They That Be With Us Are More

Ministry of Angels - Kerri Guthrie

“Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

“And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

“And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

“And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 

- 2 Kings 6:14-17

I believe that when we are involved in doing work for our ancestors, they provide protection to us. Perhaps it looks like this.

They Came 180 Years Ago Today ... The Beginning of the Blessing

The Lord Appears in the Kirtland Temple, Photo from LDS Media Library

Visions manifested to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, April 3, 1836. The occasion was that of a Sabbath day meeting. Joseph Smith’s history states: “In the afternoon, I assisted the other Presidents in distributing the Lord’s Supper to the Church, receiving it from the Twelve, whose privilege it was to officiate at the sacred desk this day. After having performed this service to my brethren, I retired to the pulpit, the veils being dropped, and bowed myself, with Oliver Cowdery, in solemn and silent prayer. After rising from prayer, the following vision was opened to both of us.”

The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.

We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber.

His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

I am the first and the last; 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.

Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name.

For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.

Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house.

Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in this house.

And the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands; and this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people. Even so. Amen.

After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north.

After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed.

After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

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—

Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.

- Doctrine and Covenants 110

RootsTech 2016: Micro Tasking Family History

This class is called: Micro Tasking Family History and the speaker was Tim Cross from FamilySearch.

Here are some of my takeaways from this session:

When we teach someone to fish we don't pull out the Utah Fishing Guidebook and read to them the rules and regulations. We give them a fishing pole and take them to our favorite fishing hole. We show them how to cast and let them try it for themselves. Or we find a mentor who is expert at fishing and have them teach how to fish. Soon the new person is catching fish. Over time if they are continually interested in fishing, they will learn all the required rules and regulations.

The same is true for family history. We should not overwhelm someone who is new to family history with all the rules and regulations. We should provide them the proper tools and take them to a "fishing hole" within the Family Tree where we know they will have success.

FamilySearch is attempting to help identify "fishing holes" for us. They have created and are creating more marketing campaigns to lead us to places in Family Tree where we can find success.

Some of the past campaigns:

https://familysearch.org/pioneers

https://familysearch.org/josephsmithpapers

https://familysearch.org/mormonbattalion

https://familysearch.org/campaign/myancestorsobituaries

Here is an example of an email from FamilySearch that was sent to one of my distant cousins:

These are all "fishing holes"; opportunities to have someone spend time in the Family Tree.

Micro-tasks are things that can be done in 15-30 minutes. Here are some ideas:

• Adding one ancestor a day until 4 generations are complete
• Attaching a source
• Adding photos of headstones to BillionGraves
• Indexing
• Adding a photo or story to a relative

Do you have the personalized home page when you log in to FamilySearch? It looks like this:

If you don't have it or you did have it, but you closed the "test" and would like it again, follow this link:  https://familysearch.org/lihp/a/1

The personalized home page contains "Recommended Tasks" or micro-tasks for you to do. Here is an example from my husband's page:

This is what the Recommended Tasks looks like on my page:

I used to have some tasks available, but they are currently already completed. Great job for my sister and all her hard work! Though, there are still things to do in Family Tree.

The tasks section here works like this. It goes back 4 generations and down one generation: Parents (and children), Grandparents (and children), Great Grandparents (and children), and 2nd Great Grandparents (and children). Though some of those greats have 4-5 generations of descendants in the tree and they have source hints that need to be attached still.

So though we "haven't broken it", our section will stay this way until new indexed records are loaded into Family Tree or until other persons are added to these generations. Though as we find and add these people, we are attaching every available source we can find at the time. So, it may be awhile until we have any recommended tasks again.

FamilySearch is trying to identify for us the best "fishing holes". What is needed are really good "fishing guides" - family history consultants.

"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

- Matthew 4:19

#RootsTech

What Were The Promises Made To The Fathers?

Ogden Utah Temple - © Stuart Gardner 

Who are the fathers? We have Patriarchal fathers and we have our own ancestral fathers. All of them have received promises from the Lord himself.

When we hear the question, "What were the promises made to the fathers?" we think of the Patriarchal fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We tend to think first of the Abrahamic Covenant. Did you know that the promises actually started with the first Patriarch Adam?

"Although we generally speak of the Abrahamic covenant beginning with Abraham, he was actually the inheritor of promises, passed down through the lineage of his fathers, that began with Adam. Abraham himself wrote: “And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness” (Abr. 1:2). Abraham desired and “sought” the priesthood with all its accompanying promises. These blessings “came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time” (Abr. 1:3)." 

