On a Sunday afternoon in September, the FHC was filled with over 50 youth, mostly 12 to 14 years old, who came to be enlisted in the Youth Battalion of Zion’s Army. You may remember President Russell M. Nelson’s worldwide youth devotional on June 3, 2018, wherein he invited the youth of the church to experience the thrill of being a member of the Lord’s youth battalion to gather Israel. The Granite Stake has taken that to heart and called 57 youth to serve as ward temple and family history consultants. To start off their service they participated in the Sunday afternoon activity where they met with their youth commanders and discussed the work they will be doing this year with family history and temple. What a treat it was to feel their enthusiasm and to hear them bear testimony of the blessings and protection that comes from family history and temple work.

Basic training has begun for this battalion of youth consultants as they come with their friends after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Under the leadership of Laurie Beardall and her youth committee, these youth are making a difference, and they are experiencing first hand some of the promised blessings, including:

• protection against the intensifying influences of the adversary
• increased influence of the Holy Ghost and faith
• increased ability and motivation to learn
• increased love and appreciation for ancestors and living relatives
• increased purpose, strength, and joy, and
• increased assistance to mend troubled, broken or anxious hearts.

President Nelson called the work to gather Israel “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on the earth today.” He also explained that the gathering of Israel ultimately means offering the gospel of Jesus Christ to God’s children on both sides of the veil who have neither made crucial covenants with God nor received their essential ordinances. That is why there is a need for Zion’s Army.

I thought about the call to the youth to join the “Youth Battalion.”  Have you thought about who makes up the other battalions? I am confident that there is a need for all saints, young and old, to join this army and be part of the greatest challenge, cause, and work today. We have opportunities right now to enlist at the FHC, as consultants, instructors, patrons, and technology staff. If you want to participate in this exciting work, please let your bishop know or contact one of the directors or consultants at the FHC. You can also just show up at the FHC and let the consultants there help you no matter where you are in your family history work. We are continually adding new opportunities at the FHC for you to discover, gather and connect with those on both sides of the veil. You too can be a part of Zions’ Army to gather Israel.

As you contemplate your participation in temple and family history work, remember the promises given to those who participate in temple and family history work are not just promises to the youth. It is never too late to begin, and you are never too old not to benefit from the associated blessings. We hope to see you soon at the FHC where you can enlist, be trained, and then go forth to gather Israel. I am so grateful to be alive today to witness this great work and the associated blessings.  –David Castleton