Tip of the Week: Make Goals

This week's tip is to make goals!

Making goals helps motivate you to continue to working on family history. Whether you make short-term goals or long-term goals or both, just make a goal (or a few) and then reward yourself when you reach that goal! 

This week my goal is to find three names to take to the temple. When I accomplish this goal, I plan to buy some ice cream and make a new goal!


"Set short-term [and long-term] goals that you can reach. Set goals that are well balanced, not too many nor too few, and not too high nor too low. Write down your attainable goals, and work on them according to their importance. Pray for divine guidance in your goal setting."- Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Keeping Life's Demands in Balance," Ensign, May 1987

I know that if we each prayerfully seek out goals in regards to our own family history work, we will be guided to the work which the Lord would have us do and He will bless us with the ability to reach our goals!

D&C 103:36

Indexing

Many people have told me that indexing is hard and they don't know how to index so they can't do that part of family history. I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to be hard and you can do it! Just like all new things, indexing takes practice, but once you get the hang of it, it can be really fun!

Brittany Beattle offers 8 great reasons to try indexing out in her article, "Getting into Indexing," from the 2012 New Era magazine. Click on the article title to go check it out!

Family Search has a short video on what indexing is and how it works.

There is also an interactive tutorial where you can practice indexing before you start the real deal. Click on this link to try it out: Test Drive 

I promise that not only will indexing become easier as you do it, but you will also feel closer to your ancestors and the Savior when you are participating in this work! 

D&C 6:13

Family History is for Everyone!

Family history is not just for me, or your grandparents, or your friends, or your bishop. Family history is for all of us! I found this fantastic guide on lds.org to help us each make family history work more engaging. I know that if we try to put family history work towards the top our "To Do" lists, we will feel closer to the Savior and be able to see His hand in our lives often. 

Tip of the Week: Understand Personal Importance

This week's tip is to understand why family history is important to you!


Family history is important to me because:


1. I want to offer my deceased ancestors every opportunity that the gospel offers me.
"Many of your ancestors died never having the chance to accept the gospel and to receive the blessings and promises you have receive. The Lord is fair and loving. And so He prepared for you and me a way for us to have the desire of our hearts offer to our ancestors all the blessings He has offered us." -Henry B. Eyring, "Hearts Bound Together," Ensign, May 2005

2. I want to try to eliminate the influence of the adversary in my life.
"Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life?
"Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life." -Richard G. Scott, "The Joy of Redeeming the Dead," Ensign, October 2012

3. I want to strengthen my testimony.
"I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah...As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers...Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding." -David A. Bednar, "The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn," Ensign, October 2011

I promise that you can understand why family history is important to you, you will begin to recognize  more blessings in your life and in the lives of those you love. Your testimony will grow and you will be able to be a better example to everyone around you. 


Matthew 16:19
1 Peter 4:6
Malachi 4:5-6