All Done?

Tonight we had a Stake Fireside for the youth and their parents as an introduction to this upcoming year's youth conference theme. The focus is on Family History. When the youth arrived they were given an index card with a name and a date on it. The high councilman who was in charge invited everyone to imagine they were in the temple waiting to do baptisms for the dead. Then some individuals and families all dressed in white entered the chapel and were seated on the stand. They were introduced as individuals who were waiting for their temple work to be completed. The first person came to the podium and introduced himself and told a little about his history and then asked if anyone had his name. No one did and he returned to his seat on the stand. After the next person spoke she asked if someone had her name and someone did and she excitedly left the stage and went and sat by the individual with her card. Next was a son whose work had been done, but was there with his father wanting to see if his name had been found. The father still had to wait. There were several more individuals and several families or parts of families with compelling stories. The last group to speak was a mother, father and 5 children. The mother introduced them and then asked if anyone had her children's names (all but the youngest daughter left the stand). Then the mother asked if anyone had her name and she had been found as well. The father put his arm around the daughter and told her they could wait together, but the daughter told him he needed to ask if anyone had his name. He asked and was called down. It was a very tender, thought provoking moment when the father moved into the audience and the daughter returned to her seat on the stand. This enactment really made me think about the possible fragmented families that are waiting on the other side of the veil for me or someone else to link their family together for eternity. This fireside motivated me to want to increase my family history efforts. Hopefully it inspired the youth as well. I guess time will tell over the next few months as they are involved in a multitude of Family History activities. I think it sounds fun!

I have been blessed with diligent family members who have been involved in faithfully doing our family history for generations. I have often felt that the work has already been done for many of my ancestors, and it very likely has been. This evening I was reminded however of the possibility that someone has been missed. With the increased technology now available I could very easily be the one to find that missing person.

I think this sidebar in an article in the October 2009 Ensign says it well.

All Done?

Some say, "My family history is all done." Others say, "Uncle Fred is doing it all."
That's a bit like saying. "I don't go to Church, but that's okay because Uncle Fred goes for me."
The fact is that we need to be personally engaged in family history so our hearts will be turned to our fathers. Then we will forge that welding link between our ancestors and us that is so important to the Lord.
Think about it. We each have four grandparents and that doubles each generation. In 10 generations we have 512 "grandparents" - not counting the thousands of other family members they bore. In 16 generations, we have nearly 33,000 direct ancestors. Our family history hasn't all been done - I guarantee it.

I'm excited that our youth are being given the opportunity to personally be involved in family history and to experience the joy that comes from turning their hearts to their fathers.

Today I am grateful for

youth leaders who work hard to help my children have positive spiritual experiences.
eternal families.
Primary singing time leaders who come and do music in nursery. The children pay a lot more attention to them than they do to me. These same singing time leaders (a young husband and wife team) sang at the fireside tonight also. They both have gorgeous voices and really brought the spirit with their music.