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The Power of Our Covenants
The Power of Our Covenants
“By making and keeping temple covenants, we learn more about the Lord’s purposes and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost. ... We are protected from evil, and we gain greater power to resist temptation and to repent when we stumble. When we falter, the memory of our covenants with God helps us return to the path. By connecting to God’s power, we [are] able to go against the flow of the world, throughout our lives and into the eternities. Ultimately, our destinies are changed because the covenant path leads to exaltation and eternal life.”
Dale G. Renlund, “Accessing God's Power through Covenants,” April 2023 General Conference
If Ye Are Not One
If Ye Are Not One
The ONCC meeting last month highlighted the fact that this work of gathering is all one work, and thus requires coordination and counseling together. That's a really important takeaway! Effective leadership in church settings requires a real humility that we see that so much in the general officers of the Church, and williingness to subject the will of the individual to the will of the Lord. Section 107 instructs that decisions made by leadership councils have to be unanimous before they are implemented - it's one of the most powerful applications of the Savior's admonishment in D&C 38:27: "If ye are not one, ye are not mine."
The Lord’s expectation of unity in leadershp councils might slow the process of decision-making in the Church, but it is another incredible example of how the Holy Spirit helps lead and guide Church councils. President Eyring has a wonderful take on it here (“Henry B. Eyring: Forget Harvard and Stanford. We’re in Another Kind of Thing Here” ).
ONCC Annual Meeting
ONCC Annual Meeting
Sister Chappell gave the opening presentation. We hope that you will watch it - she gives a great overview of the purpose of the communications department in the Church. Of special interest to us, of course, is how the temple and family history work specifically fits into the the idea of letting the world know the good that we are doing, and why it's important. In other words, how do we communicate that? The inclusion of those whose primary focus is on duties related to TFH callings is pretty new to the communications department, so there are some organizational kinks to work out yet, but it's in the Lord's design, so it will happen, no question. We have seen some of the same issues with the division/cooperation between the temple department and FamilySearch, but look where it has taken us - hundreds of temples and ancestral names to fill them alll!
If you couldn't be at the meeting, please set aside some time to look at Sister Chappell's presentation. Jo and I did a presentation at the breakout session for TFH-specific callings, and that's included here too. Just a word about that presentation though...instead of slides, we put it here in the web site because the movies that are included in the presentation are easier to handle and reproduce. In other words, you can make your own slide presentations for training by copying the elements of the site (please let me know if you need help with that), or you can just go to the web site if you want to use the original presentation as is.
But first, here is our introductory video.
FamilySearch Helps
FamilySearch Helps
A big shout-out to Sister Katie Althoff-Hall for the work she does in keeping us flush with lots of ideas and visual aids!
RootsTech Watch Party
As we continue to support members’ understanding and participation in RootsTech (March 5-7) —whether as leaders, families, or individuals—I wanted to share a resource that could benefit both members of The Church and those outside of it.
RootsTech, the world’s largest family history conference, offers a Watch Party experience that allows groups to gather, learn, and celebrate together. This is a wonderful way for communities to engage with inspiring content, deepen their understanding of family connections, and explore new tools and resources in genealogy. Plus the contnet is available all year long so the watch party can happen anytime!
If you work with or know individuals or organizations actively involved in genealogy—such as:
• Local FamilySearch Centers
• Genealogical societies
• Libraries with genealogy collections/programs
• Community groups with cultural or ancestral interests
• Educators or youth groups exploring family history
…they may find great value in hosting or attending a RootsTech Watch Party.
How to host a RootsTech Watch Party
FamilySearch Center Connect
Starting January 2026, the current Tech Talk and Center Chatter meetings will merge into one unified monthly meeting called FamilySearch Center Connect.
If you did not receive an email from Katie with this information, please let me know!
Meeting Reoccurring Time/Link?
US Central--2nd Thursday 7:00 PM MST
Teams Meeting Link:
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 279 496 665 845
Passcode: GG2tb2zU
Come Follow Me
The Come, Follow Me lessons for November 3–9 and December 1–7 provide a unique opportunity to emphasize the joy of coming closer to the Savior through temple attendance.
You are invited to use the attached resource to encourage members to explore Ordinances Ready. This attached resource can be shared with those in family history callings or with the general membership.
How you use this information is at the discretion of you and your local leadership.
Thank you for all you do to empower members to be a part of this work!
Ordinances Ready and Come follow Me PDF.pdfOrdinances Ready and Come follow me invitation Spanish.pdfOrdinances Ready
Ordinances Ready – A Simple Way to Gather Others to Christ
Please see attachment for a small poster that can be printed and placed on bulletin boards in meeting houses or used as a social media asset (let me know if a different format or language is needed).
Encourage members to use Ordinances Ready to bring those who are deceased to Christ through ordinances in the temple. It’s a powerful tool that helps all of us with being doers of the work . Let’s spread the spirit of, ‘Family History, I AM doing it!’, as they learn and actively use this tool and as they attend the temple and bring these family names.
2025_fhd_ordinances_ready_posters_update.pdfgycid5rotrspno5jyddmnn9penzzkvec5cpa2fi1.pdfRootsTech Registration
RootsTech 2026 Registration Is Open! Let’s spread the word!
See attached assets in different file formats making digital/social media sharing easier (something to share with your Coordinating Council Directors when you meet). Let me know if an alternative format or language would be helpful.
Be a part of the world’s largest family history gathering:
Online participation is FREE
In-person early bird pricing:
$99 for a 3-day pass
$69 for a 1-day pass
https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/
Highlights for Members:
Family Discovery Day (Saturday) – Hear a special message and insights from a General Authority.
Latter-day Saint specific sessions offered throughout the conference.
Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction-intended especially for any who have callings specifically influencing Temple and Family History but any can participate.
For All Attendees:
Inspiring Main Stage guests (past speakers include Sean Astin, Ndaba Mandela, LaVar Burton, Kristin Chenoweth, and more!)
Discover new technologies enhancing family history research from FamilySearch and partners like MyHeritage, Ancestry, and Find My Past.
FamilySearch Library
Virtual Celebration Event – FamilySearch Library’s 40th Anniversary
Watch a recording of a special livestream celebration on October 30th: https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/familysearch-librarys-40th-anniversary-celebration
New Convert Baptism
New Convert Baptism
Brother Hansen (HC for TFH in the Council Bluffs Stake) arranged for another stake new convert baptism at the Winter Quarters Temple. It was Saturday, November 1.
Jake sent us this note along with the picture below: "It truly was another wonderful experience. Several brethren got to exercise their priesthood for the first time and be the baptizers. There were new members who were baptized for very close relatives. The spirit was so strong!"
“We do not come to the temple to hide from or escape the evils of the world. Rather, we come to the temple to conquer the world of evil. As we invite into our lives the ‘power of godliness’ by receiving priesthood ordinances and making and keeping sacred covenants, we are blessed with strength beyond our own to overcome the temptations and challenges of mortality and to do and become good.”
David A. Bednar, “Let This House Be Built unto My Name,” April 2020 General Conference
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