Description
A True Family Gathering
Beth was given a challenge to do temple work for 20 days in a row—every day at the temple doing ordinance work for the dead. She knew as a busy mother and wife that if she accepted the challenge there was going to be serious opposition. After considering the costs and blessings involved, she decided to go ahead.
And opposition did come to a degree that even she was surprised. All the worse things that could happen at home and in the extended family seemed to come upon her like a flood. With difficulty, however, she stayed the course to accomplish her goal—and that while doing her best to love, serve, and maintain her home and family.
She got down to the last week and invited her son and daughter to go with her to the temple. She only had two family names, but just then, a message came saying that 27 names were ready for temple work. Would she accept them and do the work? Quickly, she printed the names and off to the temple they went.
Strangely, when they got to the temple, the baptistry was empty. No one was there and no one was coming in. The workers invited them to do the ordinances for all 27 names.
Beth chose to stay in the observation area and watch as her children served as proxies for the dead. The elderly sister who served at the clothing counter came in to watch. No one needed clothing, so why not? She commented that she wondered if the reason no one was coming in was because this time had been reserved for the family whose names were being done.
As Beth wondered if that could be true, her deceased grandfather suddenly appeared, sitting beside her. He smiled at her, and winked, but said nothing.
As her son began to baptize his sister for the dead, Beth described the following,
“I saw it. At the top of the font a golden gate appeared. A lady angel came from the dark..[and] into the light next to the gate. I [watched] the lady angel as my son spoke her name. When my daughter went under, an angel in front of the gate opened it and the lady angel stepped to the other side of the gate….”
With an expression of tears, joy and gratitude the newly baptized sister suddenly disappeared and reappeared across the room approaching another group of spirits who welcome her with open arms of light.
After the third time this had happened, the recorder stopped, wiped his eyes, and said, “Do you see this? This is a true family gathering.”
Beth’s son and daughter both acknowledged that they did see it. They continued. As each baptism was performed, another spirit passed out of the darkness into the light and arms of a welcoming family.
As the names of the women were finished, Beth’s son and daughter hugged each other. Beth said, “Heavenly angels were above them and [a] light shone down on them in the water.”
Said there was not a dry eye among the temple workers, or Beth. All could see it. Beth looked over at her grandfather who also sat watching the proceedings. He smiled and winked, grateful that his grandchildren were worthy to do this work.
Beth’s son stepped down into the font and it began again. As it happened for the women, so too, did it happen for the men. He would later describe that as each brother received the ordinance of baptism, they were in the font with him. Even with his eyes closed, he could see them and their smiles and gratitude spoke volumes. With the completion of the ordinance, each man embraced him.
When the baptisms were complete, the sister who was baptized first returned to the gate. From somewhere in the darkness a person that Beth could not see, but could hear, cried, “Mom, they forgot me. I don’t want to be here without you, mom. Please. I don’t like it here. It scares me.”
Beth could feel her fear and yearning to cross over and be with her family. The mother assured her. “No worries. I will make sure you come over quickly! I promise. I’ll get right to work. You be with the missionary who is full of light. I love you and I will get right to work!”
At this point, Beth’s angel grandfather complimented her for raising children worthy to do the work and then commanded, “When you leave you need to call your dad and share what has happened. He has information of who these people are. I love you, and hurry.”
Beth then heard her grandfather speak to the mother at the gate. “[Don’t] worry. My granddaughter will work with you and I’ll be with your daughter. She is in good hands.”
As they entered into the room to complete the ordinance of confirmation for all the newly baptized members, they appeared again and were in the room, standing above the floor and watching.
When Beth and her family came out of the dressing room the baptistry began to fill with patrons as it normally would be on a Saturday. It was as though this time had been reserved for this family and this experience.
The story does not end there. Two more wonderful events followed. The first, Beth told her father what had happened and the names of the mysterious family. His eyes filled with tears and he explained that they were her family, generations back—her grandfather was the missionary who had found, taught, and prepared them.
Secondly, about one o’clock in the morning that very night, Beth was awakened by the mother angel who had promised her daughter. “Wake up,” she said, “we have work to do.” Beth described that with her phone and the Family Search app, the mother guided her until they found the records that verified her daughter and her birth and death. By 5:00 am the documents were complete. The work could now be done for the missing child. The following Tuesday morning Beth was at the temple and received the ordinances for the daughter. Joy and peace came as Beth realized the mother and daughter were together again.
Beth concluded, “The promises are true! Family History and temple work and proclaiming the gospel bring about miracles.”
Source: Beth McConnell
