Instrucción de liderazgo de templo e

historia familiar 2020

Invitación a mirar
Mire este breve video sobre la Instrucción de liderazgo de templo e historia
familiar de 2020, que incluye una invitación personal del élder David A. Bednar.

Reunión de instrucción de liderazgo completo

Ministrar a todos: todos signi ca todos

Kevin S. Hamilton

Director Ejecutivo del Departamento de Historia Familiar

Hermanos y hermanas, el tema de esta reunión es Ministrar a todos a través del

templo y la historia familiar. En este contexto, “todos” signi ca literalmente todos
los hijos de nuestro Padre Celestial: miembros activos y menos activos de la Iglesia,
niños, jóvenes, jóvenes adultos solteros e incluso aquellos que no son de nuestra fe.
"Todos" signi ca literalmente todos.

El templo y la historia familiar pueden ayudarnos a lograrlo. El espíritu de esta

obra, a lo que a veces nos referimos como el espíritu de Elías, se mueve por la tierra
a un ritmo sin precedentes y muchos, tanto miembros de la Iglesia como el público
en general, sienten un profundo deseo de conectarse con sus familias. Al celebrar
este año bicentenario de la Primera Visión de José Smith, recordamos que todo esto
comenzó cuando Moroni se apareció a José Smith en 1823 y le dijo que Elías, el
profeta del Antiguo Testamento, regresaría a la tierra y plantaría en los corazones
de los hijos las promesas hechas a los padres, y que el corazón de los hijos se
volvería hacia sus padres.

En 1836, en el Templo de Kirtland, Elías se le apareció al profeta José Smith. Esto

inauguró el tan prometido cambio de corazón de los niños hacia sus padres,
abuelos y primos. Hoy vemos esto en toda la faz de la tierra. De todas las etnias,
razas, edades y religiones. El espíritu que surge cuando los corazones comienzan a
girar se llama a menudo el espíritu de Elías.

Pero en realidad, el presidente Russell M. Nelson ha enseñado que en realidad es el

Espíritu Santo el que da testimonio de la naturaleza divina de la familia. Este
ablandamiento de corazones, este interés por la familia, es muy predecible y
reproducible. Casi siempre sucede. Cuando comenzamos a pensar, hablar o
investigar cualquier cosa que tenga que ver con nuestros antepasados, surge un
espíritu. Un espíritu que testi ca que somos hijos de Dios, herederos de Dios y
coherederos con Cristo.
/
Sugerimos esta noche que podamos aprovechar este poder espiritual y usarlo para
ayudar a nuestro Padre Celestial en Su obra de salvación y exaltación. Después de
todo, es Su espíritu, y también es Su obra. El presidente Nelson ha enseñado que el
recogimiento del Israel esparcido es “la obra más grande de la tierra” y que “cada
vez que hagas algo que ayude a cualquiera que esté a ambos lados del velo a dar un
paso para hacer convenios con Dios y recibir sus ordenanzas bautismales y del
templo esenciales , estás ayudando a reunir a Israel. Es tan simple como eso ".

A medida que ministramos a todos con el templo y la historia familiar, el espíritu

del Espíritu Santo los ayudará a regresar, permanecer o entrar en el sendero del
convenio que conduce a la salvación y la exaltación. Si podemos tomar prestada la
metáfora de que una marea creciente levanta todos los barcos, entonces la marea
creciente del templo y la historia familiar debería poder hacer otar muchos otros
barcos que componen la ota de la obra de salvación y exaltación: barcos de
jóvenes y niños. Barcos jóvenes adultos solteros. Barcos miembros menos activos.
Embarcaciones familiares Santos de los Últimos Días activos. Incluso los barcos de
aquellos que no son de nuestra fe.

Me gustaría presentarles mediante un video muy breve a la familia Ebert. Se

esfuerzan por reunir a Israel de formas sencillas pero e caces utilizando el templo
y la historia familiar.

[Reproducción de vídeo]

Kristen: Soy Kristen. Estoy casada con Mark. Tenemos seis hijos.

Mark: Está bien, Jason. Estamos en el último hijo de James Arline.

Jason: Mi nombre es Jason Mod Arline.

Marca: Mod.

Michael: Mi nombre es Michael.

Mark: Catherina.

Michael: ¿Qué?

Courtney: Soy Courtney Ebert.

[Inaudible]

Courtney: Creo que necesita algo.

Mark: Ella necesita algo.

Mark: Es genial que mis hijos se hayan desahogado con esto. Ellos fueron los
entusiastas. Y cuando sus hijos están entusiasmados con algo, tiene que intervenir.

Kristen: Los niños habían tenido mucho éxito al encontrar a sus primos, pero yo
también quería ser parte de este trabajo de historia familiar. Así que un día,
mientras pensaba en los niños y en su gran trabajo, pensé que debería llamar a la
hermana Rice.

Mark: Hola, chicos. La hermana Rice está aquí.

/
Jason: ¿ Hermana Rice?

Michael: La hermana Rice era una vieja amiga nuestra.

Hermana Rice: ¡ Hola, cariño! ¡Hola!

Courtney: Ella es la persona más dulce del mundo.

Hermana Rice: Oh, tienes lápiz labial, David. Oh Dios mío. Bueno.

Michael: Invitamos a la hermana Rice a hacer historia familiar porque sabíamos

que eso podría bendecir su vida.

Hermana Rice: La hermana Ebert me envió un libro Mi familia para encontrar a

mis antepasados. Para escribir sus nombres. Fotos, historias, tías y tíos abuelos y
bisabuelos.

Courtney: Voy a ayudar a la hermana Rice a encontrar a sus primos mostrándole

cómo ingresar todos esos nombres en una computadora.

Hermana Rice: Está bien, Courtney. Esa es mi abuela por parte de mi padre.

Courtney: Ajá.

Hermana Rice: Señorita Ethel. Y como no crecí conociéndolos, la llamé Miss Ethel
y mi abuelo Mister Tom.

Courtney: ¿Y cuál fue el año de su nacimiento?

Hermana Rice: 1904.

Hermana Rice: Y Courtney pudo conectarlos en el árbol genealógico, y esto lleva a

muchas ramas. Encontré a mi tatarabuelo a quien ni siquiera sabía su nombre. Lo
he encontrado.

