the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1894–1994 (1995), 184
Whether we recognize it or not, we are connected with our past.... People who care nothing for the past usually have no thought for the future and are selfish in the way they use the present.
Spencer W.Kimball, World Conference of Records, Aug 12, 1980 (see “News of the Church,” Ensign, Oct 1980, 72–80)
Much more must be done in our personal genealogical research. We have an obligation to do temple work for our kindred dead. This means that we will do the necessary research in order for the names of our progenitors to be sent to the temples. We have an individual responsibility to see that we are linked to our progenitors.
Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Bookcraft (1988), 161
This work, unselfishly given in behalf of those on the other side, comes nearer to the unparalleled vicarious work of the Savior than any other of which I know.
Gordon B. Hinckley, “Rejoice in This Great Era of Temple Building,” Ensign, Nov 1985, 53
Each one of us—if we pretend to obey the gospel at all—must search out our dead and have these saving ordinances performed for them....
We must disabuse our minds of the idea that merely “going to the temple” discharges our full responsibility, because it does not. That is not enough.
We must get down to specifics and do the work for our own dead progenitors.
God holds each of us responsible for saving our own kindred—specifically our own.
Mark E. Petersen, “The Message of Elijah,” Ensign, May 1976, 14
Members of the Church cannot touch this work without becoming affected spiritually. The spirit of Elijah permeates it. Many of the little intrusions into our lives, the little difficulties and the petty problems that beset us, are put into proper perspective when we view the linking of the generations for the eternities. We become much more patient then. So if you want the influence of dignity and wisdom and inspiration and spirituality to envelop your life, involve yourself in temple and genealogical work.
Boyd K. Packer, Holy Temple, pp. 224–25.
No work is more of a protection to this church than temple work and the genealogical research that supports it. No work is more spiritually refining. No work we do gives us more power. No work requires a higher standard of righteousness.
Boyd K. Packer, “The Holy Temple,” Ensign, Feb 1995, 32
There somehow seems to be the feeling that genealogical work is an all-or-nothing responsibility. Genealogical work is another responsibility for every Latter-day Saint. And we may do it successfully along with all the other callings and responsibilities that rest upon us.
The bishop can do it without neglecting his flock. A stake missionary can do it without abandoning his mission. A Sunday School teacher can accomplish it without forgetting his lesson. A Relief Society president can do it without forsaking her sisters.
You can fulfill your obligation to your kindred dead and to the Lord without forsaking your other Church callings. You can do it without abandoning your family responsibilities. You can do this work. You can do it without becoming a so-called “expert” in it.
Boyd K. Packer, “Someone Up There Loves You,” Ensign, Jan 1977, 8