DAVID J. FARR THOUGHTS
Horace Cummings recorded: 'Concerning the work for the dead (Joseph) said that in the resurrection those who had been worked for would fall at the feet of those who had done their work, kiss their feet, embrace their knees and manifest the most exquisite gratitude.' The Prophet added, 'We do not comprehend what a blessing to them these ordinances are.' (Joseph Smith , the Prophet, Truman Madsen, p. 99) The following is from my journal Sunday February 16, 1997. Last week President Douglas Myers told of how his father, Garret Myers, went to Europe after WW II to gather genealogical data. He was head of the genealogical society for a number of years. He found that most of the parishes had been bombed in Germany and hence there were not many records. He was referred to a man who owned two houses side by side. His houses were filled with genealogical and historical information on German families. The one house especially was filled with papers. There was barely a pathway between the stacks. In the bathroom the papers were stacked from the toilet seats up to the roof. This man had been Adolph Hitler's genealogist. He was required to check out the genealogies of prospective German officers. They had to prove that for five generations back that there was no Jewish blood in their pedigrees. So Hitler's evil purpose turned to the Lord's advantage. The man's children had requested that he take all the papers and burn them after the war but he refused. They ask him to at least clean out one of the houses so he could live better. He refused again. It took the church 20 years to catalogue all of these papers. The following is from my journal on Sunday January 17, 1988. Elder Loren Dunn spoke of his grandmother who had an experience in the spirit world where she felt very peaceful in death. When getting to the other side she was told she would have to go back because her mission was not over yet. She saw a number of people she had known in Scotland on the other side who asked that if she returned would she do their work for them so they can progress. She was spared but coming back into her body was very painful. "The Names of the Dead Miraculously Given" Pg..219 On the 17th of May, 1884, the Logan Temple was dedicated. The second day after the dedication, President John Taylor said that all members of the Church who were worthy, and who desired to go through the Temple, might do so the next day. Mrs. Ballard, Melvin's mother, relates the following: "My husband being a bishop was very busy writing out recommends to all who wished to go through the Temple, when my daughter, Ellen, came in and asked for her father. I told her that her father was busy and asked her to give me the newspaper, which she had in her hand, so that I might give it to him. She said, "No, the man who gave the paper to me told me to give it to no one but Father." I let the child take the paper to her father, and when he looked it over, he was greatly surprised for he saw that the paper had been printed in Berkshire, England, his birthplace, and was only four days from the press. He was so amazed at such an incident that he called Ellen and asked here where the man was who had given her the paper. She said that she was playing on the sidewalk with other children when two men came down the street walking in the middle of the road. One of them called to her, saying, "Come here, little girl." She hesitated at first, for there were other little girls with her. Then he pointed to her and said, "you." She went out, and he gave her the paper and told her to give it to her father. This paper contained about sixty names of dead acquaintances of my husband, giving the dates of their birth and death. My husband was baptized for the men, and I for the women, and all of the work was done for them." While Elder Ballard did not participate in this, he had a vivid recollection of the event as here related and he quoted it on several occasions. (Bryant S. Hinckley, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard, p. 18) "THE NAMES OF THE DEAD MIRACULOUSLY GIVEN"
Pg. 219 On the 17th of May, 1884, the Logan Temple was dedicated. The second day after the dedication, President John Taylor said that all members of the Church who were worthy, and who desired to go through the Temple, might do so the next day. Mrs. Ballard, Melvin's mother, relates the following: "My husband being a bishop was very busy writing out recommends to all who wished to go through the Temple, when my daughter, Ellen, came in and asked for her father. I told her that her father was busy and asked her to give me the newspaper, which she had in her hand, so that I might give it to him. She said, "No, the man who gave the paper to me told me to give it to no one but Father." I let the child take the paper to her father, and when he looked it over, he was greatly surprised for he saw that the paper had been printed in Berkshire, England, his birthplace, and was only four days from the press. He was so amazed at such an incident