Family History

Family History is one of Heavenly Father's greatest blessings if we are willing to exercise our faith to just taste the fruit.  When we let our hearts open up to the spirit of Elijah and put action to those feelings the blessings are astounding.  It is a commandment with great promises of protection as well.  When I think of all that the Lord has promised to us as we do the work we must for our ancestors it is a wonder why I don't spend all my days seeking out those who desire their work to be done.  It is something anyone at any age can find opportunities to do. There are so many causes for freedom around the world, but we  must understand the freedom that we give to the captive souls when we perform the ordinances for the dead.  We liberate their souls.   

Supporting Quotes:

1.      Elder Russell M. Nelson - April 2010 General Conference “Generations Linked in Love” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/generations-linked-in-love?lang=eng “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.” 

2.       Elder Russell M. Nelson - April 2010 General Conference “Generations Linked in Love” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/generations-linked-in-love?lang=eng “No matter your situation, you can make family history a part of your life right now. Primary children can draw a family tree. Youth can participate in proxy baptisms. They can also help the older generation work with computers. Parents can relate stories of their lives to their posterity. Worthy adult members can hold a temple recommend and perform temple ordinances for their own kin.”

3.      Elder Russell M. Nelson - April 2010 General Conference “Generations Linked in Love” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/generations-linked-in-love?lang=eng “The preparation of that record is our individual and collective responsibility. As we work together, we can make it worthy of all acceptation by the Lord. That record enables ordinances to be performed for and accepted by our deceased ancestors, as they may choose. Those ordinances can bring liberty to captives on the other side of the veil.”

4.      Pres. Boyd K. Packer – April 2015 General Conference, “The Plan of Happiness” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-plan-of-happiness?lang=eng “This sacred temple ordinance is much more than a wedding, for this marriage can be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise . . . I see the joy that awaits this supernal gift and use it worthily.”

5.      Elder David A. Bednar – October 2011 General Conference “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn” https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-and-church-history-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual/lesson-39-the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn-to-their-fathers?lang=eng “As members of Christ’s restored Church, we have the covenant responsibility to search out our ancestors and provide for them the saving ordinances of the gospel.”  “For these reasons we do family history research, build temples, and perform vicarious ordinances. For these reasons Elijah was sent to restore the sealing authority that binds on earth and in heaven. We are the Lord’s agents in the work of salvation and exaltation that will prevent “the whole earth [from being] smitten with a curse” (D&C 110:15) when He returns again. This is our duty and great blessing.”

6.      Elder David A. Bednar – October 2011 General Conference “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn” https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-and-church-history-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual/lesson-39-the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn-to-their-fathers?lang=eng “Learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. I encourage you to study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead (see D&C 124:28–36). And I urge you to help other people identify their family histories.”

7.      Elder David A. Bednar – October 2011 General Conference “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn” https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-and-church-history-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual/lesson-39-the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn-to-their-fathers?lang=eng “As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives.”

8.      Elder David A. Bednar – October 2011 General Conference “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn” https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-and-church-history-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual/lesson-39-the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn-to-their-fathers?lang=eng “Please help your children and youth to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. But do not overly program this endeavor or provide too much detailed information or training. Invite young people to explore, to experiment, and to learn for themselves (see Joseph Smith—History 1:20). Young people increasingly need to be learners who act and thereby receive additional light and knowledge by the power of the Holy Ghost—and not merely passive students who primarily are acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26).”

9.      Elder Russell M. Nelson, “A New Harvest Time,” Ensign, May 1998, 34. [The Spirit of Elijah is] “A manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family”.

10.  Pres. Henry B. Eyring – April 2005 “Hearts Bound Together” www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/hearts-bound-together?lang=eng “Remember that the names which will be so difficult to find are of real people to whom you owe your existence in this world and whom you will meet again in the spirit world. When you were baptized, your ancestors looked down on you with hope. Perhaps after centuries, they rejoiced to see one of their descendants make a covenant to find them and to offer them freedom. In your reunion, you will see in their eyes either gratitude or terrible disappointment. Their hearts are bound to you. Their hope is in your hands. You will have more than your own strength as you choose to labor on to find them.”

11.  Pres. Henry B. Eyring – April 2005 “Hearts Bound Together” www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/hearts-bound-together?lang=eng  “You are not just gathering names. Those you never met in life will become friends you love. Your heart will be bound to theirs forever.

12.  Elder Russel M. Nelson - April 1998 General Conference “A New Harvest” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/04/a-new-harvest-time?lang=eng Elijah came not only to stimulate research for ancestors. He also enabled families to be eternally linked beyond the bounds of mortality. Indeed, the opportunity for families to be sealed forever is the real reason for our research.