“When the beloved prophet, Helaman, and his wife were blessed with two sons, they named them Lehi and Nephi. Helaman told his sons why they were named after two of their ancestors who had lived upon the earth almost 600 years prior to their births. He said:

‘Behold, my sons, … I have given unto you the names of our first parents [Lehi and Nephi] … ; and this I have done that when you remember your names … ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.’ – Elder Mervyn B. Arnold, October 2010. (link to talk)

Like Helaman’s sons, perhaps some of our youth carry given names of those who went before them and all of us carry our family surnames. In those names are lives and legacies to be remembered.  

Just the other day, my daughter received a message from FamilySearch showing how many times certain names appeared in her Family Tree. The top female name was Anna, the name of her daughter. Anna has the opportunity from FamilySearch to learn about those Annas in her tree and draw strength from them.

Some youth have not made a connection to their ancestors. The Granite FamilySearch Center, just across the street from Quail Hollow Elementary and Albion Middle School, has hours dedicated specifically to help youth learn about their family history. The Granite FamilySearch Center youth hours are Tuesday – Thursday, 3:00-5:00 p.m. All youth are welcome!

So, what’s in a name? Perhaps the strength our youth will need, like Lehi and Nephi, to remember who they are and do their own “good works!”  

– Janet Helland, Granite Stake Temple and Family History Consultant

“The single most important thing you can do for your family may be the simplest of all: develop a strong family narrative. …The [youth] who know a lot about their families tend to do better when they face challenges. … The more children [know] about their family’s history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem and the more successfully they believed their families functioned.” Why? “The answers have to do with a child’s sense of being part of a larger family.” (“The Stories That Bind Us,” by Bruce Feiler, March 15, 2013)