Courtney: ¿ Ves la echa verde?

Hermana Rice: Sí.

Courtney: Si se desplaza sobre eso, dice Solicitar ordenanzas.

Hermana Rice: Está bien.

Courtney: Y luego imprime.

Hermana Rice: Esto es genial.

Kristen: Entre los dos, sentí que estaba haciendo un trabajo de historia familiar.
Aunque no estaba en mi propia familia, sentí que estaba ayudando a mis primos.

Courtney: Incluso si sientes que no hay nombres posibles, siempre habrá algo que
hacer y alguien que haga el trabajo por ellos.

Michael: Vamos a ir al templo y voy a hacer sus nombres, y eso también será muy
divertido. Hacer los bautismos de la familia de la hermana Rice fue una gran
oportunidad y hay un gran espíritu. Y estoy tan contenta de poder hacerlo.

/
Hermana Rice: Encontré el nombre de mi bisabuelo y pude hacerle un bautismo, a
través de otra persona, pero de todos modos se hizo. Y nunca lo conocí. Nunca
supe su nombre. Y es simplemente asombroso. Y me alegro. Realmente me alegro.

Michael: Sabía lo importante que era esto para la hermana Rice. Y saber lo bien
que se sentía al respecto fue algo muy importante para mí.

[Finaliza la reproducción]

Hermanos y hermanas, piensen en lo que acaban de aprender de la familia Ebert.

¿A quién estaban ministrando? ¿Cuáles eran las necesidades de la hermana Rice?
¿Y cómo la ayudaron el templo y la historia familiar en el camino de los convenios?
¿Notaste que usaron el folleto Mi familia , que no requiere absolutamente ninguna
tecnología? También utilizaron FamilySearch en una computadora para preparar
los nombres de sus familiares para el templo.

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, les sugiero que así es como se ve el éxito cuando
usamos el templo y la historia familiar para ayudar a reunir a Israel disperso. Esta
noche, escucharemos a los Apóstoles y otras Autoridades Generales y O ciales
Generales de la Iglesia con ideas especí cas sobre cómo usar el templo y la historia
familiar para ministrar a todos. Demostraremos ideas prácticas y viables, algunas
usando tecnología, otras sin tecnología, que nos ayudarán en nuestras
responsabilidades de ministrar y dirigir nuestros esfuerzos de barrio y rama para
ministrar a todos.

Nuestra oración es que te vayas de aquí esta noche con una o dos ideas que te
hagan decir: "Puedo hacer eso". Solo una o dos herramientas prácticas que puede
usar para ayudar a ministrar a los hijos de nuestro Padre Celestial mediante el uso
del templo y la historia familiar. Testi co que el Espíritu viene cuando volvemos
nuestro corazón, y que el espíritu de Elías, o el Espíritu Santo, es real y verdadero.
Testi co que, de hecho, podemos ministrar a todos utilizando el templo y la
historia familiar. Dios es nuestro Padre Celestial y Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador.
De eso testi co en el nombre de Jesucristo. Amén.

La función que desempeña la historia familiar en la

ministración
Élder Dale G. Renlund

Del Quórum de los Doce Apóstoles

Qué bendición es reunirnos. Gracias por estar aquí. Analizaremos cómo nosotros,
como líderes, podemos ministrar a todos los hijos de Dios uno por uno a través del
templo y la historia familiar. En nuestro enfoque centrado en el hogar y apoyado
por la Iglesia, ante todo, nosotros, como líderes, debemos participar personalmente
en la obra de salvación y exaltación en nuestros propios hogares, con nuestra
propia familia y amigos.

Al hacerlo, desarrollamos conocimiento y con anza de primera mano para

descubrir, reunir y conectar a los miembros de nuestra propia familia.
/
Desarrollamos empatía y recibimos revelación como lo hizo la hermana Ebert para
tender la mano y ministrar a los demás. Y tenemos la con anza y la fe para
ayudarlos.

El año pasado, en esta instrucción de liderazgo del templo e historia familiar,

sugerimos algunas formas de organizar la obra. Hoy, aclararé la función del líder
de templo e historia familiar de barrio y cómo su responsabilidad principal es
ayudar a los líderes y presidencias a ministrar a las “Hermanas Arroces” de su
barrio. Al hacerlo, coordina la obra de los consultores de templo e historia familiar
de barrio.

Presentamos un patrón de liderazgo estándar y preferido de cómo organizar el

trabajo con tres patrones alternativos para barrios y ramas más pequeños. El
patrón estándar incluye el consejo de barrio, la creación de un plan de templo e
historia familiar de barrio. El plan de barrio sintetiza y sinergiza los planes
desarrollados en cada organización de barrio.

El plan del barrio es sencillo y centrado en el hogar. Se enfoca en atender las

necesidades únicas de los miembros individuales y las familias, especialmente de
los jóvenes y los miembros recién bautizados que se están preparando para su
primera experiencia en el templo y la historia familiar. La presidencia de la
Sociedad de Socorro y la presidencia del quórum de élderes dirigen el trabajo
dentro de sus organizaciones y se enfocan en las necesidades de cada individuo al
trabajar mano a mano con las presidencias del cuórum de las Mujeres Jóvenes, la
Primaria y el Sacerdocio Aarónico. Por lo tanto, las responsabilidades y
oportunidades residen en las presidencias de los quórumes y las organizaciones del
barrio.

El líder de templo e historia familiar de barrio es principalmente un ayudante y un

coordinador que sirve a las presidencias a pedido y por asignación, y lo hace
coordinando los esfuerzos con las presidencias y solicita la ayuda de los consultores
de templo e historia familiar de barrio. Como enseñó el Salvador, el líder de templo
e historia familiar de barrio, como todos los líderes, es en última instancia un siervo
de todos. Una vez más, el líder de templo e historia familiar de barrio y los
consultores ayudan y sirven al quórum y a las presidencias organizativas del barrio.

Permítanme demostrar cómo funciona esto y pediré al élder Shayne Bowen que se
una a mí aquí. Y el élder Bowen, si tiene un asiento aquí.

Élder Bowen: Gracias.

