Sacrament talk - based on "The Joy of Redeeming the Dead" by Elder Richard G. Scott + reflections

This is the talk I gave during sacrament meeting on Sunday, March 10th 2013. At the end, there are some reflections I have after giving the talk.
                                 
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My talk is based on the talk, "The Joy of Redeeming the Dead" by Elder Richard G. Scott given during the November 2012 general conference. I was really excited when Bishop asked me to do this because this is my very first talk and doing baptisms for the dead is my favorite thing to do.

Elder Scott states, "The Lord's revelation that through proper priesthood authority, baptism could be performed vicariously for the dead preserved the justice of His statement: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". Vicarious baptism can mercifully provide this essential ordinance for all worthy deceased who did not receive it in mortality."

I love that He sets a rule for us and then gives us a way to fulfill it.

Then he quotes Joseph Smith from an epistle he wrote stating, "The Saints have the privilege of being baptized for... their relatives who are dead... who have received the Gospel in the spirit through... those who have been commissioned to preach to them." Adding later, "Those Saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation."

Joseph Smith hit it right on the nose. It is a privilege. To be worthy of the temple and doing baptisms. We have the opportunity to take part in the necessary saving ordinances for those who have passed on.

It is a responsibility. We live close to a temple. There are many others in other countries who do not. They get their family history work done, but cannot get to the temple to do the baptisms. There are also the elderly, who can't do it for themselves and they may not have grandchildren to give the work to. As well as the disabled and many other groups who just cannot.

They are all counting on us. It is not just for the youth and those of us who don't have our endowments yet. Baptisms for the dead is something that almost all of us here can do.

It is also a great blessing. To know that the people who you have just done baptisms and confirmations for are then on their way to the next step. To know that you have just helped your family or other families become that much closer to being together in the eternities. To know that you are taking part in the Lord's work. To know that He is pleased with you.

It brings you such a tremendous amount of joy. I can't describe it. I can only suggest that you go out and feel it for yourselves.

Going to do baptisms is not hard. I know from when I would set up baptism trips. All that you have to do is call the temple and set up an appointment. If you arrive for the baptism time and don't have the required priesthood, they will put you with another group, or supply priesthood for you. I ran into that many times. The temple workers are just happy you are there. He is happy you are there.

Elder Scott quotes President Howard W. Hunter in the following statement: "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 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 opportunity afforded to the living. Yet there are many members of the Church who only have limited access to the temples. They do the best they can. They pursue family history research and have the temple ordinance work done by others. Conversely, there are some members who engage in temple work, but fail to do family history research on their own family lines. Although they perform a divine service in assisting others, they lose a blessing by not seeking their own kindred dead as divinely directed by latter-day prophets. I have learned that those who engage in family history research and then perform the temple ordinance work for those names they have found will know the additional joy of receiving both halves of the blessing."

Elder Scott goes on to say, "Any work you do in the temple is time well spent, but receiving ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received. The First Presidency has declared, "Our preeminent obligation is to seek out and identify our own ancestors."

I know that is true. There is nothing like performing ordinances for your own ancestors. There is a great joy in helping others with their ordinances. There is a definite difference between someone else's and your own. I can't really describe it outside of acknowledging the difference. In June 2012, I completed the baptisms for the female names that I have found so far. Then I switched to needing to do temple names. It didn't feel the same. The amount of joy I felt was different.

Doing your own family names is the best. I remember the second time I went to the temple, I did my own names and I got to watch the baptisms of my male names. We were told to think about the people we were in proxy for. I recall with each name I was baptized for, I felt happier and happier. I could feel/hear them saying thank you as I left. I feel like I felt their joy at having the first part of their ordinances done. I remember feeling so full of their joy and my joy, I could not stop smiling the rest of the night. I would spontaneously burst into laughter. I had more happiness than I knew what to do with. It was the best.

Family history work is very important. While it isn't easy, we need to do it. I understand for those for whom their parents have all the family history work done and their family tree dates all the way back to Adam and Eve. Those are amazing and I would love to know how it was done. I think those are the exception. Most of us have family history work to do and names to submit to our ordinance list.

As a convert to the church, I have a lot to do. A lot of my mom's side has already been found and done by people I'd love to meet. On my dad's side, I have a lot of work to do. When I was unemployed, I pretty much consumed myself in family history work. I didn't have a job to go to, so I figured I would help with His work. Plus, I really want to do my family's work. Ever since I learned that I could almost 2 years ago, I've been gung ho about it. Its tapered off since I ran into a wall with finding ancestors. It is still just as important to me to partake of the ordinances.

Elder Scott stated the following, "There are currently 12 million names and millions of corresponding ordinances that are reserved. Many names have been reserved for years. Ancestors who have been found are no doubt anxious and thrilled when their names are cleared for ordinances. They, however may not be very happy when they have to continue to wait for their ordinances to be performed."

