Why Family History? (1989)

I

i

Why Family

History?

Why does The C h u r c h of Jesus Christ of Latter-day S a i n t s s p e n d large s u m s of money gathering family history records?

Why are M o r m o n s * interested i n f a m i l y h i s t o r y , a n d what is the religious significance of all this activity?

The a n s w e r to these questions m a y be f o u n d i n the L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t b e l i e f s that family r e l a t i o n s h i p s are both eternal a n d s a c r e d i n nature a n d that fesus C h r i s t l i v e s a n d is the S a v i o r of m a n k i n d . " B u t , " y o u m a y ask, "are n o t t h e s e b e l i e f s c o m m o n to all C h r i s t i a n c h u r c h e s ? " T h e a n s w e r is, not i n the s a m e way we believe them to be true. We believe literally in Jesus Christ as the L i v i n g C h r i s t , the actual Son of God, and that we are all spirit c h i l d r e n of G o d , the E t e r n a l Father, fesus h i m s e l f p r o c l a i m e d h i s s o n s h i p to the F a t h e r ;

*The name "Mormon" comes from the prophet Mormon who lived on the American continent. He made the abridgment of the records which hove been translated as the Book of Mormon. The word "Mormons" refers to members of The Church of fesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

S a y y e of h i m , w h o m the F a t h e r h a t h s a n c t i f i e d , a n d sent into the w o r l d . T h o u h l a s p h e m e s t ; b e c a u s e 1 s a i d , 1 a m the S o n of G o d ?

If 1 do not the w o r k s of m y F a t h e r , b e l i e v e m e not. ( J o h n 10;36-37)

P a u l spoke of this relationship not to he questioned:

as

one

G o d , w h o at s u n d r y t i m e s a n d i n d i v e r s m a n n e r s s p a k e in t i m e past u n t o the f a t h e r s b y the p r o p h e t s , Hath

in these

last d a y s s p o k e n u n t o u s b y h i s S o n ,

w h o m h e h a t h a p p o i n t e d h e i r of a l l t h i n g s , b y w h o m a l s o he m a d e the w o r l d s ; W h o being the b r i g h t n e s s of h i s g l o r y , a n d the e x p r e s s image of h i s p e r s o n , a n d u p h o l d i n g a l l t h i n g s b y the w o r d of h i s p o w e r , w h e n h e h a d b y h i m s e l f p u r g e d o u r s i n s , sat d o w n o n the right h a n d of the M a j e s t y o n h i g h ; B e i n g m a d e s o m u c h better t h a n the a n g e l s , as h e h a t h by i n h e r i t a n c e o b t a i n e d a m o r e e x c e l l e n t n a m e t h a n they. ( H e b r e w s 1:1-4)

The Resurrection W e believe a l s o t h a t J e s u s C h r i s t w a s literally resurrected with a body of flesh and bones. Jesus s a i d of this resurrected body: B e h o l d m y h a n d s a n d m y feet, that it is 1 m y s e l f ; h a n d l e me, a n d see; for a s p i r i t h a t h not flesh a n d b o n e s , a s y e see me h a v e . ( L u k e 24:39)

T o Latter-day Saints, the resurrection of the body is a very real concept.

We believe that all p e r s o n s born on this e a r t h will enjoy this same privilege of h a v i n g a tangible body of flesh and bones a f t e r this life.

W h e n w e see the efforts made by some people to r e g a r d the r e s u r r e c t i o n a s o n l y s y m b o l i c , w e s h o r e the a m a z e m e n t of P a u l , w h o s a i d to K i n g A g r i p p o : why s h o u l d it be t h o u g h t a t h i n g i n c r e d i b l e w i t h y o u , that G o d s h o u l d r a i s e the d e a d ? ( A c t s 26:8)

If the resurrection is real, then it is possible for us to d w e l l in the v e r y presence of God the Eternal Father with tangible, resurrected bodies. T h e r e w e will have the blessings of family love and affection for all eternity.

Eternal

Families

W h e n the poet s a n g of a love to last " u n t i l stars g r o w old a n d the sun grows c o l d , " he expressed the hope of m a n y men a n d w o m e n that family love and family life could continue forever beyond the grave.

Family relationships should last forever instead of just "until death do you part." ^ Latter-day Saints believe that such eternal family relationships are possible. Families may be bound together under G o d ' s p l a n not fust for this life only, but for all eternity.