Élder Renlund: Y adelante, cruce las piernas.

[La risa]

Élder Renlund: Sí, eso es bueno. Ahora, el élder Bowen representa al líder de
templo e historia familiar de barrio. Y solía saber cómo usar esta cosa.

[La risa]

Élder Renlund: Una de las cosas más predecibles en un ser humano sano es el
re ejo de la rótula. Ahora, el élder Bowen no solo es alto, moreno y guapo, sino
que también te ves muy saludable. ¿Eres saludable?
/
Élder Bowen: Estoy sano.

Anciano Renlund: Está bien. La otra cosa acerca de un consultor de templo e

historia familiar de barrio sano y en forma es otro re ejo, y eso es lo que dice
cuando le presentas una inquietud. Entonces voy a demostrar esto. Voy a hacer
tapping debajo de su rótula y veremos esta reacción predecible. Y le vamos a
presentar una inquietud y veremos cuál es su re ejo.

Élder Bowen: ¿Esto va a doler?

Élder Renlund: No me va a hacer ningún daño.

[La risa]

Anciano Renlund: No se preocupe.

Anciano Bowen: Está bien.

Élder Renlund: Élder Bowen, estamos pensando en utilizar la historia familiar

para llegar a los miembros menos activos del barrio.

Élder Bowen: ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?

[La risa]

Anciano Renlund: Ambos re ejos. Esto es excelente. Hagamos esto de nuevo.

Élder Bowen, estamos ansiosos por llevar a nuestros miembros recién bautizados al
templo dentro de los 60 días posteriores a su bautismo.

Élder Bowen: ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?

Élder Renlund: Ahora, esto es muy divertido.

[La risa]

Élder Renlund: Hermana Jones, ¿vendría aquí?

[La risa]

Anciano Renlund: Aquí está su propio martillo.

Hermana Jones: Gracias.

Élder Renlund: Y siéntese .

Hermana Jones: Está bien.

Élder Renlund: Y hagamos que nja ser, oh, no sé, tal vez un presidente de la
Primaria de barrio. Está bien, haremos eso. Adelante.

Hermana Jones: Élder Bowen, estamos tratando de tener una idea para una
actividad de la Primaria para niños y niñas.

Élder Bowen: ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?

[La risa]

Anciano Renlund: Bien hecho.

/
Hermana Jones: ¡ Funcionó!

Anciano Renlund: Sí. Ahora vamos a tener al élder Vincent, y el élder Vincent
tendrá su propio martillo. Y hagamos que nja ser el primer consejero de un
obispado de barrio. Toma asiento. Y veamos si ambos de estos re ejos, el patelar y
el típico re ejo saludable de la sien del barrio y de los antecedentes familiares,
funcionan.

Élder Vincent: Élder Bowen, estamos tratando de ayudar a los maestros de nuestro
barrio a usar la tecnología con rectitud en lugar de pasar tanto tiempo jugando.

Élder Bowen: ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?

[La risa]

Anciano Renlund: Bien hecho. Bueno. No dolió demasiado. Ahora hermana

Aburto, aquí está su martillo. Cuidado con la silla.

Hermana Aburto: Está bien.

Elder Renlund: Ten cuidado con el élder Bowen.

Hermana Aburto: Está bien. [Riendo]

Élder Renlund: Supongamos que es, oh, no sé, una presidenta de la Sociedad de
Socorro de barrio.

Hermana Aburto: Eso funcionará. El élder Bowen, como presidenta de la

Sociedad de Socorro, me preocupan las madres con niños pequeños que se sienten
abrumadas por el tiempo extra de los domingos.

Élder Bowen: ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?

Anciano Renlund: Bien hecho. Esto es bueno. Ahora traigamos un par de otros.
Necesito más ayudantes. Aún no está agotado. Y les preguntaré a Aubrey y Tucker.
¿Por qué no vienes aquí y me acompañas? Y lo entiendes. Solo un segundo. Y lo
entiendes, Aubrey. Entonces, ¿por qué no sigue adelante y toma asiento ahora, y
luego presenta su inquietud y observa cómo están sus re ejos?

Tucker: Bueno, soy asistente del quórum de presbíteros y los jóvenes realmente
necesitan una actividad que no requiera un rastrillo.

Élder Bowen: ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?

Élder Renlund: Eso fue excelente. Excelente.

Aubrey: Hola.

Élder Bowen: Hola.

Aubrey: Soy la presidenta de mi clase de Mujeres Jóvenes y tengo una mujer joven
en mi clase que lucha contra la ansiedad y la depresión.

Élder Bowen: ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?

Élder Renlund: Eso es genial. Gracias. Bien hecho. Espera un minuto, ¿adónde fue
Tucker? ¿Salió? Aubrey, ven aquí. Tucker, ven aquí. Buen trabajo.
/
Aubrey: Gracias.

Élder Renlund: Gracias. Bueno. Quédate abajo. No has terminado.

[La risa]

Anciano Renlund: Ya sabes, hemos abusado de él, así que, ¿por qué no hacemos
esto? Aquí tienes un martillo. ¿Por qué no demuestras ambos re ejos en ti mismo?

Élder Bowen: ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?

[La risa]

Anciano Renlund: ¿Ves?

Élder Renlund: Gracias. Hermanos y hermanas, ¿pueden usar un martillo de

re ejos metafórico y golpear al líder de historia familiar y templo de su barrio con
esa metáfora (es metafórica, de acuerdo?) Mientras le cuenta su desafío. ¿Puedes
hacer eso? Lo que necesito que digas es: "Puedo hacer eso".

Audiencia: Puedo hacer eso.

Élder Renlund: Está bien, eso estuvo bastante bien. Una vez más.

Audiencia: (Más alto) Puedo hacer eso.

Élder Renlund: Excelente. El sirve. Él ayuda. Él coordina. Él moviliza recursos

para que usted ejecute esa parte del plan de barrio que pertenece a todos en su
organización. Está bajo tu dirección. Puede facilitar el ministerio a todos. Al usarlo
a él y a los consultores de templo e historia familiar de barrio, está reuniendo a
Israel en ambos lados del velo. Serás bendecido. Y ayudarás a otros a ser
bendecidos eternamente. En el nombre de Jesucristo. Amén.

