Trials

Pioneer Courage

07.24.2019 by season // Leave a Comment

The pioneers and their stories have always held a soft spot in my heart. Their stories are full of spirit, passion, determination, and grit. My 4th great grandma, Jane S. Richards, was healed from a priesthood blessing and courageously got baptized the next day by her brother in a hole cut out of the frozen river. Three hundred people attended, many who felt determined to arrest and imprison her brother for baptizing her. She traveled across the plains with many long, sick days; losing a father, brother, and children. She traveled much of the time without her husband who was serving a mission.

Reading through many pioneer stories this month, I have come to see the tremendous hardships these men and women have had to overcome. They amaze me! Yet, I have come to truly believe that the pioneers didn’t want to be remembered for their hardships. They wanted us to remember their courage.

In the song Come, Come Ye Saints, one line reads, “fresh courage take”. I love that!! How many of us need a little courage today? How many of us need a little courage to start going to the temple more regularly? How many of us need the courage to pursue that new talent/skill we keep putting aside? How many of us need courage to befriend a new neighbor? Or to forgive someone who has hurt us? How many of use need the courage to connect better with our children? Or to find time for scripture study? How many of us need courage to commit to make time for family history? 😉

Today is truly a day to honor these great men and women. Not just to remember them, but to honor them as we take courage.

What show of courage will you do today to honor these pioneers?

KAYLA BERRETT

IG: @kaylaberrett

Faceless, Storyless, Nameless

06.27.2019 by season // Leave a Comment

Hi friends, I want to talk to you all about something really important. Let’s talk about what to do if your ancestors are faceless, story-less and/or nameless. For many years my ancestors were nameless. My tree did not extend past my grandparents. I’m sure you can imagine why I thought family history was not for me. How was I supposed to connect with a black void?

Today I want to talk to you about how we can overcome the void and breathe some life into our barren trees. The reality is our trees are not barren, they are just as full as anyone else. Our ancestors are in the shadows, but with the help of God, we can shine a light into the shadows and find something about them even though it may be small.

First let’s talk about our faceless ancestors. Not having family photos was very painful for me as a visual person. I am so jealous of all the beautiful black and white photos that other families have. I began painting my ancestors because I wanted to look into their faces so badly. My first steps were to pray and ask for help. I believed that God was capable of anything; He knows my ancestors and He could help me find them.

The second step was to get to work. Through a series of events, documents, emails, and Facebook family groups, I have 3 photos that I cherish greatly. I remember the first time I saw my great grandparents wedding photo. It seemed impossible that I would ever see their faces, I knew it was a miracle and God had answered my prayers.

But photos are not the only proof that your ancestors were alive and kicking. Documents are a great way to transport yourself to important life moments with your ancestor. For example, the signature of my 2x great grandmother on her wedding document. She put her pen to this paper, she was standing there as the priest wrote up this document. Reading that document helped me to become closer to her.

What to do if your ancestors are storyless? Documents are a great way to understand the life story of your ancestor. The new “Time line” feature on family search is so helpful in displaying all the information into a visual time line making it easy to see how old the person was during certain events. Even with the time line, it is also really fun to look at the actual documents. I knew zero stories but I was able to discover that my great grandmother was born in 1887 in Mexico City. I was able to Google information about Mexico city in 1887, see what clothes were in fashion then, and even find some vintage photos to understand what the city looked like at that time. From her marriage document I found that she was 22 when she was married. I later found out she had two children die young and her mother died when she was 35 years old. You might think that that information is not much, but to see it was enough to “flesh” her out and feel more connected to her.

And lastly, what to do if your ancestor is nameless. Even though your ancestors have been pushed into the shadows, they are not far from you. You literally carry them in your cheekbones and eye color. They are in your DNA and with the latest advancements of science; you can discover them right inside of you! You can Google holiday traditions from your heritage and start celebrating with your family today. The technology for this is moving rapidly. Scientist and genealogist are using DNA to reconnect families torn apart for centuries by slavery. There is a term called “the slavery wall.” As an African American, once your family tree got into the 1800 or 1700s, all documents were lost because most likely your ancestors were taken from Africa and there were not many records kept that actually documented the names of the slaves. Now with DNA, many families are able to hurdle that wall and find where in Africa their ancestors were taken from. There are more options available than ever before. When it comes to family history, do not underestimate the power of science, the Internet and social media to help you piece together your family. I know God will help you in this and I know your ancestors will too.

Elder Melvin J. Ballard said “They are praying that the Lord will awaken your hearts in their interest. They know where their records are, and I testify to you that the spirit and influence of your dead will guide those who are interested in finding those records. If there is anywhere on the earth anything concerning them, you will find it. That is my promise to you. But you must begin to work. You must begin to inquire after your dead. And the spirit of your heart turning towards them will come upon you, and the way will be opened in a marvelous manner, and if there is a scrap of evidence concerning them upon the earth, you will find it. When we have done all that we can do ourselves, the Lord will come to our rescue. … If we have done our best and have searched and have discovered all that is available, then the day will come when God will open and part the veil, and the records … will be revealed”

When it comes to family history, be optimistic and completely unrealistic about what can happen. God can work miracles for you. Just last week I was contacted on Facebook with more information and even a photo of a person I have been looking for, for years. Finding her seemed impossible, was impossible. If you know anyone with similar circumstances to mine, they might have already decided that family history is not for them, please share this post with them. Please also be sensitive, there might be sad / hard reasons why their family history has been lost. Acknowledge their concerns, don’t be judgmental, and be as kind and encouraging as possible. I want them to know that connecting to ancestors is possible! It is healing and even fun. Matthew 19: 26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

MICHELLE FRANZONI THORLEY

florafamiliar.myportfolio.com
IG: @flora_familiar

Our Life Line

06.19.2019 by season // 8 Comments

I am the LAST person that a year ago would have thought I’d be loving family history with my whole heart. One year ago we were fresh off the heels of trauma.