W h e n fesus C h r i s t gave the A p o s t l e Peter p o w e r to s e a l on earth, he said that s u c h a s e a l i n g w o u l d also be v a l i d in h e a v e n : A n d I w i l l g i v e u n t o thee the k e y s of the k i n g d o m of heaven: and w h a t s o e v e r thou shalt bind on earth shall be b o u n d in h e a v e n : a n d w h a t s o e v e r t h o u s h a l t l o o s e o n e a r t h s h a l l be l o o s e d in h e a v e n . ( M a t t h e w 16:19)

O u r Heavenly Father desires that men and w o m e n be sealed in marriage for time a n d eternity while on this earth, for as Jesus pointed out there will be no marriages performed in heaven: J e s u s a n s w e r e d a n d s a i d u n t o t h e m , Y e do err, k n o w i n g the s c r i p t u r e s , n o r the p o w e r of G o d .

not

F o r in the r e s u r r e c t i o n t h e y n e i t h e r m a r r y , n o r a r e g i v e n in m a r r i a g e , but a r e a s the a n g e l s of G o d i n h e a v e n . ( M a t t h e w 22:29-30)

If t h r o u g h the s e a l i n g p o w e r of the h o l y p r i e s t h o o d of G o d it is p o s s i b l e to have husbands, wives, and children sealed together, w o u l d w e not a l s o d e s i r e to be s e a l e d to o u r f a t h e r s a n d m o t h e r s a n d so c o n t i n u e until all m e m b e r s of o u r f a m i l i e s h a v e been s e a l e d ? S i n c e w e e v e n t u a l l y c o m e to a p o i n t of c o m m o n ancestry, w e must h a v e great concern for all p e r s o n s . A l l m e n a n d w o m e n w h o a r e or e v e r w e r e b o r n on this earth may r e c e i v e s u c h blessings if t h e y ore willing to accept t h e m .

By

What

Means?

B u t h o w c o n s u c h w o r k be d o n e f o r those w h o are dead? f e s u s C h r i s t h a s p r o v i d e d the w a y which m a k e s this possible. F o l l o w i n g h i s c r u c i f i x i o n , but before h i s r e s u r r e c t i o n , f e s u s w e n t to the s p i r i t w o r l d a n d there o r g a n i z e d the w o r k of p r e a c h i n g the gospel to the s p i r i t s of those w h o h a d d i e d : B y w h i c h also h o w e n t a n d p r e a c h e d u n t o the s p i r i t s in prison; W h i c h s o m e t i m e w e r e d i s o b e d i e n t , w h e n o n c e the longs u f f e r i n g of G o d w a i t e d in the d a y s of N o a h , w h i l e the a r k w a s a p r e p a r i n g , w h e r e i n f e w , that is, eight s o u l s w e r e s a v e d b y w a t e r . (1 P e t e r 3:19-20)

W h y d i d f e s u s h a v e those s p i r i t s t a u g h t the g o s p e l ? Peter a n s w e r s this q u e s t i o n in the following manner: F o r for t h i s c a u s e w a s the g o s p e l p r e a c h e d a l s o to t h e m that are d e a d , that t h e y might be j u d g e d a c c o r d i n g to m e n i n the flesh, but l i v e a c c o r d i n g to G o d in the s p i r i t .

(1 P e t e r 4:6)

f e s u s e m p h a s i z e d that his callings:

this

was

one

of

T h e S p i r i t of the L o r d is u p o n m e , b e c a u s e he h a t h a n o i n t e d m e to p r e a c h the g o s p e l to the poor; he h a t h sent m e to h e a l the b r o k e n - h e a r t e d , to p r e a c h del i v e r a n c e to the c a p t i v e s , a n d r e c o v e r i n g of sight to the b l i n d , to set at l i b e r t y t h e m that are b r u i s e d . ( L u k e 4:18)

W h e n J e s u s s a i d t h i s H e w a s re/erring to the w o r d s of Isaiah, who defined the Savior's duty as: T o o p e n the b l i n d e y e s , to b r i n g out the p r i s o n e r s f r o m the p r i s o n , a n d t h e m t h a t sit in d a r k n e s s out of the p r i s o n h o u s e . ( I s a i a h 42:7)

T h u s H e w e n t not Just to h a v e the g o s p e l t a u g h t to the s p i r i t s of those who had died, but to free them from their spirit p r i s o n .

