Aug 2014 -Sisterhood - The Joys of Family History Work

My name is Kristi C and I am a member of the Pheasant Meadow ward.  I am currently teaching the 16 year old Sunday School class and am a mother of six.  I was visiting with Sister Wintle recently and she asked that I share an experience I had with genealogy this past month.

I feel like this all started with Elder Holland's talk in October 2008; The ministry of angels.  At the end of his talk he said something that caught my attention, he said "Pray for angels to attend us."  I had never thought about actually asking them to attend to me, or assist me.  The last few years I have thought of this often, even thinking that I shouldn't call on them because they are probably too busy and I didn't want to disturb them.

Recently I downloaded the book; Angels: Agents of Light, Love and Power by Donald W. Perry, a BYU professor.  As I was reading this book in the quiet of our family room one evening, I felt the presence of someone to my left.  I turned and looked, but didn't have eyes to see.  I said, "I know you're here, but I can't see you."  The word genealogy came into my mind.  I was thinking, "All I know how to do is indexing."  After struggling with this for a few minutes I decided to go get the laptop.  Just as I decided to do so, my son's friend left, and I remembered that Tate, my 18 year old son, had been working on a line.  I asked him to pull up his Family Search account.  We saw that he had a family of seven reserved, but had not been printed.  I said, "Tate, I think this family wants their temple work done."  Tate pushed print on the computer and the room almost felt giddy, this family was so excited to finally move forward.  I asked Tate if he could feel it, he said "The room feels very light."

The next evening, which was a Friday I searched the parents names and found two more sons.  Our family would be leaving for vacation for a week in the next few days and our schedule was full until then and after.  I felt very strongly that I had to complete their work as soon as possible.

So,Saturday morning, my oldest four children and I went to the Brigham City temple, and were able to complete the baptisms for this family.  Tate took Korin and Kiera home, and I stayed with Zack to perform the initiatory.  What a blessing to be able to do the work for a mother and four of her daughters.

That evening we were able to attend the Bountiful temple with seven other family members, so a family of nine could receive the blessings of the endowment and being sealed together as a family.

This experience has begun to turned my heart to my fathers.  I want to find out about my family and tie us all together.  The reason I said that I thought this all started with Elder Holland's talk, is because I feel like it opened my mind to be more aware of the spirit world around me.   And because I was reading about angels my mind was more alert to their world and able to feel when they were in need of my attention.

I am grateful that the spirit world is here among us and at special moments they make themselves known to us.  I am also grateful for the love our Father in Heaven has for each of us, and for the experiences he gives us to grow and feel His love.