Most, long time, active members of the church can describe their years of service as varied and diverse. From assignments of teaching to leadership responsibilities, all of which have provided them with growth experiences and often a great deal of joy. Most Elders and many sisters have been called at least once to be part time ward/stake missionaries. What that calling entails has changed many times over the years, primarily in respect to how the Gospel was taught. When we think of missionary service we usually think in terms of teaching non members. Many members of the church have testimonies of Joseph Smith and the first two missions of the church: to Preach the Gospel and to Perfect the Saints. However, the third mission of the church: to Redeem the Dead, has not been a priority mission. For most members of the church it is only something that is in the back of their minds; usually as an irritant. Something they know that they will probably have to look into someday.
About a year ago, I was in a meeting with church support leaders, those responsible for family history center support worldwide. They were describing, for the directors of regional centers, how the development of the new FamilySearch program was coming and how it was evolving and would eventually be made available to all members of the church. In the process, a few statistics were shared; one of which was the fact that there are approximately four percent of the members of the church who are actively involved in family history research. At the same time there are probably over fifty percent of the members of the church involved, to some degree, in the other two missions.
I strongly believe that there is a need to develop a missionary program within the church for members, to assist them in the development of their testimonies of family history and the importance of linking families together for all eternity.
BEHOLD, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah …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.” (D&C Section 2:1–3) Elijah has come and he has restored the sealing power of the priesthood, but the saints have not gotten the message. The seed, Elijah planted when he came in 1836, must have been planted in rocky and/or shallow soil because there has been such a poor harvest. I believe, however, that the soil is more ready to receive the seed, within the church today. If we can replant that seed I believe our fields will soon be white and ready to harvest. The spirit of Elijah appears to be touching more hearts now, both among members of the church and nonmembers, than it has since he first came. Those of us who have already had the spirit of this work planted in our hearts must be ready always to replant the seeds of this work wherever and whenever we can identify rich soil among members of our wards and stakes.
We should be prepared with answers to members just as we have been asked to prepare to be member missionaries to the gentiles. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”(1 Peter 3:15)
I believe many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe they are exempt from family history work because they have other important callings in the church, but no one is exempt. Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith said: ”It matters not what else we have been called to do or what position we may occupy or how faithfully in other ways we have labored in the Church; none are exempt from this obligation, it is required of the Apostle as well as the humblest Elder…The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us, is to seek after our dead, because we cannot be saved without them.”
The greatest convert missionary work that there is being done today, is being done beyond the veil. Converts beyond the veil, are unable to progress until we identify them here and do their temple work. May God bless us to catch the spirit of this great and important mission.