JaNet’s Reviews > Wilford Woodruff's Witness: The Development of Temple Doctrine > Status Update

303

"You have power to... redeem your dead. A great many of you have done this, and I hope all of you will continue as long as you have any dead to redeem. Never cease that work while you have the power to enter into the Temple."

"Are we living up to our privileges? Are we performing the work required at our hands?"

Wilford Woodruff

"The Lord ... will hold us responsible for the use we make of thee holy Priesthood, the ordinances of this house and the power that is put into our hands to accomplish the work of God, and to build Temples to his name."
293-4

Saints are counseled to do their best research and record keeping and rest assured that the validity of all ordinances will be determined "beyond the veil." Ultimately it is up to each individual, because all must "qualify themselves" for and accept the saving and exalting ordinances performed in their behalf."

289

For 50 years.. Saints were only able to seal children to parents if the father was ordained to the priesthood
1894 With the reassurance that most, if not all, of their family members would accept the gospel in the spirit world, the Saints were able to move forward. Rather than only performing ordinances for those they judged worthy or sealing to those presumed would accept the gospel, they would leave judgment to God

THE FAMILY OF GOD

These principles are still practiced and believed by Church members: the fulfillment of the mission of Elijah is to bind families together, to link the generations, to seal the children to their fathers and the fathers to their God. All other priesthood ordinances are designed to lead members step by step toward this ultimate goal of eternal families.

Unfolding of Gospel principles and doctrines -

"...Begin at the first rudiments, and continues to progress step by step. It is so with the student in the study of the everlasting Gospel. There were not many principles revealed to us when we first received it, but they were rudiments to us as fast as we were capable of making use of them."

272

286
"There will be few, if any, who will not accept the Gospel."

284
"Let ever man be adopted to his father, and then you will do exactly what God said when he declared he would send Elijah the Prophet in the last days... then we will make one step in advance of what we have had before. This is the will of the Lord to the people..."

[Before the Saints had done the law of adoption, which connected anyone to prophets

221 The Saints' ... responsibility extended beyond themselves. Their duty was not just to build temples, but to enter them and act as proxy for their deceased relatives so their relatives would be able to enjoy the same blessings as the Saints.
"These.... are important works. They are works which we do for others that they cannot do for themselves... instruments in the hands of God in procuring their redemption."

221
The Lord has conferred upon them the priesthood so they would be able to administer in the ordinances of life and salvation. He then asked, "Do we comprehend these things? Do we comprehend that if we abide the laws of the Priesthood we shall become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ?"

221 Wilford recognized that understanding the significance of the ordinances was more important for the Saints than anything else.... the ceremonies help them realize their divine birthright.
"Very few of us fully comprehend our position, our calling, or relationship to God, our responsibility, or work the Lord requires at our hands."