Darci Crandall writes:
Since I was young, I’ve loved learning about different peoples and cultures. One thing I’ve noticed is that in pretty much every culture there exists the idea of honoring one’s parents and forefathers. In Spain, Mexico, and many South American countries, there is the “Dia de los Muertos,” where people remember and pray for their friends and family that have passed on. Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, originated from the same root idea. In Confucianist Asian culture, the concept of filial piety plays a large role--which is showing reverence to one’s parents and ancestors. And many languages from across the globe have lower and higher forms, to distinguish and recognize those who are older as ones we should respect.
It’s intrinsic in every culture—to honor one’s forbears. And in my mind there is no greater way that I can honor my ancestors than to offer them the saving ordinances included in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the scriptures, the Savior declared that “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Christ himself was baptized (see Matthew 3:15-17), and the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi added that “if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!” (2 Nephi 31:5).
Because baptism is such a necessary ordinance, and not all people have the opportunity to hear the gospel during their mortal lives, God has provided a way that His Will may be accomplished. Through a latter-day prophet, God has once again revealed how ordinances are to be performed for those who have died. These ordinances take place in temples and are performed by live proxies. (See also 1 Cor. 15:29)
The ordinances, (for example, baptism by immersion, or confirmation to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost), are performed in behalf of those who are dead so that if they choose they may receive those ordinances as their own. When Mormons perform temple ordinances for our ancestors, it is not forced upon them. It is not something that can be forced upon them. What we are doing can be likened to opening a door. We open the door, but they must choose for themselves whether they will enter. We do hope that they will choose Christ and His Way. And so we offer that opportunity of choosing to all that we can.
We offer it to them because we love them—because they’re family.
In the Latter-day Saint faith, we believe that Heavenly Father is the literal Father of our spirits. We lived with Him as part of His Family before coming to the earth. Only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ can we return to live with Him again. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to return to their presences because They love us. They love us because we are Family. Heavenly Father wants us to have everything He has, and I believe that is why He organized us on this earth in families. And our families can be together forever when we are sealed in holy temples.
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I love what you said, Darci, about the connection of families - not only to our forefathers (and to those who gave us everything) but also to our Heavenly Fahter and our future families. The comment about how temple and family history work is like opening a door reminds me of another analogy about passports - like, they are waiting for their entrance ticket to be stamped and hoping that we can find them. And with a little faith, patience, and hard work - we will!
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