Blessing Lives through Temple and Family History Work

“Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent … to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers.”

Doctrine and Covenants 110:14–15

The Spiritually Refining Nature of This Work

“To turn the hearts” means that individuals and families feel a spiritual awakening as they serve their deceased relatives and experience the joy of being active participants in a fundamental part of Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation (see D&C 138:56). Participation in temple and family history work touches the soul as the Holy Ghost bears witness to the eternal nature of families.

“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. This restoration was accompanied by what is sometimes called the Spirit of Elijah—a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family.”

Elder Russell M. Nelson

In Conference Report, Apr. 1998, 43; or Ensign, May 1998, 34

Members who engage in this work are inspired to live gospel-centered lives and are more likely to participate in personal and family prayer, personal and family scripture study, and regular family home evening. Typically, when members participate in temple and family history work, they are more likely to participate in all other Church meetings.

“In my own family, some of our most sacred and treasured experiences have occurred when we have joined together in the temple to perform sealing ordinances for our deceased ancestors. … The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God.”

President Thomas S. Monson

In Conference Report, Apr. 2011, 87; or Ensign, May 2011, 93

“No work is more of a protection to this Church than temple work and the family history research that supports it. No work is more spiritually refining. No work we do gives us more power. No work requires a higher standard of righteousness.”

President Boyd K. Packer

“The Holy Temple,” Ensign, Oct. 2010, 35

Family History Can Help Leaders Accomplish the Work of Salvation Both for the Living and the Dead

Leaders can use temple and family history work as a way to strengthen members and their families. Leaders consider ways to use family history in:

• Missionary work

• Convert retention

• Member activation

• Teaching the gospel

This guide provides examples of how this can be accomplished.

Now Is the Ideal Time for Temple and Family History Work

On April 3, 1836, the prophet Elijah appeared in the Kirtland Temple and restored the keys of the sealing power, fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi that had been declared to Joseph Smith (see Joseph Smith—History 1:38; D&C 110).

“It is tremendously significant to me that this declaration, this repetition of the wondrous words of Malachi concerning the work for the dead, was given to the boy Joseph four years before he was allowed to take the plates from the hill. It was given before he received either the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood, before he was baptized, and well before the Church was organized. It says much concerning the priority of this work in the plan of the Lord.”

President Gordon B. Hinckley

“A Century of Family History Service,” Ensign, Mar. 1995, 61

Elijah’s appearance to the Prophet Joseph Smith marked the beginning of temple and family history work in this dispensation. In our day, temple and family history work has accelerated. Technological advances have enabled FamilySearch to provide temple and family history records online, making them easily accessible to members worldwide. Temples are available to more members in more places.

Church members continue to grow in their capacity to understand and use new methods to prepare names for the temple. With more records accessible to more people and new tools embraced by a rising genera­tion, the time has fully come “to turn the hearts” of God’s children.

Leadership of Temple and Family History Work

Priesthood leaders provide doctrinal and administrative direction to temple and family history work. Their direction is essential to lead members to the temple through family history efforts. They teach members and encourage them to attend the temple and participate in family history work.

Priesthood leaders’ responsibilities include the following:

• Stake presidents hold the keys for this work and therefore preside over and direct temple and family history efforts in the stake.

• Bishops hold the keys for this work and therefore direct temple and family history efforts in the ward.

• High priests group leaders have the primary responsibility to coordinate the ward council’s efforts to encourage and enable temple and family history work in the ward.

Priesthood leaders and all other members of ward councils encourage members for whom they have responsibility to do the following:

• Receive their own temple ordinances and help immediate family members receive them as well.

• Hold a current temple recommend and go to the temple as often as circumstances, including family needs, allow. Unendowed adults and youth ages 12 and older, including new members, are encouraged to obtain a limited-use temple recommend and be baptized and confirmed for the dead.

• Participate in family history work by identifying their deceased relatives, requesting temple ordinances for them if needed, and performing the ordinances themselves if possible.

• Preserve records of their own lives and the lives of their ancestors, including journals, personal histories, family photos, and other family history records.

Doctrinal Study

• Malachi 4:5–6

• Ephesians 1:10

• Doctrine and Covenants 2

• Doctrine and Covenants 110

• Doctrine and Covenants 128

• Doctrine and Covenants 138

• Russell M. Nelson, “Generations Linked in Love,” Ensign, May 2010, 91–94

• Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple (36793)

Additional Resources

Register online at FamilySearch.org/serve to receive access to additional resources specifically for priesthood leaders.

Leading Members to the Temple through Family History Work

As members do family history work, they are inspired to make the temple an important part of their lives. The direction and testimony of leaders is essential in leading members to the temple through family history efforts. Below are three things that leaders can do:

Discover

“And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. … He was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy” (1 Nephi 5:16–17).

Like Lehi, leaders can quickly discover for themselves the power of family history by:

• Studying and pondering the doctrine of temple and family history work.

• Viewing records and preparing ordinances for their deceased relatives at FamilySearch.org.

• Performing ordinances in the temple for their deceased relatives.

Teach

President Boyd K. Packer taught, “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior” (Ensign, Nov. 1986, 17).

Leaders teach members the doctrine of temple and family history work. They testify that it is a fundamental part of the work of salvation.

Leaders inspire members to discover the joy of temple and family history work by teaching this doctrine and testifying of the blessings of participating in this work.

Enable

Leaders determine the best way to invite members to participate in temple and family history work and the best way to help them do the work.

Leaders provide the necessary resources to assist members in temple and family history work, including:

• Called and trained family history consultants.

• Family history classes, events, and activities.

• A family history center, if decided upon by the stake.

• A FamilySearch indexing effort, if decided upon by the stake or ward.

Ward and stake leaders help members receive the blessings of the temple through family history.