ASK SHIZ

Dear Shiz,
I understand that genealogy is important in order to do the work for those who have passed on and haven't had an opportunity to receive those blessings. But what is the significance of tracing and knowing our lineage all the way back to Adam. Seems a little excessive. Please clarify!
Thanks,Nut Fallen from the Family Tree

Dear Nut,
Thank you for your question and in fact that is a good question to ask ourselves. Most of the reason we do Genealogy work is so that we can indeed bring the blessings of eternal life to those who have passed on. Think of why we as families want the Sealing Covenant?... This is so we can propel our family relations into the next life. This is no different then that of our complete family all the way back to Adam and Eve our first parents.

In the Old Testiment this is taught in Malachi 5:5-6 with says,
"5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
This is simple to understand and yet sort of confusing at the same time. Joseph Smith tells us that the word "turn" can be translated to either "bind" or "seal" and Elijah the prophet did return to the early saints of this dispensation to restore the blessings to "bind" or "seal" the parents to the children.

With more detail let me quote from Andrew C. Skinner's book "Temple Worship : 20 Truths that will bless your life,page142," about this specific subject from President Young.

"We are called, as it has been told you, to redeem the nations of the earth. The fathers cannot be made perfect without us; we cannot be made perfect withour the fathers. There must be this chain in the holy Priesthood; it must be welded together from the latest generation that lives on the earth back to Father Adam, to bring back all that can be saved and placed where they can receive salvation and a glory in some kingdom. This Prieshood has to do it; this Prieshood is for this purpose...."

I hope this has answered your question Nut. Not only is it important to do the temple work for those who have passed on but it is our duty so that we may be one eternal family after this mortal existence.