Thought of the Sunday 8

Recently I have been doing a lot of family history.  For someone like me that means two things: (1) finding names and important dates of people in my family (then attending the temple) and (2) finding out personal stories and histories about those people.  I have also read a few articles recently about family history that remind me why I like it so much.

True to the Faith states that by doing family history work, "you can learn about your ancestors and increase your love for them.  You can be inspired by their stories of courage and faith.  You can pass that legacy on to your children."  By doing family history work we create a link between us and those that have gone before us.  Malachi talks a little about this in Malachi 4:5-6,

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

So when we do family history, we are fulfilling this scripture.  I know when I find things out about my ancestors I feel closer to them.  An article in this month's Ensign entitled "How Family History Changes our Hearts and Minds" states that "The refining influence of family history work can increase our own capacity for love.  If we grow to love people long since dead, who lived very differently from us, then will we not come to realize how loving and merciful God is toward us?  And can we not then love our families and neighbors and be compassionate with their shortcomings?"

When I do family history I come to know more of God's children and my own family.  I can see how their lives have led through many generations to my own life.  I can imagine what they must have experienced and I can look forward to meeting them after I die and asking them questions and hopefully receiving answers.  It is a work of love that I hope to continue throughout my life.