"Turn the hearts of the Children"

As we have blogged before, we have been teaching temple preparation classes which have lead us to the spirit of Elijah to do Family History work. The prophet Elijah committed the keys for vicarious work to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple to fulfill the Lord’s promise that “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

This is Elder and Sister Olsen from Richfield, Utah. They have been called to be the Family History Specialists and will be based in Guam. They have only been out for about three months and have been traveling around to many of the islands to see what can be done to begin family history.

We started on the computer with the two Family History consultants for the Chuuk District, but since we only have 22/7 power, it was difficult to do so. We then decided it was best to do it old school and since all of us learned that way it was easier to teach it anyways. We know that we have to eventually get online but for now we have begun.

President Howard Hunter taught: “We must accomplish the priesthood temple ordinance work necessary for our own exaltation; then we must do the necessary work for those who did not have the opportunity to accept the gospel in this life. Doing work for others is accomplished in two steps: first, by family history research to ascertain our progenitors; and second, by performing the temple ordinances to give them the same opportunities afforded to the living.

This work is a spiritual work, a monumental effort of cooperation on both sides of the veil, where help is given in both directions. Anywhere we are in the world, with prayer, faith, determination, diligence, and some sacrifice, we all can make a powerful contribution.