Story: After graduating from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in 1985, my wife and I relocated to the city of Cupertino, California – just south of San Francisco. We had just had our first son and I had accepted a position with the Hewlett-Packard Company. Shortly after our arrival I was extended a church calling to focus my attention on helping others with their Family History and Genealogy. Part of that assignment included working Wednesday evenings at the Santa Clara Family History Center.

It was a modest sized Family History Center and included several rooms in one wing of the Stake Center. I enjoyed serving and helping others find their ancestors. One evening a middle-aged couple came in and were quietly browsing the books on the bookshelves. I approached them, introduced myself, and asked if I could help them in any way. It turned out that they were community patrons, who lived in the neighborhood, and were intrigued when they heard that there was a Family History Center that was open to the public at the local LDS church – and so had come down to take a look.

I was able to get them started, teaching them how to use the IGI on microfiche (some of you may remember those days – before computers were widely available). They soon became Wednesday night regulars and began having some success in discovering their family tree. One night they called me over to the table where they were working and asked – “Why does your church do this?” “Why so much interest in discovering who ancestors are – and all at no charge?”

How would your answer this question? Why do we do this? Is it just an interesting hobby or is there more to it than just that?

In the few minutes that we have to spend together here this morning – I would like to explore these questions and in the process share with you some of the things that I have learned as I have studied this topic and been involved in this work.

In order to better understand why we do this and why the LDS church devotes so many resources to this important activity we need to go back to the year 1823 to the small farming community of Palmyra, New York – to the home of a 17 year old boy named Joseph Smith. In his own words he describes what occurred:

“…on the evening of the … twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him; …

“While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor. He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do;”

“He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi …, 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. He also quoted the next verse …: 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.” Joseph Smith History – Chapter 1:29-30,38-39

In the closing verses of the Old Testament – the prophet Malachi prophesied that in a future day that Elijah, also a prophet who had lived some XXX years previously, would return to the earth and that his coming would cause the “hearts of the children [to] turn to their fathers.”

We often speak of the events of that night in 1823 in connection with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. This was the night when Joseph Smith was first told of the ancient record written upon Gold Plates that was to be found buried in the earth not far from the Smith farm. It is significant that when Moroni appeared to young Joseph Smith that also told him that this prophecy of Malachi, regarding the return of Elijah was about to be fulfilled.

Thirteen years later, in the year 1836, this prophecy was fulfilled. The 110th section of the Doctrine and Covenants records this event that occurred in the Kirtland Temple [D&C 110:13-16]. The event was the occasion of a church meeting shortly after the dedication of this first latter-day temple. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery retired to the pulpit area and knelt in prayer. A series of heavenly manifestations occurred. In Joseph’s own words he records:

“… 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.”

This occurred on 3 Apr 1836 during the Passover celebration of that year. The Jews today still await the return of the prophet Elijah and in symbolism – leave an empty setting at the table of the Passover feast. We, of course, recognize and believe that he has already returned. He came in fulfillment of prophecy and with a specific charge to restore the keys of the sealing power that permits us to perform vicarious baptisms and marriage sealings in behalf of our deceased ancestors.

The New Testament records this significant conversation, as recorded in John 3 :

“THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night… “Jesus … said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

We learn here that baptism is a requirement in order to be admitted into the Kingdom of God. Now what about all those who have lived on the earth who have not been baptized and perhaps did not even known of Christianity or the teachings of Jesus Christ?

What exactly did Elijah restore? Joseph Fielding Smith said the following:
“ Elijah restored to this Church and, if they would receive it, to the world, the keys of the sealing power; and that sealing power puts the stamp of approval upon every ordinance that is done in this Church…” (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, p. 129, emphasis added)

Through the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith as confirmed by the scriptures we understand that all who have lived upon this earth are literally children of our Heavenly Father. We are his spirit offspring. He has placed us here upon this earth to gain a physical body, to learn by experience and to have opportunity to accept or reject the teachings and ordinances of his Son Jesus Christ.

When we perform these Temple ordinances for our ancestors – we firmly believe that these ancestors are aware of what we are doing in their behalf and they are free to accept or reject this work that we do for them. The LDS Church now has 116 temples operating worldwide and in these temples we perform these important ordinances for our ancestors.

President Joseph F. Smith taught this significant doctrine:

"Jesus had not finished his work when his body was slain, neither did he finish it after his resurrection from the dead; although he had accomplished the purpose for which he then came to the earth, he had not fulfilled all his work. And when will he? Not until he has redeemed and saved every son and daughter of our father Adam that have been or ever will be born upon this earth to the end of time. . . . That is his mission. We will not finish our work until we have saved ourselves, and then not until we shall have saved all depending upon us; for we are to become saviors upon Mount Zion, as well as Christ. We are called to this mission. The dead are not perfect without us, neither are we without them." - Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. (1939), 442

Story: I would like to tell you the story of a man who was born over 400 years ago. His name was John Lathrop and he was born 20 Dec 1584 at Etton, Yorkshire, England. He decided at an early age to follow in the footsteps of his father who was a minister in the Church of England. He began his studies at Christ Church College, Oxford University at the age of 18 years. He later transferred to Queens College at Cambridge, England where he received his Bachelor of Art at age 21 years and his Masters of Art at age 25 years.

