FamilySearch Tidbits

FamilySearch has been my lifesaver. Literally.  

💟One night one of the girls was really struggling and I had the thought to open up FamilySearch.  We started looking at trees and pictures--nothing really in depth--and it was as if the difficulty melted away.  I have also found FamilySearch to be a sure fire way for me to respond to the difficulties of living here.  I've been making it part of my daily practice to spend at least a few minutes reading histories or looking at pictures of my ancestors. I'm astounded at the difference such a little thing makes. There is true power in that resource.   It's like I'm surrounding myself with people invested in me and who have walked through difficult things in their lives so they know how to help.  It reminds me of being in the temple.

💟Before I left, I printed out this fan chart.  On it are 126 of my ancestor's names.  I've been SO thankful I followed that idea to bring this print out. I often use it when I pray and when I am praying for someone specific, I'll look at my chart and ask for a specific person to be sent to comfort, give a message, or send my love etc.  One night when I was particularly homesick, I prayed for every person in my family and ward by name (even kids!) and asked for my ancestors by name to minister to them. (See note 1)  While I don't know specific outcomes of these prayers, in very personal ways, I do know that my prayers are answered, so I trust that these prayers are answered as well.  (I love and pray for each of you, dear friends and family). The other thing that I have learned is that when I pray deeply and carefully for others MY burdens are lightened.  I am always amazed at how difficult things are minimized when I pray specifically and intentionally for others.  So if you are in need of specific prayers, please let me know---I will add them to my prayer list.  I love praying for others.  I think my ancestors like it too, and we all know there are great difficulties for me living here, so I NEED to be praying for others--it may be the only way I survive!

💟In the early days here I struggled to cook and make much of anything turn out.  One day while on FamilySearch, I found that my mom had put a picture of my Grandma's roll recipe in her memories.  I decided to make them, and they were the first thing to turn out really well.  That made my heart so so happy! They have been something I've been able to make and give to people and share a little bit of home and of my family.  I have been so thankful on so many levels for this--it has made me so thankful for my mom for putting it on FamilySearch.  And it has made me think about my Grandma often and how many people she served making rolls for them.  But most importantly, it has given me a way to begin to serve here.  All life-saving things. 

💟The Chinese are particularly interested in their family history.  At the gala, President Hu asked about where our families were from.  Tom told him that his family mostly comes from England.  At another point in the evening, a young man came over to do cheers with Tom and President Hu told Tom that this young man had spent time in England and seemed to expect Tom to carry on a conversation about his ancestors in England with this young man.  Thankfully Tom carried that conversation well.  The Chinese really feel that who you are is a result of your ancestors, where they came from and who they were.  (We really should adopt that thinking a bit more.)  

💟At dinner on a different night with Mr. Hu, Jacky and Mr. Jiu, they were talking about family history and how President Hu is wealthy enough to have had his family history written down.  That was very impressive to the others.  I pulled out FamilySearch and showed them my family tree.  At that point, all of them were out of their chairs hovering over my phone looking with great interest at my family tree.  When I showed them that I could click up generation lines and we got to some born in the 1600s they oohed and aahed in amazement.  This moves me so much. And is evidence of the greatness of the people to know that those who came before them are part of them.  So many of us in the US are solely focused on self.   Just think of what is going to happen when they have the gospel made available to the Chinese.  FamilySearch will explode in usage--the Church is going to need to quadruple their server capacity!

💟During my temple recommend interview, I asked our Branch President if we could show the FamilySearch website to the Chinese people.  It is one thing to just show them your tree, but it is another thing to explore the website. I didn't want to do that if it shouldn't be done.  He did not know so he asked the District President, who also did not know.  But President Castro asked our Area Presidency and they said yes (as long as it is disassociated with comments about the Church or the Gospel of Jesus Christ).  This is thrilling!  So many Chinese people will be interested in such a resource. 

I love these thoughts from Elder Gong's talk in April 2022 "Still very much alive, our ancestors deserve to be remembered......We need roots to have wings--real relationships, meaningful service, life beyond fleeting social media veneers. Connecting with our ancestors can change our lives in surprising ways.  From their trials and accomplishments, we gain faith and strength. From their love and sacrifices, we learn to forgive and move forward.  Our children become resilient. We gain protection and power.  Ties with ancestors increase family closeness, gratitude, miracles.  Such ties can bring help from the other side of the veil."  I know these things to be true from my personal experience.  I'm so thankful for FamilySearch!

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Note 1:  A few thoughts about praying to ask for ancestors to help here on earth: 

1) Sister Wendy Nelson gave a talk about asking for angels to help.  I know in specific ways, those prayers are answered.  One time in particular, when Tessa was in 2nd grade, and needed help learning to adjust to bifocals.  I asked, in prayer, if my sister, Katie, could attend to her. I felt the impression "I'll send Katie, but I'll also send your Aunt LaRue.  This is a big job!"  In a matter of 20 minutes, the anger left Tessa and she became willing to wear her new glasses. For our little feisty 2nd grade Tessa, that was nothing short of a miracle.

2)Years ago when I was doing intiatories in the temple, I was impressed to ask one of the workers if she could teach me something about that ordinance. She thought for a minute and said, "You know, these sisters probably thought they have been forgotten--look at how long they have been gone.  But how many times do we speak their name here in initiatory?"  That caused me to count how many times a deceased person's name is said once all of the ordinances are complete.  A sister, just to sealing to parents, (not sealing to spouse) would be said 13 times.  That is a pretty remarkable thought.  And yes, how thankful they must be to be remembered as an individual, one by one.

3) When I served as service leader in my ward and called people to take meals into others, the response was always a grateful "Yes! thanks for asking me!"  We all want to serve and if we are asked specifically to do something, we are eager to help. Why would my ancestors be different?  So I have reasoned that my ancestors likely would appreciate me asking for them specifically, to be given assignments to serve here.   And if the answer to my prayers are 'no' or 'maybe' or 'it's not time yet', then at least my ancestors will have been remembered and the people I'm praying for will be strengthened in some way. 

PS to my extended family.  There is not much on FamilySearch about my grandparents.  Can that be changed?  Can your memories of them be made available to me?