Protection in Today's World

This past Saturday morning, my wife and I had the opportunity to go to the temple with the ward. This was the first time we had taken family names we had researched to do endowment sessions. It was AMAZING! We had to wait for a while in the chapel so I began to ponder about one my of my ancestors I was taking through. As I sat in the chapel, my thoughts led me to the words from a recent general conference talk from Elder David A Bednar. He said the following:

"I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. I encourage you to study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead (see D&C 124:28–36). And I urge you to help other people identify their family histories.

As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives."

  

It is becoming harder and harder to be obedient with the worldly influences that surround us. As I've met with members who struggle with thwarting the temptations of the adversary in their lives, I often refer them to this talk and, in particular, this quote. This quote is one not only for youth, but for all of us. Elder Bednar makes us some pretty incredible promises.

I'm the type of person that always wants to understand the WHY behind things. When we understand the WHY, we are transformed. President Uchtdorf said in a recent conference address that "the what informs, but the why transforms." When we understand why Elder Bednar makes this promise of being "protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary" in our lives, we'll want to do more to search out all our kindred dead and take those names to the temple.

I love the scripture that is often quoted regarding the Spirit of Elijah and family history work found in Malachi chapter 4. As you might recall, it says:

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Emphasis added) 

When I was on my mission, Elder Russell M Nelson came to speak with us. He held a mission conference and spoke to us about the importance of understanding different languages. When he taught us about the importance of understanding the English language, he used the word "Elijah" to illustrate his point. In Hebrew, the word "El" literally means the father and the word "Jah" literally means the son. The vowel "i" was used as a linking vowel. Therefore, the name Elijah literally means linking the father to the son and the son to the father.

So what does this all mean?

When we are found searching out our ancestors who have passed on, their hearts are turned towards us to help us find their names. They are so desperately yearning for someone to find them! When their hearts are turned towards us, I would almost guarantee that they'll be "round about [us], to bear [us] up" during times of trial (D&C 84:88). It only makes sense these ancestors would want to be around people who are diligently seeking after them. However, on the flip-side, if we're playing video games, watching television, or messing around on the internet all day long, I can't imagine their hearts being turned to us and gathering around us to bear us up. I can only imagine them turning away from us and towards others who will help them.

Elder Nelson teaches that the Spirit of Elijah is "a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family." As you and I are engaged in finding our ancestors (who are rooting for us to find them and will help us), the Spirit will be stronger in our lives, helping us overcome temptation and follow the Savior. As this happens, indeed, our testimonies of the Savior and conversion to Him will become "deep and abiding." I'm grateful I was able to find and go through the temple for Henry Jackson (born in 1776) on Saturday and my wife was able to do the work for Edith Walker (her great, great grandma). What a blessing!