As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are sometimes asked why we are so interested in Family History. Here is a brief response that I have written after some thought and hopefully a little inspiration.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in a pre-earth state where we, all who are now and ever have been mortals, lived as spirit children born to Heavenly parents. We are literally sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:16 – 17) The earth was created and prepared by our loving Father for the primary purpose of providing for our continued growth and education. We were born here, into mortality, with agency, so that we could make choices regarding the earthly experiences that we are given.
A scripture in the book of Abraham adds a challenge to that, “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them…and they who keep their second estate (mortality) shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” (Abraham 3:25 – 26)
We were born into this world through water and blood and when our spirits entered into our infant bodies we became living souls; in like manner, we must be born again into the kingdom of heaven. Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: said, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. (John 3:2 – 7)
From the above scripture it is pretty plain that there is a definite criteria that all mortals must comply with in order to return to our Fathers presence. All must be baptized by water, representing a new birth; then receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, representing a spiritual rebirth. A more comprehensive explanation is found in the Book of Moses:
“Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time. Therefore I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children, saying: That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory; For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified; …This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten (Moses 6:57 – 62) Christianity in general believe simply that one may be born again by merely raising their hand and saying that they accept Jesus Christ as their redeemer. Their justice provides no option for their ancestors dead who were never given an opportunity to know of this Jesus Christ.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe that being born again, as described in Moses, applies to all, not just those who have lived during the brief periods of time when the Gospel was conveniently on the earth. In the Abrahamic Covenant, God promised that through Abraham’s seed all the families of the earth would be blessed with the Gospel and Salvation. (Abr 2:8-11) (Gen 22:17-18) (Gen 28:13-14) Those who accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ are adopted into Abraham’s family and become his seed. Therefore, they are obligated to search out their ancestors, those who have lived and have passed on but who did not have an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Salvation nor were they baptized by water and by the spirit while in mortality. Those earthly ordinances, of baptism, confirmation or reception of the Holy Ghost by one having authority, are done vicariously in the Lord’s Temples on earth. Malachi stated that if it were not so the whole earth would be wasted at his coming.