“Ward Leadership,” To Turn the Hearts: Leader’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work (2011), 12–21
“Ward Leadership,” To Turn the Hearts, 12–21
Ward Leadership
“For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, [for] they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect.”
Bishop and His Counselors
The bishop directs the work of salvation in the ward, which includes temple and family history work. Bishops can use temple and family history work as a way to strengthen members and their families. Bishops consider ways to use family history to help with missionary work, convert retention, member activation, and teaching the gospel. Bishops should read through the entire “Ward Leadership” section for examples of ways to use family history in these efforts.
The bishop and his counselors set an example by teaching ward members the doctrine of temple and family history work and testifying of the blessings that come by participating in this work. The bishopric ensures that the high priests group leader acts as the coordinator of the ward council’s temple and family history work.
Below is an example of how family history is organized at the ward level.
How the Ward Council Strengthens the Ward through Temple and Family History Work
Temple and family history work is not only about redeeming the dead. This work is actually an integral part of one great work—the work of salvation (see Ephesians 1:10). As ward councils focus on the work of salvation, they should consider how temple and family history work can be a resource in accomplishing the many aspects of the work of salvation. Ward councils do the following:
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“Strive to help individuals build testimonies, receive saving ordinances, keep covenants, and become consecrated followers of Christ (see Moroni 6:4–5)” (Handbook 2, 4.4).
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Determine how temple and family history work can help the ward accomplish the work of salvation, including member missionary work, convert retention, activation, and teaching the gospel.
Member Missionary Work
(See Handbook 2, 5.1)
Family history allows Church members to share a gospel topic with friends and neighbors of other faiths in a nonthreatening way. Most people have a natural interest in families. Throughout the world, the hearts of millions of people have turned to their ancestors. Ward council members, including the ward mission leader, can encourage members to invite friends and family members to:
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Talk about their own family history, which can help individuals feel the Spirit and develop interest in the message of the restored gospel.
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Learn why the Church emphasizes family history by visiting mormon.org/family-history.
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Use the Church’s free family history resources, including FamilySearch.org and local family history centers. The Church has the world’s largest collection of family history and genealogical resources.
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Attend a family home evening about family history or a family history event.
The ward mission leader works closely with full-time missionaries, ward missionaries, and the ward council to consider other ways to use family history in missionary work (see Preach My Gospel [2004], 163–65).
One stake created pass-along cards with the message “Tell Me about Your Family” for members to give to their friends and neighbors. The members then invited individuals and families who showed interest to attend a family history open house or a family home evening about family history. The stake president explained how these efforts were successful:
“Family history is a nonthreatening way to have members of other faiths come into our homes and meetinghouses and build relationships with us. … We’ve struggled to involve members in missionary work. But we’ve had more member participation in this family history approach than anything else we’ve tried” (in Christopher K. Bigelow, “Using Family History as a Missionary Tool,” Ensign, Oct. 2000, 29).
Convert Retention
(See Handbook 2, 5.2)
Temple and family history work is an effective way to help the ward with the retention of new members. Those new members who do temple and family history work will have their testimonies strengthened because of the Spirit that attends the work. Ward council members could ensure that:
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The family history consultant or the home teacher or visiting teacher establishes friendships with new members by assisting them with their family history.
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New members are “nourished by the good word of God” (Moroni 6:4) when they receive the Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work, attend a family history class, learn the doctrine of temple and family history work, and experience the joy of doing temple work for their ancestors.
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New members are given opportunities to serve by obtaining a limited-use recommend and performing baptisms for the dead or by participating in FamilySearch indexing.
A new member explained how temple and family history work strengthened him:
“It wasn’t long after my baptism that I was invited to attend the ward’s family history class, and as a result I was able to submit four generations of my ancestors to the temple. It was a moving experience to go to the temple and be baptized and confirmed in their behalf” (Phil D. Reinoehl, in “Becoming Part of the Fold,” Ensign, June 1999, 67).
Activation
(See Handbook 2, 5.3)
As ward council members prayerfully identify less-active members who are most likely to return to activity, they use temple and family history work as a “means of bringing salvation unto them” (3 Nephi 18:32). As the hearts of less-active members are turned to their deceased relatives in need of ordinances, they will be motivated to obtain a current temple recommend and go to the temple.
