The Greatest and Grandest Duty of All

[Tuly]

I got this from one of my favorite blogs. Another perspective of why this work is important.

http://middleagedmormonman.com/home/201 ... l-go-free/

All of us who are privileged to understand the Plan of Salvation understand that after death, every one goes to the Spirit World.

Those who had accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and received the correct ordinances go what we call Paradise, while those who have not yet learned of the Gospel, or those who rejected it here on earth go to the Spirit Prison.

In order for someone who is in the Spirit Prison to bust out, and enter the Spirit Paradise, they must accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, be purified through the Atonement, and one more thing: They must receive the ordinances of the Gospel by accepting a proxy ordinance performed by one of us, here on the earth, as performed in a temple.

Essentially, those people who have accepted the Gospel and want to move forward are help captive in prison. They are literally prisoners.

Speaking about the ordinance of baptism for the dead, Joseph Smith wrote:

Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free. (D&C 128:22)

As I was reading this verse, and contemplating the idea of a prison, a very familiar, but seemingly unrelated scripture, came to my mind. I think it makes for a nicely expanded idea.

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:35-40)

I had never made the link between liberating captives from the Spirit Prison to the idea of personally serving the Savior. I like it.

[Ian]

THIS IS URGENT.

[Tuly]

I love this. https://www.lds.org/church/news/new-pol ... s?lang=eng

“We are encouraging families to call the temples to make an appointment so they will be able to go right in to the baptistry,” said Elder Richards. “They will have an opportunity to go at their scheduled time without a long wait.”

This will make it easier for families to perform baptisms together in the temple, said Elder Richards. “We still want the youth to come on their own—especially with their own names—but also to come with their family. It is another enhancement to their experience.”

Elder Richards made the announcement during the RootsTech Family Discovery Day on February 14. The instruction has already gone out to all temple presidents, who are working on designating times for their temples.

“Patrons just need to check on LDS.org to find the days and times designated for families at their temple and call for an appointment,” the Church leader said.

Some temples have already started scheduling family appointments, and others will be implementing the change over the next few months. Patrons can look to their temple’s website to learn how their area will apply the change. Temples will still accept ward and stake appointments to accommodate youth groups coming together.

Although family names are not required for a family to attend together, Church leaders have encouraged families to find their own ancestors who are in need of necessary ordinances. Not only is it linking families together eternally, it strengthens families who perform the ordinances.

“When their dad is in the font with them and their mother is getting baptized for their ancestors and it is a family experience—that is really going to put the icing on the cake,” Elder Richards said.

“We have taken our grandchildren to do baptisms, and we have regular family sealing sessions where we go with our married children and do sealings of our family names. It’s wonderful. We just love the experience of being there together in a sacred place with a beautiful spirit. We feel connected to our family much more than ever before.”

Visit lds.org/temples to see local designated family priority time.

[Ian]

i often think about this counsel from president packer. this is extracted from his classic book, the holy temple. i'm inspired by his example, and i testify that these principles are true. we can make time each day to do this work.

Several years ago Sister Packer and I determined that we should get our records in order. However, under the pressure of Church responsibilities with my travels about the world, and the obligations with our large family and a home to keep up both indoors and outdoors, there just was not enough time. But we were restless about this family history responsibility, and finally we determined that somehow we would have to make more time in the day.

During the Christmas holidays when we had a little extra time, we started. Then as we moved back to a regular schedule after the holidays, we adopted the practice of getting up an hour or two earlier each day.

We gathered together everything we had, and in the course of a few weeks we were amazed at what we were able to accomplish. The thing that was most impressive, however, was the fact that we began to have experiences that told us somehow that we were being guided, that there were those beyond the veil who were interested in what we were doing. Things began to fall into place.

As I have traveled about the Church and paid particular attention to this subject, many testimonies have come to light. Others who assemble their records together are likewise having similar experiences. It was as though the Lord was waiting for us to begin.

We found things we had wondered about for a long time. It seemed as though they came to us almost too easily. More than this, things that we never dreamed existed began to show up. We began to learn by personal experience that this research into our families is an inspired work. We came to know that an inspiration will follow those who move into it. It is just a matter of getting started.

Once we started, we found the time. Somehow we were able to carry on all of the other responsibilities. There seemed to be an increased inspiration in our lives because of this work.

President Boyd K. Packer, "Your Family History: Getting Started," August 2003 Ensign

[Tuly]

I loved this article from President Thomas S. Monson - The Key of Faith - Ensign February 1994 - https://www.lds.org/ensign/1994/02/the- ... h?lang=eng

Several years ago, prior to my call as a General Authority, it was my good fortune to respond to a call to serve as a member of the Priesthood Genealogy Committee and to have the privilege of visiting stakes and missions, speaking to the membership of the Church relative to this sacred subject—one that is perhaps most misunderstood among all of the programs of the Church.

Our chief responsibility at that time was to convince the membership of the Church that they need not be specialists, they need not be in their eighties, they need not be exclusively genealogists in order to understand the responsibility which rests upon each member of the Church to seek out his or her kindred dead and to perform the work which must necessarily be accomplished in their behalf.

I believe there is and has been a feeling that family history research is for a select few and not for the general membership of the Church. Out of the series of conferences we held then, one of the great measures of good was the development of family organizations. Throughout the Church we have an increasing awareness of the responsibility which we have toward our family members.

The mission president in Sweden at the time of our visit was Reid H. Johnson, a cousin to my wife. As he and our group were journeying throughout that area, we went to a large Lutheran church. As we walked into the building, President Johnson said, “I think you would be interested in an experience my companion, Richard Timpson, and I had in this city at the termination of our missions back in 1948.”

