Congratulations, you’ve found a name, and it’s ready for you to take to the temple! Now what? Our lives are incredibly hectic with all of the demands of a busy lifestyle. As we try to find some sense of priority with all our daily distractions, we must remind ourselves that in life, the anchor in our modern world must be the family. Not just our immediate family, but also family members who have gone before us and those who are yet to come. Elder Quentin L. Cook provides some insight into our obligations to family in this world and the next.
The doctrine of the family in relation to family history and temple work is clear. The Lord in initial revelatory instructions referred to “baptism for your dead.” Our doctrinal obligation is to our own ancestors. This is because the celestial organization of heaven is based on families. The First Presidency has encouraged members, especially youth and young single adults, to emphasize family history work and ordinances for their own family names or the names of ancestors of their ward and stake members. We need to be connected to both our roots and branches. The thought of being associated in the eternal realm is indeed glorious. (Quentin L. Cook, “Roots and Branches,” Ensign, May 2014, 45)
There will always be duties and activities that distract us and our time and attention. So, as you find a name that needs temple ordinances, make the personal commitment to take the next step of getting the work done! As we take the time to attend the temple with our own family names, or to share those names with family or other ward members or with the temple, lives will be greatly blessed—both on this side of the veil and beyond.
