These are my thoughts and beliefs on why I believe genealogy is important.

I believe our Heavenly Father loves us all (John 3:16). We are His children and lived with Him before we came to earth. (Jeremiah 1:5, Acts 17:28,29). He wants us to progress and grow. As part of His plan we needed to come to earth. He knew that while we were here, we would make mistakes and fall short. This would stop our progression and keep us from returning to live with Him again. We would die both physically and spiritually.

The central figure in our Heavenly Father's plan, is His Son, Jesus Christ. He came to break the bonds of death (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 1 Philippians 3:20-21). Someday, I believe we will all have a resurrected physical body just as the Savior does (1 Luke 24:36-39).

The Savior suffered for our sins. He provides the way for us to repent and become clean. Through His atonement we can be washed clean. (John 3:16-17, 1 John 1:7). The Savior enables us to overcome spiritual death through repentance. He is our judge and advocate with the Father. (John 5:25-29, 1 John 2:1).

In order to progress and return to our Heavenly Father's presence, we must be baptized by water and the Spirit (John 3:1-8). The Savior was baptized to fulfil all righteousness (Matthew 3:13-17). Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection. It represents our willingness to become a disciple of Christ (Romans 6:3-8).

Temple Baptismal Font
Jeremiah 52:20, 1 Kings 7:23-25
2 Kings 16:17

As I mentioned earlier, I believe our Heavenly Father loves all of His children. He knew that not all of His children would have the opportunity to hear His gospel and be baptized while on earth. We are taught that those who do not hear the gospel in this life will be taught the gospel in the next. (1 Peter 3:18-19, 1 Peter 4:6).

I believe that those who accept the gospel in the spirit world will have an opportunity to have their baptismal work done for them. I believe that our Heavenly Father has provided a way for those here on earth to perform baptisms for those who have died. I believe some of this work was performed by the early Saints. (1 Corinthians 15:29).

I believe marriage is ordained of God (1 Corinthians 11:11, Genesis 2:18,24) and that marriage and family links will exist beyond the grave (Malachi 4:5-6, D&C 138:47-48). I want to be with all my family -- both my ancestors and my descendants. I work to find my ancestors so that I might do their work for them. I hope they will accept the gospel so that we may live together someday with our Father in Heaven.

Maynard