Behold, I am Jesus Christ. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally. (Ether 3:10-14) Ether 3: 10-14

The Plan of Salvation: The Plan of Happiness And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:9) Hebrews 5:9 He authored The Plan of Salvation: The Plan of Happiness

Titus 1:2. God promised Eternal Life before the world was. The Plan provided that the full benefits of the Atonement wrought by our beloved Savior might be available to all the sons and daughters of God of all generations of time. God knew that not all of His children would have the opportunity to avail themselves of the Savior’s atonement through their life’s journey on earth. There are uncounted ones who have walked the earth and who have never had the opportunity to hear and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Plan provided a Savior to pay for our sins and to teach us how to return to our Heavenly Father. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Peter 4:6) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1Cor. 15:22)

On a beautiful spring morning in 1820, Joseph Smith went into the woods near his home to pray. He did not know which church to join and decided to ask Heavenly Father. … When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! Joseph asked Heavenly Father and Jesus which church was right and which he should join. Jesus told Joseph that he should not join any of the churches, because they were all wrong. (See Joseph Smith—History 1:18) He said, "They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (Joseph Smith—History 1:19) Jesus again told Joseph not to join any of the churches. He also told him many other things during the vision.

Following the First Vision in 1820 Joseph Smith continued to pursue his common vocation in life until the 21st of September 1823. That night he supplicated God for forgiveness of his sins and follies and for a manifestation. He was visited by the angel Moroni who said God had a work for him to do; that his name should be had for good and evil; that Joseph was to translate the Book of Mormon; and then he was taught the first principle of this dispensation – “Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah … And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.” (JS history 27-39)

In 1995, in the Let Your Hearts Rejoice video, Gordon B. Hinckley said, “To me it is significant that in the opening of this dispensation, the foretelling of this remarkable family history work occurred on the initial visit of Moroni to the boy Joseph Smith on the evening of September 21, 1823... (Moroni) told of the Book of Mormon record, and after speaking in some detail concerning this, he quoted from the Book of Malachi. I repeat my brethren and sisters, it is tremendously significant to me that this declaration, this repetition of the wondrous words of Malachi concerning 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 the 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. God in His infinite wisdom had a plan under which the full benefits of the Atonement wrought by His beloved Son might be made available to all the sons and daughters of God of all generations of time. That which goes on in the House of the Lord - and which must be preceded by research - comes nearer to the spirit of the sacrifice of the Lord than any other activity of which I know... .”

On September 22, 1827 Joseph received the plates and then went through a period of persecution requiring him to move. Next he learned to translate and finally on April 5, 1829 a scribe named Oliver Cowdery was provided to Joseph. They started their work of translating the Book of Mormon on April 7, 1829. First Ordination In May 1829, we on a certain day went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins. While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying: “Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of gLevi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.”(D&C 13:1) g D&C 84:31 Therefore, as I said concerning the sons of Moses – for the sons of Moses and also the sons of Aaron shall offer an acceptable boffering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord, which house shall be built unto the Lord in this generation… b D&C128:24 … and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.

The hearts of the children will be turned to their fathers. D&C107: 1,6 There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. D&C132:29-50, Abraham 2: 6-11. Abraham first received the gospel by baptism. Then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (the covenant of Exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase. Finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity. This Abrahamic covenant was renewed with Isaac and Jacob. Being heirs to the Abrahamic covenant signifies that we have been chosen and given responsibility to provide the covenants to the children of Israel. Review: 1. What was the first principle in this dispensation taught by Moroni to Joseph Smith? The hearts of the children will be turned to their fathers. 2) In the first ordination in this dispensation done by John the Baptist, in the first verse what is the offering he tells them about? Who has the charge to prepare that offering? The offering is the record of our dead. It is to be collectively prepared by all of us with the guidance of priesthood leaders who must direct this work. 3) Ponder what an offering “worthy of all acceptation” means.