Ministrar a los nuevos y tiernos: miembros recién

bautizados
Hermana Reyna I. Aburto

De la Presidencia General de la Sociedad de Socorro

El élder Renlund enseñó en la sesión de instrucción de liderazgo de 2018 sobre los

nuevos y tiernos en el Evangelio. Dijo: “Los que son nuevos y tiernos en el
Evangelio incluyen a los jóvenes que cumplen 12 años y los nuevos conversos. A
medida que se centren en el templo y la historia familiar, permanecerán más
activos; más permanecerán protegidos cuando azoten tormentas y vientos feroces ".

¿Cómo ayudamos a los nuevos y tiernos a concentrarse en la obra del templo y de

historia familiar? Ayudamos utilizando las herramientas que el Señor nos ha dado
para invitar a otras personas a conocer su propia historia familiar y luego llevar los
nombres de sus antepasados al templo.

I would like you to meet Julie and Nicholas. Julie is a 16-year-old young woman,
and Nicholas is a 10-year-old young man. ese two Saints are going to help me
/
learn something about the gathering of Israel. Julie and Nicholas, thank you for
joining us tonight. Are you ready to teach me?

Julie: Yes.

Nicholas: Yes.

Sister Aburto: Good.

Nicholas: We have a short video clip that shows how new members are blessed by
getting focused on temple and family history.

Julie: Sister Aburto, as we watch this short video clip, I want you to look for two
things. First, examples of how a ward family ministers to a newly baptized family
through temple and family history. And second, any blessings you feel they receive
through doing this work. Are you ready?

Sister Aburto: Yes, I’m excited to learn from you.

Julie: Great.

[Video Playback]

Chris: We’ve been members for about three weeks now, and tomorrow we’ll go to
the temple for the very rst time.

[Narrator]: Chris was thrilled to get onto FamilySearch and began to discover his
ancestors.

Chris: To be able to do this, I just feel that I’m going to be able to reconnect with
my ancestors in a way that I would have otherwise not done so.

Chris’s Wife: Actually searching for them to be able to baptize them—it really
brings it all together.

Chris: Going with us to the temple will be many members of our ward.

Chris’s Wife: And they’re very excited too.

Bishop Barnes: For me to witness that and to see Chris feel that spirit and feel that
connection—I mean, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the baptismal area.

Melissa: It was the sweetest experience to watch Chris baptize Katie for his
grandma.

Chris: We felt closer to our ancestors today than we ever thought possible. I felt
almost like I had accomplished something that I was sent here to do in this life. It
was a beautiful experience for us. Overall, it’s been just an amazing blessing. And
to think that our journey is really just beginning, it’s a really exciting thing for us.

Nicholas: Sister Aburto, what is an example of gathering you saw?

Sister Aburto: Well, I saw those new members put names on their family tree on
FamilySearch.

Julie: Yes. is is a great rst step in gathering their family. What else?

/
Sister Aburto: I saw them taking the names of their ancestors to the temple too.

Julie: Very good. Isn’t it such a blessing to have so many temples on the earth?
Nicholas, what did you see or hear that point to blessings from participating at the
temple?

Nicholas: I saw a ward member helping them get names ready to take to the
temple.

Sister Aburto: Yes, I noticed that too. I think it is a real blessing to a new member
to have others minister to them in this new service to their ancestors. Temple and
family history is all new to them. So having someone who is already familiar with
this work can increase the spiritual experience and the power of it.

Julie: Yes. I like what Brother Bush said at the beginning about accomplishing
something he felt he was sent here to do in this life by taking his family names to
the temple.

Sister Aburto: Yes, wonderful. ere are many blessings that come from
ministering to temple and family history. President Nelson has said, “When our
hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of
something greater than ourselves.”

And I know this is true because being from Nicaragua, for me, it’s not that easy to
nd names of ancestors when I search. You know, every time I go, I probably nd
one or two, and sometimes I don’t nd any. However, what happens is that my
heart turns to them, and I feel so much love for them. And I feel so much more love
for my Heavenly Father, and my Savior too. So the important thing is that our
heart is turning.

And as we have been taught tonight, sisters and brothers, this is what success in
gathering looks like. is is what success in gathering feels like. I testify that the
example shown to you tonight of this family experience at the temple is what the
Lord wants for all of us to feel as we minister to temple and family history. In the
name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sister Aburto: Okay. Julie and Nicholas, stay here, because Sister Jones also wants
to learn from you, Okay?

Julie and Nicholas: Okay.

Ministering to the New and Tender: Children and Youth

Sister Joy D. Jones

Primary General President

at’s right, Sister Aburto. ese two youth are sharp. I’m sure to learn some
exciting ways to gather Israel tonight. A few years ago in this meeting, I said that
family history work is missionary work. It is clear these two, along with so many of
their peers, are already fully engaged in the missionary work of ministering
through temple and family history.
/
Julie, let’s talk about that very important step we saw of taking names to the
temple. Would you like to show everyone an easy way to have names ready each
time they go to the temple?

Julie: Sure thing, Sister Jones. I just learned last week about a cool feature in the
Family Tree app called “Ordinances Ready.” It’s super easy to get four names each
time I go to the temple to do baptisms. As the Young Women’s class president, I’m
excited to share this with my class so everyone can get four names too. So each of
us has names to minister to before we even arrive at the temple. Want me to show
you how it works?

Sister Jones: Absolutely.

Julie: All right, awesome. Why don’t you get your phone out and follow along? So
rst, you just want to open the Family Tree app. en you just press “Temple.” And
then it says “Ordinances Ready.” You just click on that. And I’m going to do
“Baptism and Con rmation.” And then we’re going to nd out who we’re going to
save.

[Laughter]

Julie: Right. It’s going to load a bit.

Sister Jones: Because there are so many names, right?

Julie: ere’s so many.

Sister Jones: Okay, mine is doing it too.

Julie: All right. Well, it’s loading, but usually what pops up is it’s going to say “We
Found People.” And then you’re just going to press “Continue,” or you’re going to
press “View People.” You’re going to nd out all the names that you can go on and
baptize. en you just press “Continue.” And then a QR code comes up on the
screen.