T h e g o s p e l h a s not a l w a y s been o n the e a r t h , n o r w a s it a l w a y s taught in t r u t h a n d r i g h t e o u s n e s s . W o u l d G o d be so u n j u s t a s to c o n d e m n to d e s t r u c t i o n a n i n n o c e n t p e r s o n , w h o b y time or p l a c e of birth had no opportunity to hear the t r u t h taught, let a l o n e accept it? It is unthinkable!

God looks upon the whole human family with compassion and is filled with parental love for all his children.

He has p r e p a r e d a way for all to hear who will listen. The love of the Father for all m a n k i n d is s h a r e d by h i s S o n w h o is to Judge the h u m a n family with a righteous Judgment.

T h o s e w h o l i v e d without law will be Judged without law, while those who lived by the law will be judged by that law, whatever it may be. We emp h a s i z e , h o w e v e r , t h a t G o d ' s p l a n is to s a v e a n d n a t to c o n d e m n , to r e d e e m a n d not destroy: F o r G o d sent not h i s S o n i n t o the w o r l d to c o n d e m n the w o r l d : but that the w o r l d t h r o u g h h i m m i g h t be s a v e d .

(Iohn3:17)

T h e r e f o r e , the p l a n of s o l v a t i o n m u s t i n c l u d e f o r g i v e n e s s for s i n i f a p e r s o n w i J J accept and act on the truth w h e n h e h e a r s it.

Authority

Restored

We quote the Bible freely to explain the religious beliefs of Latter-day Saints.

However, we are not dependent solely upon the B i b l e , f o r w e b e l i e v e i n the rest o r a t i o n of the gospel of f e s u s Christ which Peter and the other apostles p r o p h e s i e d would come: Repent y e therefore, a n d be c o n v e r t e d , that y o u r s i n s m a y be b lo tted out, w h e n the t i m e s of r e f r e s h i n g s h a l l c o m e f r o m the p r e s e n c e of the L o r d ; And

he

shall

send

Jesus

Christ,

which

before

was

p r e a c h e d unto y o u : W h o m the h e a v e n s must r e c e i v e u n t i l the t i m e s of r e s t i t u t i o n of a l l things, w h i c h G o d h a t h s p o k e n by the m o u t h of a l l h i s h o l y p r o p h e t s s i n c e the w o r l d b e g a n . ( A c t s 3:19-21)

L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s believe that G o d bos a g a i n s p o k e n to m a n a n d that there are l i v i n g p r o p h e t s a n d a p o s t l e s today who speak in the name of God, testifying of the divinity of fesus Christ. These l i v i n g p r o p h e t s bear r e c o r d of him as the risen Lord, resurrected from the grave, who s p e a k s to p r o p h e t s today just as He has always s p o k e n to h i s p e o p l e t h r o u g h p r o p h e t s i n the post.

B a p t i s m the

Key

We k n o w , then, by p e r s o n a l w i t n e s s that God lives, and believe that man will be j u d g e d a c c o r d i n g to h i s w o r k s i n the f l e s h . Accordingly, baptism by i m m e r s i o n is p r a c t i c e d today as it was

d u r i n g the l i f e t i m e of f e s u s and as practiced even before his day. T h e gospei is not n e w . It was taught by the patriarchs and p r o p h e t s of G o d i n its original purity in all the d i s p e n s a t i o n s of m a n u p o n the e a r t h .

B a p t i s m b y i m m e r s i o n is a testimony or w i t n e s s of a p e r s o n ' s w i l l i n g n e s s to be a d o p t e d into the family of God. W h e n fesus a n s w e r e d N i c o d e m u s ' question as

to how he might enter the Church family of God, Jesus said to him: V e r i l y , v e r i l y . 1 s a y u n l o thee. E x c e p t a m a n

be

or

born

a g a i n , h e c a n n o t see the k i n g d o m of G o d . ( J o h n 3:3)

T r u e b a p t i s m s y m b o l i z e s not o n l y d e a t h a n d the r e s u r r e c t i o n b y being b u r i e d i n the w a t e r a n d r a i s e d to a new life, but it s y m b o l i z e s the p r o c e s s of birth into this world.

