Sunday Thoughts

Today's lesson in Relief Society was about becoming and being Saviors on Mount Zion. We talked a lot about genealogy and also about the scripture found in the Doctrine and Covenants:

I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and , upon some subject or other—and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times.
D&C 128 : 18

After talking about this scripture, we talked about temple work and why it really is essential to both us, the living, and those who have passed on before us. Many things were said, but one woman spoke and her thoughts really stuck with me.

She shared with us how her grandma and grandpa had passed away some time ago, but that they were good and wise people with strong testimonies. The parting had been difficult, but she remembered having a thought that brought her comfort: Knowing her grandparents and the lives they had lived on this earth, it seemed like she knew how they would live their lives in the life hereafter - preaching the gospel to and converting other souls that had also passed on. With this she said that she understood the need and importance for the living and the dead to help one another: Her grandparents (and many others) would be teaching those on the other side of the veil, so that she, here on earth, (and many others) could do the work for them.

What a beautiful thing!