that he called Ellen and asked here where the man was who had given her the paper. She said that she was playing on the sidewalk with other children when two men came down the street walking in the middle of the road. One of them called to her, saying, "Come here, little girl." She hesitated at first, for there were other little girls with her. Then he pointed to her and said, "you." She went out, and he gave her the paper and told her to give it to her father. This paper contained about sixty names of dead acquaintances of my husband, giving the dates of their birth and death. My husband was baptized for the men, and I for the women, and all of the work was done for them." While Elder Ballard did not participate in this, he had a vivid recollection of the event as here related and he quoted it on several occasions. (Bryant S. Hinckley, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard, p. 18) BRIGHAM YOUNG
Brigham Young said, ‘And when you are in the spirit world, everything there will appear as natural as things now do. Spirits will be familiar with spirits in the spirit world-will converse, behold, and exercise every variety of communication with one another as familiarly and naturally as while here in tabernacles. There, as here, all things will be natural, and you will understand them as you now understand natural things... Here, we are continually troubled with ills and ailments of various kinds. In the spirit world we are free from all this and enjoy life, glory, and intelligence; and we have the Father to speak to us, Jesus to speak to us, and angesl to speak to us, and we shall enjoy the society of the just and the pure who are in the spirit world until the resurrection.’ (Discourses of Brigham Young compiled by John A. Widstoe Deseret Book 1954, pgs. 380-81 |
HOUSE OF GLORY
The following experience is from S. Michael Wilcox's 'House of Glory,' p. 138 concerning his experience with his son in doing temple ordinance for their ancestors one day in the temple after his 12 year old son had been with him to the Family History Center where he had uncovered some of their ancestors on his own. In speaking of his experience while being confirmed for some of these ancestors he related the following: 'When the workers laid their hands on my head, I saw a picture in my mind. I saw you, Dad, standing alone. Then Mother came and stood by you and took your hand. Then Kirsten, Megan, Ben, Mckay, and I came and we stood with you. I saw Gandma and Grandpa come next and join us. Then people began to come from many different directions. I did not know who they were, but they came and stood with us and took our hands. They kept coming and coming until I could not see the end of them.' ZELLA FARR SMITH FUNERAL
2/13/96 ELDER RUSSELL M. NELSON--"THE FARR BLOOD IS THE BLOOD OF BELIEVERS--BLUE BLOOD THROUGH AND THROUGH. BE TRUE TO THE BLUE THAT IS IN YOU!" "This temple will be a standing witness that the power of God can stay the powers of evil in our midst. Many parents, in and out of the Church, are concerned about protection against a cascading avalanche of wickedness which threatens to engulf Christian principles. There is a power associated with the ordinances of heaven-even the power of godliness-which can and will thwart the forces of evil if we will be worthy of those sacred blessings. This community will be protected, our children will be safeguarded as we live the gospel, visit the temple, and live close to the Lord. (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 256) "No work is more of a protection to this Church than temple work and the genealogical research which supports it. No work is more spiritually refining. No work we do gives us more power. No work requires a higher standard of righteousness..Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people." (Boyd Packer, 'The Holy Temple, p. 265) "Men grow mighty under the results of the temple service, women grow strong under it; the community increases in power; until the devil has less influence than he ever had before." ( (John Widstoe, 'Temple Worship,' pg. 51) "Whoever seeks to help those on the other side receives help in return in all the affairs of life. I can think of no better preparation for one's labor on the farm, in the office, wherever it may be, than to spend a few hours in the temple, to partake of its influence and to give oneself unselfishly for the benefit of those who have gone beyond the veil." (Widstoe, Improvement Era, October 1952, p. 719) 'Why is it that sometimes only one of a city or household receives the Gospel? It was made known to me that it is because the righteous dead who have received the Gospel in the spirit world are exercising themselves, and in answers to their prayers elders of the Church are sent to the homes of the their posterity.., and that descendant in the flesh is then privileged to do the work for his dead kindred. I want to say to you that it is with greater intensity that the hearts of the fathers and mothers in the spirit world are turned to their