Did you cringe when you read the title of this post? This isn’t everyone’s favorite subject, I am well aware. But I would like to tell you my feelings about Family History.
Genealogy is one of the purposes for building the kingdom of God. It is one of our charges to link those who are dead with the living in order to create a great chain that leads back to Adam and Eve. Now, if you run into someone who says their work is done—all the way back to our first parents– I would suggest that you politely nod and walk away, but don’t believe them. There are waaaaayyyyy too many variables, lost records, mistakes, hopeless dead ends involved here before someone can say that every line is done and linked to Adam and Eve. Why do you think we are going to need every second of 1000 years to get it all organized and done…with the help of those very dead we are trying to organize and link?
My dear sweet Aunt, who works constantly on genealogy said, “the more you do your genealogy, the more genealogy there is to do”. It is never ending and often is overwhelming. But I have experienced true joy in this work and because of that I have a testimony of it.
I would like to give you some ideas that might spark an interest in this work. Without any personal drive or motivation, nothing gets done, so here goes…keep an open mind.
· Nothing is more exciting than finding something you are looking for. Set a small goal to find a relative who has passed away, maybe someone you knew personally or are familiar with. Look their name up on-line at the Family History site www.familysearch.org. You might have to search until you find someone, so have several names, places and dates.
· Gather together all the records that you have. Call family to gather more records. See how far you can go back. If you have feelings to organize your messy pile, do so. Because I am a visual person, it is helpful for me to fill out a 15 Generation Pedigree Chart and see just how much work there is done, or left to do.
· Search family surnames on the Internet. Print out what you can, email any contacts you find, make a note what sites you went to in case you want to go back. Do not believe all of this information just yet, but are you getting a little intrigued?
· You might begin having feelings that you need to go to the Family History Center. There are many now in local Stake Houses that have access to films from the Center. You might want to have your first personal experience with this amazing building though. You will want to go to www.familysearch.org and look on the library catalog. Search for surnames or places you know your family came from. There you will see books, films, CDs, original records, etc. where you KNOW your information is waiting for you. Write down those item numbers you want to look at, so when you arrive at the library you are ready to begin research. Be aware that if you are searching into a foreign language, you are going to need at least basic knowledge of that language. There are helps available for that, as well. Microfilms can be ordered and viewed at any Stake Family History Center.
· Research isn’t for everyone, yet discovering new things, especially about you, is always exciting. Visit a family gravesite. Interview an older relative. Organize papers. Gather together pictures. You can be the family organizer, researcher, compiler, interviewer, recorder, gatherer, or temple goer. I promise you there is some area of genealogy that will hit you, intrigue you and need just what you can offer.
I have broken through dead ends, researched my eyes raw, contacted people from clear across the world who could help me, found what was lost, organized and given genealogical information as gifts, and taken these beloved brothers and sisters to the temple to receive their saving ordinances. There is no other feeling of satisfaction like it in the world, except for maybe missionary work, or being in the temple with your family.
I would encourage you to give Family History a try. The older generation has been doing it for a while and they are all dying off. So many things have gone by the way side because the younger generation didn’t pick it up. Jesus is coming. We can’t let things slide, not with so much technology at our fingertips.
I teach the Family History class in a YSA branch in California. It is so cool to see the Young Adults getting into this area of research. They are much more computer literate and therefore catch on really quickly. It is cool to see their response when they find people in their line that need to have work done for them.
Genealogy research is contagious! Catch it!
On October 12th, 2008, Nanette said: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
I found this uplifting and edifying sight while searching [again] for information on Elizabeth Ann Whitney or Sarah Ann Whitey [Smith] Kimball. I am writing to ask if anyone knows of any additional information concerning their lives, particularly after they arrived in SLC. Sarah is the most difficult to find anything at all on. I’m asking for help because first; they are two of my personal “heros” and second; Sarah Ann is my third great-grandmother [making Elizabeth my fourth great-grandmother :] It has taken me years just to find a single picture of Sarah Ann [it was printed in a DUP book] and a few articals about her. [Usually written by her mother or Helen Mar Kimball or in referance to her marriage to JS] Still after all this time I cannot find any journal entries, letters, articals etc. written by her. I have all the references that are currently on this sight. [having scoured them out of books and newspapers over the years] I am grateful for these [of course]but as I search I always come across the same quotes/books and in many ways they feel very impersonal, other than her mothers comments about her. [perhaps this is because they are all written by someone else.] I am wondering if anyone has come across anything new? Anything more personal. After arriving in SLC until her death she seems to drop out of sight other than a couple of brief articals [often quoted] one of which being her obit. It seems odd that I can find so little on one of HCK wives, and the daughter of N/EW. What did she do, where did she go, who were her friends, what was she involved in? These are my questions, Perhaps someone can help, Either way thank you for taking the time to read my request and for your investment in this wonderful website. I am so glad to have found it, Nanette :]