There are many reasons why we should hesitate to do things, especially without having carefully thought them through first. The saying; ‘He who hesitates is lost” Is oftimes fool’s advice. Many decisions we make in life should be made a matter of prayer and or careful thought. When we are pressured to move forward with an investment or a new job or many other things that could have consequences for our family and others. We should hold a family council and get feedback from them after we have tried to describe as many of the positives and possible negatives as we can think of. There will always be unknowns if it requires a move. There are many aspects of our lives that we need to think through carefully, reasons to hesitate.
Sometimes and some people never include the Lord in their decisions; they just move forward without hesitation for anything and find themselves in a deep hole later. I can speak from experience in a few cases. Many, or some, would say pray about it; praying has a way of clearing our heads, giving value to our decisions. Some of the most important decisions we make are in respect to religion and or spiritual aspects of our lives. The Lord expects commitment on our part when we contemplate doing His work.
The Lord may even expect some hesitation before accepting a serious calling to do His work. In this case I am referring, to doing family history work, a work we have all been called to do because of it’s eternal and significant importance to all of our ancestors who have moved on to the other side. It is not always an easy choice because it does require commitment of time. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is providing well-written computer programs with ties to major databases all over the world which has made it easier than ever before. Many might even say enjoyable to do. If you enjoy order and a certain amount of detail, you will enjoy searching out your ancestors with the new tools we have been provided with.
All callings require faith and determination to move forward in most all projects wherein we know that quite a lot of our time is going to be demanded. Even just a little time on a consistent basis will yield the joy of the work. Make the decision to take a step forward, to learn and ask others to help you. They will! The names you find and take to the temple will become records for “The book.” Elder Allan F. Packer referred to a statement in the Doctrine and Covenants. “And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” (D&C 84: 43-45) Joseph Smith made it very clear that no one (member of the church) is exempt from doing this work, not even a Bishop or an Apostle.
The work for our ancestors is a work for each and every member of the church for their salvation is dependent on us, and our salvation is dependent on them. It is a work they were not given an opportunity to do nor the knowledge to even know about.
The gospel has been restored in its fullness to the earth, and with the knowledge we have and our testimonies of the work, great things are expected of us and the work we do for our dead is the greatest and most important work of all. We should not delay until we are too old and incapable of doing it but rather move forward with commitment and determination to pick up the work where others may have had to leave it. We have to see our ancestors as we see our living family and remind ourselves constantly that they lived, had they not, we would not be. We owe them our lives and God has said that we without them cannot be saved. Hesitate if you must, but not too long.