Family History and Redeeming the Dead

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.

~Richard G. Scott, The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, Conference October 2012

The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead. … For it is necessary that the sealing power should be in our hands to seal our children and our dead for the fulness of the dispensation of times—a dispensation to meet the promises made by Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world for the salvation of man. … Hence, God said, ‘I will send you Elijah the prophet. “But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples … and going forth and receiving all the ordinances … in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead … ; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah”

~Teachings: Joseph Smith, pages 472–473

The Spirit of Elijah is “a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family

~ Russell M. Neilson, A New Harvest Time, Ensign, May 1998, 34

I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah… 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.

~David A. Bednar, The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn, Conference October 2011

But what about you? Have you prayed about your own ancestors’ work? Set aside those things in your life that don’t really matter. Decide to do something that will have eternal consequences. Perhaps you have been prompted to look for ancestors but feel you are not a genealogist. Can you see that you don’t have to be anymore? It all begins with love and a sincere desire to help those beyond the veil who can’t help themselves. Check around. There will be someone in your area who can help you have success.

~Richard G. Scott, The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, Conference October 2012

When you were baptized, your ancestors looked down on you with hope. … They rejoiced to see one of their descendants make a covenant to find them. Their hearts are bound to you. Their hope is in your hands.”

~ Henry B. Eyring, Hearts Bound Together, Conference April 2005

How are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances . . .upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them”

~ Joseph Smith, (History of the Church, 6:184)

Elijah came to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the children to the fathers. With that, natural affection between generations began to be enriched. 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.

~ Russell M. Neilson, A New Harvest Time, Conference April 1998

As you decide, 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. . . . 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.

~ Henry B. Eyring, Hearts Bound Together, Conference April 2005

The work of seeking out our dead and ensuring that the ordinances of exaltation are performed in their behalf is a mandate from our Heavenly Father and his Beloved Son. They do not leave us to struggle alone but rather, in ways which are sometimes dramatic, prepare the way and answer our prayers.

~ Thomas S. Monson, Happy Birthday, Ensign, Mar. 1995, 58).

My Own Thoughts and Testimony; 

Repentance is required of all men and God has established commandments and covenants that we must obey in order to receive eternal life. Of all the billions of people who have lived on this earth, only a small portion of them have been taught the truthfulness of the gospel. So what about the other portion? Does not God have compassion and love for all of His children equally? The answer to this question is yes! One of the great responsibilities that we have in these last days is to perform the redeeming work for our ancestors that is essential for eternal life and exaltation. When we take part in this great work we give those who have not heard the gospel in this life a chance to accept it. We accomplish this work by doing family history and then we can take those names to the temple where these ordinances are completed such as baptism. The Lord has promised that when we take part in this work we will be greatly blessed and will find a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary from our lives.