Hello to everyone. I know it's been a while since my last post - sorry! But I haven't forgotten about family history. I have been thinking about Elder Scott's talk in our last General Conference, and the subsequent letter from the First Presidency, regarding the names we submit for temple work. Here is a recap of this message. I want to first thank all of you again for participating in temple ordinances for our ancestors this summer. It was a really great experience. For those who weren't able to make it, please know that we missed you. We have such a great family - past, present, and future! We are very blessed to have each other and to have the restored gospel. I know that our Heavenly Father's plan has made it possible for the ordinances of salvation to be extended to all people, and I know that those who have come before us are eagerly awaiting our help in this process. Often, as we carry out this service in the temple, we can feel the presence of those whom we are serving.
I have had an interest in family history from a young age (Thanks, Mom!). After finishing school, I decided I should get into it more seriously since I had some more time on my hands. I really wanted to know where to start, and thought the best way to know would be to make it a matter of prayer. I felt drawn to the lines of Charlotte George and William Watkins, two converts from Wales. I could especially identify with Charlotte, an independent young woman, whose courage and faith I greatly admired the more I learned about her. In some of my earlier posts, I have detailed the information I found, which included records of her christening in Wales, her parents' names, her immigration to America, and her life in Utah. Unfortunately, as I searched the church records of the chapel where she was christened in Wales, I could not find any information about possible siblings. Then I received information from a distant relative that Charlotte was the oldest of 11 children - 2 girls, and 9 boys. The names of these siblings are not known. However, using the New Family Search website, I noticed that someone had sealed a Hannah George to Charlotte's husband, Thomas Wilson Stewart, nearly 100 years ago. Hannah's birth was listed as being 2 years later than Charlotte's, and in the same town. This, I presumed, must have been Charlotte's sister. Having been told that Hannah had died in her teenage years, I tried searching death records, now that I had a name for her. I still found nothing. All the ordinances had been done for her, other than sealing her to her parents. Normally I would not submit the name of someone for whom I had no firsthand historical documentation. However, in this case, I knew that it was possible I might never find any other sources about her, and I felt that I should ensure this last ordinance was done for her just in case. When we sealed Hannah to her parents, Richard George and Anne Hughes, in the Mt. Timpanogos temple, I was unprepared for how strongly the Spirit overcame me. Words can't really express what I felt, but I know it was an occasion of great joy. I was very glad I had not waited any longer or left the work undone.
When we got together as a family, we were able to do many ordinances. However, there are still some left unfinished. I would like to make sure that we get these done in a timely manner, as counseled by our prophet and apostles. I also would like to ensure that those who wish to help with this work have the opportunity to do so. I want to apologize for not being as organized as I should be. I believe that I left the cards with some of you to divide up and finish. I'm sorry I have not been diligent in following up on that, and so I would like to ask for your help. I think it would be great if we could make a goal to finish them by the end of the year. I know schedules get really hectic around the holidays, but I think if we focus our efforts, we should have no problem achieving this, especially as we have a large family. If you have some cards but feel that you will not be able to finish all the work by that time, would you please let me know? For those who do not have any cards, but would like to do some work, would you also let me know? I will gladly coordinate what I can so we can share this joy with as many as possible. Thanks again for all you have done and will do in this important work.
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