As Though The Whole Labor Depended On Themselves Alone

Nauvoo Illinois Temple
Photo From LDS Media Library 

"Believing the time has now come, when it is necessary to erect a house of prayer, a house of order, a house for the worship of our God, where the ordinances can be attended to agreeably to His divine will. . . . it behooves the Saints to weigh the importance of these things, in their minds, [and] . . . resolve to do all they can, and feel themselves as much interested as though the whole labor depended on themselves alone. By so doing they will emulate the glorious deeds of the fathers, and secure the blessings of heaven upon themselves and their posterity to the latest generation. To those who feel thus interested, and can assist in this great work, we say, let them . . . assist in the rolling on of the Kingdom, . . . and rise higher and higher in the scale of intelligence until they can 'comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length, and depth and height; and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.'" 

- Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:186.

Not Only Correct But Complete

Salt Lake City Temple - Stuart L. Gardner Photography

“Wilt thou … permit holy messengers to visit us within these sacred walls and make known unto us with regard to the work we should perform in behalf of our dead. And, as thou hast inclined the hearts of many who have not yet entered into covenant with thee to search out their progenitors, and in so doing they have traced the ancestry of many of thy Saints, we pray thee that thou wilt increase this desire in their bosoms, that they may in this way aid in the accomplishment of thy work. Bless them, we pray thee, in their labors, that they may not fall into errors in preparing their genealogies; and furthermore, we ask thee to open before them new avenues of information, and place in their hands the records of the past, that their work may not only be correct but complete also.”  

- President Wilford Woodruff, 6 April 1893, Salt Lake Temple Dedication,

The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham (1946), 341.

We Should All Be Very Diligent

Salt Lake City Temple - Stuart L. Gardner Photography

"The time must come when temples will be found all over the earth, in many nations. This is most necessary for the salvation, exaltation, and eternal life of man. Then we should all be very diligent in gathering the family records and so live to be worthy of taking part in this work."

- Eldred G. Smith, LDS General Conference, October 1972

Note: In 1972, there were 13 operating temples. Today, there are currently 150 operating temples, 16 under construction, and 11 more announced.

Make The Decision To Take A Step

“To assist members, the Church has gathered records and provided tools so that much of the work can be done in our own homes or in the ward buildings and the temple. Most obstacles have been removed. Whatever your past perception, it is different now! However, there is one obstacle the Church cannot remove. It is an individual’s hesitation to do the work. All it requires is a decision and a little effort. It does not require a large block of time. Just a little time on a consistent basis will yield the joy of the work. Make the decision to take a step, to learn and ask others to help you. They will! The names you find and take to the temple will become the records for “the book.” 

– Elder Allan F. Packer, The Book, LDS General Conference, October 2014.