At age 23 years he began his church service as a Deacon in the Church of England at Bennington, Hertfordshire. After graduation at age 25 years he moved to Kent where he became curate or minister over the Parish church of Egerton – just 48 miles SE of London. He served 11 years as clergyman at this parish where the record shows he christened over 200 children, married the youth and presided over burials. It was here that he married Hannah Howse – the daughter of an Anglican minister of a neighboring parish. It was here that four of their children were born.

Religious circumstances at this time were such that all Anglican ministers would have had to take the “Oath of Supremacy” which denounces all Papal authority and acknowledges the King of England as the head of the Church. Additionally John Lathrop would have had to teach and abide by the “Act of Uniformity” which establishes the Anglican Prayer Book as the only legal form of worship.

By the year 1624, at age 39 years, John Lathrop broke with the Anglican Church and moved back to London to become Pastor of the First Independent Congregation in the Southwark part of London. In the church of England John Lathrop had security and status, but he gave this all up in an effort to follow the more simple forms of worship. He came to deplore the pomp and ceremony of his former church and questioned the authority of his own ordination. The Bishop of London was made aware of his actions and he pursued John Lathrop and the Puritans with zeal. John Lathrop and his congregation were forced to meet in secret. John was at the heart of the Puritan reform and was tried and imprisoned for his actions. He spent two years in prison, enduring terrible conditions, but would not renounce his beliefs or agree to cease his preaching. John’s family bargained for his release – that he be freed on the condition that he emigrate to New England – never to return.

This was agreed upon and John and his family along with at least thirty of John’s original congregation took their journey in 1634 and settled in Barnstable on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Here John Lathrop became a prominent colonial minister teaching the scriptures and the simpler forms of worship. He was instrumental in bringing about Christian reform and died at age 69 in the year 1653.

Notable Descendants: John Lathrop helped pave the way for the restoration of this Church. His humility, dedication and faithfulness had far reaching effects. Many of his descendants are found among the early members of the LDS church. It is estimated that some 25% of the original church membership descend from John Lathrop. Most notable is Joseph Smith. John Lathrop is Joseph Smith’s 5th great-grandfather! Other prominent members include: Parley P. Pratt and his brother Orson, Wilford Woodruff, Fredrick G. Williams, Joseph F. Smith, Harold B. Lee, N. Eldon Tanner, Marion G. Romney and H. Burke Peterson. You will be interested to know that our current President of the United States, George W. Bush, is also a descendant of John Lathrop.

There may be some within the sound of my voice who also are descendants of this good man. Each of us descends from a line of perhaps equally notable ancestry. Each of us has a great-great-grandfather or perhaps a 5th great-grandfather who lived an honest life but was not able to embrace the gospel in its fullness because it was not to be found upon the earth.

Ours is a great responsibility to seek out these ancestors, to spend the time and effort to discover their names and their stories, and to see that they receive the blessings of the gospel through temple ordinances performed vicariously on their behalf.

A New Commandment: I remember as a young teenager listening to April General Conference in 1976 when we had two new revelations added to our scriptures. It is interesting to note the subject matter of these two revelations.

1) Joseph Smith’s vision of the Celestial Kingdom – section 137 of the D&C.
2) Joseph Fielding Smith’s vision of the redemption of the dead –sec. 138 of D&C.

Later in 1976 Elder Bruce R. McConkie, one of the 12 Apostles, made some important statements regarding these new additions to our scriptures. After expounding on the doctrine of Salvation for the Dead he made a pint that I shall not easily forget. He read John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another” and then made the point that this was well into his ministry and certainly not the first time that Christ had taught this principle. Elder McConkie explained that in a similar manner the doctrine of Salvation for the Dead is not new to us but is being taught “anew” to us. He explained that in effect it is a new commandment for us – that we redeem our dead.

Story: Experience of Elder Wilford Woodruff in the Saint George Temple

“The spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, ‘You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we … remained true to it and were faithful to God.’ These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence [of the United States of America], and they waited on me for two days and two nights. … I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon Brother McAllister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all, including John Wesley, Columbus, and others” (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham [1946], 160-61).

We learn from this event that many of our ancestors anxiously await to be discovered, documented and have their temple ordinances completed. Sometimes we wonder whether they really want to be found – but be assured that they do.

Advances in Genealogy: Elder Boyd K. Packer in 1977 (over 25 years ago) spoke to Regional Representatives and explained his vision of the future as it pertains to Family History work.

Then:
1) Name extraction then by church employees – vision: church members worldwide assisting in this work.
2) Individual Entries & Marriage Entries, Ward Examiners – vision: simpler, clear your own names.
3) “Airline reservation system” like access to computerized records of temple records.