The business my husband worked for & had just moved to Colorado for went under and we didn’t have a paycheck for months. Searching for a job was turning up absolutely nothing.

My husband had fallen hard on some ice that resulted in a serious concussion which led us to get a brain scan that found he had a deep-seated brain aneurysm that was unrelated to his fall.

Just weeks after this, on our way home to Colorado, our family along with our F250 truck slid off a 1000 ft. mountain cliff and were stopped only 30 feet down by an aspen tree & some heavenly assistance. Our family survived while our truck did not.

The next week we found employment!! … in Utah and one month later we landed here to start our new life.

I need to tell you here that I was barely holding things together. I felt like I was called to wade into a stormy sea & kept getting hit with waves. Each time I’d get up and catch my breath, another wave with more power and intensity would knock me off my feet, throw me into the washing machine cycle and then spit me out with sand in all the wrong places, coughing up water and sand, and gasping for air. I realize that sounds a little dramatic. But I felt like life had chewed us up and spit us out.

I had been praying for help to know how I could get my life back and figured a home improvement project would be it. I opened my Lightkeepers book for the first time & the quote with Elder Renlund’s promise about family history and temple work jumped off the page:

“You will find not only protection from the temptation and ills of the world, but you will also find personal power—power to change, power to repent, power to learn, power to be sanctified, and power to turn the hearts of your family members to each other and heal that which needs healing.”

● He promised we’d find “power

● to turn the hearts of our family together

● and heal that which needs healing.” This promise hit me with such force. As I read the words, the spirit told me: “This is your project. This will heal you.” So I pledged to figure out family history -as soon as I’d moved my family to Utah.

Once we moved to Utah a set of new challenges arose: the Utah inversion- for this Arizona girl, new job & schools, a strict budget, worries for my husband’s health, longer term effects of his concussion, and serious mom guilt over moving my kids. Again, and moving my senior for the second time this school year. Life seemed void of hope. Void of light. Even void of sleep. Garrett and I were still experiencing Post Traumatic Stress waking up in a cold sweat around 3 each morning since falling off the mountain. We were walking around in the same bodies but everything somehow seemed hollow and empty. Life moved on and we had to move along with it. It was difficult to keep up with what was expected just to run a home & run a family.

Two weeks after moving here, I was somewhat settled, and was listening to a conference talk while making breakfast. The spirit reminded me that I pledged to start family history. Panic seized my heart. Why did I promise to do that? How on earth do I do that?? It seemed an elephant of a project to take on. But how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Family history is a spiritual work.

Since last February I took small & simple steps doing what I knew how to do and as the spirit directed when I’d ask, “what next?

I started by reading the family book I’d had kicking around for years . I took a photo with my phone of short excerpts that would strengthen my own family and texted them to my kids periodically. I knew they wouldn’t pick up a 500 page book, but they would read a text.

I became familiar with and use regularly the FamilySearch mobile app, the task feature became my favorite tool ever, which we will jump into soon

I shared with family how to read & add a story in memories. While I cooked dinner I’d ask my teens to jump on & find or add a story then share it at dinner.

I continued asking “what next” and acting. In April I was sick & got stress cold sores. I found myself a doctor & while waiting for him to come in, I read the poster about mental health. I was astonished to realize I was experiencing each one of the symptoms. I told the doctor what had recently happened & how I was waiting to feel normal again. He listened and we decided to put me on a low dose of depression medication.

As a family we were mindful & prayerful about how to incorporate little bits of family history into our life. And we found that with just a few simple tweaks, it went along with what we were already doing.

I had the joy of:

•finding my first ancestor who needed her work done, and since then have discovered numerous ancestors and am still working on their saving ordinances.

•I have upped my temple attendance considerably because of the sheer volume of people that are waiting for their temple work. And that in turn has enriched my life.

•I am happier than I ever have been.

•I enjoy clarity and peace that are constant and help me see life, people, and challenges through a heavenly lens.

I share to show just how different a life can look in one year when we ask what next, trust the Lord’s guidance and His promises and then act. Everyone’s journey will look different. My husband still has the brain aneurysm. Turns out his particular case is very unique. We have even changed employment again. My situation has not changed completely, but my perspective has. My family is closer. We are happier. We feel the spirit in our home frequently. And my home now feels like it’s filled with LIGHT. As I shared this write-up with my 18 year old daughter, she nodded at each sentence. She sees it. She feels it. We are far from perfect, but we are being sanctified through this great work.

Elder Renlund promised: God will strengthen, help, and uphold us; and He will sanctify to us our deepest distress. Family History has been my life line. Truly and literally. As I engaged in it, slowly, slowly, I began to breathe a little more, to feel again, to live again. Heavenly Father knew what I needed to do to heal that which needed healing.

Written by: Amy Miles // IG: @sorellamy