— Family History and Missionary Work —

Family History Can Aid Missionary Work

April 15, 2023

In a RootsTech presentation in 2017, President Russell M. Nelson made an important connection that family history work can aid missionary work. Here is a link to a 2-minute excerpt from his remarks: https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/session/family-history-can-aid-missionary-work

Among other things, he said the following:

People have an inborn desire to know something about their ancestors. 

That can become a natural opportunity for us to ask about our friends’ families.

  • Are your parents living?
  • What about your grandparents? Are they living? Do you know your 4 grandparents?
  • Do you know any of your great-grandparents? Do you know any of their names?

The probability is that they will not know the names of all 8 of their great-grandparents.

Then we can make this suggestion:

  • I can help you.
  • If we could find the names of some, or all, of your great-grandparents, would it be worth a couple of hours of your time to find out who your great-grandparents are?

If you are a temple and family history consultant you can personally bring them to the Granite FamilySearch Center, or any other FamilySearch Center, to help them.

If you are not a consultant, or are not comfortable that you can help them, you can come with them to the Granite FamilySearch Center, or any other FamilySearch Center, and ask one of the consultants there to help them.

I know from personal experience that when we can help our friends discover their ancestors they will feel a manifestation of the power of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Elijah. It is wonderful to watch their eyes light up, and their countenance shine, as they discover more about their family. They may be touched by finding a photograph uploaded by a family member, or finding a census record, or finding a story written about their ancestor. Real connections are made. Their hearts turn to their fathers (and mothers), and they will feel the hearts of their fathers (and mothers) turn to them.

Having a discussion around family history may naturally lead to discussions about the gospel of Jesus Christ and often create a desire to learn more.

Simply by asking a few questions of your friends you may open the doors for them to discover, not only their ancestors, but the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

-Duffy Pingree, Stake Temple and Family History Lead Consultant, Sandy Utah Granite View Stake