If Jesus Christ’s work is so important, what about my ancestors who have never heard of Him?
This question used to bother me, until I understood the Lord’s eternal plan. He loves all His children: all those who have lived on the earth, who currently live on the earth, and even those yet to be born.
This being the case, and since God is perfect, would He not have a plan for all His children … even those who lived during a time or in a country that did (or does not) have the gospel of Jesus Christ?
For individuals currently living in far-flung regions of the earth who have never heard of the Savior, the Lord sends missionaries. This is why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (called by some the Mormons) has such an ample missionary program. More than one million Mormons have served missions since the restoration of the Church in the 19th century!
But what about those who are deceased? What about those who lived during many dispensations of time when knowledge of Jesus Christ had not yet arrived? What about them?
The Lord, being a perfect God, has a plan for this also! It is a form of missionary work called Genealogy. Here is what the Church’s website explains about the work of genealogy:
“In the spirit world, the restored gospel is preached to those who died without receiving it in mortality. Many of those in the spirit world accept the gospel, but without a body they cannot receive the ordinances necessary for salvation. “
Is this not amazing? What a kind and generous God. Does this not evoke trust in the Almighty? That He would have a perfect plan to redeem all of His children, in my mind, is such a witness of His love and grace towards all of us. Through God’s Only Begotten Son, we have been redeemed. And through the work of genealogy, ALL of mankind can have that gift given to them!
Oh, how I love the gospel of Jesus Christ! Oh, how mighty it is to save. Oh, the wisdom of God and the grace of His Son Jesus Christ.
Indeed the gospel of Jesus Christ contains the power of redemption for all those who will partake. If you would like to learn more about Family History Work and Genealogy, feel free to click here. If you would like to learn more about the Mormon church (also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), feel free to click here.