children now in the flesh that that our hearts are turned to them.' (Melvin J. Ballard, Crusader for Righteousness, p. 219) 'They know where their records are, and...the spirit and influence of your dead will guide those who are interested in finding these records ...If there is anywhere on the earth anything concerning them, you will find it If we have done our best and have searched and have discovered all that is available, then the day will come when God will open and part the veil, and the records..will be revealed.' (Bryant S. Hinckley, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard, p. 230) "I urge all of the people of this church to give serious attention to their family histories, to encourage their parents and grandparents to write their journals, and let no family go into eternity without having left their memoirs for their children, their grandchildren, and their posterity. This is a duty and a responsibility, and I urge every person to start the children out writing a personal history and journal." (Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, May 1978, p. 4) "THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH"
1. Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Pg. 164 - The Lord is in this work. He wants it to prosper. He wants us to be successful in our efforts. While living with my grandmother, Louise Ballif Benson, in Logan as a student, I knew she had been working very hard on her research. She kept referring to the fact the there was a gap that she couldn't fill and it worried her. She prayed about it fervently. One day she received a package addressed just "Benson Family, Utah". The package contained a printed book which had come from a man in Syracuse, New York, who had done research independently -- not as a member of the Church. You can imagine the joy that filled my grandmother's heart when she found that this not only filled the gap, but did much more than that. Her prayers had been answered. Yes, there are many ways to help get the job done. ("Eternal Memories," Tenth Annual Priesthood Genealogical Research Seminar, BYU, Provo, Utah 31 July 1975.) 2. Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Pg. 34 When I was a freshman at Utah State, living in the home of my grandmother, Louise Ballif Benson, who spent most of her time working on genealogical research and temple work, I remember coming home from a party about midnight. As I entered the door, I could hear someone speaking in Grandmother's room and I wondered who could be there at that time of the night. As I got closer and heard her voice, I realized that she was praying, thanking the Lord that He had extended her life for a few years after her husband had gone on so she could complete the family temple work. She also prayed that she might see the last of her thirteen children married in the temple. This had now been accomplished and she would now like to go to her husband if it was pleasing to the Lord. 3. Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Pg. 35-36 On the other side of the veil, the righteous are taught their duties preparatory to the time when they will return with the Son of Man to earth when He comes again, this time to judge every man according to his works. These righteous spirits are close by us. The are organized according to priesthood order in family organizations as we are here; only there they exist in a more perfect order. This was revealed to the Prophet Joseph. (Ernest L. Wilkinson Funeral Service, Salt Lake City, Utah 10 April 1978.) 4. Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Pg. 161 Much more must be done in our personal genealogical research. We have an obligation to do temple work for our kindred dead. This means that we will do the necessary research in order for the names of our progenitors to be sent to the temples. We have an individual responsibility to see that we are linked to our progenitors. ("Our Duty as Latter-day Saints" Springfield-Burke Virginia Chapel Dedication, 15 October 1982.) 5. The Faith of Our Pioneer Fathers, Pg. 217 "Promises Given in Blessings Find Fulfillment' In a blessing given Brother Whitney by Abraham O. Smoot, it states: "If need be, thou shalt commune with the spirits that have gone hence, and they shall visit and revisit thee.." Brother Whitney then relates how this promise was ful-filled: "Early on the morning of April 24, 1918 ..... while I lay on my pillow, half asleep, half awake, a pair of hands were laid upon my head. My first thought was that some-one was in the house who ought not to be, and that I must lie perfectly still in order to be safe. But the touch was so soft and gentle that all fear left me, and with my own hands I took hold of those resting upon my head. They were a woman's hands. Pre-sently I saw my wife, Zina, who had been dead for eighteen years. She was hovering over me. I held out my arms to her, and she came into them. It was all so real. I could not doubt that she was actually there, a Guardian angel, watching over her children and me." |