We enter the world after being completely s u r r o u n d e d by w a t e r , n o u r i s h e d by the blood of o u r mother, a n d m a d e alive by the spirit which enters the b o d y to f o r m a living soul. T h e ordinance of b a p t i s m which is so symbolic of life, m u s t be p e r f o r m e d h e r e on earth.

As p r e v i o u s l y e x p l a i n e d , in o r d e r to org a n i z e us into families, a sealing of the marriage vows m u s t a l s o be p e r f o r m e d on e a r t h . T h u s for the d e a d , both of these o r d i n a n c e s m u s t be p e r f o r m e d vicariously by someone on earth.

That this was done anciently is clear from the teachings of Paul: E l s e w h a t s h a l l t h e y do w h i c h are b a p t i z e d for the d e a d , if the d e a d r i s e not at a l l ? w h y are t h e y t h e n b a p t i z e d for the d e a d ? (1 G o r i n t h i a n s 15:29)

H e u s e d this practice of o r d i n a n c e w o r k for the d e a d as p r o o f of the reality of the r e s u r r e c t i o n . Therefore, b a p t i s m for the d e a d m u s t have been widely practiced a m o n g church m e m b e r s of that d a y . fesus C h r i s t a n n o u n c e d that all who were dead would have the opportunity to accept the saving ordinances of the gospel.

V e r i l y , v e r i l y . 1 s a y unto y o u . T h e h o u r is c o m i n g , a n d n o w is. w h e n the d e a d s h a l l h e a r the v o i c e of the S o n of G o d : a n d they that h e a r s h a l l l i v e . ( J o h n 5:25)

W h o c o u J d be m o r e i n t e r e s t e d i n d o i n g this vicarious work for the d e a d t h a n those d e s c e n d a n t s who love their progenitors e n o u g h to p e r f o r m the w o r k of salvation for them? Such p e r s o n s a r e s a v i o r s f o r their b e J o v e d a n c e s t o r s . T h i s also w a s predicted: A n d saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's. {Obadiah21)

I n f a c t , P a u l s a i d that the dead could not be made perfect without us, s i n c e w e w o u l d h a v e to p e r f o r m this w o r k i n their behalf: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)

IdeT\tify

Ancestors

I n o r d e r to p e r f o r m this vicarious work for their deceased ancestors, members of T h e Church of f e s u s C h r i s t of Latterday Saints s p e n d m u c h time a n d m o n e y g a t h e r i n g genealogies to i d e n t i f y their k i n d r e d d e a d . O n c e the a n c e s t o r h a s been c J e a r i y identified, his descendant, if worthy to do so, may take the n a m e of that p e r s o n a n d enter into a temple of the Lord to perform a vicarious baptism.

T h u s , aJJ m e m b e r s of a deceased family may be a s s e m b l e d into a family unit.

L i v i n g p e r s o n s s e r v i n g a s p r o x i e s for the d e a d p a r t i c i p a t e i n a ceremony, vicariously sealing the wife to the h u s b a n d a n d the c h i l d r e n to t h e i r p a r e n t s .

All this work is in fulfillment of the prophecy given in Malachi:

B e h o l d , I w i l l s e n d y o u E l i j a h the p r o p h e t b e f o r e c o m i n g of the great a n d d r e a d f u l d a y of the L o r d :

the

A n d he s h a l l t u r n the h e a r t of the f a t h e r s to the c h i l d r e n , a n d the h e a r t of the c h i l d r e n to t h e i r f a t h e r s , lest 1 c o m e a n d s m i t e the e a r t h w i t h a c u r s e . ( M a l a c h i 4:5-6)

E l i j a h h a s aJreatiy come in our d a y a n d r e s t o r e d this p o w e r j u s t a s Malachi prophesied.

