The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn

This is a video by Elder David A. Bednar from the October 2011 General Conference.  The focus of his 15 minute talk is on the spirit of Elijah and our role in family history work.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn?lang=eng&media=video

The Finished Story by Gayle M. Clegg

This is a story I found about one of my Great, great great grandfathers - Henry Clegg.  It is entitled "The Finished Story" by Gayle M. Clegg (Second Counselor in the General Primary Presidency) and was given at the April 2004 General Conference. This is just a little section of her talk:

My husband’s great-grandfather Henry Clegg Jr. was a finisher. He joined the Church with his family when the first LDS missionaries went to Preston, England. Henry had a view of his destination in his mind as he and his wife, Hannah, and their two young boys immigrated to Utah. Henry left his older parents, who were too feeble to make such a long and arduous journey, knowing he would never see them again.

While crossing the plains, Hannah contracted cholera and died. She was laid to rest in an unmarked grave. The company then moved on, and at six in the evening, Henry’s youngest son also died. Henry retraced his steps to Hannah’s grave, placed his young son in his wife’s arms, and reburied the two of them together. Henry then had to return to the wagon train, now five miles away. Suffering from cholera himself, Henry described his condition as being at death’s door while realizing he still had a thousand miles to walk. Amazingly he continued forward, putting one foot in front of the other. He stopped writing in his journal for several weeks after losing his dear Hannah and little son. I was struck with the words he used when he did start writing again: “Still moving.”

When he finally reached the gathering place of the Saints, he began a new family. He kept the faith. He continued his story. Most remarkably, his heartache over the burial of his sweetheart and son gave birth to our family’s legacy of moving forward, of finishing.

Hearts of the Children by Michael R. Otterson

The Hearts of the Children

            I loved the insights that Michael R. Otterson has for family history work.  I hadn't really put that much thought into when the revelation was given to Joseph Smith, but it puts so much more significance to the work that needs to be done because it was one of the first things that was told to Joseph Smith. 

            The scriptures found in Malachi 4:6 and Doctrine and Covenants 2:2-3 are a wonderful way to describe family history work - "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers."  The last part in Malachi says, "lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" and the last part of Doctrine and Covenants 2 it says, "If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." The curse would be is that not everyone would be given the chance to live with Heavenly Father again and that would mean that everything would be utterly wasted. 

            What a blessing it is to know that Heavenly Father loves all of his children and has a plan that includes every one of them.

(The video I watched was http://www2.byui.edu/VideoPlayer/BYUIplayer.html?StartCue=89&EndCue=2473&VideoName=2006_11_28_DV_Otterson&VideoType=devotionals)

Pre-Mortal Life Power Point

Pre-Mortal Life from Rachel Reid

My View of Life

My name is Rachel (Murray) Reid and I just love life!  I love to learn and do new things, especially with my husband and my five children.  I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I am a child of God.  My philosophies are that you should work hard and always try to find the good in everything.  I love to laugh, play games, garden, cook, read, do crafts, paint, and search the internet.  

My goals are to make a website about my family history, to raise my children in righteousness, go on LDS missions with my husband later in life,  endure to the end and love every minute of it.

My First Post

This project is part of a Family History class I am taking online at BYUI.  I am hoping that it turns into something more than just an assignment though.  This blog will include my personal history, ancestral histories, life goals, photos, and a pedigree chart.