The Blessings of Climbing Into Your Family Tree
Elder Cook:
The head of this work is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After His death, He opened the door to the prison that held the dead captive:
“He organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men. …
“And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel” (D&C 138:30–31).
Our message is simple, but it is profound. It does not require soaring rhetoric or complex doctrine. It is about having a broken heart and a contrite spirit and a commitment to follow our Savior.
As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I promise that if you look beyond the bonds of time and mortality and help those who cannot help themselves, you will be blessed with more closeness and joy in your family and with the divine protection afforded those who are faithful in His service.
May you parents, youth, and children find joy and be blessed in every other aspect of your life as you fulfill the obligation that has been sent from heaven to participate in the sacred work for the dead.
Elder David A. Bednar:
Elder Gong and I invoke this simple blessing upon you. That as you hear and study, pray and ponder the things you have learned tonight, that you will come to know that they apply to you.
I fear that many members of the church listen to this kind of instruction and they believe it for everyone else but I’m not sure it applies to me. If I had the wish of my heart, every person participating in this instruction would understand the joy in pressing forward on the covenant path and that the power and the protection are individual and personal. They are not general and abstract.
Believe Your Family Tree Is A Treasure Hunt
How do you view your family tree?
Elder John A. Widstoe
“I have the feeling . . .that those who give themselves with all their might and main to this work receive help from the other side, and not merely in gathering genealogies. Whoever seeks to help those on the other side receives help in return in all the affairs of life.”
Sister Wendy 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.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson:
These ministering angels know who you are, they care for you, they love you, and they will become a vital part of the fortification of your home. (Elder Gary E. Stevenson)
Beileve that you will receive help in all that you do!
Have you had an expierence when you felt help beyond your own?
President Russell M. 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.
“While temple and family history work has the power to bless those beyond the veil, it has an equal power to bless the living. It has a refining influence on those who are engaged in it. They are literally helping to exalt their families.”
”No matter your situation, you can make family history a part of your life right now.”
Believe That You Have Time To Study The Footprints Of Your Ancestors!
Have you prayed to know what sacrifice of time you could make?
This is the most important work happening on the earth today!
The seeds that you spend time planting…..will produce fruit!
Elder Neil L. Andersen
Let us see beyond the difficulties and the obstacles confronting us to our important purposes and to the glorious days ahead. Let us each echo Nephi’s words: “These are my days.
You were born in a time of temples and technology. These are your days to more fully turn your hearts to your fathers. As you contribute to this sacred work, your knowledge and faith in the Savior will increase and you will receive a more certain witness that life continues beyond the veil. You will receive protection against the temptations that surround you, and you will prepare yourself and the world you live in for the Second Coming of the Savior.
Elder Quentin L. Cook
The combination of greatly increased numbers of temples and advanced technology for family history work make this the most blessed time in all history.
Elder David A. Bednar
We have a tremendous capacity to be innovative and create new things. I would recommend that we not do that. I invite everybody to use the tools that have already been developed, such as the Family Tree app.
Elder Gary E. Stevenson
It seems that this is a place where technology is filling the measure of its creation. And so we should be embracing it and letting our children and families embrace it as well.
Theodore Tuttle
Elder Melvin J. Ballard testified that “the spirit and influence of your dead will guide those who are interested in finding those records. If there is anywhere on the earth anything concerning them, you will find it”
Believe In Your Ability To Embrace Technology
Has the Family Tree App made a difference in your life? How have you embraced technology?
Map My Ancestors is a feature on the FamilySearch Family Tree App. It allows you to see the ancestor events around your current location.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
“‘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.”
Believe In The Power of Family Stories!
What family story has increased your faith in Jesus Christ?
President Russell M. Nelson
“Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration.”