This week's tip is to take a break!
The break I took from posting on the blog was WAY too long! But it did help me consider how important it is to take a break sometimes. Family History can be incredibly overwhelming at times. When you feel overwhelmed with anything, including family history, it doesn't help to continue to try to work on it and just get stressed out.
Family History is important work to not give up on. But take a break if you need to! Pray, breathe, and do something else. Don't get overwhelmed. There is a lot of work to do and there are a lot of people out there doing the same work as you. Take a break and then get back to work!
"Experience has taught me that if we, like President Monson, exercise our faith and look to God for help, we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life. We will not feel incapable of doing what we are called to do or need to do. We will be strengthened, and our lives will be filled with peace and joy. We will come to realize that most of what we worry about is not of eternal significance—and if it is, the Lord will help us." ("It Is Better to Look Up" by Carl B. Cook).
"That assurance from the Master can help those of us feeling overwhelmed by our circumstances. In the hardest trials, as long as you have the power to pray, you can ask a loving God: “Please let me serve, this day. It doesn’t matter to me how few things I may be able to do. Just let me know what I can do. I will obey this day. I know that I can, with Thy help.” ("This Day" by Henry B. Eyring)
"Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies” and “When we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help.” Whether we are overwhelmed or underwhelmed, whether we are scared to death or bored to death, the Lord wants us to gear down, power up, and serve." ("Serve" by Carl B. Cook)
"This beautiful gospel is so simple a child can grasp it, yet so profound and complex that it will take a lifetime—even an eternity—of study and discovery to fully understand it. But sometimes we take the beautiful lily of God’s truth and gild it with layer upon layer of man-made good ideas, programs, and expectations. Each one, by itself, might be helpful and appropriate for a certain time and circumstance, but when they are laid on top of each other, they can create a mountain of sediment that becomes so thick and heavy that we risk losing sight of that precious flower we once loved so dearly." ("It Works Wonderfully" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf)
"Please understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be. You will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain, or discouragement forever. We have the faithful promise of God that He will neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to Him.21 Have hope and faith in that promise. Learn to love your Heavenly Father and become His disciple in word and in deed...He loves you with a perfect love. God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him." ("You Matter to Him" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf)
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Tip of the Week: Do it Out of Love
Happy Valentine's Day!
This week's tip is to do it out of love!
Doing anything because you feel you have to and not because you want to makes it less enjoyable. If your reason to do family history is because you have to then you probably won't enjoy it. Family history should be an uplifting experience, not a burdensome experience. Because it seems fitting for Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share that I do Family History out of LOVE! Love your ancestors and doing their work. Love your family here on earth and serve them with all your mind, might, and strength. Christ loves you and is grateful for the work you are doing. Your ancestors love you and are grateful for the work you are doing. Do all things with love!
"The Bible tells us that “God is love.” He is the perfect embodiment of love, and we rely heavily on the constancy and universal reach of that love. As President Thomas S. Monson has expressed: “God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.” There are many ways to describe and speak of divine love. One of the terms we hear often today is that God’s love is “unconditional.” While in one sense that is true, the descriptor unconditional appears nowhere in scripture. Rather, His love is described in scripture as “great and wonderful love,” “perfect love,” “redeeming love,” and “everlasting love.” These are better terms because the word unconditional can convey mistaken impressions about divine love, such as, God tolerates and excuses anything we do because His love is unconditional, or God makes no demands upon us because His love is unconditional, or all are saved in the heavenly kingdom of God because His love is unconditional. God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever, but what it means for each of us depends on how we respond to His love." ("Abide in My Love" by D. Todd Christofferson)
This week's tip is to do it out of love!
Doing anything because you feel you have to and not because you want to makes it less enjoyable. If your reason to do family history is because you have to then you probably won't enjoy it. Family history should be an uplifting experience, not a burdensome experience. Because it seems fitting for Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share that I do Family History out of LOVE! Love your ancestors and doing their work. Love your family here on earth and serve them with all your mind, might, and strength. Christ loves you and is grateful for the work you are doing. Your ancestors love you and are grateful for the work you are doing. Do all things with love!
"The Bible tells us that “God is love.” He is the perfect embodiment of love, and we rely heavily on the constancy and universal reach of that love. As President Thomas S. Monson has expressed: “God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.” There are many ways to describe and speak of divine love. One of the terms we hear often today is that God’s love is “unconditional.” While in one sense that is true, the descriptor unconditional appears nowhere in scripture. Rather, His love is described in scripture as “great and wonderful love,” “perfect love,” “redeeming love,” and “everlasting love.” These are better terms because the word unconditional can convey mistaken impressions about divine love, such as, God tolerates and excuses anything we do because His love is unconditional, or God makes no demands upon us because His love is unconditional, or all are saved in the heavenly kingdom of God because His love is unconditional. God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever, but what it means for each of us depends on how we respond to His love." ("Abide in My Love" by D. Todd Christofferson)
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Tip of the Week: Have Patience
This week's tip of the week is to have patience.
