Student Manual Religion 261
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Introduction to Family History Student Manual Introduction to Family Religion 261 Introduction to Family History Student Manual Religion 261 Introduction to Family History Student Manual Religion 261 Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah Comments and corrections are appreciated. Please send them to: Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Curriculum 50 E North Temple Street Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0008 USA E-mail: ces-manuals@ ldschurch .org Please list your complete name, address, ward, and stake. Be sure to give the title of the manual. Then offer your comments. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc., and is registered in the United States of America and other countries. © 2012 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America English approval: 1/11 Contents Introduction .......................................................................................1 1. The Family Is Central to the Plan of Salvation .......................................................3 2. The Mission of Elijah ...........................................................................13 3. Getting Started with Family History Research .......................................................21 4. Gathering and Recording Family History Information ................................................29 5. Personal Revelation and Family History ............................................................39 6. Computers and Family History Research ...........................................................49 7. Submitting Names for Temple Ordinances .........................................................57 8. The Abrahamic Covenant .......................................................................67 9. The Spirit World and the Redemption of the Dead ...................................................75 10. Covenants, Ordinances, and Temples in the Plan of Salvation .........................................85 11. Research in Family History ......................................................................93 12. Finding and Creating Personal and Family Histories ................................................101 13. Index. 111 iii Introduction Religion 261, Introduction to Family The Purpose of salvation, the Atonement, the central History, is a one-semester course role of the family, the mission of in which you will learn gospel This Manual Elijah, the Abrahamic covenant, the doctrines and principles essential This manual will help you learn spirit world, and the importance of to the work of redeeming the dead gospel doctrines and principles ordinances and covenants. It also and how to find information about associated with redeeming the dead explains how to conduct family your ancestors that is needed to and what you can do to participate history research and how to prepare perform saving ordinances for them. in this glorious work. It uses the names for temple work so saving The Lord has revealed that a great scriptures and words of latter-day ordinances can be performed on missionary effort is under way in the prophets to explain doctrines and behalf of those who died without spirit world (see D&C 138:28–37). principles related to the plan of having received them. You become part of this great work when you identify your ancestors who did not receive the essential gospel ordinances in this life. It is your privilege to be baptized, confirmed, endowed, and sealed in their behalf in the temple, and males may receive the Melchizedek Priesthood for deceased males there. In this way all of our Heavenly Father’s children can come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. President Wilford Woodruff (1807–98) spoke about the signifi- cance of the work of redeeming the dead: “I wish many times that the veil were lifted off the face of the Latter-day Saints. I wish we could see and know the things of God as they do who are laboring for the salvation of the human family who are in the spirit world; for if this were so, this whole people, with very few, if any, exceptions, would lose all interest in the riches of the world, and instead thereof their whole desires and labors would be directed to redeem their dead, to perform faithfully the work and mission given us on earth; so that when we ourselves should pass behind the veil and meet with Joseph and the ancient apostles, and others who are watching over us and who are deeply interested in our labors, we might feel satisfied in having done our duty” (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, ed. G. Homer Durham St. George Utah Temple [1946], 152). 1 How This Manual Is Organized Each chapter of this student manual of the Twelve Apostles affirmed that As you study the “Questions has five parts: pondering will bring valuable results: to Ponder” and “Suggested “As you ponder and pray about Assignments” sections of this manual, 1. Introduction doctrinal principles, the Holy Ghost you may find it helpful to use a study 2. Commentary will speak to your mind and your journal or notebook in which to 3. Questions to Ponder heart” (in Conference Report, Oct. record questions, thoughts, goals, 4. Suggested Assignments 2000, 19; or Ensign, Nov. 2000, 18). and impressions. Elder Richard G. 5. Additional Resources Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Questions to Ponder Apostles encouraged us to write Introduction The “Questions to Ponder” section down impressions from the Spirit: “It Each chapter begins with a brief intro- will help you analyze and reflect on is through the repeated process of duction focusing on the central topics ways to apply what you have come to feeling impressions, recording them, found in the chapter. understand. As you think of answers and obeying them that one learns to the questions, the Spirit may direct to depend on the direction of the Commentary your thoughts to specific things you Spirit more than on communication A list of supporting scriptures to may do or learn that will further your through the five senses” (Helping study and ponder often follows the efforts in family history. Others to be Spiritually Led [CES main headings in the “Commentary” symposium on the D&C and Church section. Teachings of latter-day Suggested Assignments history, Aug. 11, 1998], 3). prophets and apostles are the primary Each chapter concludes with assign- Additional Resources sources used to help clarify the ments that encourage personal appli- doctrines and principles associated cation. Working on these assignments The “Additional Resources” section with the given topic. As you carefully is one way to exercise your faith and lists talks, articles, and other resources study and ponder this commentary, apply your righteous desires. The to study for additional insights. you will have many opportunities assignments will help you develop for the Holy Ghost to increase your your family history skills, accomplish understanding and testimony of the worthwhile goals, and prepare for work of redeeming the dead. Elder further instruction in succeeding Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum chapters. Information for Those Comments and Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Curriculum Suggestions with Disabilities 50 E North Temple Street Your comments and suggestions If you have difficulty using this Salt Lake City UT 84150-0008 manual due to a disability, please about this manual’s strengths and contact your instructor for additional areas of potential improvement USA resources. Alternative formats of this would be appreciated. Please send E-mail: student manual may be available at them to: ces-manuals@ ldschurch .org institute .lds .org/ courses. Please list your complete name, address, ward, and stake. Be sure to give the title of the manual. Then offer your comments and suggestions. 2 The Family Is Central to the Plan of Salvation 1 atonement is the word one. If all mankind understood this, Introduction there would never be anyone with whom we would not be concerned, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or In the premortal world you were a member of social or economic standing. Heavenly Father’s family. Now you are a member of an “If we truly understood the Atonement and the eternal additional family, a mortal family. Because of Heavenly value of each soul, we would seek out the wayward Father’s plan of salvation, it is possible for you to boy and girl and every other wayward child of God. become like Him. It is also possible to secure your We would help them to know of the love Christ has for mortal family in an eternal bond, allowing you to be them. We would do all that we can to help prepare them together as a family after death. This chapter focuses to receive the saving ordinances of the gospel. on the importance of individuals and families and their potential in the plan of salvation. As you study this chapter, you will gain a deeper understanding of the eternal significance of the family and its role in Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation. This knowledge will help you lay the foundation for doing family history work and resist worldly efforts to minimize the importance of the family and to disregard individual worth. Commentary “The Worth of Souls Is Great in the Sight of God” [1.1] Scriptures to Study and Ponder • Matthew 10:29–31 • 2 Nephi 26:33 • Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–16 • Moses 1:39 The Atonement of Jesus Christ helps us understand our worth in the sight of God. [1.1.1] Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught how the worth of each person is best understood through the Atonement of Jesus Christ: “I believe that if we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God. I believe our Heavenly Father’s everlasting purpose for His children The Atonement of Jesus Christ helps us understand our worth in the is generally achieved by the small and simple things sight of God. we do for one another. At the heart of the English word 3 CHAPTER 1 “Brothers and sisters, never, never underestimate how worth something. Even though I may not look like much precious is the one ” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2004, and even though I have been battered and used, I am 88–89; or Ensign, May 2004, 86–87).