" A Voice of Gladness for the Living and the Dead "
[A]ll God needs to accomplish His purposes and to help us become who He wants us to become is for each of us to turn our hearts fully to Him…I believe this is why, at least in part, Jesus Christ so often corrected the scribes and Pharisees during His mortal ministry. Though diligent in keeping His law, they did so for the wrong reasons...it is not just about what we do—our words and actions—but also why we do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do—our desires and motives. He said, “For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts."
- Ronald M. Barcellos, The Lord Looketh on the Heart
Inspiring Short: The Parable of the Bicycle
Near the end of His ministry, Jesus told His Apostles that hard times would come. But He also said, “See that ye be not troubled.”...The Savior fulfills His promise to be with us, His disciples, but we must continually look to Him to help us recognize and enjoy His presence. Christ’s disciples have always encountered hard times…Troubles are part of the plan and do not mean you’ve been abandoned; they are part of what it means to be His…When I stumble, I will keep getting up, relying on the grace and enabling power of Jesus Christ.
- Michelle D. Craig, Wholehearted
Inspiring Short: Trusting in God, Day by Day | D. Todd Christofferson
Nephi Exercises Faith to Obtain Food
Choose to Serve the Lord - by Blake Gillette and Angie Killian
[T]he Prophet stated: “It may seem to some to be a very bold doctrine that we talk of—a power which records or binds on earth and binds in heaven...whatsoever those men did in authority, in the name of the Lord, and did it truly and faithfully, and kept a proper and faithful record of the same, it became a law on earth and in heaven, and could not be annulled, according to the decrees of the great Jehovah.” ...the sealing power confers a seal of legitimacy upon your baptism, for example, so that it is recognized here and in heaven.
- President D. Todd Christofferson, The Sealing Power
The Spirit of Elijah - Ordinances & Covenants
Music Video: Families Can Be Together Forever
This period of time in which we live, the dispensation of the fulness of times, will see the culmination of all of God’s work on the earth. For this reason, we are anxiously engaged in the Lord’s work, which includes the performance of certain ordinances for all who have lived and will live upon the earth…We identify our ancestors so that we may perform for them the saving ordinances of the gospel in holy temples dedicated to that purpose. It is our responsibility, given to us by the Lord, to help redeem all those of our Father’s children who have lived and died without receiving the sacred ordinances of the gospel.
- David B. Haight, Linking the Family of Man
The Promised Blessings of Family History
Because baptism by water and of the Spirit is essential for full salvation, in the eternal nature of things all of God’s children should have this opportunity, including those who have lived in centuries past. The doctrine of baptism of the living for the dead was understood and practiced in the early Christian church. Paul, in his great discussion about the Resurrection, reasoned: “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” Doing something so vital for those who cannot do it for themselves is truly Christlike....No other organization on the earth is doing more to fulfill Malachi’s promise than the Church.
- James E. Faust, Born Again
The Baptistry in Mormon Temples
You Can Be Born Again through Baptism
The Prophet Joseph had been teaching about baptism for the dead. This was indeed a glorious revelation that was received with great joy. When Church members first learned that they could be baptized for their deceased loved ones, they rejoiced…Although temples had existed anciently, with the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the building of temples has been one of the highest priorities of all prophets since the Prophet Joseph Smith. And it is easy to understand why…the need for temples and the work that is done for both the living and the dead become very clear.
- Kevin R. Duncan, A Voice of Gladness!
Their Hearts Are Bound To You—D&C 125–128: “A Voice of Gladness for the Living & the Dead”
Come Follow Me | D&C 125–128: “A Voice of Gladness for the Living and the Dead”
Come Follow Me | D&C 125–128: “A Voice of Gladness for the Living & the Dead” | A Sacrifice of Time
Our family loves the Come, Follow Me program! We have organized the weekly lessons from the Come, Follow Me lesson manual into six lessons per week that work for our young and growing children.
We hope that sharing this content will make scripture study easier for your family as well!