Binding Families Together Forever

Brother Wiser had been a member of the church only one year. At the time of his interview to determine worthiness to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and be ordained to the office of an elder the bishop said: “Brother Wiser, following your ordination, it will be your great privilege to enter the temple and be sealed for time and all eternity. But what of your parents and grandparents? They died without these great blessings. What will you do for them? Would you not wish to be come a means of assisting them to achieve salvation?

What ordinances are necessary for us to claim eternal life:

Mosiah 18:7-10 (Baptism)
Acts 8:14-17 (Holy Ghost)
D&C 84:34-44 (Priesthood)
D&C 131:1-4 ( Marriage)

By what powers are these blessings made available to the Dead?

To the Lord there is no dead; all of his children are alive unto him. The ordinances of the gospel, however, are earthly ordinances that must be performed in mortality in order to be binding in eternity. What special power makes these ordinances available to the dead?

Matthew 16:18-19 (promise to peter?
Matthew 17:1-9 (how was this promised fulfilled)

Prophet Joseph Smith said: The savior, moses, elias (Elijah) gave the keys to Peter, James and John on the mount.

Joseph received those same keys… D&C 27:12 Who else brought keys? D&C 110:11-16

Elijah came having the keys of sealing and the power giving to us that we may reach out after the dead.

“This sealing power embraces those who are dead, who are willing to repent and to receive the gospel, who died without that knowledge, just the same as it reaches out for those who repent who are living. That is the work of Elijah.

The necessary ordinances in behalf of the dead can be performed only as the dead are properly identified. This is the major purpose of family history research. As we identify these people and labor for them in the temple of God, we become, to them saviors on Mount Zion. We do for them that which they cannot do for themselves.

In 1971, Elder Howard W. Hunter referred to the increased interest in Genealogy work: “Prior to the building of temples in this despensation, and the appearance of Elijah, there was little interest in seeking out and identifying families of the the past. Since temples have been built, genealogical interest in the world has increased at an accelerating rate.

Genealogy Programs now available:

Training and help available
Obit File
Pictures of Gravestones
Internet