Family Legacy and Traditions are Not Enough to Sustain our Testimonies

 

Christ—Author and Finisher of Our Faith

By Elder Eduardo F. Ortega

Of the Seventy

Our family heritage is a great blessing, but it is not a substitute for our diligent and intentional search for a personal testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and the truths of His restored gospel.

Our family legacy and traditions are very helpful, but in and of themselves they are not enough for us to build upon the rock of our Savior....

A personal testimony comes in response to our sincere and dedicated quest to want to know for ourselves and then to act upon the impressions and the knowledge received...

Becoming a lifelong disciple of Christ is a process, the sum of multiple small, daily, personal and spiritual events.

Promised Blessings of Temple and Family History Work

 

Preach the Gospel and Seek After Our Dead,

 

With the Power of God in Great Glory

(1 Nephi 14:14)

By Elder David A. Bednar

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.”⁷

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.”⁸

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.

1 Million New Names Added Each Day

 

A Record of What I Have Both Seen and Heard

By Elder Brent H. Nielson

Of the Presidency of the Seventy

My friends at FamilySearch have taught me that over one million new names are added to FamilySearch each day. If you didn’t find your ancestor yesterday, I invite you to look again tomorrow. When it comes to gathering Israel on the other side of the veil, there has never been a better time to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than today.

 Research further shows that children who “know a lot about their families tend to do better when they face challenges” and are “more resilient, meaning they could moderate the effects of stress.”⁶ In fact, knowledge of family stories “turned out to be the best single predictor of children’s emotional health and happiness.”

The Power of Family Stories

By London Brimhall

Church Magazines

Liahona Feb 2024

Promised Blessings for Temple and Family History Work

 Call for Experiences

What blessings have you felt through temple and family history work? Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles promised blessings such as these:

• “Increased understanding of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice;

• “Increased influence of the Holy Ghost to feel strength and direction for our own lives;

• “Increased faith, so that conversion to the Savior becomes deep and abiding;

• “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;

• “Increased refining, sanctifying, and moderating influences in our hearts;

• “Increased joy through an increased ability to feel the love of the Lord;

• “Increased family blessings, no matter our current, past, or future family situation or how imperfect our family tree may be;

• “Increased love and appreciation for ancestors and living relatives, so we no longer feel alone;

• “Increased power to discern that which needs healing and thus, with the Lord’s help, serve others;

• “Increased protection from temptations and the intensifying influence of the adversary; and

• “Increased assistance to mend troubled, broken, or anxious hearts and make the wounded whole” (“Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing,” Liahona, May 2018, 47).

Open the Heavens

 President Nelson taught about the importance of consistency in these efforts: “Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Liahona, May 2018, 95.

Create Your Own Family Storybook

 Those Who Acted in Faith in Their Savior

“‘Tell me a story’ is a frequent request from children. While fictional stories and fairytales can be fun to share, consider instead telling your children stories that show faith in Jesus Christ and stories that connect them to their noble ancestors. Years ago, Kristen and I decided to create our own family storybook, filled with accounts from our extended families and ancestry. We love reading from it with our family.

“We invite you to create your own compilation of examples from your family history of those who acted on their faith in the Savior, in His leaders, and in the principles of His gospel. You might pull stories from talks or family histories, or even just stories you heard growing up. Document them, and share them. Doing so can help you and your family turn your hearts to your ancestors.”

President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, Facebook, Jan. 14, 2021, facebook.com/dallin.h.oaks.

Do Family History if You Can't Get to the Temple

 

What the Temple Means to Me

By Lisa Prebble

Years ago a dear sister in our ward shared with me that because an endowment session took roughly two hours and because she lived so far from the temple, she had decided to commit a minimum of two hours a week to family history work. She wanted to show the Lord that she was committed to temple work, even though it was challenging for her to get to the temple. Her goal really touched me, so I set the same goal for myself.

October 2021 Liahona

Family History Blessings

 

Open the Heavens

President Nelson taught, “Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign, May 2018, 95.

Righteous Day-to-day effort is Better than Occasional Heroic Acts

The Eternal Importance of Righteous Choices

By Elder Quentin L. Cook

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

From devotional addresses given at Brigham Young University–Hawaii on November 20, 2018, and at the Utah Valley Institute of Religion on February 1, 2019.

Righteous day-to-day consecrated effort is better than occasional heroic actions. A friend of mine, Jim Jardine, indicated in a lecture at Brigham Young University that when he was a student, he thought “of consecrating [his] life in one grand, heroic gesture” but came to realize that “consecration is not a once in a lifetime event; it is a daily devotion.”⁸

When I was young, I too wanted to prove myself through some heroic gesture. My great-grandfather David Patten Kimball was one of the young men who rescued and helped carry members of the Martin handcart company across the Sweetwater River. That sounded like the kind of consecration for which I was looking. Later, as I visited with my grandfather Crozier Kimball, he explained that when President Brigham Young (1801–77) sent the men on their rescue mission, he instructed them to do everything they possibly could to save the handcart company. Their consecration was specifically to “follow the prophet.” My grandfather told me that consistent, faithful, righteous dedication to one’s duty or to a principle is to be much admired.

