Quote:
Originally Posted by Soul_Searcher
Today we had a great presentation from our ex-Bishop who is a Family History expert, he does it for a living. I really enjoyed it, it gave me encouragement which is what it was supposed to do.
However, at the very end of the presentation he said that anything we do in this life is utterly FUTILE unless we do family history. He even quoted a scripture to confirm it, D&C 128:15
This upset me a lot. It seems very extreme. Its almost like, you can be the best person you can be and do everything else, but miss out family history and you're doomed.
It seems there's so many things you have to do in the church to be 'saved'. Most people tell me 'do the best you can'. Well, what if my best isn't enough? It sounds more likely than not in most people's cases in that case. Will I have wasted my life?
I feel overwhelmed with the level of expectation placed on me as an individual.
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Don't feel overwhelmed.
I think what this teacher is trying to convey is the importance for the church to establish temple work and then for the people of the church to participate in that saving work for the dead in whatever degree they can participate.
Temple work is like any other kind of service, it is essential to our salvation. But don't let yourself think that this means that you as an individual won't be accepted by Christ if you aren't the best family history worker of all time. Ok? All mankind will be judged on their hearts, their choices, their circumstances etc. and will be judged with a perfect balance of justice and mercy and infinite understanding. If you live a good life and make the choices that are consistent with your spiritual knowledge and serve and love others, of course your life couldn't be wasted. But I think that you will also see that as you progress in the gospel that God will make a place in your life and the desire in your heart to help those who didn't get the gospel while in the flesh. If you choose to get a temple recommend, you will absolutely be participating in this work and all the while gaining countless blessings for yourself just by showing up to do it.
Here. Maybe this scripture will help too. "
And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order: for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order." (Mosiah 4: 27) ( You may also want to study the few verses right before this and similar verses in the D&C that teach this same balance.)
Everything in the gospel has a proper season. We can't do all the seasons at once. So, we do our best in the season we are in at the time. This is why there are lots of white haired people in the temple.
Their families are raised and careers finished. It is there time to serve in this way.
And just a note on the whole "being perfect" thing..... Many LDS's stumble over this one as they try to "do" all necessary stuff to become perfect. But that thinking is a mistake. We can be perfect, but ONLY perfect thru Christ.