Refining, Spiritualizing, Tempering Influence

Family history work has the power to do something for the dead. It has an equal power to do something to the living. Family history work of Church members has a refining, spiritualizing, tempering influence on those who are engaged in it. They understand that they are tying their family together, their living family here with those who have gone before. 

- Elder Boyd K. Packer, “Your Family History: Getting Started,” Ensign, Aug. 2003, pages 12-17.

You Can Do This Work

“There somehow seems to be the feeling that genealogical work is an all-or-nothing responsibility. Genealogical work is another responsibility for every Latter-day Saint. And we may do it successfully along with all the other callings and responsibilities that rest upon us. You can fulfill your obligation to your kindred dead and to the Lord without forsaking your other Church callings. You can do it without abandoning your family responsibilities. You can do this work. You can do it without becoming a so-called “expert” in it.” 

- Elder Boyd K. Packer, “Someone Up There Loves You,” Ensign, January 1977.

As Though Someone Knew We Would Be Traveling That Way

“When the servants of the Lord determine to do as He commands, we move ahead. As we proceed, we are joined at the crossroads by those who have been prepared to help us. They come with skills and abilities precisely suited to our needs. And we find provisions—information, inventions of various kinds—set along the way waiting for us to take them up. It is as though someone knew we would be traveling that way. We see the invisible hand of the Almighty providing for us.” 

- Boyd K. Packer, “That They May Be Redeemed,” Regional Representatives Seminar, April 1, 1977.

We Are Not Left To Do This Work Alone

“I remind you that it is a veil, not a wall, that separates us from the spirit world. Veils can become thin, even parted. We are not left to do this work alone. They who have preceded us in this work and our forebears there, on occasion, are very close to us. I have a testimony of this work; it is a supernal work in the Church. I am a witness that those who go beyond the veil yet live and minister here, to the end that this work might be completed. God grant that we who have an opportunity to have part in it might seek that opportunity and labor with all our might.” 

- Boyd K. Packer, “Covenants”, LDS General Conference, April 1987.

We Are Obligated To Provide Temple Ordinances For Our Kindred Dead

St George Utah Temple - Stuart L. Gardner Photography

“Ordinances and covenants become our credentials for admission into His presence. To worthily receive them is the quest of a lifetime; to keep them thereafter is the challenge of mortality.

"Once we have received them for ourselves and for our families, we are obligated to provide these ordinances vicariously for our kindred dead, indeed for the whole human family.

"Now, there are those who scoff at the idea of vicarious ordinances performed for the salvation of souls. They think it all to be very strange.

"No thinking Christian should be surprised at such a doctrine. Was not the sacrifice of Christ a vicarious offering for and in behalf of all mankind? The very Atonement was wrought vicariously.

"The Lord did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Is it not Christlike for us to perform in the temples ordinances for and in behalf of those who cannot do them for themselves?”

- Boyd K. Packer, “Covenants”, LDS General Conference, April 1987.

Do You Want the Influence of Dignity, Wisdom, Inspiration, and Spirituality?

Brigham City Utah Temple - Photo from LDS Media Library

“Members of the Church cannot touch this work without becoming affected spiritually.  The spirit of Elijah permeates it.  Many of the little intrusions into our lives, the little difficulties and the petty problems that beset us, are put into proper perspective when we view the linking of the generations for the eternities.  We become much more patient then.  So if you want the influence of dignity and wisdom and inspiration and spirituality to envelop your life, involve yourself in temple and genealogical work.”  

- Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, Bookcraft, 1980, p. 224-225.

We Shall Be Given The Rest

“Revelation comes to individual members as they are led to discover their family records in ways that are miraculous indeed.  And there is a feeling of inspiration attending this work that can be found in no other.  When we have done all that we can do, we shall be given the rest.  The way will be opened up.”  

- Boyd K. Packer, “The Redemption of the Dead,” Ensign, November 1975.