I recently read a talk by Elder Marvin J. Ashton in 1987 (See Link). After reading it, I couldn’t help but reflect on what I have heard from so many in recent months. It seems so many of us wish we were more knowledgeable when it comes to researching our own family history. And yet, what we know today may not be nearly as important as the path we are on in terms of broadening our understanding of FamilySearch.

Elder Ashton said, “For you to classify yourself as all-state, all-American, or even all-world doesn’t mean anything if you alone determine the winner and present the trophy to yourself.  By the same token, who among us has the right to label himself/herself as a loser, no good, a dropout, or a failure?  Self judgement in any direction is a hazardous pastime.”

“It is a fact of life that the direction in which we are moving is more important than where we are.  I have never heard the best educated ever declare, ‘I am educated now.’” 

“Some of the most potentially wise people in the world forfeit that classification when they spend their time advertising their abilities and knowledge rather than using their wisdom to improve themselves and help those with whom they associate.”

This statement gives me so much hope as I am certainly not where I would like to be in terms of understanding all the different ways to gain access to records and documents needed for family history. There are many who are much more knowledgeable than I am, but I take hope that if I am trying to learn more, even if it’s a slow process, in time I may end up where I would like to be.

I hope each of us will be patient with ourselves and learn at our own pace, never giving up on ourselves or declaring ourselves a failure.  But realizing the path we are on is much more important than where we are on that path.  In time we can all become the experts we wish we were.  With determination and patience, we can broaden our understanding and knowledge and one day, who knows, in time we may be the source others turn to for help.

– Doug Nielsen, Director, Granite FamilySearch Center