Hearts of the children

I like to think that we were all ecstatic about the Great Plan of Happiness.

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said “We shouted for joy when given the privilege of coming to this earth to receive a body and to move forward in God’s plan for our happiness. We knew that we would be tested here. Our determination was to live obediently to be able to return to be with our Father forever.”

“And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers
the hearts of the children will turn to their fathers…” (Doctrine & Covenants 2:2)

I have read that verse numerous times, and it makes sense. Renditions of that verse appear in the scriptures multiple times in each of the Standard Works under different circumstances. Of course, our ancestors look to us to complete their ordinances and temple work. How else will it get done? But it wasn’t really something worth getting excited about…or so I thought when I was younger. I never realized the tremendous impact of the latter portion of that verse about the hearts of the children turning to their fathers or how it would come to affect me. I knew that the posterity of those that lived previously would have to find their predecessor’s names and complete their work, naturally.

What I didn’t fathom was how the admiration and affection would grow and flourish as I became involved in researching their lives, families, home, and stories when completing this work for those in our own families. I use the term ‘work’ loosely, because once you get involved in the family history effort and are fully engaged in finding and coming to know your forefathers, it soon becomes anything but work… privilege, honor, joy, and rapture are the words that currently come to mind.

But unless you are already engaged in this effort, I don’t expect you to fully understand what I am saying. My intention and hope, however, is that once you finish reading this article, you will be inspired to get involved in finding the exquisite satisfaction that comes by seeking their happiness and realizing the Spirit of Elijah and what it’s all about. How so? Read on…

My mother and father taught me the importance of home and family, and while I did not fully understand the impact of this lesson early in my life, it has become a force for good now and a great ambition of mine for the future. Fun activities at home and vacations always involved my family, naturally. Family plays and skits, special dinners, and spending time together doing entertaining things were part of this, but it wasn’t all fun. We worked hard as a family and struggled through challenges and adversity. When I was only thirteen-years-old, our family made a life changing decision to leave the city and start a homestead (at least that’s what we called it at the time). It was essentially a farm, but all the produce, animals, and grains we raised were for our own sustenance and not moneymaking ventures.

I realize now that the challenging times we faced were some of the most important experiences of our lives bringing the family closely together and helping us learn to support each other and rely on God. We knew we weren’t alone. We had the confidence of many others in our cheering section pushing us forward when the times got tough. And they did. Lost loved ones, financial ruin, broken marriages, and the fires and hardships of life could have taken our treasure, but love of family, confidence in our purpose, and the ties to the Savior pulled us through.

We knew that come what may, we had each other and the hope of eternal life. What I didn’t realize until I was grown is that more than only our earthly family is helping us through the trials of life. Our ancestors fulfill this role as well. In addition to bringing us into this world and preparing the way for us to enjoy the blessings we now have, our family and loved ones on the other side of the veil inspire, motivate, and encourage us as well. How could they do that? They’re gone. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t comprehend this until later in life.

I had a wonderful experience with my father that again emphasized this truth. We frequently were able to attend the general Priesthood meeting together during General Conference throughout my youth and into adulthood. Like many fathers and sons in the Church, this became a sort of tradition for us. The final occasion we attended together was in the fall of 2007.

Anyone that knows me knows of my affection and admiration for my dad. From a very early age I learned that listening to and following the guidance of my father made life a lot better. He is wise beyond his years. He is kind, friendly, and fun. I suspect all boys look up to their fathers, but I was uniquely blessed at a young age to realize his important influence. Even then, I loved being with my dad. I have written before about when he was scoutmaster. I happened to be 11-years-old at the time. I repeatedly asked my dad if I could go on the monthly scout camps that he and the scouts enjoyed in those days. He knew of my interest, but I wouldn’t officially be of age to go overnight camping with the scouts until I turned 12.

He said “Walter, I know you want to go camping with the rest of the scouts, so I’ll tell you what. If you will help us earn money for the two-week super summer camp, I will let you attend.” And that was the beginning of what became one of the most memorable summers of my life. It commenced before Memorial Day with the troop visiting local cemeteries to help trim the grass around the headstones. The money we earned was deposited into a trip fund. If I remember correctly, each boy had to come up with an additional $36 dollars to fund the trip. We left in multiple vehicles to our destination, including Bryce, Zions, Glen Canyon Dam, and ultimately the Grand Canyon.

We spent three days hiking more than 26 miles from the North Rim to the South Rim of the canyon, and I did it with my dad…and the other older scouts of course. It’s been a memory that I have carried through my entire life which helped establish for me the importance of family relationships and memories. And that’s just one experience of many.

Later in life, he penned: “I know my Grandpa Stucki very well, because he wrote a journal that told much of his life’s experiences. I am so grateful for that. If I were to lose everything I had, and could only save a couple things, I’d grab my scriptures and John S. Stucki’s Journal. It means that much to me.” When I was younger, I did not have the presence of mind to ask him why. Why does your grandpa’s journal mean that much to you? Marrying and having a family of my own sheds greater light on his words. With the growth of my own posterity, I have come to realize what my father was saying.

But it wasn’t just my dad alone that taught me these lessons about the importance of family. Mom was just as assuredly steering my training. It was my mother’s dream to move to the country to start a farm. That’s what I remember, but what I have learned is she was farming much more than vegetables, fruits, and livestock. She was building her sons and daughters as well and making the experience fun and unforgettable. Picnics on the farm, carnivals for the children, regular work projects in summer’s heat with pitchers of fresh lemonade, and homemade batches of bread, yogurt, buttermilk, and treats—Mother made everything better. And her emphasis on a united family has kept us together throughout our lives. This influences our own individual families and will unite us with our eternal family to come.

So I feel an important opportunity and a responsibility to document my life and activities and those of my family for the benefit of posterity yet to come.

“Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

“And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers…” Joseph Smith History 1:38-39

So you can clearly see that my upbringing has prepared me for what perhaps has become the greatest endeavor of the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ.

The majority of people to ever exist on earth will receive their saving ordinances through family history and temple work, realizing their potential as sons and daughters of God. It is phenomenal to consider the growth of the Church from just six members when it was first organized May of 1830 to the impressive 15.5 million members that live today. But even then, that sum is a drop in the bucket to the billions of people that have lived on earth throughout the ions of time.

When the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith in his bedroom on the evening of September 21, 1823 in response to earnest prayer, he instructed Joseph about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and then he quoted from the book of Malachi in the Old Testament with a little variation in the language used in the King James Version of the bible.

“And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.”

We also read in the scriptures that “Worlds without number have I created; … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:33).

So the amount of work to do is unfathomable. But equally immeasurable is the wealth of knowledge, appreciation, and happiness that will come as a result. I know this because even though I did not realize it at the time, I have been part of this effort my entire life, and I am beginning to experience the true joy that comes from helping others—including family—take part in the greatest message of all time.

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared: “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead. … For it is necessary that the sealing power should be in our hands to seal our children and our dead for the fullness of the dispensation of times—a dispensation to meet the promises made by Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world for the salvation of man. … Hence, God said, ‘I will send you Elijah the prophet’” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 475).

Joseph further explained:

“But what is the object of Elijah’s return? or how is it to be fulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah is to come, the Gospel to be established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on Mount Zion [see Obadiah 1:21].

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“But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples … and going forth and receiving all the ordinances … in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead … ; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 472–73).

Now that’s something worth getting really excited about.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Luke 12:34