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From Come, Follow Me:
Before Moroni concluded the record we know today as the Book of Mormon with his own final words, he shared three messages from his father, Mormon: an address to “the peaceable followers of Christ” (Moroni 7:3) and two letters that Mormon had written to Moroni. Perhaps Moroni included these messages in the Book of Mormon because he foresaw similarities between the perils of his day and ours.
Elder Holland gives a description of our day, the work we have been sent to do, and the gratitude of those who have gone on before as they cheer us on to accomplish our part in the "drama of history."
"In short, apostasy and destruction of one kind or another was the ultimate fate of every general dispensation we have ever had down through time. But here's my theory. My theory is that those great men and women, the leaders in those ages past, were able to keep going, to keep testifying, to keep trying to do their best, not because they knew that they would succeed but because they knew that you would. I believe they took courage and hope not so much from their own circumstances as from yours…
Ours, not theirs, was the day that gave them "heavenly and joyful anticipations" and caused them to sing and prophesy of victory. Ours is the day, collectively speaking, toward which the prophets have been looking from the beginning of time, and those earlier brethren are over there still cheering us on! In a very real way, their chance to consider themselves fully successful depends on our faithfulness and our victory. I love the idea of going into the battle of the last days representing Alma and Abinadi and what they pled for and representing Peter and Paul and the sacrifices they made. If you can't get excited about that kind of assignment in the drama of history, you can't get excited!” Jeffrey R. Holland, Terror, Triumph, and a Wedding Feast. Watch the entire presentation here.
Invitations from President Nelson:
To the brethren:
After some 4,000 years of anticipation and preparation, this is the appointed day when the gospel is to be taken to the kindreds of the earth.This is the time of the promised gathering of Israel. And we get to participate! Isn’t that exciting?
To the sisters:
My dear sisters, we need you! We “need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices.”4 We simply cannot gather Israel without you.
To the Millennials:
"Spend more time on your knees in prayer, more time in the scriptures, more time in family history work, more time in the temple. I promise you that as you consistently give the Lord a generous portion of your time, He will multiply the remainder."
To the youth :
"You—my dear, extraordinary youth—were sent to earth at this precise time, this most crucial time in the history of the earth, to help gather Israel ... There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing. This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth."
“...Just think of the excitement and urgency of it all: every prophet commencing with Adam has seen our day. And every prophet has talked about our day, when Israel would be gathered and the world would be prepared for the Second Coming of the Savior. Think of it! Of all the people who have ever lived on planet earth, we are the ones who get to participate in this final, great gathering event. How exciting is that!
Our Heavenly Father has reserved many of His most noble spirits—perhaps, I might say, His finest team—for this final phase. Those noble spirits—those finest players, those heroes—are you!
I testify that the gathering is now, and it is real." Worldwide Devotional for Youth
President Nelson invited youth to help prepare the world for the second coming of the Lord! Check out The Family History Guide's Latter-day Saint Youth page for activities related to President Nelson's invitation to the youth.
“We know, we witness, we testify that you will contribute to helping great things happen in this work all over the earth. We expect you to surprise the adults. We expect you to seek inspiration and revelation .
And as you do that in your youth in a world that is increasingly wicked and ever more chaotic, we promise you, you will be safeguarded, you will be guided, you will be protected. What you learn about receiving revelation about others will bless you in magnificent ways.” David A. Bednar, Temple and Family History Leadership
See also:
President Nelson teaches that building faith and testimony in the hearts of those with whom we live, work, and serve is a way to gather Israel. He shares that “people are interested in their families” and that “missionaries can help investigators discover their ancestors” (see Family History Can Aid Missionary Work). Following is an example (see more in Including Temple and Family History in the Work of Salvation).
See more examples here: Sharing the Gospel Through Family History. Download the presentations here. Download the syllabus here.
“The time has come for us to capitalize more effectively on the potent combination of the mighty change of heart, made possible primarily by the spiritual power of the Book of Mormon, and the turning of hearts to the fathers, accomplished through the spirit of Elijah.”
“The artificial boundary line we so often place between missionary work and temple and family history work is being erased; this is one great work of salvation.” David A. Bednar, Missionary, Family History, and Temple Work
This is exactly why The Family History Guide is the perfect gift for both “member missionaries” and those who are set-apart missionaries – it helps erase the artificial boundary by making temple and family history work more accessible, easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable for all.
Of course, its use is always guided by a mission president who is presiding over full-time missionaries. In a presentation by President and Sister Nelson entitled “Open the Heavens Through Temple and Family History Work,” President Nelson counsels, “If I were a missionary today, my two best friends in the ward or branch where I served would be the ward mission leader and the ward temple and family history consultant. People have an inborn desire to know something about their ancestors. That becomes a natural opportunity for our missionaries. As missionaries learn to love the people they teach, they will naturally ask about their families. ‘Are your parents living? Are your grandparents living? Do you know your four grandparents?’ Conversations flow easily when those who are drawn to speak with the missionaries are invited to talk bout the people they love.
Then the missionaries can make this suggestion: ‘I have a friend at our church who can help. If we could find the names of some or maybe even all of your great-grandparents, would it be worth a couple of hours of your time to find out who your great-grandparents are?’ That friend at church, of course, is the ward temple and family history consultant.”
There is always a great family history activity that you can do with those you visit. Many will lead to further discussion, strengthening friendships, and teaching opportunities. See 5-Minute Ideas for Latter-day Saints for ideas to see what might be applicable. The Family History Fun Basket is a great one because you can select the questions to fit the group.
Discover the past! All About Me is a great activity to do with any kind of group. The birth year can be changed right on the page!. See All About Me Experience.
See also: The Family History Guide Youtube channel activities playlist. You could help families learn about their family name, or about their ancestral homelands or have a myriad of other experiences! See the Activities Overview.
Additional family history activities resources:
From Come, Follow Me:
Many people wonder, “How can I know if an impression comes from God or from my own thoughts?”
Review the following videos to learn more about receiving revelation:
Act on this promise from President Nelson: "I promise that as you increase your time in temple and family history work, you will increase and improve your ability to hear Him." Hear Him
