The restoration of the sealing authority by Elijah in 1836 to Joseph Smith initiated a “greatly increased and worldwide interest in family history research,” Elder David A. Bednar said.
Elder Bednar emphasized the responsibility church members have to find ancestors and allow for them to have the ordinances of the Gospel. He said Elijah was sent to restore the sealing authority.
The young men and women of the Church were spoken to directly about their obligation to understand the importance of the Spirit of Elijah. Elder Bednar said family history work is not just for the older generation.
The coming forth of many tools such as Family Search at a time with the youth are so familiar with the wide variety of communication is no coincidence, Elder Bednar said.
“Your fingers have been trained to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord — not just to communicate quickly with your friends,” Elder Bednar said.
Elder Bednar promised those who heed the call to do family history will find that love for their ancestors will increase. He said individuals will be “protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary” for participating in this “vital part of the work of salvation and exaltation.”