Today:
1) Thousands of members are involved worldwide – Family Record Extraction Program. This is the source of the names we are given when we do Temple File.
2) Temple name submission is now simpler and quicker – Temple Ready.
3) World wide access – FamilySearch.org web site – IGI updated within days.

Temple Growth: In 1880 there were about 160,000 and there were four Temples in operation. Today we have 12 million members and 116 Temples in operation. If we had the same Temple to member ratio as in 1880 we would have over 250 Temples in operation. Brigham Young prophesied (Discourses of Brigham Young pg. 394) that there would one day be thousands of Temple to dot the land. If this is so then why don’t we as a church select sites by the hundreds and commence building those temples now?

Quote: Boyd K. Packer said the following in 1977: “Why not select sites by the hundreds and commence to build those temples now? I answer by asking some questions. Should we commence to build those temples, what good would it do? How would we keep them open? What names would we use? What work would we do?” He goes on to say that we as a church need to do more in the are of temple work if this prophecy is to be fulfilled. Each of us has a responsibility to see that each of our ancestors that we can possibly identify has the opportunity to receive temple blessings.

How do I get involved? What resources are available to assist me in this work?
Each ward is to have one or more Ward Family History Consultants and one or more Family Record Extraction workers. These Family History workers are to be directed by the High Priest Group Leader in each ward. Most are blessed to have a Family History Center in close proximity.

Let me suggest some of the ways in which the LDS church as a whole is currently involved that support and promote this genealogical research effort:

1) Over 4000 Family History Centers worldwide
2) Internet site (FamilySearch.org – one of the most popular on the Internet) with several significant collections of names totaling nearly 1 billion names
3) 275 Camera operators operating in 44 countries – microfilming records
4) Granite mountain vault – in one of the canyons near SLC – master copies kept here
5) Largest Family History Library in the world – 2.4 million rolls of microfilm, 7K microfiche and a sizable collection of books as well. Over 60,000 rolls added each year.
6) Name extraction (FREP) occurring in most of the 2000+ stakes in the church
7) Genealogical software (Personal Ancestral File) available for free Internet download

In a recent conference address Elder Russell M. Nelson said:

“This restoration was accompanied by what is sometimes called the Spirit of Elijah—a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family. Hence, people throughout the world, regardless of religious affiliation, are gathering records of deceased relatives at an ever-increasing rate.” – April 1998 Conference

In 1894, the same year that the Genealogical Society of Utah was formed, many Church members did not fully understand the responsibility for their own kindred. President Wilford Woodruff was so concerned that he made the issue a matter of fervent prayer. Then, at the April 1894 general conference, he presented a revelation to the membership of the Church.” He said “We want the Latter-day Saints from this time to trace their genealogies as far as they can, and to be sealed to their fathers and mothers. Have children sealed to their parents, and run this chain through as far as you can get it. . . . This is the will of the Lord to his people.” -James R. Clark, Messages of the 1st Presidency [Bookcraft, 1966], vol. 3, pp. 256-57

Perhaps you have felt the spirit of Elijah [intense desire to discover and know our ancestors] When this occurs we begin to “turn our hearts” as described in the book of Malachi. As a church we challenge our members to be actively involved in searching out our ancestors throughout our lives. We also invite our friends and neighbors from the community to take advantage of these resources that are provided. We are excited to share with all the excitement we feel – and this without cost and without regard to religious persuasion.

Now – we are gathered here this today to be instructed in various aspects of this important Family History work. There are many details that we need to be aware of in order to accomplish this work well and to do it accurately. Many of these skills will be reviewed here today. We are grateful to those who have and will provide instruction and for each of you for being here.

May each us feel of the Spirit of Elijah as we participate together today. The tools and procedures for performing research will change over the years – but the spirit of the work and the end result – to see that our ancestors receive these saving ordinances in the holy Temple will remain the same. Let us remember that there is divine help – even help from beyond the veil – that is available as we prayerfully approach this work.

Conclusion – Story of Couple: I mentioned when I began the story of the couple that I was able to help get started in their Family History efforts. Shortly thereafter I was called to serve in another assignment and missed that opportunity to serve at the Family History Center. About a year later I was invited back to speak to a group of Family History Center workers and was surprised to see my friends there. I later spoke with the FHC director who told me they were now serving on the staff and had been recently baptized. I was pleased to learn that in some small way to play a part in that event.

What a glorious reunion it will be when we meet our great-grandparents and other ancestors after this life. I am so grateful to live upon the earth when these doctrines and ordinances have been revealed in their fullness. I am grateful to my Savior who made this plan of Salvation possible for me. I feel a debt of gratitude to Joseph Smith through whom these great truths were restored to the earth. It is my prayer that each of will move forward in this effort as we prepare for the Lord’s second coming.

May you have success in your endeavors. I leave you my testimony of the importance of this work. In the name of Jesus Christ – Amen.

Sources: “Exiled – The Story of John Lathrop 1584-1653” by Helene Holt, 1987