The ward council assigns dedicated home teachers and visiting teachers to minister to less-active members. These home teachers and visiting teachers, as well as family history consultants and other ward members, can be encouraged to:
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Invite less-active members to talk about their own family history, which can help them feel the Spirit and turn their hearts to their deceased relatives.
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Help members use FamilySearch.org to create and view their own family pedigree, find historical records, and discover a new ancestor (with help from a family history consultant if necessary).
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Invite members to a family home evening about family history, a local family history center, or classes and events about family history provided by the ward or stake.
The following was related by a branch president who saw the blessings of the branch’s efforts to involve members in temple and family history work:
“Family history gets at the core of life, and people feel the Spirit. … More than half of the adults in our branch are now temple recommend holders who attend regularly. The benefits are worth any effort. The level of unity and harmony among our members has increased. Attitudes have changed. I see more dedication, faithfulness, harmony, and better self-esteem among our members. I can see changes in the relationships among husbands and wives and children. These improvements spread throughout the branch” (Harold St. Croix, in LaRene Porter Gaunt, “Leading the Way,” Ensign, Jan. 1995, 59).
Temple and Family History Work
(See Handbook 2, 5.4)
Under the direction of the bishop, members of the ward council discuss and develop a plan to encourage members to participate more fully in temple and family history work. They identify specific individuals and families who could most benefit from being involved in the work. They determine specific ways in which this work can strengthen all members—adults, youth, and children. The high priests group leader coordinates these efforts.
Adults. To help adult members, the ward council can:
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Consider which ward members could be invited to participate in temple preparation seminars.
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Review the progress of individual members who are preparing to receive the ordinances of the temple.
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Ensure that new members are contacted by family history consultants soon after their baptism to help them identify deceased ancestors and provide needed temple ordinances for them. The consultants should work with the new members’ home teachers and visiting teachers in these efforts.
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Consider setting family history goals, such as encouraging members to participate in indexing projects or inviting members to identify one of their deceased relatives and then perform temple ordinances for him or her.
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Assign ward organizations to plan activities that allow members to learn about the resources available at FamilySearch.org.
Youth. Temple and family history work can strengthen youth and young adults by giving them service opportunities, positive activities on which to spend their time, opportunities for spiritual growth, and a testimony of the work. Youth often have technical and social networking skills that are well suited for this work. They can become natural leaders in this work because of those skills. The family history skills that youth develop will serve them during their full-time missions and throughout their lives.
Members of the ward council and youth leaders can involve youth in family history by:
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Encouraging them to help others learn how to use FamilySearch.org for a Duty to God or Personal Progress project.
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Encouraging them to set goals to find an ancestor’s name and be baptized for that ancestor in the temple.
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Finding ways to teach the doctrine of family history and temple work during youth activities and conferences.
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Creating activities, games, and projects designed to help youth learn about their ancestors.
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Assigning responsible young men and young women to help others use family history technologies. For example, young men could assist families they home teach to use FamilySearch.org and thereby magnify their calling to “teach, expound, exhort” (D&C 20:42).
Children. Children can learn more about themselves as they learn about their ancestors. Primary leaders can plan Primary lessons and activities that instill in children a love for family history. Such lessons and activities could include:
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Organizing a sharing time when the children create an artistic four-generation pedigree chart.
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Planning an activity day when the children learn several facts about one of their ancestors and share them with others.
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Encouraging the children to keep their personal histories by writing in journals and keeping family letters and photos.
Teaching the Gospel
(See Handbook 2, 5.5)
Members of the ward council help the bishop ensure that the doctrines, principles, and blessings of family history and temple work are taught regularly in ward meetings. They encourage members to receive their own temple ordinances and participate actively in family history and temple work.
Each family can receive the Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work to use in the home and in family history classes.
Holding a temple and family history class is a good way to increase participation and interest in family history. The class can be used to help with ward activation, retention, and missionary efforts. Anyone may be invited to attend the class. The ward council may decide to invite certain ward members.
