I have been inspired and personally fortified as I have been reviewing the messages delivered to us on our most recent and historic General Conference. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Saturday afternoon session, expressed, “When we gather our family histories and go to the temple on behalf of our ancestors, God fulfills promised blessings simultaneously on both sides of the veil.”

He shared examples of how family history work provided “the power to heal that which needed healing.” Elder Renlund cited many of the blessings readily available to us as we engage in this sacred work. “As we participate in family history and temple work today, we also lay claim to healing blessings promised by prophets and apostles. These blessing are also breathtakingly amazing because of their scope, specificity, and consequence in mortality. This long list of blessings includes:

• Increased understanding of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice
• Increased influence of the Holy Ghost to feel strength and direction for our own lives
• Increased faith, so that conversion to the Savior becomes deep and abiding
• Increased ability and motivation to learn and repent because of an understanding of who we are, where we come from, and a clearer vision of where we are going
• Increased refining, sanctifying, and moderating influences in our hearts
• Increased joy through an increased ability to feel the love of the Lord
• Increased love and appreciation for ancestor and living relatives, so we no longer feel alone
• Increased power to discern that which needs healing and this, with the Lord’s help, serve others
• Increased protection from temptations and the intensifying influence of the adversary
• Increased assistance to mend troubled, broken, or anxious hearts and make the wounded whole

Who would not want to be the recipient of such magnificent and accessible blessings? Elder Renlund stated: “If you have prayed for any of these blessings, participate in family history and temple work. As you do so, your prayers will be answered.”

With all of the commotion, clanging and clamoring going on in the world today, may we accept the invitation and blessing pronounced by our dear prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, who in his concluding remarks expressed that our time in the temple will surely change our lives. He stated: “I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple”

Let us, each one, take time to first ponder and then act so that we may be able to spend more time in His holy house performing saving ordinances for those family members who had not the occasion to do so for themselves. –Glen Steenblik