If you are setting goals or resolutions for the new year, President Russell M. Nelson offered some advice back in 2023 that may guide you during your 2025 goals.
In a social media post back in 2023, President Nelson offered three requisites to deep-sea fishing that he finds can also help us achieve our goals in 2025:
- Be patient
- Be persistent
- Be prayerful
“For me, deep-sea fishing has been infrequent but instructive. Success requires patience, persistence, and prayer.
As we begin this new year and make resolutions to improve things in our lives, these three requisites for successful fishing can help us.
First, be patient. As with fishing, real change requires time—and often a lot of time. It is tempting to expect immediate results and then become disappointed when things don’t work out exactly as planned. This may be why the Apostle Paul counseled us to “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
Second, be persistent. Keep at it, even when things get difficult. Push through the tough times and realize that even small victories mean you are having success. The Savior “waxed strong in spirit” (Luke 2:40) as He grew older. We too can wax strong in spirit and in our talents and habits if we persevere.
Third, be prayerful. Call upon God for the strength you need as you labor diligently to become a better version of yourself—a better disciple of Jesus Christ, a brighter light in the world. For “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).”
While President Nelson offered three requisites to deep-sea fishing that he found can also help us achieve our goals, we likewise can compare family history to deep sea fishing. Family history often requires a lot of depth in our time and patience. However, if you were told that family history facilitates positive self-worth, would you invest the patience to dive into your own family histories and witness the events as they unfold on both a global and personal scale? Family history goes beyond the names and dates we find in our tree. It’s about what makes us who we are. It’s about people with whom we can form deep connections. It’s about people who lived, breathed, suffered, and triumphed. It’s about roots and branches and leaves and an entire forest. It’s about all of us. (See link) While Apostle Paul counseled us to “run with patience the race that is set before us” perhaps we should run with patience in learning the history of our ancestors as we gain a greater love and compassion for ourselves and others.
It is never a bad time to set new goals or start new positive habits. However, taking the steps to achieve those goals can be entirely different unless you are persistent. Perhaps you know that you want to connect with your family as one of your goals but are not sure where to start. At the Granite FamilySearch Center, consultants and valuable resources are available to assist in your endeavors. If you are new to a FamilySearch goal, attend the “Adult Classes for the Absolute Beginners” beginning Wednesday January 8, 2025, 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. or Thursday January 9, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Remember, as President Nelson provides, “We too can wax strong in spirit and in our talents and habits if we persevere.”
Family History can be a powerful antidote against adverse life experiences that we face today, giving us a stronger understanding of who we are and motivating us to deepen our roots for generations to come. Remember to call upon God for the strength you need as you labor diligently to become a better version of yourself—a better disciple of Jesus Christ, a brighter light in the world. For “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Be patient, persistent, and prayerful during the discovery of your family history. Such depth in our family history lines will provide a greater connection to people in our past and future, while opening an opportunity for future generations to connect with us when we are gone.
– Barbara Tubbs, Communications, Granite FamilySearch Center