Terror of the Flames

“I have learned now that while those who speak about one’s miseries usually hurt, those who keep silence hurt more.”
C.S. Lewis

Westmont High School is mourning today. Over the weekend, Saturday, 22 March,
a 17 year-old fellow student drove to Santana Row around 5pm, parked her car atop the six-story parking structure, walked to the edge, and jumped.

She was a cheerleader, the head of the Red Cross Club at school, and my son’s classmate.

Let it Go

To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck…
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance…
A time to embrace,
and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-6  

A friend of mine was having trouble walking away from a one-sided relationship (sound familiar?).  Let’s face it, she’s not alone in this dilemma, so I wanted to share our recent dialogue.

With her permission, this is how the conversation went:

Guardian Angels

Stanley Alot abt 1945

1  Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah, the Prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
2  And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3  If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.
D&C 2:1-3

We’re on our third and final post in my series on the Blessings of Family History (if you’ve just joined this site and want to catch this talk from the beginning, simply scroll back 2 posts). For those of you  who have been following, thanks for sticking with me. This is where I get to the nitty-gritty of how this blesses us.

Now, there is another promise that is implied and inclusive in this passage, “hearts of the children shall turn to their father.” As our hearts turn to our forefathers, their thoughts turn to us.

President Joseph F. Smith:
“I believe [our family members who have passed on] are as deeply interested in our welfare today, if not to a greater capacity, with far more interest behind the veil, than they were in the flesh. I believe they know more; I believe surely those who have passed beyond, can see more clearly through the veil back here to us than it is possible for us to see to them from our sphere of action.”
(Conference Report, April 1917)

Elder John A. Widstoe:
“Those who give themselves with all their might and main to this work receive help from the other side, and not merely in gathering genealogies. Whoever seeks to help those on the other side receives help in return in all the affairs of life.”
(Utah Genealogical Historical Magazine, 22 (July 1931): 104)

I have a profound testimony of the fact that when you find and do the work for your ancestors, it sets them free to be highly involved in your life. Your ancestors aren’t just casual bystanders. No. They are anxious to bless, uplift, and inspire you.  They are eager to help you succeed in your life.

Reluctant Genealogist

Marianna Gagliani and Graziano Meschi
with Salvatore abt 1888

1  Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah, the Prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
2  And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3  If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.
D&C 2:1-3

Okay, part two in our series on the Blessings of Family History work. Now that we’ve (hopefully) established the importance of turning our hearts to our forefathers and their eagerness to have their work done, this brings us to actually rolling up our sleeves and doing it.

When we think of Family History, there are usually two obstacles that prevent us from getting started.

Obstacle 1:  My Family History is All Done
I had this excuse.  My father’s side of the family had traced the Gifford family line all the way back to Charlemagne in 750 AD. The family gave me a binder with printouts, pictures, and pedigrees. What a treasure! Now whenever a lesson or talk was given on Family History, I could raise my chin and nod confidently, Yes, this does not apply to me, for, my family history is done!

Yet, why the confidence? I didn’t do the work. I couldn’t take the credit. My saying, “Gary is the family historian and he does it all,” is a bit like saying, “I don’t go to Church, but that’s okay because Gary goes for me.” Fact is, for our hearts to be turned to our fathers, to forge that welding link that seems so important to the Lord, we need to be personally participating in the work.

Has anyone’s family history been completed? Let’s do the math.

Hearts of the Children Shall Turn to Their Fathers

Angel Moroni Visits Joseph Smith
by Tom Lovell

One evening Joseph Smith was visited by the angel Moroni who repeated a message three times during the night. Part of the message was this:

1  Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood,
by the hand of Elijah the Prophet, before the
coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
2  And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3  If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at His coming.
D&C 2:1-3

This passage is remarkable, but one of the most amazing things about it isn’t in the text itself.  It’s in the date this revelation was given: September 21, 1823.

When we read this passage we know immediately that it has something to do with family history, temple work, and the sealing power of the priesthood. But when Moroni delivered this message to Joseph in 1823, no one knew anything about genealogy. No one had a clue about temples – especially Joseph Smith. He was only 17 years old.

•  It would be 7 years before the Church was organized.
•  13 years before Elijah would visit the Kirtland Temple to fulfill prophecy.
•  20 years later, when Joseph preached at Brother King Follett’s funeral, he had come to understand the significance of family history and temple work, but not in 1823.

In 1823, this revelation made no sense to Joseph.