As a mother of seven children, I was always making sure I knew where all seven of them were. I occasionally lost one in stores and would totally freak out. I remember walking thru Disneyland counting them – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 over and over again. I had to have all of them right there with me.

Likewise, in my family history research, I’m always wanting to know if I have all the children in each family. I know that, as a mother, I would want all my babies linked together with our family. With this in mind, I always check for gaps between children in FamilySearch Family Tree and in various records. When my research puts me in the 1900 and 1910 US censuses or in the 1911 British census, I always look to see the answer to the question, “How many children did this mother give birth to?” and “How many of them are still living?” I feel compelled to make sure that every child is in Family Tree and connected to their mother. Whenever I find a missing child, I can feel the mother’s joyful heart. 

In my prayers each day, I pray that as I do my family history research, I will be directed to find people that are missing and waiting to be found. I know that I should be organized in my research, but so often I’m led astray to side lines that seem to pop up out of nowhere. Inevitably, on those side lines I will find a child or two not connected to a family in Family Tree. When I do, my “mother’s heart” is filled with joy and I shed happy tears knowing that there’s a mother on the other side whose prayers have been answered that someone would find her lost baby. I do all I can to make sure that these babies are sealed to their parents and linked to them eternally. The veil is thin when doing family history and temple work. I’m so grateful for the quiet inspiration I receive that leads me to these families. They are my little miracles and tender mercies that encourage me to keep looking and finding.

– Beth Ann Hammer – Consultant – Granite Family History Center