by Glenn Steenblik
Recently, my dear wife and I attended a major-milestone high school reunion. Among those present were long-time friends, with whom I had shared amazing bonding experiences earlier in my life. How terrific it was to be reunited, to catch up on the comings and goings, ups and downs, life events, challenges, and successes of so many. I became excited as I reacquainted with a classmate I had not seen in some 50 years. I discovered that her married name just happened to be the same name as my Swiss maternal grandmother. Lo and behold, her husband’s grandfather was the older brother of my grandmother, just one year older, in fact. He probably helped care for and entertain my grandmother as they emigrated from Switzerland after their conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Visiting with my friend and her husband, we shared memorable family history stories. At the end of the evening I had a hard time settling down as I reflected on the good time I had that evening and the many memories revisited.

Afterwards I couldn’t help but think about some of the relatives we’ve not seen in many years: grandparents, great-grandparents, on and on. Some we’ve only heard of and about whom we know very little. How grateful I am for journals and histories. Grateful am I that someone took time to record events so that we can know all that we do know of them.

Elder Richard G. Scott once stated: “I have tasted enough of the fruits of this sublime work to know that the keys Elijah restored to Joseph Smith permit our hearts to be bound and each of us linked to those of our ancestors who are waiting for our help. Through our efforts in holy temples here on earth using the authority delegated by the Savior, our progenitors receive the saving ordinances that allow them to enjoy eternal happiness…. I testify that the Spirit of Elijah is touching the hearts of many of Father’s children throughout the world, causing the work for the dead to accelerate at an unprecedented pace.

May we each continue to do all we can in furthering this great work and share our knowledge, experiences and testimony with those close to us. As the Primary song states: “How will they know unless we teach them so?”