You have two options once you get to that screen. You can either press “Save to
Photos,” and it saves to your phone photo album. And you can show it when you
get to the temple, and they can print it out there, and you get your cards. Or you
can just press “View Cards” if you have access to a printer at home and just print
out the cards and show them to your temple and baptize them.

Sister Jones: at sounds wonderful. It’s really that easy?

Julie: Yeah, it’s that easy. And if there are no names in my own family tree available
and ready for a baptism, like it just said right now, the app gives me names from
other members who sent names to the temple but can’t make it there on their own.
So I get to help them too.

Sister Jones: at is really amazing. And any member of the Church can use this
app, right?

Julie: Yes. e app can get help with any names for any ordinance done in the
temple.

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Sister Jones: ank you, Julie. at was great. at was terri c. Everyone, do you
see how easy it is to follow the example of our youth? Okay. Nicholas, your turn to
teach me. We all know family history is more than just taking names to the temple.
It is important to learn about family stories and feel the Spirit as we discover about
our own personal history. I know there is something that you want to show me that
will help everyone have another tool to help them learn about their family stories.

Nicholas: Yep. I like to learn about di erent names, places, and other cool stu
through the “All About Me” feature in the Family Tree app. So you click “More.”
en you press “Family History Activities.”

Sister Jones: Okay.

Nicholas: And then you scroll a little bit down to “All About Me.”

Sister Jones: I could do this.

[Laughter]

Nicholas: en you just continue as is.

Sister Jones: Okay.

Nicholas: What was your mom’s name?

Sister Jones: My mom’s name was Eleanor Ellsworth. Do you want me to spell it
for you?

Nicholas: Yeah.

Sister Jones: Yeah. E-L-E-A-N-O-R. And then her last name was E-L-L-S-W-O-R-T-
H.

Nicholas: And when was she born?

Sister Jones: She was born in 1915.

Nicholas: Whoa.

[Laughter]

Sister Jones: You don’t know anything about 1915, do you?

Nicholas: No.

Sister Jones: Neither do I.

[Laughter]

Nicholas: And what country was she born in?

Sister Jones: She was born in the United States. is is so fun. Are you going to
teach me something about my mom?

Nicholas: en it shows how many—the name popularity of Eleanor.

Sister Jones: Oh, Okay.

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Nicholas: en it loads. It says, “Couldn’t nd anyone else sharing this name.”

[Laughter]

Sister Jones: Interesting.

Nicholas: Maybe I spelled your mom’s name wrong.

Sister Jones: Oh, maybe that’s the reason. Let’s try it again. I probably spelled it
wrong. ere we go. Let’s try it again. ere we go.

Nicholas: en click “Name Popularity,” and now it works. In California, it shows

12,775 people have the name Eleanor.

Sister Jones: Oh, that’s a lot. Check Ellsworth. Do you think there will be that many
of Ellsworth?

Nicholas: Probably not. And then—[ Laughter]—and then for your last name,
again, California has 3,981.

Sister Jones: Oh. at’s a big di erence.

Nicholas: Yep, big di erence.

Sister Jones: at’s fascinating. Are there more things that I could learn about my
mom’s history?

Nicholas: Oh, yeah. If you scroll down, it goes to the cost of a movie ticket.

Sister Jones: Oh, Okay. Let’s see how much movie tickets were in 1915.

Nicholas: And when she was born, it cost $0.08.

Sister Jones: What?

Nicholas: Let’s go back to that time.

Sister Jones: Seriously.

Nicholas: en when she turned 8, $0.13.

Sister Jones: Oh.

Nicholas: And then when she turned 16, it cost $0.20.

Sister Jones: In ation. $0.20.

[Laughter]

Sister Jones: Wow.

Nicholas: Was there any cool stories that your mom told you when you were
younger?

Sister Jones: Actually, you know what? As you were talking, I was thinking about
my mom, because she always had a fun story that she shared with her family. When
she was in high school, she was a senior, and she earned some money so that she

/
could go buy some fabric. She had to learn how to sew. She had to make her own
clothes. And she was a good seamstress.

So she made a new dress, and she was going to wear it to the dance. And she had a
date. A young man had asked her to go to the dance. She was so excited. So they
went to the dance. And when they got there, they met another couple. e other
couple went to dance, and she and her date danced.

But then the young man from the other couple came over and asked my mom’s
date if he could dance with my mom. And he said yes. And so they danced one
dance. And then they danced another dance. And then they danced another dance.
ey ended up dancing together the whole night.

Julie: Wow.

Sister Jones: And do you know what? is young man that kept dancing with my
mom, he came over to this young man that brought her to the dance and he said,
“Would it be Okay if I took Eleanor home tonight?” [Laughter] And he says, “And
by the way, could you take my date home for me?”

[Laughter]

Julie: at’s awesome.

Sister Jones: Do you know who that young man ended up being?

Julie: Your father.

Sister Jones: Yes! [Laughter] My dad. at was my father.

Julie: at’s awesome.

Sister Jones: at’s where it all began. She said it all began at that dance in high
school, and they were together forever after.

Julie: Wow.

Sister Jones: Isn’t that a fun story?

Julie: at is crazy.

Nicholas: Yes.

Sister Jones: So where would you look if you wanted to nd some stories about
your family?

Nicholas: I would go back. And then I would put my grandparent’s name. And
then I’d put their rst name, then last name, and then the year they were born, and
then what country they were born in.

Sister Jones: Just like you did to nd my mom.

Nicholas: Yep.

Sister Jones: at is so easy, and such a great idea. at was so much fun. ank
you so much, because you’ve shown us such a simple way to look back to learn
about family and to capture stories that will last for generations. at’s what we all
/
want. Even just talking about our own family’s story and learning from living
relatives about their lives is a terri c way to minister through temple and family
history.

temple and family history e orts can be pure fun, and these two just showed us,
didn’t they? As we’ve been taught tonight, this is what success in gathering looks
like. is is what success in gathering feels like. It is easy to connect to family
across generations by small and simple things like these activities.

