Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants speaks of how our confidence can wax strong in the presence of the Lord. Even in the presence of our fellow beings, confidence is such an important attribute. The lack of it is often the reason we fail to do the things that would give us many of life’s enjoyments and pleasures. It is also the reason many of us hold back and fail to do things that we are otherwise capable of. Lack of confidence is even the reason many do not fulfill some of the most significant and important commandments given to each and every member of the church. Sometimes our confidence is emboldened after we gain a better understanding of the Gospel and the significance of God’s will for us.
We all need to be reminded of the basics from time to time. The following scriptures lay the very foundation for what the prophets of God have considered to be the most important work we are called upon to do. That work is found in the Book of Moses: “For behold this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39) Is not the Father’s work our work as well? The second vision given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, in these last days, describes how the Father’s work was to proceed in these last days. The revelation states: “Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 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 2:1–2) It is important that we know why our hearts must be turned. Verse three describes what will happen if they are not: “If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.” What was it (in that scripture) that was going to turn our hearts? The planting in our hearts of the promise made to the fathers. The promise referred to was initially given to Father Abraham because of his great faith; the promise is as follows: “My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore my hand shall be over thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee above measure, and make thy name great among all nations, and thou shalt be a bless- ing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations; And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father; And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) …shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.” (Abraham 2:8–11) The promise assures us that all the families of this earth will be blessed with an opportunity to embrace the Gospel of Salvation through the Priesthood invested in Abraham’s seed. If they had not been given an opportunity to hear the Gospel while living on earth, they will be given that opportunity in the Spirit world. (See D&C 138). Why? Because our Father is a Just God and loves all equally.
And so we come to our day. There has not been the availability (possibility) to do this work on a grand scale until recent history. The computer age has made it possible for progress to be made now as in no other time. With modern day technology, records of our deceased ancestors are being gathered from the four corners of the earth. The records are being digitized and indexed to make it possible for us to identify our ancestors even in the comfort of our homes and to submit their names to the temples where the essential ordinances, baptisms, etc. can be performed vicariously.
“Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:29)
Even Father Lehi understood the Lord’s timetable for doing this work (nearly 600 years before Christ was born). His son, Nephi, said: “Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” (Nephi 15:18) Lehi apparently saw in a vision the technology of our day (the latter days) that would make this work possible?
Our ancestors who lived at a time or in a place that precluded their knowing and understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation are dependent on us to do for them what they could not do for themselves. The Father’s Plan for all people who now live on this earth, have lived or will live on this earth, is the Plan for us to follow in order to return to His presence one day. The Plan is simple enough for all to understand and to follow if they have been made aware of it. The problem is that historically the agency of man has allowed evil and designing men to prevent the plan from becoming well known and available to everyone. The plan is also referred to as the Plan of Happiness and the Plan of Progression. Those who have been free to adopt and embrace the plan are recognized as happy and progressive people.
I have made it a habit of asking retired friends and acquaintances to come and serve at the FamilySearch Library in Ogden. Many do, and many do not. I realize that there may be many reasons that one or a couple can not serve. However, there are times that it is obvious that some lack confidence; they say things like, “Oh no! I couldn’t, I don’t know anything about doing that,” or “I don’t know how to use a computer, I am scared to death of them.” We have been placed on earth to have dominion over all things and to learn and to grow. We at the library do not care what you currently know. We only care that you are willing to learn and have a desire to serve and to help accomplish the Father’s work. There is something for everyone to do here. Where you are lacking, we shall teach you. Our love of God instills in us, his sons and daughters, a desire to serve in some way. It doesn’t really matter if you are not currently an expert in family history or computer skills. The Lord has need of helping hands. Apostle Neal A. Maxwell described it best many years ago: “God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability!” Then with our newly acquired capability, our confidence will wax strong as we become involved in this the Father’s important work. The prophets have declared from the very beginning that there should be no work of greater importance to us.