Thursday, April 1, 2021

The Blessings of Family History Work

 I have been asked by our Relief Society presidency to prepare an article for each month's Relief Society newsletter on spiritual preparedness.  They have someone else doing one on temporal preparedness.  I thought I might just as well publish those articles here as well.  For April, I chose to do the article on the blessings of helping to gather Israel by doing family history work:


Our prophet has made it clear that one of the best ways we can prepare ourselves spiritually is to be involved in family history work:

“For centuries, prophets have foretold the gathering of Israel, and it is happening right now! As an essential prelude to the Second Coming of the Lord, it is the most important work in the world!

When we speak of gathering Israel on both sides of the veil, we are referring, of course, to missionary, temple, and family history work. We are also referring to building faith and testimony in the hearts of those with whom we live, work, and serve. Anytime we do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.”

Our modern-day apostles have talked about the importance of doing family history work and have given us apostolic promises if we will engage ourselves in this work.  Read these promises, sisters.  What more can we want?

Elder Bednar:

It will strengthen us, purify our hearts, open heavenly channels, destroy the powers of darkness, bring salvation to the human family, and we will be safeguarded, guided, and protected.

President Nelson:

Doing this work will change our lives, give us harmony in our homes, increase our faith, have a refining influence on all who engage in it, and increase our ability to “Hear him.”

President Oaks:

Doing family history work will have a healing influence in our lives and help us learn who we are.

Elder Stephenson:

Promised us that doing this work will come back to us in blessings.  It will fortify our homes- making our homes a defense and a refuge.  He promised we will never be alone- ministering angels will always be with us.

Elder Cook:

Promised, if we will engage in this work, that our youth will be strengthened and protected.

Dear sisters, may we all involve ourselves in helping to gather Israel and prepare ourselves spiritually by participating in family history work.


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