mortality works

For several years I was assigned to home teach an older sister in my ward. She did not have an easy life. She had various health problems and experienced a lifetime of pain due to a childhood accident on the playground. Divorced at age 32 with four young children to raise and provide for, she remarried at age 50. Her second husband passed away when she was 66, and this sister lived an additional 26 years as a widow.

Despite her lifelong challenges, she was faithful to her covenants to the end. This sister was an avid genealogist, a temple attender, and a collector and writer of family histories. Though she had many difficult trials, and without question she felt at times sadness and loneliness, she had a cheerful countenance and a gracious and pleasant personality.

Nine months after her passing, one of her sons had a remarkable experience in the temple. He learned by the power of the Holy Ghost that his mother had a message for him. She communicated with him, but not by vision or audible words. The following unmistakable message came into the son’s mind from his mother: “I want you to know that mortality works, and I want you to know that I now understand why everything happened [in my life] the way it did—and it is all OK.”

Brook P. Hales

"Mortality Works!" General Conference October 2024

The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon is to seek after our dead.


Joseph Smith, Jr., History of the Church 6:313 as found in Ensign May 1993 p.24 D&C 128:15

The question may arise in one's mind, Why should I spend time in searching out my ancestors? How can they contribute anything to me? Why should I evidence more than passing interest in their welfare? We are largely a product of our progenitors, their strength sustains us, their weaknesses, if any, warn us of traits and tendencies to curb and avoid. Their love and devotion bring to fulfillment the Savior's great law of love with combined loved ones and families joyfully together in time and throughout eternity. We owe them much more than we can ever repay. A noble heritage has always been regarded as one of life's greatest treasures.


Ezra Taft Benson - "Temple Memories," Ogden Utah Temple Dedication, 18 January 1972

I am reminded of a little story told to me of a young girl who was assigned to give a two-and-a-half minute talk for Sunday School. She chose the subject of genealogy. She began her talk by saying, "Brothers and sisters, I have chosen to talk on genealogy." Then she stood silently at the pulpit, staring at the congregation, for two-and-one-half minutes. At the end of that time she said, "I guess you have been really concerned and worried waiting for me to talk about genealogy. How do you think our ancestors feel, waiting for us to do something about their genealogy?" Then she sat down.


Ezra Taft Benson - "Eternal Memories," Tenth Annual Priesthood Genealogical Research Seminar, BYU, Provo, Utah, 31 July 1975.