Family History requires a lot of patience. You aren't always going to find names or records the first time (or even the first few times) you do family history. Sometimes it only takes a few minutes, other times it takes weeks, months, or even years to find the information you are looking for. When you are struggling to have patience with family history work, please remember that Heavenly Father has a plan and a timeline for you. He knows what blessing are in store for you. Trust in His timing for you. He will bless those that have patience and have faith in Him.
"Patience is a divine attribute. The Book of Mormon invites us to “come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men.” (Mosiah 4:6.)" -Russell M. Nelson, "These... Were Our Examples"
"Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter. Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue in Patience"
"Patience may well be thought of as a gateway virtue, contributing to the growth and strength of its fellow virtues of forgiveness, tolerance, and faith." -Robert C. Oaks, "The Power of Patience"
"Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best—better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than his." -Neal A. Maxwell, "Patience"
"I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort. There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!" -Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue in Patience"
Family History requires a lot of patience. You aren't always going to find names or records the first time (or even the first few times) you do family history. Sometimes it only takes a few minutes, other times it takes weeks, months, or even years to find the information you are looking for. When you are struggling to have patience with family history work, please remember that Heavenly Father has a plan and a timeline for you. He knows what blessing are in store for you. Trust in His timing for you. He will bless those that have patience and have faith in Him.
"Patience is a divine attribute. The Book of Mormon invites us to “come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men.” (Mosiah 4:6.)" -Russell M. Nelson, "These... Were Our Examples"
"Patience—the ability to put our desires on hold for a time—is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter. Nevertheless, without patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue in Patience"
"Patience may well be thought of as a gateway virtue, contributing to the growth and strength of its fellow virtues of forgiveness, tolerance, and faith." -Robert C. Oaks, "The Power of Patience"
"Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best—better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than his." -Neal A. Maxwell, "Patience"
"I learned that patience was far more than simply waiting for something to happen—patience required actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn’t appear instantly or without effort. There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!" -Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue in Patience"
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Family History for the Whole Family
Family history for everyone! This video is a fantastic example of how to engage your whole family in family history! We are all called to the work and we can all feel the spirit of Elijah when we participate in family history work.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Tip of the Week: Go and Do!
This week's tip of the week is to go and do!
If you're anything like me, you may have spent hours researching, adding, fixing, checking, and finding; however, you have yet to actually take the names to the temple. Doing all of the online work is usually more convenient because it's quick. You can pull out your phone anytime and spend a few minutes doing family history work. Now this is necessary, but it doesn't fully accomplish the work unless you actually print those names, take them to the temple, and do the ordinances. This means you have to take the time and make the effort to go spend time at the temple. This part of family history work may not be as convenient, but it is so worth it. The Lord has commanded that we do our part in family history work. Your ancestors are waiting for you. They are counting on you. Don't make them wait anymore. If you have found them, commit to go and do their work!
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." -1 Nephi 3:7
"Our testimonies must run deep, with spiritual roots firmly embedded in the rock of revelation. And we must continue to move the work forward as a covenanted, consecrated people, with faith in every footstep, “till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”" -M. Russell Ballard, "The Truth of God Shall Go Forth"
"Whatever our calling, regardless of our fears or anxieties, let us pray and then go and do, remembering the words of the Master, even the Lord Jesus Christ, who promised, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” -Thomas S. Monson "They Pray and They Go"
"My advice to you is to go and do what you’ve been instructed to do. You’re responsible. The work of the Lord...is upon your shoulders. May the Lord give you strength and courage and understanding and the realization that you’re members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." -N. Eldon Tanner, "Go and Do the Work"
"If you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you" -Henry B. Eyring, "Trust in God, Then Go and Do"
"“The family [is] the most important organization in time and all eternity; … the preservation of family life in time and eternity takes precedence above all other interests. … Because of this confidence in the perpetuity of the home and family into the eternities, we build our most elaborate and expensive structures—temples of God … so that man, woman, and their children may be bound together by covenant in an everlasting union which will transcend all the limitations of this mortal sphere.” (“America’s Strength—The Family,” unpublished transcript of an address given as part of the National Family Night Program, Seattle World’s Fair Coliseum, 23 Nov. 1976, p. 5.)" -L. Tom Perry, "Let Us Go Up to the House of God"
I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in temple ordinances for myself and my ancestors.
If you're anything like me, you may have spent hours researching, adding, fixing, checking, and finding; however, you have yet to actually take the names to the temple. Doing all of the online work is usually more convenient because it's quick. You can pull out your phone anytime and spend a few minutes doing family history work. Now this is necessary, but it doesn't fully accomplish the work unless you actually print those names, take them to the temple, and do the ordinances. This means you have to take the time and make the effort to go spend time at the temple. This part of family history work may not be as convenient, but it is so worth it. The Lord has commanded that we do our part in family history work. Your ancestors are waiting for you. They are counting on you. Don't make them wait anymore. If you have found them, commit to go and do their work!
