Alma 13:1-19
From
Come, Follow Me :
Priesthood ordinances help me receive redemption through Jesus Christ. You might recall that in Alma 12, Alma taught about God's plan of redemption (see Alma 12:24–27). In chapter 13, he spoke about the priests whom God ordained "to teach these things unto the people" (Alma 13:1). Alma's words reveal many powerful truths about the priesthood. Priesthood ordinances help us look to Jesus Christ for redemption.
Vicarious ordinances are performed for those on the other side of the veil today in temples.
Vicarious Work For The Dead
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead."
Teachings of Presidents of the Church, Joseph Smith (2007)
President Nelson said at
RootsTech in 2017: "Our collections of stories and photos should never become an endpoint in themselves—if we know who our ancestors are, know marvelous things about them, but we leave them stranded on the other side without their ordinances—such diversion will not be of any help to our ancestors who remain confined in their spirit prison." See also President Nelson's
General Conference talk to us all and his
broadcast to the youth.
Ordinance Work
Finding our kindred dead and performing temple ordinances for them is necessary for our salvation as well as for our ancestors and our descendants. Elder Neil L. Andersen advised at
RootsTech 2015: "These are your days. You were born in a time of temples and technology. These are your days to more fully turn your hearts to your fathers and bring these saving ordinances to millions within our families. These are your days to prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior."
"For we without [our ancestors] cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect" (
D&C 128:18). Many of our deceased ancestors are being taught the gospel in the spirit world - they need our help and we need theirs! Here are some ways to find those who need ordinance work done (sign up for a FamilySearch Account first):
Ordinances Ready
Ordinances Ready is a FamilySearch tool that simplifies finding names for the temple, allowing you more time to serve your family and enjoy the blessings of the temple. See
Ordinances Ready on the FamilySearch App.
Temple Opportunities
See "Recommended Tasks" on the FamilySearch home page and click the Temple tab. A list of names for possible ordinances may be displayed.
Note : Be sure to check each name for possible duplicates or other issues before reserving them for ordinances.
Descendancy Research
Descendancy research can be an efficient way to find descendants of ancestors (such as distant cousins) who need temple work done. For a detailed look at how cousin relationships work, see
Are Your Cousins Removed?
The FamilySearch Fan Chart
Kathryn Grant gives instructions for
How to Find Ancestors in Need of Temple Work in the Family Tree using the fan chart.
Look to the Future
As a family (or an extended family), look to the future. You could each share what you would say to an ancestor or another person for whom you have vicariously performed temple ordinances, or what you would say to a loved one in the spirit world who has influenced your life. Perhaps you could all write a letter of gratitude and add it to FamilySearch Memories, or audio record what you would say using the
Memories App For iOS and Android (find more instructions
here). To find stories about your ancestors, see
Week #22, 2020. This activity is great for individuals also.
Alma 14
From
Come, Follow Me :
Alma 14 tells of righteous people who suffered and even died because of their beliefs. You might wonder, as many do, why terrible things happen to people who are trying to live righteously. You may not find all the answers to this difficult question in Alma 14, but there is much to learn from the way Alma and Amulek responded to the situations they faced. What do their words and actions teach you about why the Lord sometimes allows righteous people to suffer? What do you learn from them about facing persecution?
In addition, what can we learn from our ancestors and others who faced persecution with faith, courage, and patience?
Character Traits
Each family member could select a character trait from a particular ancestor or someone they would like to emulate, and work on incorporating it into his or her life. Perhaps a certain time period for that focus could be selected. Share with each other the reasons you selected that trait. Place a photo or quote where it can be seen often as a reminder. Write about or audio record your experiences in FamilySearch memories (be sure to tag your ancestor). Note: As mentioned above, to find stories about your ancestors, see
Week #22, 2020.
See
We All Share Pioneer Legacy.
Your Personal History
Write a story about your life as you study each Come, Follow Me lesson. By the end of the year, you will have 50 stories! Save as a story (also consider
audio-recording it) and add it to your FamilySearch memories to preserve it. Use your own questions, those from (or inspired by) Come, Follow Me, or the
#52 Stories Project. See below for ideas:
- What have you learned from difficult challenges?
- What do you learn from the lives of Alma and Amulek?
- Write about a character trait of an ancestor or someone else you are trying to incorporate into your own life. What are you learning?
