Our Greatest Responsibility

1. Our Greatest Responsibility Joseph Smith declared: “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead….” History of the Church, 6:313

2. This message by President Smith first appeared in the February 1910 Improvement Era (p. 352). The theme is so timely and the words so pertinent as to merit restating.* "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 are exempt from this great obligation. It is required of the apostle as well as the humblest elder. Place, distinction, or long service in the Church will not entitle one to disregard the salvation of one’s dead. If we neglect the weightier privilege and commandment, notwithstanding all other good works, we shall find ourselves under severe condemnation." The greatest responsibility in this world God has laid upon us, is to seek after our dead. * First Presidency message Ensign February 1971

3. Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, Bookcraft, 1980, pp. 223-30, 239-40 said, “There somehow seems to be the feeling that genealogical work is an all-or-nothing responsibility. That is not so. Genealogical work is another responsibility for every Latter-day Saint. And we may do it successfully along with all the other responsibilities that rest upon us. The bishop can do it without neglecting his flock. A stake missionary can do it without abandoning his mission. A Sunday School teacher can accomplish it without forgetting his lesson. A ward Relief Society president can do it without forsaking the sisters in the ward. You can fulfill your obligation to your kindred dead and to the Lord without forsaking your other responsibilities. You can do this work. You can do it without becoming a so-called ‘expert’ in it. Once we started, we found the time. Somehow we were able to carry on all of the other responsibilities. There seemed to be an increased inspiration in our lives because of this work. But the decision, the action, must begin with the individual. The Lord will not tamper with our agency. If we want a testimony of genealogical and temple work, we must do something about that work.

4. Elder Allan F. Packer - October 2014 General Conference From the Doctrine and Covenants we read: “The great day of the Lord is at hand. … 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 This “book” will be prepared using the records of names and ordinances in the Church’s Family Tree database. LDS Church Handbook 2: “... the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances. These four focuses and all other laws, commandments, and ordinances are required and not optional.”

5. “As we work toward exaltation, we must work on all of the requirementsand not become distracted by focusing on one or two requirements or other unrelated things.” “We do not set the requirements, but, individually, we must meet all of them. The plan of salvation contains all of the doctrines, laws, commandments, and ordinances needed for all to qualify for exaltation.” “The leaders did not set the requirements for exaltation.” God did! Few members of the Church are regularly involved in finding and doing temple ordinances for their family. This calls for a change in our priorities. Don't fight the change, embrace it! “This work needs to be done, for our dead and for ourselves.” It is essential to our salvation. “We must not sacrifice our exaltation or that of our families for less important interests.” President Thomas S. Monson says, “Our job is to search out our dead and then go to the temple and perform the sacred ordinances that will bring to those beyond the veil the same ordinances we have.”

6. The FamilySearch – Family Tree Internet computer program was created to: • Submit names of deceased relatives for temple ordinances. • Share family information with others. • Collaborate with others to research and accurately identify relatives. • It was not created to be a replacement for personal family records. To prevent duplications avoid uploading records for more than one family group at a time from a personal genealogy program into FamilySearch.org/Tree. Reserve only close family member’s names and submit the rest to temple file. Don’t reserve more than you and your immediate family and friends can do in a few months.

7. Family History work is not about guilt. We don't do this because we will feel guilty if we don't, nor should we feel guilty for not having it done yet at this time or moving as fast as someone else. This is a life long process. A most important Promise: When we act in faith and we choose to turn our hearts to our ancestors - “Whoever seeks to help those on the other side receives help in return in all the affairs of life… . Help comes to us from the other side as we give help to those who have passed beyond. We need help. We need strength. There are more in that other world than there are here. There is more power and strength there than we have here upon this earth… .” Elder John A. Widtsoe. The spirit will help you do as much and as fast as you can. You just provide the commitment and determination to do this work.

8. When you feel overwhelmed, then stop for the hour or the day or the week. Then start again. We ALL feel overwhelmed at times, but like the pioneers – Press On. When you feel overwhelmed either the task is too big or poorly defined. The Key to doing family history involves time management skills and how to use a "To Do" list. One step at a time. Making a note to our self on a "To Do" list describes what we were last working on. It is the Key method to keeping efforts focused. Referring to a "To Do" list allows continuing where we last left off. Focus on small tasks that build a strong historical record instead of doing the task in a way that overwhelms. Develop the attitude of humility and persist in being true in turning your heart to your fathers. After you covenant with the Lord that you will turn your heart to your fathers and provide ordinances for them - Do Something:

9. Do Something: 1.Go to the temple as often as possible. 2. In FamilySearch.org use Family Tree. Get used to the software by focusing attentionon identifying the descendants of the first five generations of your family members. 3. Schedule time periods to work on your family history. “What is the best use of my time for the next thirty minutes?” Regulate your effort by working from a “To Do” task list. Unless we know how to pick up where we left off we will easily become overwhelmed and eventually we give up. 4. Find – Take- Teach: Find names; take them to the temple; Teach others to do the same.

10. “We will not finish our work until… we shall have saved all depending upon us; for we are to become Saviors upon Mount Zion, as well as Christ.” President Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, October 1995. “This service more nearly approaches the divine work of the Son of God, who gave His life for others, than does any other work of which I know.” President Gordon B. Hinckley. Conference Report, April 1983. Participate in HIS Plan that we might become as He is.

11. Our Greatest Responsibility Joseph Smith taught: “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… they without us cannot be made perfect – neither can we without our dead be made perfect.” (D&C 128:15)

12. Our Greatest Responsibility Joseph Smith declared: “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead…. Those saints who neglect it, in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation.” History of the Church, 6:313