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." -1 Nephi 3:7
"Our testimonies must run deep, with spiritual roots firmly embedded in the rock of revelation. And we must continue to move the work forward as a covenanted, consecrated people, with faith in every footstep, “till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”" -M. Russell Ballard, "The Truth of God Shall Go Forth"
"Whatever our calling, regardless of our fears or anxieties, let us pray and then go and do, remembering the words of the Master, even the Lord Jesus Christ, who promised, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” -Thomas S. Monson "They Pray and They Go"
"My advice to you is to go and do what you’ve been instructed to do. You’re responsible. The work of the Lord...is upon your shoulders. May the Lord give you strength and courage and understanding and the realization that you’re members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." -N. Eldon Tanner, "Go and Do the Work"
"If you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you" -Henry B. Eyring, "Trust in God, Then Go and Do"
"“The family [is] the most important organization in time and all eternity; … the preservation of family life in time and eternity takes precedence above all other interests. … Because of this confidence in the perpetuity of the home and family into the eternities, we build our most elaborate and expensive structures—temples of God … so that man, woman, and their children may be bound together by covenant in an everlasting union which will transcend all the limitations of this mortal sphere.” (“America’s Strength—The Family,” unpublished transcript of an address given as part of the National Family Night Program, Seattle World’s Fair Coliseum, 23 Nov. 1976, p. 5.)" -L. Tom Perry, "Let Us Go Up to the House of God"
I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in temple ordinances for myself and my ancestors.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Tip of the Week: It Is More
This week's tip of the week is that family history is more!
Many people think of family history as names, dates, places, hard to read documents, confusing information, dusty old books, boxes of junk, etc. I'm writing today to tell you that it is more than all of that. Family history is not just for our ancestors. It is for us. It is for our descendants. It is the beautiful opportunity to bring generations throughout all time and all the world together, to learn from each other, to grow stronger testimonies together, and to fully understand the Plan of Salvation.
"Family history is more than genealogy, rules, names, dates, and places. It is more than a focus on the past. Family history also includes the present as we create our own history. It includes the future as we shape future history through our descendants. A young mother, for example, sharing her family stories and pictures with her children is doing family history work. Like partaking of the sacrament, attending meetings, reading the scriptures, and saying personal prayers, doing family history and temple work should be a regular part of our personal worship. The response of our youth and others to prophetic invitations has been inspiring and proves this work can and should be done by all members at any age." -Allan F. Packer, "The Book"
"I have a strong feeling that when this life is over, our personal and family histories and the influence they wield will be of much greater importance than we now think." -John H. Groberg, "Writing Your Personal and Family History"
"Family history is not just genealogy, but includes the present and future as well as the past, and ultimately, it is about connecting families together across the generations “that we may be redeemed,"...There is an eternal significance to this doctrine for individuals and families...When understood, this doctrine, added to the natural love a parent has for his children, motivates individuals to ensure the connections are in place...We research the past, create history in the present, and shape history in the future.” -Elder Allan F. Packer, RootsTech 2013 Family History and Technology Conference.
"One of the best ways to celebrate righteous history is to make more of it, make more righteous history!" -Spencer W. Kimball, "No Unhallowed Hand Can Stop the Work"
Many people think of family history as names, dates, places, hard to read documents, confusing information, dusty old books, boxes of junk, etc. I'm writing today to tell you that it is more than all of that. Family history is not just for our ancestors. It is for us. It is for our descendants. It is the beautiful opportunity to bring generations throughout all time and all the world together, to learn from each other, to grow stronger testimonies together, and to fully understand the Plan of Salvation.
"Family history is more than genealogy, rules, names, dates, and places. It is more than a focus on the past. Family history also includes the present as we create our own history. It includes the future as we shape future history through our descendants. A young mother, for example, sharing her family stories and pictures with her children is doing family history work. Like partaking of the sacrament, attending meetings, reading the scriptures, and saying personal prayers, doing family history and temple work should be a regular part of our personal worship. The response of our youth and others to prophetic invitations has been inspiring and proves this work can and should be done by all members at any age." -Allan F. Packer, "The Book"
"I have a strong feeling that when this life is over, our personal and family histories and the influence they wield will be of much greater importance than we now think." -John H. Groberg, "Writing Your Personal and Family History"
"Family history is not just genealogy, but includes the present and future as well as the past, and ultimately, it is about connecting families together across the generations “that we may be redeemed,"...There is an eternal significance to this doctrine for individuals and families...When understood, this doctrine, added to the natural love a parent has for his children, motivates individuals to ensure the connections are in place...We research the past, create history in the present, and shape history in the future.” -Elder Allan F. Packer, RootsTech 2013 Family History and Technology Conference.
"One of the best ways to celebrate righteous history is to make more of it, make more righteous history!" -Spencer W. Kimball, "No Unhallowed Hand Can Stop the Work"
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