As heroic as it was for David Patten Kimball to help rescue the pioneers, it would be equally heroic today to follow the prophet by adhering to his counsel in reducing social media use, studying the Book of Mormon, and particularly helping to gather scattered Israel on both sides of the veil. If we help gather scattered Israel, we will be rescuing the souls of mankind—just as my great-grandfather helped to rescue the lives of the handcart company.

Some members of the Church profess that they would commit themselves with enthusiasm if given some great calling, but they do not find ministering or gathering family history sufficiently heroic for their sustained effort.

Protection from the Adversary

Protection from the Adversary

“Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life.”

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Joy of Redeeming the Dead,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 94.

Sacrifice To Do More Temple and Family History Work

Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing

By Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

April 2018 Conference

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.”17 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.

Pray For those Whose Ancestors Have Accepted the Gospel

At the 2017 Rootstech conference, Wendy W. Nelson, wife of President Russell M. Nelson, observed: “President George Q. Cannon, who was counselor to four Presidents of the Church, taught that in these latter days, those who are joining the Church are joining quite precisely because their ancestors have been praying for one of their posterity to join the Church so that they, the ancestors, can receive their essential ordinances by proxy. That’s when I invite the missionaries to consider that one of their most effective prayers might be, ‘Please lead us to those whose ancestors have already received the gospel on the other side of the veil and who are desperate to receive their ordinances.’"

Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, presentation at RootsTech conference, Feb. 11, 2017, lds.org/topics/family-history/familydiscoveryday; see also “Open the Heavens through Temple and Family History Work,” Ensign, Oct. 2017, 38.

Our Trek

The Trek Continues!

By Elder M. Russell Ballard

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

I have a deep conviction that if we lose our ties to those who have gone before us, including our pioneer forefathers and mothers, we will lose a very precious treasure.

Many of us are on amazing journeys of discovery—leading to personal fulfillment and spiritual enlightenment. Some of us, however, are on a trek that leads to sorrow, sin, anguish, and despair.

In this context, please ask yourself: What is your final destination? Where are your footsteps taking you? And is your journey leading you to that “multiplicity of blessings” the Savior has promised?8

Record the Story of Your Life

 “What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?”

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985), “President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals,” Ensign, Dec. 1980, 61.

Oral Histories

https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Creating_Oral_Histories

Here's a list of possible interview questions for relatives for oral histories.

Sacrifice Time for family history

Sister Nelson: It is my testimony that however fabulous your life is right now, or however discouraging and heartbreaking it may be, your involvement in temple and family history work will make it better. What do you need in your life right now? More love? More joy? More self-mastery? More peace? More meaningful moments? More of a feeling that you’re making a difference? More fun? More answers to your soul-searching questions? More heart-to-heart connections with others? More understanding of what you are reading in the scriptures? More ability to love and to forgive? More ability to pray with power? More inspiration and creative ideas for your work and other projects? More time for what really matters?

I entreat you to make a sacrifice of time to the Lord by increasing the time you spend doing temple and family history work, and then watch what happens. It is my testimony that when we show the Lord we are serious about helping our ancestors, the heavens will open and we will receive all that we need.

President Nelson: 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. I would like to extend a challenge to each one of us so that the wonderful feeling of this work can continue and even increase. I invite you to prayerfully consider what kind of sacrifice—preferably a sacrifice of time—you can make in order to do more temple and family history work this year.

From a presentation at the RootsTech 2017 Family History Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, on February 11, 2017. To watch a recording of the presentation, visit lds.org/go/1017Nelson.

Gathering the Family of God

By President Henry B. Eyring

First Counselor in the First Presidency

as you follow the promptings to learn about your family history, you may discover that a distant relative shares some of your facial features or your interest in books or your talent for singing. This could be very interesting and even insightful. But if your work stops there, you will sense that something is missing. This is because to gather and unite God’s family requires more than just warm feelings. It requires sacred covenants made in connection with priesthood ordinances.

Just a few weeks ago, I was working on my family history with a consultant by my side and another helper on the phone. On the computer screen before me was a problem beyond my mortal power to solve. I saw two names, sent to me by the wonders of technology, of people who might be waiting for a temple ordinance. But the trouble was that the names were different, but there was a reason to believe they might be the same person. My task was to determine what was true.

I asked my consultants to tell me. They said, “No, you must choose.” And they were completely sure I would discover the truth. The computer, with all its power and information, had left me the blessing of staring at those names on a screen, evaluating the available information, seeking other research, praying silently, and discovering what was true. As I prayed, I knew with surety what to do—just as I have in other situations when I needed to rely on heaven’s help to solve a problem.