In his inspired address titled "The Book” at general conference earlier this month, Elder Allan F. Packer of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints defined “... a book containing the records of our dead which shall be worthy of all acceptation" (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:24).
"This book will be prepared using the records of names and ordinances in the (LDS) Church's FamilyTree program," Elder Packer said.
FamilyTree, part of FamilySearch, also allows posting of photos and research documents along with stories and biographies. I have seen hard-to-find documents, which had been kept within family circles or individual's archives, posted into FamilyTree.
FamilyTree now helps us make temple and family history work a part of our personal worship, which will help fortify us and our families on our journeys to exaltation. Pointing out the fourfold mission of the LDS Church — perfecting the Saints; caring for the poor and needy; doing missionary work, and redeeming the dead through temple ordinances — Elder Packer further stated that to qualify for exaltation "these four focuses and all other laws, commandments and ordinances are required and not optional."
FamilyTree and digitized documents have redefined family history, making finding the records of ancestors almost instantaneous. Just a few years ago, going to the LDS Family History Library, a researcher would find a roll of microfilm, pulling it out of the drawer, then putting it on the feeder spindle of the microfilm reader and threading the film through double-plate lenses of the reader, where the film would be fed through to the take-up reel. Over some time searching, reeling the film with a handle on the side of the reader, one would come upon the desired document.
The Spirit of Elijah is so widespread that LDS Church members and others alike can do research work or have it done. I know this from the standpoint of a professional researcher. Other people have begun to experience great blessings, miracles and joy in their lives from doing this work with their and our ancestral names. Other relatives, friends and ward members can help us with our family names in the temples.
Elder Packer talks about how simple it is to use FamilyTree in the following statement: “With few exceptions, everyone — everyone — can do this!”
Still within the LDS Church, there are relatively few people who seek out their ancestors and do the temple ordinance work for them, in spite of all the changes which have taken place to simplify the program, according to Elder Packer.
So what causes reluctance then, to carry out, as the Prophet Joseph Smith called it, the "… greatest responsibility which God has laid upon us …"? (see "Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Prophet Joseph Smith," p. 475.) Is it that there is not enough time? Someone said that family history was so technically based, like unto calculus, that it would be too hard to do. Is it because, as one grandmother stated on her deathbed through her daughter to our non-LDS client, "You don't want to do genealogy because anyone in this family who does it will never amount to anything"? Is there a fear of using computers?
"This calls for a change in priorities. Don't fight the change, embrace it!" Elder Packer said. He also said in his talk: "It requires only a decision and little effort. It does not require a large amount of time."
Speaking of our dead ancestors and ourselves, Elder Packer quoted Doctrine and Covenants 128:18: "For we without (our ancestors) cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect."
Elder Packer concluded: "We must not sacrifice our exaltation or that of our families for less important interests."
May our offering in the Lord's holy temple be "The Book" that Elder Packer references. Let us work diligently to find our ancestors' names and facts to be uploaded into FamilyTree, and let us do it with commitment and love for them and our family.
Genealogy graduate Russell Bangerter is president of Ancestral Connections, Inc., at ancestralconnect.com. He is a professional genealogist, author and speaker; and adviser to Treasured Souls to Keep, at treasuredsoulstokeep.com.