The Promise of the Lord

A craze has recently swept through the world: a desire to do family history. For some it is a hobby, for others it is a duty. Not much distinguishes these groups of people, as both stem from the same source. God has promised, in several books of scripture, to send the spirit of Elijah and turn the hearts of the children to their fathers (3 Nephi 25:5-6, Malachi 4:5-6, Doctrine and Covenants 2). The differences between the modern revelation (D&C 2) and the ancient ones reveal the reason for the sense of duty felt. D&C 2:3 says, "If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." God's purpose in creating the earth is for us, to give us the chance to learn and progress and become like him (Moses 1:39). If we fail to do family history, billions of people will never have the opportunity to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ; they will never have the chance to become like God. As this chance was the purpose of the earth, without family history the earth would have been a waste. It wouldn't fulfill its purpose, like a car that never gets driven. But the Lord is faithful and has sent us the desire to do the work; the earth will not be wasted.