How many of us can say, "I know my Grandparents, Great or Great-Great Grandparents by name?" What can you tell your children and grandchildren about these ancestors? What have you told your children and other family members about you when you were growing up? (Read More)
By Sister Marlene Larkin, Director
How many of us can say, "I know my Grandparents, Great or Great-Great Grandparents by name?” What can you tell your children and grandchildren about these ancestors? What have you told your children and other family members about when you were growing up; things you enjoy doing; places you have been or would like to go; people you have met, and how they have affected your life and made you a better person? I have a grandson who since he was five years old has loved to sit alone with me and hear stories about his ancestors. Recently he said to me, "Grandma, I really like these stories because they help me know who I am." How many of us truly know who we are and from what roots we have come? I am grateful that I know not only the names of my ancestors but also enough about them that I feel that I truly know them.
Truly we owe it to our forefathers to research, find, and learn about their lives. We must seek them out and do the work for them that they had no chance to do for themselves.
I am sure everyone owes to his or her forefathers gratitude beyond expression for they gave us three of the greatest things in our lives. First, through their sufferings and hardships, we have the opportunity to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Second, they gave us our dear parents and molded their characters by their endeavors in living the gospel. Third, they gave us our names which we all honor and love. Can you imagine their joy when they know we are using some of our leisure time in writing their biographies, searching for their records and then putting them where they can be priceless treasures for us today and also for those who will follow us?
With these thoughts in mind, I share with you my personal creed and invite you to use it too. On my honor I will do my best to make this my research creed:
1. No one will be better informed than I on my own family lines.
2. I will search for, find, and complete the records of my family.
3. There shall be no such word as “fail” in my research vocabulary.
4. My dead are interested in results not excuses.
Those of us who give of ourselves by laboring for our dead will be blessed eternally. This is the greatest work given to us in these latter days.
Truly we owe it to our forefathers to research, find, and learn about their lives. We must seek them out and do the work for them that they had no chance to do for themselves.
I am sure everyone owes to his or her forefathers gratitude beyond expression for they gave us three of the greatest things in our lives. First, through their sufferings and hardships, we have the opportunity to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Second, they gave us our dear parents and molded their characters by their endeavors in living the gospel. Third, they gave us our names which we all honor and love. Can you imagine their joy when they know we are using some of our leisure time in writing their biographies, searching for their records and then putting them where they can be priceless treasures for us today and also for those who will follow us?
With these thoughts in mind, I share with you my personal creed and invite you to use it too. On my honor I will do my best to make this my research creed:
1. No one will be better informed than I on my own family lines.
2. I will search for, find, and complete the records of my family.
3. There shall be no such word as “fail” in my research vocabulary.
4. My dead are interested in results not excuses.
Those of us who give of ourselves by laboring for our dead will be blessed eternally. This is the greatest work given to us in these latter days.