As new and tender members grow in their experiences connecting to family and
serving generations in the temple, their foundation in Christ becomes more solid.
e data is indisputable. Sisters, brothers, as youth minister to others through
temple and family history, we see an increased rate in the number of young men
being ordained elders and serving missions, and we see an increased rate of young
women staying on the covenant path and receiving the blessings of temple
ordinances in their lives. And for new members who engage in ministering through
temple and family history, they are retained on the covenant path at higher rates.

Indeed, all of us who minister through temple and family history receive added
power in accomplishing the work stated by Paul—“that in the dispensation of the
fullness of times [we] might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which
are in heaven and which are on earth.” I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Ministering to All: Natural and Normal Conversations

Elder Brent H. Nielson

Of the Missionary Department

ank you, Julie and Nicholas, and thank you, Sister Aburto and Sister Jones.
You’re probably wondering what someone from the Missionary Department is
doing here at a temple and family history meeting. And the answer is simple: It’s all
one work. We’re all involved in this same work of gathering Israel on both sides of
the veil.

In missionary work, we’ve learned some interesting things. We’ve learned that
invitations to others need to be normal and natural; they need to be genuine, and
they need to be authentic. And when they’re normal and natural and when they’re
genuine and authentic, people are very interested in knowing what it is that we
have to share with them.

President Nelson explained that people have an inborn desire to know something
about their ancestors. at becomes a natural opportunity for our missionaries. As
the missionaries learn to love the people they are contacting, missionaries will
naturally ask about their families. Are your parents living? What about your
grandparents? Are they living? Do you know your four grandparents?

Conversations ow easily when those who are drawn to this speak with the
missionaries and are invited to talk about the people that they love. So you and I
can start by asking a question that leads to a conversation about their family, like,
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“Tell me about your family. Do you have a grandparent you feel especially close to?
Where did your ancestors come from? What stories do you know about them?”

When appropriate, share a family discovery experience, many of which can be

found on the Family Tree and Memories apps. For example, nd a person on the
Family Tree app. Share and preserve photos and stories in the Memories app. e
All About Me app on the Family Tree app is also available, as well as the My Family
booklet that you can share. Open a box full of photos and share memories
together.

Let me introduce to you Sara Hammond and Kayla Jackson, who will demonstrate
what this might look like for you as you share these things with your friends.

Sara: So Kayla, do you know a whole lot about your family and where they come
from?

Kayla: You know, my mom’s always said that we have some British and Irish
ancestry. And on my dad’s side, I know that our ancestors were enslaved, so there’s
got to be some African heritage there. But other than that, I don’t feel like I know
that much about my family’s history.

Sara: Well, I have an app that I can show you if you’re interested.

Kayla: Yeah.

Sara: It’s called Family Tree. And on it, I’ve built out my whole Family Tree.

Kayla: Wow.

Sara: Yeah.

Kayla: Is that you right there?

Sara: Yeah, that’s me in the middle.

Kayla: And then those are your parents?

Sara: Mm-hmm.

Kayla: And your grandparents? Look at all those photos. at is so cool.

Sara: Totally.

Kayla: Did you do that all by yourself?

Sara: I had a lot of help from some family members, but I did a lot of the work
myself too.

Kayla: Nice, nice. Could I create an account like that?

Sara: Oh, totally. So it’s totally free.

Kayla: Oh, nice.

Sara: And the best way to start is to see if maybe one of your relatives is already on
here.

Kayla: Oh. /
Sara: So let’s see. Do you have a relative that you’ve always wanted to know a little
bit more about?

Kayla: I’ve always wanted to know more about my grandpa. My dad’s dad. So he
passed away when I was 9 or 10, so I didn’t really get to know him that well. I do
remember that he would always give me a really good Christmas present every year.
Yeah, that was important.

Sara: Just the important stu .

[Laughter]

Kayla: But other than that, I don’t know that much about him.

Sara: Okay. Do you know his name?

Kayla: Yes. It is Alvin Bernard Jackson.

Sara: Alvin Bernard Jackson.

Kayla: Yeah. You know his middle name. at’s awesome.

Sara: It’s a family name. So he’s Alvin Sr.

Kayla: My dad is Alvin Jr. And my little brother is Alvin III.

Sara: No way. Oh, that’s such a cool legacy.

Kayla: Yeah, it’s fun.

Sara: Do you have any memories of your grandpa from when you were really little?

Kayla: I mean, just, we would go every Christmas and see—we would go to my

grandma’s house rst.

Sara: Mm-hmm.

Kayla: My grandparents, they were no longer married at that point. And then we
would go to his house, and yeah, it was great. One thing, though, I was actually
just talking—oh, look.

Sara: Oh, there we go. Awesome. So it looks like you are one in a million Jacksons.

Kayla: Awesome. I love it.

Sara: It looks like they’re mostly found in the U.S. and in England.

Kayla: And some in Canada.

Sara: And a handful in Canada. Awesome. So there’s a senior. Do you think that
might be him?

Kayla: I think that is.

Sara: All right. Let’s check it out.

Kayla: Wow. And there’s a picture, too.

Sara: ere is.

/
Kayla: Look at that.

Sara: Have you ever seen this picture before?

Kayla: You know, it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen it, but there he is, yeah.
In his military uniform. You know, it’s so funny. Just the other day, I was talking to
my grandma, and we were talking about him and his military service. She actually
told me that when he came home from his military service, she believed he
experienced some PTSD, and that that coupled with some di culties in his
childhood led him to an addiction with alcohol.

Sara: Oh.

Kayla: And I’ve always known about this a little bit from my dad, but it was the
rst time that she opened up and had a conversation with me about it. And to hear
that di erent side about my grandpa, I don’t know. Do you feel like as you’ve done
some of your family history, you’ve had to reconcile just some di cult things that
have come up in your family mind?

Sara: Totally, totally. I mean, my parents are divorced. And there are some painful
and di cult relationships there. But I found that as I’ve done my own personal
family history and as I’ve learned the stories of their individual lines, learned their
strengths and their weaknesses and some of their personal circumstances, it’s
helped me have more compassion for them and also have a lot of forgiveness. And
really, it’s been really healing.

Kayla: I like that. I feel like the conversation that I had with my grandma was a
healing one.

Sara: Totally.

Kayla: So what else is on this app? What else can it tell me about my grandpa?

Sara: Totally. So we can see, it looks like his parents are in here.