The class is taught by an effective instructor, who may or may not be a family history consultant. The class may be taught during Sunday School or at another time that is more convenient for members. It is taught under the direction of the bishopric rather than the Sunday School president.
Lessons are generally conducted as workshops in which members actually complete their own family history work, either on the computer or on paper. Where feasible, class participants should have access to computers. Many meetinghouses are currently being equipped with wireless Internet connections.
The number of class participants should be limited to the number who can be given personal help. The class can be repeated as often as necessary to accommodate all who desire to attend.
Family history consultants can provide personal help to participants during the class as well as after the class in members’ homes or family history centers.
Resources available for the class include the Instructor’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work, the accompanying Temple and Family History Course DVD, and the Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work. Leaders should go to the Serving in the Church section of LDS.org to find additional resources.
High Priests Group Leader
The high priests group leader coordinates the ward council’s efforts to encourage temple and family history work in the ward. He is accountable to the bishop for the results of these efforts. He also directs the work of family history consultants. He receives assistance and training from the high councilor assigned to temple and family history work.
High Priests Group Leader
Coordinates the ward council’s efforts
Directs the work of consultants
In wards or branches where there is no high priests group leader, the elders quorum president or another assigned Melchizedek Priesthood holder in the ward council fills this role.
Coordinates the Ward Council’s Efforts
The high priests group leader coordinates the ward council’s efforts as he:
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Works with the ward council to develop a plan to encourage individuals and ward auxiliaries to participate more fully in temple and family history work.
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Consults with each member of the ward council to determine specific ways that temple and family history work can be used to help the members of their organizations.
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Encourages members of the ward council to discuss temple and family history matters in their meetings.
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Organizes ward temple visits.
Directs the Work of Consultants
The high priests group leader directs the work of family history consultants as he:
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Recommends members to be called and set apart as family history consultants, as requested by the bishopric.
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Works with the bishopric to ensure that enough consultants are called to meet the needs of the ward.
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Provides assignments to consultants, including assignments to work with certain ward members.
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Ensures that consultants are properly prepared to perform their callings and makes them aware of the training resources at FamilySearch.org/serve.
Family History Consultants
The bishopric and the high priests group leader determine how many family history consultants are needed in the ward. The high priests group leader directs their efforts.
Consultants are skilled teachers who work and communicate well with others. While consultants need not be experts in family history research, they should be comfortable using the resources at FamilySearch.org and helping others use them. These FamilySearch resources include family pedigrees, historical records, and the FamilySearch indexing program. Youth can be called to serve as consultants when their technology skills can be helpful in assisting others.
Consultants register at FamilySearch.org/serve to receive information, training, and updates from the Church.
Working with Leaders
Consultants help ward leaders learn about family history so they can share it with those they serve. Consultants take the initiative to reach out to leaders by:
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Helping them work on their own family history so they can perform temple ordinances for their deceased relatives.
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Demonstrating how family history can help them in their calling to minister to those they serve.
Working with Members
Consultants take the initiative to reach out to members, especially those who are not comfortable using technology, by:
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Helping a few individuals or families at a time to work on their own family history so they can perform temple ordinances for their deceased relatives. The most effective place to do this is in members’ homes. The ward council could determine specific individuals or families for the consultant to work with. The high priests group leader assigns these families to the consultant.
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Answering family history questions from ward leaders and members.
Other Assignments
Some consultants have experience and skills that particularly suit them for additional tasks, such as:
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Serving in family history centers.
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Assisting members and other consultants in more advanced research efforts.
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Training other consultants.
The ward council uses temple and family history work to bring joy and spiritual growth to those they serve.
As members’ hearts are turned to their deceased relatives, they will be motivated to obtain a temple recommend and go to the temple.
Members of all ages can participate in some aspect of temple and family history work.
Family history classes can increase interest and participation in family history. Classes can supplement activation, retention, and missionary efforts.
Family history classes are conducted as workshops where participants get hands-on experience and receive personal help.
The high priests group leader provides consultants with direction and assignments.
Family history consultants are essential to successful family history work. They help individuals and families experience the joy of doing family history.
Family history consultants are skilled teachers who work and communicate well with others. They are comfortable using technology.