My Calling as a Ward Temple and Family History Consultant

Responsibilities

The Lord is grateful for your willingness to serve in His Church. Below is an overview of the responsibilities for your calling.

Temple and Family History Work

Temple ordinances and covenants bless Heavenly Father’s children. Heavenly Father invites all His children to qualify for and receive temple ordinances. Church members are encouraged to discover and identify their ancestors and perform temple ordinances on their behalf (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:18). Temple and family history work is the means for uniting and sealing families for eternity in the temple (see Matthew 16:19). (See General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 25.)

Temple and Family History Consultant

Ward temple and family history consultants serve under the direction of the ward temple and family history leader or a member of the elders quorum presidency if one is not called, and coordinate temple and family history work for the ward (see 25.2.3). They participate in temple and family history coordination meetings (see 25.2.7) and serve in a local FamilySearch center when assigned (see 25.3.6).

A consultant’s primary responsibility is to help others in simple ways to experience the joy of discovering their ancestors and performing temple ordinances on their behalf. These experiences are especially important for those learning the gospel, new and returning members, and those preparing to receive a recommend for proxy baptisms and confirmations (see 25.2.4).

Supporting Members

Each ward should have a simple temple and family history plan to help guide your work. This plan helps ward members, including children and youth, prepare to worship in the house of the Lord and participate in family history work as often as their circumstances allow (see 25.2.6).

Consultants support members by helping them prepare to receive their own temple ordinances and covenants and then to serve their ancestors by performing temple ordinances on their behalf. Following are resources to help temple and family history consultants fulfill their responsibilities (see 25.4).