Lesson on February 24, 2013

Our Relief Society lesson today was given by Jessica Lewis: Teaching for our Time, Elder Richard G. Scott's talk "The Joy of Redeeming the Dead." Unlike the churches that preach that once a person is dead they are either saved or damned with no chance to repent. Our church teaches that we may be baptized for our dead and give them the opportunity to  repent and that the sweet relationships we have in this life will continue. Sister Lee told about how her nonmember grandparents were sealed after their death and so her father's family was complete. Elder Scott said we need to do the work for our family even if we are doing temple work for others. One sister said it is a way to not lose even one person. sister Gibson said that Joseph Smith said it is a way for our ancestors to be connected to us and be an influence in our lives. Sister Bahr was able to do the work for her mother and grandmother and felt  their joy when she was in the temple. She was also able to have her grandparents sealed and her uncles work as well. Sister Byrne told of doing her grandmothers' work and her grandparents sealed and felt the joy they felt. Another sister told of her family in Mexico getting sealed and how her father as a young man went to the temple and was surprised to have his Father's name that he was baptized for. He knew it was not a coincidence. Sister Roundy was able to take her pioneer heritage and verify all their names and dates and read their stories. she was grateful that she got to know them and know her heritage. Sister Lewis was in a similar situation with all the work done, but her daughter was able to find a few names to take to the temple. We have great resources for us in the Church. Sister Jolley said we do have indexing we can do and it is easy to do. Sister Lee showed the websites that are available for us to family history. Sister Young said that the majority of people who use the Internet for genealogy are not members. Elder Bednar spoke to the youth to encourage them to do their own family history and it will bring the Spirit into your life to protect you from the problems in the world. sister Bahr told of taking her teenagers to the temple to do baptisms and how it took them to a new level in their spiritual lives. It is a work that means something. sister Cantrell said our ancestors are waiting.