I had
an amazing experience on 21 February 2017 that was a turning point in my life
that I was prompted to share with you. I woke up around 4:30 in the morning and
was pondering what had happened to me that day and the thought came that I
should share this experience with each of my children. With that in mind, would
you please read this as a family at one of your family home evenings and pray
that you will feel the spirit that I have within me 2000 miles away, for I know
the Spirit has no limit to distance.
Last
week, we were asked to help teach all of the ward consultants and high priest
group leaders in the stake on February 26th about the “Find Take and Teach“
program that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints has been pushing
in each ward in an attempt to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers
and the heart of the fathers to their children. We know through scripture that
if this does not happen, the purpose of the whole creation of the earth would
be wasted. The importance of this challenge has rested upon me to try and teach
my family and to invoke the protective blessings that are there for my children
and generations yet to come.
Your
grandfather and I were trying to find someone that would be willing to
participate in this training session for the stake to create an experience that
would turn their heart to their fathers and allow them to feel the power that
is found in getting to know their ancestors. I was talking to one of our
volunteers, Linda Martinez, who works with us in the family history center and
was prompted to ask her if she would be willing to be a participant to help me
learn the process so that we could teach it at this meeting. Since she works in
the family history center and has been a consultant, she agreed and wanted to
learn the process herself.
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| Sister Linda Martinez FHC Volunteer 2-2017 |
I
asked Linda if she was ever afraid when people would come in from countries all
over the world for help when it was impossible to know how to research
everywhere. She made a very important comment to me that I had forgotten about
and that was she would use the WIKI in Family Search to get familiar with the
country so she could help them the best she could.
So,
step one of the process of “Find Take and Teach” is to prayerfully ask the
question “What goal would you like to achieve in working with your ancestors?”
When I asked her this question her answer was “I would like to have an original
or primary document of some kind that would give proof that my great
grandfather was from Ireland.” She had been looking for years and could not
find anything. My heart sunk because I knew that I did not have the ability to
do research of that magnitude. My research abilities were very limited and I
have little analytical skills to pursue this request. Also, I had no idea how
to do research in Ireland. I figured that those excuses were enough reason to
change her request.
I
quickly responded back to Linda that the “Find Take and Teach” program
was written to help patrons find an ancestor that they would be able to take to
the temple and participate in an experience that could provide an opportunity
for experiencing the full blessings that can be found in temple. It was
not for research projects. With the comment, Linda gave me another name that
she needed help with that I was much more comfortable doing.
The
problem I had was that her first request weighed heavily upon me in a way that
became a driving force. I knew that the “Find Take and Teach” program was to
turn hearts in any way we could and give them a spiritual experience.
Ireland is one of the hardest countries to find records because much of the
records have been destroyed, but I knew that for some reason I needed to pursue
her first request of proving that her line did go into Ireland. I was terrified
of working this problem, and a few times during this period of time I almost
decided not to offer to work on it but decided I would be lacking faith if I
did.
Your
grandfather and I went to a ward temple session on Saturday, and I prayed
fervently for the help that I would need if I were to continue on with Sister
Martinez’s request. I told both your grandfather, Golden, and Linda that If
this project was successful it would only be through the power of prayer and
that they would see a miracle and the divine guidance of my Savior in action.
As I
sat in sacrament meeting on Sunday, I continued to pray for guidance in finding
the information I needed from Ireland. After church, I went back to my
apartment and decided to see what I could do.
I met
with Sister Martinez to get as much information as I could that would help me.
On a torn envelope she wrote down the name of Patrick Barry born 25 December
1836 somewhere in Ireland. She had heard that he could have been in Queenstown,
Cork or Skibbereen, or Cover (Cobh) but she did not know for sure of anything
and that she thought he was Catholic.
I sat
down in front of my computer and thought “Where do I begin?” The thought came
to search in WIKI in Family Search. So I opened the WIKI and typed in Ireland.
It showed several options that I could choose so I decided to try and find his
baptism. I clicked on a few places not knowing what I was doing and within about
15 or 20 minutes there on the screen was Patrick Barry’s baptism. I took a deep
breath and said the words, “Oh!! Look what I have found.” Your grandfather
looked at me in surprise and came over to check it out and he confirmed that I
had found Patrick’s baptism record. I knew without a doubt that my prayers had
been answered. I called Sister Martinez and told her that I had found her great
grandfather’s baptism record and she was stunned. She came down to see it and
verify that what I had matched her family records. All of us knew beyond a
shadow of a doubt that we had been a part of a miracle. When your grandpa
and Sister Martinez asked me to show them how I found the record, I could not
repeat the steps that took me there so quickly. I have no doubt that when I ask
righteously for direct guidance, He will be there and answer prayers if I can
continue to show unwavering faith.
I
have almost completed reading the Doctrine & Covenants for the first time
and my eyes have been opened to so much knowledge and the promises of obedience
to our Savior. Here is just one promise and challenge made by Elder Bednar of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
” It is no coincidence that FamilySearch and other tools have come
forth at a time when young people are so familiar with a wide range of
information and communication technologies. Your fingers have been trained to
text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord—not just to
communicate quickly with your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among
many young people today are a preparation to contribute to the work of
salvation.
I invite the young people of the Church to learn
about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. I encourage you to study, to search
out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the
house of the Lord for your kindred
dead (see D&C 124:28–36). And I urge you to help other people identify their family
histories.”
As you respond in faith to this invitation, your
hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its
declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful
to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your
testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I
promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary.
As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your
youth and throughout your lives.”
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