Dear Brothers and Sisters, in order to receive the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom and return to live with our Father in Heaven, we must receive and accept, all of the saving ordinances of the Gospel. They are baptism, conferral of the Holy Ghost, Priesthood ordination for men, the temple endowment and the temple sealing. These ordinances are essential for everyone on either side of the veil.
The ultimate end of Temple and Family History work is to vicariously provide the saving ordinances of the temple to all of our ancestors who have gone before us and who have prepared the way so that we can be where we are today. Our families need us, and we need them.
I look forward to the day when I can meet again my ancestors. I want to personally thank them for their sacrifices for me.
Let me share with you a story of Sister King from Idaho Falls. She is an inspiration, she exemplifies Temple and Family History work. During all the years that we were raising our family in Idaho Falls, each time I would go to the temple I would see Sister King. She was in her eighties and nineties when I knew her. I asked about Sister King. The temple President said that she was there every day from dawn until dark. She would bring a small sandwich to eat at noon. Once she was asked if going to the temple so many times a day didn’t make her tired. I will always remember her response.
“Isn’t work supposed to make you tired?”
When Sister King died an article appeared in the Church News about this faithful woman. She had reached her goal of having performed over 20,000 endowments. That is the number of people who fit in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City. Do you think any of those people greeted Sister King as she passed through the veil to the other side? I guarantee there were many.
When I think of Temple and Family History work, two scriptures come to mind. One is found in Doctrine and Covenants, and the other is found in the New Testament.
D&C 18:15-16
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls (YOUR FAMILY) unto me!
Matthew 25:35-40
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren (YOUR FAMILY), ye have done it unto me.