Kayla: Cool.

Sara: And we can also see—oh, we have his birthday and where he was born. In
D.C.

Kayla: Yeah, this is so cool. Sara, how did you even get involved with this? I always
thought that family history was for old people.

Sara: Oh, well—[Laughter]—I thought the same thing. So for me, I mean, family
history has always been so important to me. And I believe that our family
relationships are so powerful that they can endure beyond this lifetime. And that
makes me want to know my ancestors more than I would otherwise.

Kayla: I like that.

Sara: Yeah. Well hey, if you want, it looks like we already have a pretty good head
start on your family tree. We could get together some time and see if we can work
out more of it if you wanted.

Kayla: I would love that.

/
Sara: All right. Let’s do it.

Elder Nielson: Kayla, can you believe how many discovery experiences you had?

Kayla: I know, it was great.

Elder Nielson: You found out how many Jacksons there are.

Kayla: Yes, I’m one in a million.

Elder Nielson: One in a million. [Laughter] You found out where the Jacksons
live.

Kayla: Yes.

Elder Nielson: But wasn’t it amazing that you could nd a picture of your
grandfather?

Kayla: I loved that part.

Elder Nielson: at was on the FamilySearch app? Isn’t that amazing?

Kayla: It’s really cool.

Elder Nielson: And that you’re able to share your experiences that you have.

Kayla: Yeah.

Elder Nielson: at’s quite incredible.

Kayla: Absolutely.

Elder Nielson: Sarah, as you went through this experience, is there a way that you
could have shared a family or memory—photos that you could have shared with
her?

Sara: Oh, yeah, absolutely. I mean, Kayla and I are pretty good friends. And so I
might start by sharing with her some of my favorite stories from my family tree or
some of my favorite pictures. And then since I know that she has a good
relationship with her grandmother, I might ask her about some of the stories that
she has memories with her or some of her favorite pictures that she has with her
siblings or things like that.

Elder Nielson: Wonderful. Brothers and sisters, what we’ve learned is that this is
normal and natural. It’s genuine, and it’s authentic. Everyone has a family, and
they can nd their family as we help them with FamilySearch. Our hope is that as
you teach those in your wards and branches, you can all participate in this and be
part of this amazing work as we gather Israel on both sides of the veil. I join with
these two wonderful sisters in bearing witness to you that this is God’s work and
that we can all do it in a wonderful way as we invite people. And I share that with
you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Ministering to All: One in the Work of Salvation

/
Elder David A. Bednar

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder Bednar: Well, you young men and young women have had a remarkable
experience tonight. I have two simple questions: What have you personally learned
as you prepared for tonight? Now, as you have participated, what have you learned
tonight? And what will you do with what you have learned?

Julie: I’ve learned that family history is really important and that it’s a good thing
to know where you came from because it tells you where you’re from and your
di erent cultures and who has passed away that you didn’t know about. I think
that’s awesome. And I think when I get home I’m going to do the same thing, and
I’m going to try to learn about my family. Because I don’t know much about them.

Elder Bednar: ank you very much. Others—What have you learned? What will
you do?

Aubrey: Well, one thing that I’ve kind of learned through this was that through
family history, we can all come to Christ, and we can all become closer as a group
and closer to our Savior. And so after this, I kind of want to do FamilySearch more
often and involve more of my friends in it.

Elder Bednar: Good. Yeah.

Anna: I also thought it was really cool that you can save people by being able to
baptize them and help to get the Holy Ghost and help them with that stu .

Elder Bednar: Good. So what are you going to do?

Anna: So I’m going to do the exact same thing: I’m going to go and nd them, and
then go baptize them for them.

Elder Bednar: Good. Good, yeah.

Sara: One thing that has really stood out to me is the power of doing family
history work—especially with our less-active friends, with our friends who are of
di erent faiths, especially with new converts. I joined the Church when I was 19,
and I had great friends who helped me get baptized on Saturday, con rmed on
Sunday, and then I was in the temple by Tuesday.

And I think that it was really powerful for me to be able to go to the temple. And
even though I couldn’t feel close to my family here on earth physically in the
temple, I could feel that relationship grow with my deceased ancestors.

Elder Bednar: Good, thank you.

Kayla: I really loved the pattern of the Ebert family with Sister Rice. at they
began to do their family history, they loved it, and then they wanted to share it
with another one of their ward members. And I really have felt in my life that for so
long I tried to do family history, and I was coming across these barriers and these
obstacles.

And it wasn’t until I got together with a friend that she really helped me to nd
some of my ancestors, and it led me to nd over 200 of my family ancestors, which /
was so empowering to do. And so I think that process of you get converted and you
begin to have experiences nding your own family—it will just naturally occur then
you want to share that with other people.

Elder Bednar: I don’t want to put you on the spot, but you have been touched by
the Spirit even just now as you were describing what’s happening to you as you
engage in this work.

Kayla: I just think it’s such an empowering thing to know who you come from. I
love this phrase by Maya Angelou, though. “I come as 1. I stand as 10,000.” And I
really have felt as I’ve gotten to nd some of my ancestors. My dad is a convert to
the Church. And so my mom; she comes from the traditional Mormon pioneer
roots. And so our family tree was pretty eshed out on that side.

But for him, there was no one. And as I’ve begun to nd them and take their names
to do ordinances at the temple and share those names with my family, I feel that.
at though I go as one person, there are people on the other side that are around
me. ey’re my family. ey’re rooting for me to be successful here on earth.

Elder Bednar: Well, this makes you and me cousins, because my mom came from
Latter-day Saint ancestors as far back as you can go, and my father was a Catholic.
So you and I have very parallel kinds of family trees. All right, young man. Your
turn.

Tucker: Something that hit me tonight with just how grateful I am for this
opportunity to do the Lord’s work on the other side of the veil, to be able to do
others’ ordinances that didn’t really have the opportunity to. And they’re God’s
children, and he loves them. And we’re the way that they can make it back to him. I
think that’s a really special opportunity that we have.

Elder Bednar: Now, you said it especially hit you tonight.

Tucker: Yeah. I think this is something I took for granted, just how easy it is. And
it’s something I de nitely have to be better about doing.