At the dedication of the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836 after distributing the Lord’s Supper to the Church, Joseph Smith retired to the pulpit, the veils being dropped, and bowed himself, with Oliver Cowdery, in solemn and silent Prayer. On this day, an Easter Sunday, the resurrected Savior appeared to the Prophet and Oliver in the Kirtland Temple and announced, "I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father. Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice." D&C 110:4-5 "After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened" and at the Lord's direction the ancient prophets Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared, one by one, to the Prophet Joseph and to Oliver Cowdery and committed the "keys of this dispensation" to carry forward "ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world." D&C 110:11-13

In 1836 Elijah Returned “This fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy that Elijah would be sent ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse.’” James E. Faust “Elijah came to enable 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. Nelson Elijah the Prophet fulfilled prophecy by restoring the keys of the sealing power to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple. (Doctrine & Covenants 110:16)

The Lord will not tamper with our agency. “Oh I wish we could see and know the things of God as they do who are laboring for the salvation of the human family who are in the Spirit World; for if this were so, this whole people, with very few exceptions, would lose all interest in the riches of the world, and instead thereof their whole desires and labors would be directed to redeem their dead.” Wilford Woodruff Boyd K. Packer in The Holy Temple, said, “There somehow seems to be the feeling that genealogical work is an all-or-nothing responsibility. That is not so. Family History work is another responsibility for every Latter-day Saint. And we may do it successfully along with all the other responsibilities that rest upon us. The bishop can do it without neglecting his flock. A stake missionary can do it without abandoning his mission. A Sunday School teacher can accomplish it without forgetting his lesson. A ward Relief Society president can do it without forsaking the sisters in the ward. You can fulfill your obligation to your kindred dead and to the Lord without forsaking your other responsibilities. You can do this work. You can do it without becoming a so-called ‘expert’ in it. But the decision, the action, must begin with the individual. The Lord will not tamper with our agency. If we want a testimony of genealogical and temple work, we must do something about that work.”

The Worth of Souls, Oct. 1934. Elder John A The Worth of Souls, Oct. 1934. Elder John A. Widtsoe wrote over 70 years ago concerning a partnership, “in our preexistent state, in the day of the great council, we made an... agreement with the Almighty. The Lord proposed a Plan ...We accepted it. Since the plan is intended for all men, we become parties to the salvation of every person under that plan. We agreed, right then and there, to be not only Saviors for ourselves, but ...Saviors for the whole human family. We went into a partnership with the Lord. The working out of the plan became then, not merely the Father's work, and the Savior's work, but also our work. The least of us, the humblest, is in partnership with the Almighty in achieving the purpose of the eternal plan of salvation. That places us in a very responsible attitude towards the human race. By that doctrine, with the Lord at the head, we become Saviors on Mount Zion, all committed to the great plan of offering salvation to the untold numbers of spirits.” Joseph Smith taught, “Let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as… they without us cannot be made perfect – neither can we without our dead be made perfect.” (D&C 128:15)

Seeking after Our Dead, 1928, pp. 35-36 Seeking after Our Dead, 1928, pp. 35-36. President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “It matters not what else we have been called to do, or what position we may occupy, or how faithfully in other ways we have labored in the Church, none are exempt from this great obligation. It is required of the apostle as well as the humblest elder. Place, or distinction, or long service in the Church, in the mission field, the stakes of Zion, or where or how else it may have been, will not entitle one to disregard the salvation of one’s dead. Some may feel that if they pay their tithing, attend their regular meetings and other duties, give of their substance to the poor, perchance spend one, two, or more years preaching to the world, that they are absolved from further duty. But the greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead. We may and should do all these other things, for which reward will be given, but if we neglect the weightier privilege and commandment, notwithstanding all other good works, we shall find ourselves under severe condemnation. Why such condemnation? Because the greatest responsibility in this world God has laid upon us, is to seek after our dead.”

This should [be] done under the influence of the Spirit Elder Dallin H. Oaks in his article entitled, “Family History: In Wisdom and Order” (Ensign, Jun. 1989, 6–8) says, “The first principle is that our efforts to promote temple and family history work should be such as to accomplish the work of the Lord, not to impose guilt on his children. Members of this church have many individual circumstances—age, health, education, place of residence, family responsibilities, financial circumstances, accessibility to sources for individual or library research, and many others. If we encourage members in this work without taking these individual circumstances into account, we may do more to impose guilt than to further the work. The second principle is that we should understand that in the work of redeeming the dead there are many tasks to be performed, and that all members should participate by prayerfully selecting those ways that fit their personal circumstances at a particular time. This should [be] done under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord and with the guidance of priesthood leaders who issue calls and direct the Church-administered portions of this work. Our effort is not to compel everyone to do everything, but to encourage everyone to do something. There are many different things our members can do to help in the redeeming of the dead, in temple and family history work. Some involve callings. Others are the result of personal choice. All are expressions of devotion and discipleship. All present opportunities for sacrifice and service.”