EventuoIJy, through Christ, oli men m a y be g a t h e r e d into one g l o r i o u s f a m i l y of G o d . T h i s g a t h e r i n g is to c o m e i n the d i s p e n s a t i o n of the fullness of times, w h e n a i J the c h i l d r e n of G o d a r e to be g a t h e r e d a s one i n f e s u s Christ: H a v i n g m a d e k n o w n u n t o us the m y s t e r y of h i s w i l l , a c c o r d i n g to h i s g o o d p l e a s u r e w h i c h h e h a t h p u r p o s e d i n himself; T h a t i n the d i s p e n s a t i o n of the f u l l n e s s of t i m e s he might gather together i n o n e a l l things in C h r i s t , b o t h w h i c h are i n h e a v e n , a n d w h i c h are o n e a r t h ; e v e n i n him: In w h o m a l s o w e h a v e o b t a i n e d a n i n h e r i t a n c e . . . " ( E p h e s i a n s 1:9-12)

The Family

of God

Thus, M o r m o n s g a t h e r together the r e c o r d s of their families as far hack as they can trace them in order to verify their family relationship.

These families are tied together in the saving ordinances which Cod has prescribed.

T h e s e s a v i n g o r d i n a n c e s p e r f o r m e d by the L o r d ' s d u J y a u t h o r i z e d s e r v a n t s are so sacred that the Lord requires that they be a d m i n i s t e r e d i n h i s holy temples. These are specially built edifices, such as the tabernacle built by M o s e s i n the w i J d e r n e s s or the m o r e e J a b o r o t e tempJe built

by Solomon.

Not every

p e r s o n could enter those temples because of their sacred nature.

Hence, m e m b e r s of the Church of fesus C h r i s t today s t r i v e to Jive righteous lives according to the c o m m a n d m e n t s of the Lord, so that they may qualify themselves to enter the House of the Lord and there be sealed as families.

Thus, e v e n t u a l l y the w h o J e f a m i l y of m a n c a n be t i e d together into one g r e a t family of Cod t h r o u g h f e s u s C h r i s t if its m e m b e r s elect to receive these ordinances.

For this p u r p o s e m a n y t e m p l e s have been built in c e n t e r s of L a t t e r - d a y Saint population throughout the w o r l d . f o s e p h S m i t h , the first of the m o d e r n d a y p r o p h e t s , s a i d of the i m p o r t a n c e of this work: T h e g r e a t e s t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t h i s w o r l d that G o d h a s l a i d u p o n u s is to s e e k a f t e r o u r d e a d . ( T e a c h i n g s of the Prophet foseph Smith, comp. foseph Fielding Smith, [ S a l t L a k e C i t y : D e s e r e t B o o k C o l , 1938[, p. 356.)

T h i s d o c t r i n e [of s a l v a t i o n for the d e a d ] w a s the b u r d e n of the s c r i p t u r e s . T h o s e S a i n t s w h o neglect it in b e h a l f of t h e i r d e c e a s e d r e l a t i v e s , do it at the p e r i l of t h e i r o w n s a l v a t i o n . ( I b i d . , p. 193)

T h i s worJc is taken so seriously that the Church and its m e m b e r s have sought to gather together the family records of the past. E v e r y m o d e r n m e t h o d is u s e d to m a i t e t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n a v o i l a b J e f o r use.

R e c o r d s of o u r d e c e a s e d ancestors can thus be compiled into family units in o r d e r to tie together o u r pedigrees, which will e v e n t u a J J y u n i t e e v e r y one of us within the family of Cod. T h e s o l e p u r p o s e of this worJt is to p e r p e t u a t e family life in all e t e r n i t y a n d to g a t h e r f a m i l y m e m b e r s together i n t o the v e r y p r e s e n c e of o u r J-JeovenJy F a t h e r , w h o m w e Jove, honor, and revere.

We i n v i t e y o u to participate in this effort.

TEMPLES O F T H E CHURCH O F JESUS

Ogden, Utah

Idaho Falls,

St. George, U t a h

Idaho

Washington, D . C .

Mesa,

Arizono

Provo, U t a h

Pictured above are just a few of the many temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. New temples are being built throughout the world in everincreasing numbers.

CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY

SAINTS

Cardston, Alberta C a n a d a

Hamilton,

Oakland,

Logan, Utah

California

London, England

Salt Lake

New

City,

Zealand

Utah

T h e C h u r c h of Jesus C h r i s t of Latter-day

Saints

50 E a s t North TempJe Street SaJt L a k e City,

Utah

84150

U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a Copyright © 1982, 1989 by Corporation of the President of T h e C h u r c h of Jesus C h r i s t of Latter-day

Saints

A J i Rights R e s e r v e d Printed i n the U n i t e d States

of A m e r i c a

02309 61000