Elder Bednar: So your preparation for tonight and what has happened tonight has
helped you have a richer, deeper experience with the Holy Ghost and speci cally
the spirit of Elijah.

Tucker: De nitely.

Elder Bednar: Fantastic. Now brothers and sisters, if I had the wish of my heart,
never again in a Church gathering would someone like Elder Nielson feel the need
to say, “You probably wonder why somebody from the Missionary Department is
here.”

[Laughter]

at is so indicative of something that absolutely has to go away. Please listen to

these statements from the Prophet Joseph Smith. e rst one is on April 6, 1837.
“After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the
gospel.” Almost precisely seven years later on April 7, 1844, the Prophet Joseph
said, “ e greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek
/
after our dead. e apostle says they without us cannot be made perfect, for it is
necessary that the sealing power should be in our hands to seal our children and
our dead for the fullness of the dispensation of times. A dispensation to meet the
promises made by Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world for the salvation
of men.”

Now, someone might ask, Didn’t Joseph remember seven years later what he had
said in 1837? e most important thing is to preach the gospel. No, the most
important thing is to search out our dead. It’s the same thing. It’s one work. All
things gathered together in one in Christ.

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to summarize something very quickly. And this
will be from the Priesthood and Family Executive Council, the Missionary
Executive Council, and the temple and family history Council. If you consider the
adjustments that have been made, you now have the operational, the executional
responsibility for the work of salvation, under the direction of the bishop, taking
place in the elders quorum and in the Relief Society. Not just the presidencies—in
the elders quorum and in the Relief Society.

Now, please listen. If you pay attention to the recent adjustments in the Young
Women classes and in the Aaronic Priesthood quorums, they have exactly the same
responsibility, all under the direction of the bishop. But Relief Society, elders
quorum, Young Women class presidencies, Aaronic Priesthood quorum
presidencies, quorums, and classes.

And they’re not planning activities in Aaronic Priesthood quorums and in the
Young Women classes to take up time, to ll a checkbox because we’re supposed to
do this every week, or because we want to entertain people. You focus on the work
of salvation, learning and living the gospel, sharing the gospel, uniting families,
and helping the poor and the needy. Period, exclamation point, end of sentence—
that’s it. is is really simple.

Now, all of this prepares us to hear what I want to express now. Can you see—can
you, can we, begin to see what happens when the elders quorum, the Relief
Society, the Aaronic Priesthood quorums, and the Young Women classes are all
laser-beam, singularly focused on the work of salvation? e miracles that will
occur, the advancement of this work in the earth, will be astronomical.

And I have this one admonition: Do not underestimate the capacity of these young
men and these young women. ey don’t just need to sit and listen to adults tell
them how great it is. ey don’t need to have adults saying, “Well, when you get a
little older, you’ll have your turn.” ey need to be anxiously engaged in this work
right now. And they will help identify things to do, ways of accomplishing this
work, that will majestically move this work all over the earth. Please do not
underestimate what those Aaronic Priesthood quorums and those Young Women
classes can accomplish.

Elder Stevenson, thoughts that you’d like to add? And then I’ll bear my testimony.

Elder Stevenson: ank you, Elder Bednar. It’s been uplifting, hasn’t it, today? As
I have sat and thought about the things that we’ve experienced in this past hour, I
/
thought, imagine if I were to stand and describe that I have a way that will
inoculate our bodies from virus or disease that I can share with you tonight. And
that would be top of mind for all of us.

We know that we live in perilous times. We know that there will be calamities that
will come upon the inhabitants of the earth that come to us in spiritual ways. And I
think what we’ve just learned about tonight are things that can inoculate us
spiritually, even from a very young age. And I just quickly wrote a list of what I’ve
learned tonight.

What can inoculate you? Your class. Your quorum. Your ward temple and family
history leader who will say, How can I help? e My Family booklet. e Family
Tree app. e temple. Ordinances and gathering Israel on both sides of the veil.
And so I think we’ve been taught how we can inoculate ourselves in a spiritual way.
And I o er my witness and testimony of a loving Heavenly Father who is happy to
see the things that we’re discovering. And I o er that witness in the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.

Elder Bednar: Amen. I want to express gratitude to all of the people, the faithful
men and women in the temple and family history Departments, for the stunningly
magni cent work that they do. Words cannot describe how much I love them and
appreciate what they do. e intent tonight is for this message to go all over the
earth to everyone. But I want to add a particular emphasis to the young men and
the young women. I invite the Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women leaders, the
young leaders, to please stand up. at’s some of you too.

Earlier, someone said, Brother Bednar, will you go to the pulpit to conclude, or will
you stay with the young people? And I said, I’d much rather stay with the young
people.

[Laughter]

En nombre de la Primera Presidencia y del Quórum de los Doce, para ustedes,

jóvenes, tenemos con anza en ustedes. Eres el batallón del Señor. Y estos ajustes
que se han hecho ahora organizan la obra de salvación para que sea tan enfocada y
tan simple. Sabemos, damos testimonio y testi camos de que contribuirás a que
sucedan grandes cosas en esta obra en toda la tierra.

Esperamos que sorprendas a los adultos. Esperamos que busque inspiración y

revelación. Y mientras lo hace en su juventud, en un mundo que es cada vez más
perverso y cada vez más caótico, le prometemos que estará protegido. Serás
guiado. Estarás protegido.

Lo que aprenda acerca de recibir revelación acerca de los demás lo bendecirá de

manera magní ca. Doy mi testimonio e incluyo en ese testimonio a mis dos
hermanos, el élder Stevenson y el élder Renlund. Seré la voz, pero viene de los tres.
Unidos declaramos nuestro testimonio de la realidad viva de Dios, el Padre Eterno,
y de Su hijo, Jesucristo. Ellos viven. Ellos son reales. Te conocen por tu nombre.

Nuestro amado Padre Celestial escuchará y contestará sus oraciones. El Salvador

Jesucristo marcó el camino y abrió el camino. Síganlo por favor. Ven a Él y síguelo.
Te amamos. Expreso nuevamente nuestra con anza en usted. Y esperamos con
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ansias los milagros que ayudarás a crear. En el sagrado nombre del Señor
Jesucristo. Amén.