We are Called to This Mission

As we ponder the importance of our ancestral responsibilities, we also need to be reminded of the Lord’s vast ministry. I quote from President Joseph F. Smith: “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.” Elder Russell M. Nelson, Ensign May 1998

Planting in the hearts of the children ...

“The turning of the hearts of the children to the fathers is placing or planting in the hearts of the children that feeling and desire which will inspire them to search out the records of the dead. Moreover the planting of the desire and inspiration in their hearts is necessary. This they must have in order that they might go into the house of the Lord and perform the necessary labor for their fathers, who died without a knowledge of the gospel, or without the privilege of receiving the fullness of the gospel.” Doctrines of Salvation 2:127-128

Troublesome aspects of Temple activity

“One of the most troublesome aspects of our temple activity is that as we get more and more temples scattered across the earth there is duplication of effort in proxy work. To avoid such duplication, the solution lies in complex computer technology.”
Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign Nov 2005

Section 128

"The Lord’s mandate given in section 128 of the Doctrine and Covenants has not changed: 'Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? … Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple … a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.'" D&C 128:24
Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign Nov 1978

A Temple is a place ...

“A Temple is a place in which those whom He has chosen are endowed with power from on high—a power which enables us to use our gifts and capabilities with greater intelligence and increased effectiveness in order to bring to pass our Heavenly Father’s purposes in our own lives and the lives of those we love.”
-Elder David B. Haight, Ensign May 1992

It Matters Not What Else We Have Been Called To Do

"It matters not what else we have been called to do, or what position we may occupy, or how faithfully in other ways we have labored in the Church, none is exempt from this great obligation. It is required of the apostle as well as the humblest elder…The greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead."
Doctrines of Salvation 2:148-49 Joseph Fielding Smith

Come to the House of the Lord

Come to the House of the Lord

Hearts must be pure to come within these walls,
Where spreads a feast unknown to festive halls.
Freely partake, for freely God hath given,
And taste the holy joys that tell of heaven.
Here learn of Him who triumphed o’er the grave,
And unto men the keys, the kingdom gave;
Joined here by powers that past and present bind
The living and the dead perfection find.
- Alberta Temple, Orson F. Whitney

These things cannot by lightly passed over ...

“And now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers – that they without us cannot be made perfect – neither can we without our dead be made perfect.” D&C 128:15

Ordinances and Covenants

“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 our families, we are obligated to provide these ordinances vicariously for our kindred dead, indeed for the whole human family.”
Boyd K. Packer, Ensign May 1987

Be Invovled in Family History

“There are many different things our members can do to help in redeeming the dead, in temple and family history work. Some involve callings. Others are personal. All are expressions of devotion and discipleship. All present opportunities for sacrifice and service.”
Dallin H. Oaks, 1989

The Most Beautiful Tree

“Through family history we discover the most beautiful tree in the forest of creation—our family tree. Its numerous roots reach back through history, and its branches extend throughout eternity. Family history is the expansive expression of eternal love. It is born of selflessness. It provides opportunity to secure the family unit forever.”
J. Richard Clarke, “Our Kindred Family—Expression of Eternal Love,” Ensign, May 1989, 60.

Eternal Blessing of All

“We are responsible for the blessing, the eternal blessing, of all who have lived upon the earth, the uncounted, unnumbered generations of men and women who have lived upon the earth, all who today live upon the earth, and all who will yet live upon the earth. How great is our responsibility. We must stand a little taller and work a little harder to accomplish it.”
Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 640.

The Greatest Responsibility

“The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek our dead.”
Joseph Smith Teachings, 356.

Collection of Quotes

The purpose of this blog is to post the large collection of quotes and scriptures that are used to understand the doctrine of family history and temple work.