On April 3, 1836, the prophet Elijah came to Joseph Smith
and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple. He conferred
upon them the sealing power of the priesthood, making it
possible for families to be sealed throughout the generations.
In conferring this power, he fulfilled the prophecy that the
Lord would send him “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the
children, and the children to the fathers” (see D&C 110:14–16;
see also Malachi 4:5–6).
Through family history work, you can participate in the
continuing fulfillment of this prophecy. You can learn about
your ancestors and increase your love for them. You can be
inspired by their stories of courage and faith. You can pass
that legacy on to your children.
These are lasting benefits that come from family history
work, but they are not the principal reasons for the Church’s
great effort to gather genealogical records. All of the
Church’s family history endeavors are directed to the need to
form a “welding link . . . between the fathers and the children”
(D&C 128:18). This welding link is formed by the
power of the priesthood, through sacred temple ordinances
we receive in behalf of our ancestors.
Redeeming the Dead
Many of Heavenly Father’s children have died without
having the opportunity to receive the fulness of the gospel. In
His mercy and infinite love, the Lord has prepared a way for
them to gain a testimony of the gospel and receive the saving
ordinances of the priesthood.
In the spirit world, the gospel is “preached to those who
[have] died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or
in transgression, having rejected the prophets. These [are]
taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism
for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying
on of hands, and all other principles of the gospel that
[are] necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves
that they might be judged according to men in the
flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (D&C 138:32–34).
Many in the spirit world embrace the gospel. However,
they cannot receive priesthood ordinances for themselves
because they do not have physical bodies. In holy temples,
we have the privilege of receiving ordinances in their behalf.
These ordinances include baptism, confirmation, Melchizedek
Priesthood ordination (for men), the endowment, the marriage
sealing, and the sealing of children to parents. The Lord
revealed this work to the Prophet Joseph Smith, restoring a
practice that had been revealed to Christians shortly after the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:29).
As you receive priesthood ordinances in behalf of those
who have died, you become a savior on Mount Zion for them
(see Obadiah 1:21). Your effort approaches the spirit of the
Savior’s atoning sacrifice—you perform a saving work for
others that they cannot do for themselves.
Your Responsibilities in Family History Work
In family history work, you have three basic responsibilities:
1. Receive the temple ordinances for yourself and help
immediate family members receive them.
2. Hold a current temple recommend and attend the
temple as frequently as circumstances allow.
3. Gather family history information so you can help your
ancestors receive the blessings of the temple.
You can participate in temple and family history work, at
least to some extent, regardless of where you live or what
your circumstances are. While you probably will not be able
to do everything, you can do something. The following ideas
may help you get started:
• Record important details about your own life. Record
your birth date and birthplace and the dates of your
baptism and confirmation. Keep a personal journal to
record the highlights of your life, including personal
experiences that will strengthen the faith of your children
and other future generations.
• Learn about your ancestors. Begin by recording information
from your memory and from accessible
sources at home. Record the vital information you
accurately remember or can find about siblings, parents,
uncles and aunts, grandparents, and greatgrandparents.
Where possible, obtain copies of certificates
or other documents that include this information.
As you gather more information, you may want
to search in other locations, such as public records.
The local ward or branch may have a family history
consultant who can help you. You may also want to
visit the Church’s official Web site for family history,
www.familysearch.org.
• As you identify your ancestors, use pedigree charts
and family group forms to record the information you
find. These forms are available on paper and also in
Church-produced software programs, such as Personal
Ancestral File.
When you have gathered the necessary information
about your ancestors who have died without receiving
the gospel, ensure that temple work is performed for them.
Even if you do not live near enough to a temple for you and
your family members to be able to do the ordinance work,
you can submit ancestors’ names to a temple so others can do
the work for them. You may be able to visit a nearby family
history center or consult with local ward or branch family
history consultants to see how to do this.
The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that there are “principles
in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be
lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their
salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as . . .
they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we
without our dead be made perfect” (D&C 128:15). Through
your participation in family history work, you and your
ancestors progress toward salvation.
See also Temples
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