Teachings
of the Prophet,
p. 193
"The great work of providing the saving ordinances for our
kindred dead is a vital part of the threefold mission of the
Church. We do this work for a purpose, which is to redeem our
dead ancestors. Temple work is essential for both us and our
kindred dead who are waiting for these saving ordinances to be done for
them. It is essential because 'we without them cannot be made
perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect' (D&C
128:18). They need the saving ordinances, and we need to
be sealed to them. For this reason it is important that we trace
our family lines so that no one is left out."
James E. Faust, "The Phenomenon That Is You," Ensign, Nov. 2003,
p. 54
"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 this people."
Wilford Woodruff, The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer
Durham (1946), 157
"We do not
know how many millions of spirits are involved. We know that many
have passed away in wars, pestilence, and various accidents. We
know that the spirit world is filled with the spirits of men who are
waiting for you and me to get busy...We wonder about our
progenitors--grandparents, great-grandparents,
great-great-grandparents, etc. What do they think of you and
me? We are their offspring. We have the responsibility to
do their temple work...We have a grave responsibility that we cannot
avoid, and may stand in jeopardy if we fail to do this important work."
Spencer W. Kimball, "The Things of Eternity--Stand We in
Jeopardy?" Ensign, January 1977, p. 5
"The Lord has also placed
upon the individual members of the Church a responsibility. It is
our duty as individuals to seek after our immediate dead--those of our
own line. This is the greatest responsibility that we have and we
should carry it through in behalf of our fathers who have gone before."
President Joseph Fielding Smith, "Thoughts on Temple Work and
Salvation,"
The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, 20 January
1929:42-43
"As we learn to be loving, caring families in
mortality, our hearts
will naturally turn to members of our kindred family in the spirit
world. As they continue to live beyond the veil, they wait—they wait
for us, their family, to share the blessings of the ordinances of the
priesthood. They yearn to belong to the eternal family circle. They are
anxious for us to make this possible. Are we not compelled to do so?"
J.
Richard
Clarke, "Our
Kindred Family—Expression of Eternal Love," Ensign, May 1989, 61
"Our grandparents watch—and wait—for us
to identify
them, be linked to them, and provide temple ordinances for them. "
Elder Russell M.
Nelson, "A New Harvest Time" - Ensign, May 1998, p. 36
"When you were baptized, your ancestors looked down
on you with hope.
Perhaps after centuries, they rejoiced to see one of their descendants
make a covenant to find them and to offer them freedom. In your
reunion, you will see in their eyes either gratitude or terrible
disappointment. Their hearts are bound to you. Their hope is in your
hands. You will have more than your own strength as you choose to labor
on to find them."