The Work of Salvation Teach Convert Retain Activate Work of Salvation Centered: Ward Councils 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. Ward councils play a key role in this great work when they consider how temple and family history work can be a resource in accomplishing the many aspects of the work of salvation, including the following: [Focus on the temple: 2:45] Missionary Work 15

The Council helps members keep their temple covenants. The Work of Salvation Members are “to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.” D&C: 138:56 The Council helps members keep their temple covenants. member In many stakes the family history center is the center for family history work. Handbook 2 Administering the Church Section 5 – Ward Council considers: 5.1.2 – Member Missionary Work 5.2.3 – Convert Retention 5.3.2 – Activation 5.4.2 – Temple & Family History Work 5.5.3 – Teaching the Gospel 16

“I want to learn family history” High Priests Group Leader The Abrahamic covenant signifies the sons of Levi are responsible to provide temple ordinances to the children of Israel. Priesthood leaders direct this collective work. The Work of Salvation The "Recruited Member" experiences a barrier of personal fear and doubt. The Ward Council uses Family History to accomplish Member Missionary work, Retention, Activation and Temple Work. Where does the Family History Center fit into the work? Centers give members and community patrons access to family history resources. With the Spirit of the Lord - Priesthood leaders guide members to experience joy in service. Old View Family history centers are the center for family history “Recruited” Beginner member member Public “Opt-in” Beginner “I want to learn family history” Consultants In many stakes the family history center is the center for family history work. High Priests Group Leader Director/ Assistant High Councilor Stake President Area FH Advisor Area Seventy 17

High Priests Group Leader The Abrahamic covenant signifies the sons of Levi are responsible to provide temple ordinances to the children of Israel. Priesthood leaders direct this collective work. The Work of Salvation With the Spirit of the Lord - Priesthood leaders guide members to experience joy in service. The work of salvation starts in Priesthood Councils member member member Public Consultants High Priests Group Leader Director/ Assistant High Councilor Stake President Area FH Advisor Area Seventy

High Priests Group Leader Stake President High Priests Group Leader Director/ Assistant High Councilor Area FH Advisor Area Seventy “Opt-in” Beginner “I want to learn family history” member Consultants non-member “Recruited” Beginner Where do the Keys Reside? Bishop Church President That is where the keys reside and that is where the work of salvation resides. The work of family history should be a resource to councils. The family history center is a vital resource but not the center of family history work. . 19 19

The Work of Salvation “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.” D&C 128:15 member The Ward Council encourages members to discuss family history interests with friends and neighbors. “Tell me about your people” In many stakes the family history center is the center for family history work. The Council helps new converts do their family history, and to experience the joy of performing baptisms for the dead within three months of their baptism. 20

The Work of Salvation Ward Council leaders assign “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.” D&C 128:15 member Ward Council leaders assign home and visiting teachers who help less active members turn their hearts to their deceased family so they can feel the Spirit of Temple work. In many stakes the family history center is the center for family history work. 21

The Work of Salvation “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.” D&C 128:15 The Ward Council prayerfully identifies members to attend temple preparation seminars, family history classes and recommends member assignments to the Family History consultants for one-on-one help. member In many stakes the family history center is the center for family history work. The Council recommends family history workshops, temple baptismal and sealing excursions, and youth involvement in developing leadership and technical skills in all aspects of Temple and Family History work including Indexing projects. The Spirit of Elijah will witness the divine nature of this work when the children turn their hearts to their fathers. Help them feel the joy. 22

The Roles of a Family History Consultant Work in a family history center Role #1: Support ward council member member There are two roles a family history consultant can play. A consultant can play both roles, but the skill sets are different and the outcomes are different. 1. The first role is to support to the ward council in helping members take names to the temple. The outcome is to turn the hearts of the members. Consultants Family History consultants help members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints identify their ancestors, link those ancestors into families, and provide temple ordinances for them. 23

The Lord is Making More Resources Available “Your opportunities and the obligations they create are remarkable in the whole history of the world. There are more temples across the earth than there ever have been. More people in all the world have felt the Spirit of Elijah move them to record the identities and facts of their ancestors' lives. There are more resources to search out your ancestors than there have ever been in the history of the world. The Lord has poured out knowledge about how to make that information available worldwide through technology that a few years ago would have seemed a miracle." (Henry B. Eyring, "Hearts Bound Together," Ensign, May 2005, 79) "That which goes on in the House of the Lord, and which must be preceded by research, comes nearer to the spirit of the sacrifice of the Lord than any other activity of which I know. Why? Because it is done by those who give freely of their time and substance, without any expectation of thanks or reward, to do for others that which they cannot do for themselves. Great is our mission, and tremendous our responsibility." (Gordon B. Hinckley, "A Century of Family History Service," Ensign, Mar. 1995, 62-63)

