Area Leadership Message
The Joy That Comes from Family History and Temple Work
I was baptized when I was 10 years old, in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. I remember that a few months after my baptism, some families in our branch went on a trip to the Mesa Arizona Temple, after having managed to save, at great sacrifice, for their travel expenses.
Upon their return, some young people shared their experiences, and the adults also gave their testimonies of this wonderful experience.
I thought that I would never travel to the temple with my family, first of all, because of the spiritual needs we had, that is, my parents were separated; and also, for our temporal needs. We were a large family and in our economic situation, even with all her efforts, my mother could not satisfy our basic needs.
Five years after I was baptized, while I was studying in the Church’s high school, Benemérito de las Américas, the construction of the first temple in Mexico was announced. At school we were invited to participate in an activity that consisted of making partitions for the temple.
At first, I thought it would just be an opportunity to have fun with my friends. After several hours of hard work and with some blisters on my hand, I realized that although it had not been so much fun, I felt joy in my heart for having done my small part in the construction.
When the temple was ready, I also helped with the setup during some of the dedication sessions. In one of them I had one of the most sacred spiritual experiences of my life.
I was asked to help in one of the corridors of the floor where the celestial room was located and just before the dedication session began, I was asked to occupy the only seat that was available within the room. It is difficult for me to put into words what I felt in that sacred place, I can only say that I wanted to keep that feeling of peace and joy for the rest of my life.
Once the temple was dedicated, my mother received her endowment, and two years later, I, too, was endowed before serving a mission.
In 1995, my wife and I were sealed in the temple. Our three children were born in the covenant. Little by little, I have come to understand more and more clearly the sacred covenants that we make in the temple.
In 1998, during a trip with my family through the state of Utah, in the United States, we visited the Monticello Utah Temple. As we walked around the temple, my wife and I discussed the words we had heard regarding the construction of more temples in Mexico. We thought that if one day a temple was built in Oaxaca, it would be in a long time, and we might not see it.
How wrong we were and how short our vision was. Thus, saith the Lord: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”1 Two years later, on March 11, 2000, the Oaxaca Mexico Temple was dedicated by President James E. Faust (1920-2007).
In the past, members traveling from Oaxaca to the Mesa Arizona Temple would travel three days one way and three days back. After 1983, to attend the Mexico City Temple, the trip took only eight hours by bus one way and the same time back. What a great change!
However, as of the year 2000, the members of the Church who live in the city of Oaxaca have a beautiful temple just a few minutes from their homes. I think we have a lot to be thankful for, for this great blessing, and the best way to thank Him is to work hard on our family history and attend the temple to do vicarious work for our loved ones on the other side of the veil.
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “As Church members, we do have a divinely appointed responsibility to seek out our ancestors and compile family histories. This is far more than an encouraged hobby, because the ordinances of salvation are necessary for all of God’s children.”2
Some of my siblings and I are now sealed to our parents. Currently, I have been spending more time in family history work. I have visited more family members who are not members of the Church to learn more about my ancestors so that I can perform temple ordinances for them. I have had a few meetings with my siblings to encourage them to participate in family history as well.
President Russell M. Nelson said: “Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life.”3
I testify that this is the Church of our Savior Jesus Christ and that He leads this great work on both sides of the veil. Temples are the house of the Lord on earth. I testify of the joy that comes when we strive to spend time working on family history and attending the temple. If we keep the covenants that we make in that sacred place, we can live together with our loved ones for all eternity.