www.familysearch.org
Hello Leaders over Temple & Family History,
What an important calling to have during a pandemic! When President Nelson says, “Remember that the fulness of Christ’s ministry lies in the future. The prophecies of His Second Coming have yet to be fulfilled. We are just building up to the **** of this last dispensation – when the Savior’s Second Coming becomes a reality.”
“A necessary prelude to that Second Coming is the long-awaited gathering of scattered Israel (see 1 Nephi 15:18; see also the title page of the Book of Mormon). This doctrine of the gathering is one of the important teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lord has declared: “I give unto you a sign… that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion” (3 Nephi 21:1).
“We not only teach this doctrine, but we participate in it. We do so as we help to gather the elect of the Lord on both sides of the veil. As part of the planned destiny of the earth and its inhabitants, our kindred dead are to be redeemed (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:15). Mercifully, the invitation to “come unto Christ” (Jacob 1:7; Moroni 10:32; Doctrine and Covenants 20:59) can also be extended to those who died without a knowledge of the gospel (see Doctrine and Covenants 137:6-8). Part of their preparation, however, requires the earthly efforts of others. We gather pedigree charts, create family group sheets, and do temple work vicariously to gather individuals unto the Lord and into their families (see 1 Corinthians 15:29; 1 Peter 4:6).
“Families are to be sealed together for all eternity (see Doctrine and Covenants 2:2-3; 49:17; 138:48; Joseph Smith – History 1:39). A welding link is to be forged between the fathers and the children. In our time, a whole, complete, and perfect union of all dispensations, keys, and powers are to be welded together (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:18). For these sacred purposes, holy temples now dot the earth. I emphasize again that the construction of these temples may not change your life, but your service in the temple surely will.
“The time is coming when those who do not obey the Lord will be separated from those who do (see Doctrine and Covenants 86:1-7). Our safest insurance is to continue to be worthy of admission to His holy house. The greatest gift you could give to the Lord is to keep yourself unspotted from the world, worthy to attend His holy house. His gift to you will be the peace and security of knowing that you are worthy to meet Him, when that time comes.” --April 2020 Ensign.
- FamilySearch has added a Family Tree overview to make it easier, see: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/overview
- The green temple icons have been changed for clarity:
- The icon with the stop watch on it means anyone may reserve that ordinance if they plan to do it within 90 days. This shows that one patron has reserved and shared it with the temple and it is waiting. If we wanted to perform that ordinance we could request it and we would have 90 days to complete the work, or it would go back to the original patron’s temple list and keep its place in line. The other icon showing only request with no stop watch in the green icon shows ready to request. We could request that ordinance and have two years to complete the work. (The two year policy is on hold for now, so names are not expiring.) You cannot reserve a previously shared ordinance and then just share it with the temple again.
- There are millions, ten million in June, of names being added to Family Tree. If you didn’t find family ordinances to reserve before, you certainly should be able to now. Ordinances Ready is also available on the web version.
- Show my changes now hides your own changes if you like.
- Memories can be bookmarked and private memories are now available.
Feel free to share this information with your ward members and encourage them to log in and use FamilySearch even though the temples are only open in Stages. It is a great time to prepare names for the future. We are engaged in a great work. I pray for every member of the Boulder Ridge Stake to participate in this gathering.
See https://community.familysearch.org/s/group/0F93A0000009XenSAE/st-george-utah-boulder-ridge-stake for questions and training.
Sincerely,
Shanna Jones
Boulder Ridge Stake Temple & Family History Consultant