- S. Michael Wilcox. The Abrahamic Covenant, Ensign, January 1998.

"Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation). Then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is 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 (D&C 132:29–50; Abr. 2:6–11). Included in the divine promises to Abraham were the assurances that (1) Christ would come through his lineage, and that (2) Abraham’s posterity would receive certain lands as an eternal inheritance (Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3; Abr. 2). These promises taken together are called the “Abrahamic covenant.” It was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 26:1–4, 24) and again with Jacob (Gen. 28; 35:9–13; 48:3–4). 

"The portions of the covenant that pertain to personal salvation and eternal increase are renewed with each individual who receives the ordinance of celestial marriage (see D&C 132:29–33). Those of non-Israelite lineage, commonly known as Gentiles, are adopted into the house of Israel and become heirs of the covenant and the seed of Abraham through the ordinances of the gospel (Gal. 3:26–29). 

"Being an heir to the Abrahamic covenant does not make one a “chosen person” per se but does signify that such are chosen to responsibly carry the gospel to all the peoples of the earth. Abraham’s seed have carried out the missionary activity in all the nations since Abraham’s day. (Matt. 3:9; Abr. 2:9–11.)

"To fulfill the covenant God made with Abraham—having particular reference to the fact that the literal seed of his body would be entitled to all of the blessings of the gospel (Abr. 2:10–11)—a number of specific and particular things must take place in the last days. The gospel must be restored, the priesthood must be conferred again upon man, the keys of the sealing power must be given again to mortals, Israel must be gathered, and the Holy Ghost must be poured out upon the Gentiles. All this has already taken place or is in process of fulfillment."

- LDS Bible Dictionary

What about our ancestral fathers? What were the promises the Lord made to them?

The answer is found in Section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This section contains a vision of the redemption of the dead given to President Joseph F. Smith on October 3, 1918.

This is the verse break down of the section:
1–10, President Joseph F. Smith ponders upon the writings of Peter and our Lord’s visit to the spirit world; 11–24, President Smith sees the righteous dead assembled in paradise and Christ’s ministry among them; 25–37, He sees how the preaching of the gospel was organized among the spirits; 38–52, He sees Adam, Eve, and many of the holy prophets in the spirit world who considered their spirit state before their resurrection as a bondage; 53–60, The righteous dead of this day continue their labors in the world of spirits.

Pay particular attention to the following verses - D&C 138:28-35, 58-59

Especially:

31 And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel. 

32 Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets. 

33 These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands,

58 The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God,

59 And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.

The Lord himself promised all of our ancestral fathers they would have the opportunity for vicarious baptism (covenant of salvation) and redemption through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God (covenant of exaltation).

“My beloved young brothers and sisters, family history is not simply an interesting program or activity sponsored by the Church; rather, it is a vital part of the work of salvation and exaltation. You have been prepared for this day and to build up the kingdom of God. You are here upon the earth now to assist in this glorious work. I testify Elijah returned to the earth and restored the sacred sealing authority. I witness that what is bound on earth can be bound in heaven.”

- Elder David A. Bednar, The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn, Gen. Conf., October 2011. 

Elijah's Promised Return Occurred on Passover Easter Sunday 3 April 1836

Photo from LDS Media Library

3 April 1836 – Passover Easter Sunday

“After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

“Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

“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—

“Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.”

- D&C 110:13-16

***

*“Now, the word turn here should be translated bind, or seal. But what is the object of this important mission? or how is it to be fulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah is to come, the Gospel to be established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on Mount Zion

“But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah. …”

- History of the Church, 6:183–84; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Jan. 21, 1844, 

in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Wilford Woodruff.

What Are The Promises That Were Made To The Fathers?

Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith - Photo from LDS Media Library

September 21, 1823 – Moroni, now a resurrected being, appeared to Joseph Smith four times over the course of the evening and into the next morning. Repeating his message each time. How important is this work of redemption? It was one of the first things uttered by Moroni to Joseph; and repeated four times. This is what Moroni told Joseph Smith:

“Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

“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.”

- Doctrine and Covenants 2:1-3

? What are the promises that were made to the fathers?

? How are they planted in our hearts?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Why Does Elijah Turn The Hearts Of The Fathers First?

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

“And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” 

– Malachi 4:5-6

? Why does Elijah turn the hearts of the fathers first?

Share your thoughts in the comments.