Sister DeFreitas opened with an interesting thought: a temple dedication on earth is a wonderful opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the Lord's work for those who have died. She then paraphrased the story at the beginning of the lesson about a Mr. Purley who had a great passion for family history work. When asked why he did this work, he didn't know why, but he felt he couldn't stop. President Smith shared with him the reason behind his urgency to which the man replied:
“ he laughed and said, ‘It is a very pretty story, but I do not believe it.’ Yet he admitted that there was something compelling him to carry on this research, and he could not stop. I have met a great many others who also started and could not stop, men and women who are not members of the Church. So we find today thousands of men and women searching out the records of the dead. They do not know why, but it is so that we can obtain these compiled records and go into our temples and do the work for our dead."
Why do we do this work? Why do we go to the temple? This man did not believe and yet he could not stop his research. Family history is more than gathering info and stories about our ancestors, it is about the saving ordinances, about the ties between heaven and earth.
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
We have a much clearer interpretation of the words of Malachi given by the Nephite prophet Moroni, who appeared to Joseph Smith September 21, 1823. This is the way the angel quoted them:
“Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
“And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
“If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.” (D&C 2:1–3.)
Moroni informed Joseph Smith that this prediction was about to be fulfilled. The fulfillment came some twelve years later, on April 3, 1836. On this day Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple and there conferred upon them … the power to bind, or seal, on earth and in heaven. The keys of this priesthood were held by Elijah, to whom the Lord gave power over the elements as well as over men, with the authority to seal for time and eternity on the righteous all the ordinances pertaining to the fullness of salvation.4
Some members of the Church have been confused in thinking that Elijah came with the keys of baptism for the dead or of salvation for the dead. Elijah’s keys were greater than that. They were the keys of sealing, and those keys of sealing pertain to the living and embrace the dead who are willing to repent.'
We can all have personal experiences when we do this saving work. Several sisters shared their intimate stories of doing work for their ancestors. Small discoveries in our research can lead to big miracles. Our work can help others in their work as well. We are all connected to this work. Temple work blesses the living and those who have died.
'Why would the earth be wasted? Simply because if there is not a welding link between the fathers and the children—which is the work for the dead—then we will all stand rejected; the whole work of God will fail and be utterly wasted. Such a condition, of course, shall not be.8
The restoration of this [sealing] authority is the leaven that saves the earth from being utterly wasted at the coming of Jesus Christ. When we get this truth firmly and clearly fixed in our minds, it is easy to see that there would be only confusion and disaster should Christ come and the power of sealing not be here.'
Temple work+ the plan of salvation= is all connected, it is the gospel plan in full force. Reciveing your own ordinances is the key to the work, it then opens up your ability to do the work for others, you are their link to salvation.
'Temple work is so interwoven with the plan of salvation, that one cannot exist without the other. In other words, there can be no salvation where there [are] no temple ordinances peculiarly belonging to the temple.
'It is obvious that only a small portion of mankind has so far heard the word of revealed truth from the voice of one of the Lord’s true servants. In the wisdom and justice of the Lord, all must do so. As Peter said:
“For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6.)
The turning of the hearts of fathers to children and of children to fathers, is the power of salvation for the dead, by means of the vicarious work which the children may perform for their fathers, and is in every sense reasonable and consistent. I have heard it said many times by those who oppose this work that it is impossible for one person to stand vicariously for another. Those who express themselves in this way overlook the fact that the entire work of salvation is a vicarious work, Jesus Christ standing as the propitiator, redeeming us from death, for which we were not responsible, and also redeeming us from the responsibility of our own sins, on condition of our repentance and acceptance of the gospel. He has done this on a grand infinite scale and by the same principle he has delegated authority to the members of his Church to act for the dead who are helpless to perform the saving ordinances for themselves.'
The whole work of salvation is vicarious work, we need to remember the great work of our Savior for us was also a vicarious work, working out the salvation for each of our souls, a massive and holy task. A great way to help us in our efforts to do family history work is to stop thinking about doing work for 'the dead' but as living spirits waiting for us to connect with them on the other side.
'I think sometimes we look at this work for the salvation of the dead rather narrowly. It is a wrong conception to think of the people for whom we are doing work in the temple of the Lord as being
Even if all the 'work' for your particular family may be finished all the way down to Adam, there are ways you can serve. You can index and help connect other church members to their families. You can teach your children the importance of the work, and help others in their research. You can keep your own histories and journals as a part of the legacy of your family. Temple work is a continuance of the family unit.
'All contracts, bonds, obligations and agreements made by men shall come to an end, but the obligations and agreements entered into in the house of the Lord, if faithfully kept, will last forever [see D&C 132:7]. This doctrine gives us a clearer concept of the purposes of the Lord toward his children. It shows his abundant and unlimited mercy and love to all who obey him, aye, even to those who are rebellious, for in his goodness he will grant great blessings even unto them.'
As we serve in the temple in the labor of love, we will draw closer to the spirit and have wonderful experiences. As we heard today in sacrament meeting we will be entitled to inspiration and revelation and guidance as we see the Lord's help. We will be greatly blessed for our efforts. We also need to make more of an effort to attend the temple more regularly. Instead of complaining about the distance or traffic, feel gratitude that is it close by and doesn't require great financial and other sacrifices to attend.
'There must be a welding, a joining together of the generations from the days of Adam to the end of time. Families will be joined
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