Elder Benjamin De Hoyos, a General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of April 2023 general conference. Elder De Hoyos taught that temple and family history are one and the same work in the Church. The following is a summary of what he said.
Elder De Hoyos’ talk summary
The early Latter-day Saints worked and sacrificed for three years to build the Kirtland Temple in Ohio. Since the temple’s dedication by the Prophet Joseph Smith, the spirit of Elijah has inspired people around the globe to search out their ancestors.
The Lord encourages all Latter-day Saints to preserve their family history, learn from ancestors and make the necessary arrangements for them to receive the ordinances of the gospel in temples.
Performing this work is a central part of Heavenly Father’s plan to unite families for this life and for eternity.
Those who don’t feel capable of doing this work are not alone. The Church has made all the necessary tools available in FamilySearch centers and designed them so they are easy to use.
Performing temple and family history work will cause the Spirit to “flood our hearts,” “awaken our faculties” and “guide us as we search for the names of our ancestors.”
“Let us remember that family history is more than just looking for names, dates and places. It is uniting families and feeling the joy that comes from extending to them the ordinances of the gospel.”
Notable quotes
“The construction and proper use of temples has been in any dispensation a sign of the true church of Jesus Christ.”
“As we follow the guidance of the prophets and learn how to do our family history and perform the temple ordinances for our ancestors, we will experience great joy to the point we will not want to stop doing it.”
“The work of the temple and family history are one and the same work in the Church.”
See the full text of Elder De Hoyos’ talk: ‘The Work of the Temple and Family History—One and the Same Work’
Who is Elder De Hoyos?
- Elder De Hoyos was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 2, 2005.
- He was born in Monterrey, Mexico, on Feb. 20, 1953.
- Elder De Hoyos has served as a full-time missionary in Mexico, counselor in a stake presidency, stake president, mission president and Area Seventy.
- He met his wife, Sister Evelia Genesta Mendivil, while he was serving as a full-time missionary in the Mexico Hermosillo Mission. They later developed a friendship at the Church-owned Benemerito Academy in Mexico City and were sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple in 1975.
- In the early years of their marriage, the couple would take a two-day trip to Mesa twice a year to visit the temple.
What has Elder De Hoyos done recently?
- Elder De Hoyos participated in groundbreaking services for the Querétaro Mexico Temple.
- He led tours prior to the dedication of the Rio de Janeiro Brazil Temple.
- During the April 2017 general conference, he spoke on how Latter-day Saints can make the Church a light and “standard for the nations.”
- During the April 2011 general conference, he spoke on what it means to be called a “Saint.”
- During the October 2005 general conference, he spoke on happiness coming as a result of obedience and courage in always doing the will of God, even under difficult circumstances.