I know two sides of this. One, when I was plugging in names on new familysearch, I would see that some ordinances need to be done. I'd go to reserve it and find someone else already has. I don't know who they are that reserved the name, or how long it has been reserved for. I only know I want to do it, but I can't because of the other person. Two, I'm the only one to do baptisms in my family. When I was reserving them, I told myself I want to do them all. Then I learned I can't. I did as much as I could by getting my female names done. I still have lots of male names that need to be done and I need help.

Something else we can do to help with finding family names is index.

Elder Scott shared the following story, " In the Russia Rostov-na-Donu Mission, the youth were invited to each index 2,000 names and then qualify at least one name from their own families for temple ordinances. Those who accomplished this goal were invited to go on a long journey to the new Kyiv Ukraine Temple. One young man shared his experience: " I was spending a lot of time playing computer games. When I started indexing, I didn't have time to play games. At first I thought, 'Oh no! How can that be!' When this project was over, I even lost interest in gaming... Genealogical work is something that we can do here on earth, and it will remain in heaven."

I love this example because it is so true. Once he prioritized and made time to index, the computer games didn't matter. Honestly, indexing can be a lot of fun. I know sometimes I get wrapped up in it and forget about the time. With the simple act of indexing, you can help so many people. It may feel like you don't have time. Sometimes you have to make the time. Re-evaluate, re-prioritize how you would otherwise spend your time and give part of it to indexing. It is a wonderful Sunday activity. Before church, after church, sometimes it can be like, how am I going to keep the rest of the day holy? Keep minded on the Savior? Index, do some family history work. Help do His work. Its a terrific way to spend part of the Sabbath.

I give you my testimony that family history work is important. Indexing is important. Our ancestors are up there waiting for us to find them. Let's help them out. Doing this work and doing baptisms for the dead will greatly bless your life and others lives. In multiple ways and some we probably haven't figured out yet. Genealogical work has always been an interest of mine. When I started doing it, it was fun. With each name I found and when that would sprout off into other members of my family I didn't know about, it felt like I was making cracks into a gold mine. It became more and more exciting each time. One of the ways it blessed my life is I found living family members I didn't know about and have had the chance to get to know a few of them. That has been a lot of fun. It has increased my love for the temple. Family history work, baptisms for the dead, and indexing have become a passion of mine. I encourage you to try it out and that it may become a passion of yours.

I'm going to end with this quote from Elder Scott, "Anywhere you are in the world, with prayer, faith, determination, diligence, and some sacrifice, you can make a powerful contribution. Begin now. I promise you that the Lord will help you find a way. And it will make you feel wonderful." There truly is joy in redeeming the dead. I testify these things are true in the name of our beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Reflections:

I could feel the Lord's hand in my life when I was assigned this talk. I felt like it was made for me. I am a family history consultant in my ward. Doing baptisms in the temple really truly is my favorite thing to do. Its something I feel strongly about. Its a privilege to be able to enter the house of the Lord and I am not about to let that go to waste. I really look forward to when I am able to take out my endowments. If it was up to me, I would go to the temple at least once a week. I really hope that one day I get to work in the temple. It is my favorite place to be.

When I used to work security in Issaquah, I would drive past the temple twice a day. That was the best part of the day. Especially driving past it at night, there is a magical quality about it when the building is all aglow. Sometimes I would leave early or in between shifts, I would go to the temple and sit outside. Sometimes read the scriptures, or just look at the building in awe. I couldn't go inside because I would be wearing a suit for work. I felt the Spirit just as strong just being on the grounds.

All of my life, thus far, family history work has been a part of what we did growing up. I always loved hearing stories from my parents about different ancestors and their legacy. I just wish I could remember what they were. Its something that I would love to have now. As I mentioned in my talk, when I was unemployed I consumed myself in family history research. I remember asking my parents for help. My mom was much more forth giving with information. There wasn't a whole lot to go on, but anything is better than nothing. When I went onto www.familysearch.org for the first time and found my grandma, it was so exciting! It was from then forward that I kept going. With each person found, it literally felt like I was chipping into a gold mine. One of the cool parts is I found some cousins on my dad's side. It was exciting when one of them actually wrote back to me. There was a number of people I found, and once I found their contact info, and I would write to them. More often than not, I heard nothing in return. I kept trying and eventually someone wrote back. One of my dad's cousins who has 3 sons who are my 2nd cousins. I wrote to each of them, but I only sort of have contact with one of them. I found out he is a dentist in my area. He now actually is my dentist :-)

I had been really wanting to give a talk. When I got the email from Bishop, I was ecstatic :-)

Before I wrote this talk, I prayed for the Spirit to be with me and for me to write what He wants written. I could feel His influence and the writing didn't take too long. Its about 9 pages written. 4 1/2 front to back. I wrote it the night before. I was really really nervous sitting up there waiting. I prayed for Him to use me as a mouthpiece to get what He wants across and for the Spirit to be with me. I feel like He did that. I was much better received than I thought it would be. After sacrament, I had the feeling that I wanted to do it again. I felt so full of the Spirit and so full of happiness and joy. That lasted me almost the whole day.

I'm just really thankful for everything. It was a great experience and I do hope to be able to do it again.