Recently my nephew, who is on a mission in Texas, wrote asking me about the name of a ship that his grandfather was on in WWII. His mission is going to do a video for family history related to WWII.
Years ago, when the Sandy Granite Family History Center opened, I attended as many classes as possible. One of the classes focused on War records. This gave me incentive or inspired me to find documents and write not only my dad’s detailed history of WWII but his personal history. I did this when he was 90 years old and have been so grateful that I was able to preserve and share his information. His brother’s children did the same for his brothers.
Long before his death I had discovered boxes of old photos, papers and other types of information. When his parents died, those who cleaned out their home had put boxes on the curb to be picked up as garbage. My dad took these records home, and later when he moved out of state, he stored them at a sister-in-law’s house. When he moved back to Utah he retrieved the records.
With the opening of the Granite Family History, I was able to access and scan all the photos, histories and documents and attach them directly to FamilySearch. Prior to this time, I had zero interest nor had I thought about family history or my ancestors.
Thinking of what my nephew was needing, I was miraculously able to remember and find the information needed in his personal and war histories as well as the pictures of my father and other family members.
In my father’s War history, he stated that when he came home the people in town felt that the Heninger boys were spared due to his parents’ prayers and faithfulness in the gospel as well as paying tithing.
This drew my attention to a book I had just given my brother related to Prominent men who settled Utah. Three ancestors were sent to settle different parts of Utah. My aunt, ( my father’s sister), had added histories of our female ancestors and helped edit the four volumes of Prominent Women of Faith and Fortitude. They along with many other relatives came from Nauvoo. Others had joined the church and came to America on ships. All the relatives on both sides for approximately 6 generations were converts who came to Utah.
When I thought of the comment in my father’s history, this drew my attention to not only the living but perhaps those who have died and help us beyond the veil.
In my father’s war history, he mentions that he felt blessed the entire time. He kept his small bible, and Book of Mormon and money in a belt case in case he needed to be in a lifeboat. Because of the teachings of his parents, my father prayed during the war and morning and night his entire life.
Was my father’s life spared along with those of his siblings and brother in laws by coincidence? Did I move into a house where a family history center coincidentally was opened? Many experiences guide me to know that I was inspired and directed.
The faith of our ancestors’ petitions of the living, and deceased are heard and answered not just in war, but in our daily lives.
–Carolyn Heninger – Temple and Family History Consultant -Granite Family History Center
Sister Heninger, I appreciated your post about your father and WWII. I did something similar in the 1990s but focused on my uncle and name sake. It was a beautiful journey that ended in a biography of my uncle. Like your father, my uncle and his family [my grandparents] paid their tithing and said their personal prayers. He attended LDS service meeting in the USS Essex library and encouraged his wife [that he married six weeks before shipping out] to continue her activity in the church. My grandfather was in the bishopric and grandma busy with primary. I read his letters of anguish as his best friends joined the ever-growing MIA list only to be declared dead after a year. In a letter to his young bride he wrote, “Well Honey, can’t think of any more news to tell you. I miss you so much, but I know that isn’t going to get me home any sooner, so I’m just waiting and loving you more each day. Good night Angel Forever yours, Doug.” It was his last letter home. He was NOT spared and neither were many good LDS servicemen through no fault of their own. Thank you for reminding me of his life and service. A distraught faithful wife without her husband and stalwart parents without their oldest child. I never knew my uncle while he was alive – but I, and many others know him very well now.