He said, “We came to this town because we knew that our family history was recorded here and had been lived here. As we entered this large church, we were met by a most hostile keeper of the archives. Upon hearing that we had completed our missions and had a few precious days in which we would like to seek out the records which he maintained in his church building, he said that no one had ever been given the opportunity to peruse those valuable records, far less a Mormon. He declared they were under lock and key, and he held up to view the large key to the vault in which the records were stored. He said, ‘My job and my future, and the sustenance of my family, depend upon how well I safeguard this key. No, I am afraid it would be impossible for you to peruse these records. But if you would like to see the church, I’ll be happy to show you through. I’ll be glad to show you the architecture and the cemetery which surrounds the church—but not the records, for they are sacred.’”

President Johnson indicated they were profoundly disappointed. However, he said to the keeper of the archives, “We will accept your kind offer.” All of this time, he and his companion were praying fervently and earnestly that somehow something would change this keeper’s mind, that he would let them view the records.

After a lengthy journey through the cemetery and looking at the church building, the keeper of the archives unexpectedly said to them, “I’m going to do something I have never done before. It may cost me my job, but I’m going to let you borrow this key for fifteen minutes.”

President Johnson thought, Fifteen minutes! All we can do in fifteen minutes is open the lock!

But the keeper let them take the key. They turned the key in the lock and had made available to their view records which were priceless for their genealogical value. In fifteen minutes the keeper arrived. He looked at them and found they were still in a state of wonder over the find which they had discovered.

They said, “Can’t we please stay longer?”

He said, “How much longer?” And he looked at his watch.

They said, “About three days.”

He said, “I’ve never done anything like this before. I don’t know why, but I feel I can trust you. Here is the key. You keep it, and when you are through, you return it to me. I’ll be here every morning at eight o’clock and every evening at five o’clock.”

For three consecutive days, those two missionaries studied and recorded for our current use information which could have been obtained in no other way. President Johnson, filled with emotion, explained this experience to us. He said, “The Lord does move in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.” As he made this statement of testimony to me, I realized that his experience had also blessed the lives of Sister Monson and me, for much of the information he and his companion had obtained happened to be on our family lines.

I thought of the key which the keeper of the archives gave to those two missionaries. While that key opened the lock which revealed and released to their information the names which they needed, there is a much greater key—a key which each one of us earnestly seeks to obtain and which will open the locks to the treasure houses of the knowledge which we desire to acquire. That key is the key of faith. In this work, no lock will open without it.

I testify that when we do all we can to accomplish the work that is before us, the Lord will make available to us the sacred key needed to unlock the treasure which we so much seek.

[Tuly]

We had a Family History Sabbath today at church. All three hours we talked about the importance of family history work. That we are working for people not just names. I have had recurring nightmares throughout my parenting life of being placed in situations were i'm always protecting my children from bad people, evil situations. Those nightmares caused me to be obsessed protecting my children. I had an epiphany were I now realize the best way (not good or better) to protect our children is by all of us doing family history work, attending the temple often to do the work for those people whose names we find. I regret to say that we as parents did not fully do that as a way of protecting our children. I repent and gratefully know that it is never too early or too late to do this important work.

[Steve]

This goes along nicely with the talk by Elder Hales that I re-read last night at my stake presidency's request. The whole talk is really, really good.

The greatest missionary work we will ever do will be in our homes. Our homes, quorums, and classes are part of the mission field. Our children and grandchildren are our most important investigators.

The greatest family history work that we will do will be within our own homes. It is the spiritual preparation of our children in the rising generation that will, through their obedience, ensure the eternal preservation and perpetuation of our families for the coming generations.

The greatest rescue, the greatest activation will be in our homes. If someone in your family is wandering in strange paths, you are a rescuer, engaged in the greatest rescue effort the Church has ever known. I testify from personal experience: There is no failure except in giving up. It is never too early or too late to begin. Do not worry about what has happened in the past. Pick up the phone. Write a note. Make a visit. Extend the invitation to come home. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed. Your child is Heavenly Father’s child. You are about His work. He has promised to gather His children, and He is with you.

(Elder Robert D. Hales, Our Duty to God: The Mission of Parents and Leaders to the Rising Generation, April 2010 General Conference) ↗

[Tuly]

I will add this great talk by Elder Bednar - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... r?lang=eng

With the Power of God in Great Glory
(1 Nephi 14:14)

The lessons Joseph Smith learned from Moroni influenced every aspect of his ministry. For example, at a solemn assembly held in the Kirtland Temple on April 6, 1837, the Prophet declared, “After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel.”

Almost precisely seven years later, on April 7, 1844, Joseph Smith delivered a sermon known today as the King Follett Discourse. He declared in that address, “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead.”

But how can preaching the gospel and seeking after our dead both be the single greatest duty and responsibility God has placed upon us? I believe the Prophet Joseph Smith was emphasizing in both statements the fundamental truth that covenants, entered into through authoritative priesthood ordinances, can bind us to the Lord Jesus Christ and are the essential core of the work of salvation and exaltation on both sides of the veil.

Missionary and temple and family history work are complementary and interrelated aspects of one great work that focuses upon the sacred covenants and ordinances that enable us to receive the power of godliness in our lives and, ultimately, return to the presence of Heavenly Father. Thus, the two statements by the Prophet that initially may appear contradictory, in fact, highlight the focal point of this great latter-day work.