Family History Centers - offer a free service to the community. - are branch libraries of the Family History Library. - exist to assist members in finding evidence to accurately identify their ancestors. The Family History Department provides resources, education and assistance in the center to help all assure the accuracy of their family history records. If you need individual assistance, please arrange an appointment with a family history consultant ahead of time.

Responsibility “The exaltation of our Father’s children rests upon the completion of required ordinances, if all are to move forward on the road that leads to immortality and eternal life. The determination of accurate family history records and the work which follows in the temple are basic in this vast undertaking which the Lord has placed upon our shoulders.” Ensign (The State of the Church) Nov. 1999, pg 52 How do you prove that something is accurate? Members should IDENTIFY their kindred dead using: Full name Complete Dates Complete Places Relationships Documentation using Evidence. (Is it Folklore or Truth & Fact?) June 16, 1995, Letter from The First Presidency to All Members of the Church. “… members should be diligent in assuring the accuracy of all information submitted … to the temple for ordinance work.”

The FamilySearch – Family Tree Internet computer program was created to: Submit names of deceased relatives for temple ordinances. Share family information with others. Collaborate with others to research and accurately identify relatives. It was not created to be a replacement for personal family records. Only upload records for one family group at a time from a personal genealogy program into FamilySearch.org/Tree to avoid duplication problems. Reserve only close family member’s names and submit the rest to temple file. Don’t reserve more than you and your immediate family and friends can do in a few months. Family History consultants provide help with one on one attention in the home or in Family History Centers. FamilySearch.org provides research services to the members and the world.

A most important Promise: Family History work is not about guilt. We don't do this because we will feel guilty if we don't, nor should we feel guilty for not having it done yet at this time or moving as fast as someone else. This is a life long process. A most important Promise: When we act in faith and we choose to turn our hearts to our ancestors - “Whoever seeks to help those on the other side receives help in return in all the affairs of life… . Help comes to us from the other side as we give help to those who have passed beyond. We need help. We need strength. There are more in that other world than there are here. There is more power and strength there than we have here upon this earth… .” Elder John A. Widtsoe. The spirit will help you do as much and as fast as you can. You just provide the commitment and determination to do this work.

When you feel overwhelmed, then you need to stop for the hour or the day or the week (but determine to return to it). Then start again. We ALL feel overwhelmed at times, but like the pioneers – Press On. One step at a time. Make a “to do” list. Focus on small tasks that build a strong historical record instead of doing the task in a way that overwhelms. Develop the skills of time management, the attitude of humility and persist in being true to turning your heart to your fathers. Start with a covenant and follow that with acts that show determination. After you covenant with the Lord that you will turn your heart to your fathers and provide ordinances for them - Do Something:

1. Go to the temple regularly. Do Something: 1. Go to the temple regularly. 2. In FamilySearch.org use Family Tree and focus attention on identifying the descendants of the first five generations of your family members. 3. Schedule time periods to work on your family history. Regulate your effort by working from a “To Do” task list. Prayerfully select items from the “To Do” list by asking, “What is the best use of my time for the next thirty minutes?” 4. Share the result of your family history work with others.

President Hinckley said, “In this work there must be commitment President Hinckley said, “In this work there must be commitment. We are engaged in a great eternal struggle that concerns the very souls of the sons and daughters of God. We will continue to win if we will be faithful. We can do it. We must do it. There is nothing the Lord has asked of us that in faith we cannot accomplish.” (Ensign June 2007) … Let us, therefore, as a Church and as a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the record of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation. (Doctrine and Covenants 128:24)

He wants us to participate in HIS Plan that we might become like Him. “We will not finish our work until… we shall have saved all depending upon us; for we are to become Saviors upon Mount Zion, as well as Christ.” President Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, October 1995. “This service more nearly approaches the divine work of the Son of God, who gave His life for others, than does any other work of which I know.” President Gordon B. Hinckley. Conference Report, April 1983. He wants us to participate in HIS Plan that we might become like Him.