In the fall of 2020, I felt like the Holy Ghost was nudging me along to finish a project that I had started a few years earlier. I felt an urgency to complete it. I had borrowed some pictures from my mother-in-law of her parents and other family members that were from the Netherlands. I set a goal to have the rest of the pictures scanned by Christmas so I could send a flash drive to my husband’s siblings, his mother, uncle and a cousin. 

As I was scanning the pictures, I had stopped to look at my husband’s grandfather from Holland. As I looked at it, I had these words come to my mind, “Thank you for remembering us.” It was much more than words though. It was accompanied by an overwhelming feeling. My heart became so warm and I started to cry. It was as if his grandpa was communicating with me from the other side and the key to opening the door of communication was scanning the pictures.

After this experience, I was excited to tell Marilyn, my mother-in-law, about it. I told her what had happened with the picture of her father. It was a sweet experience and it strengthened my testimony that our ancestors are aware of us. 

Several weeks later, Marilyn was diagnosed with cancer and became very sick. She passed away a short time later. That was the last time that we spoke. I understand now why the Spirit was nudging me to finish the project. I sent the pictures out just before she found out she was sick. Everyone loved them and the timing was perfect. 

Winter of 2021 

I felt like I needed to start a new project of scanning my mom’s ancestors’ pictures and stories. My mom (pictured above, far right and back) had some new health challenges the last few years and so I thought it would be good for us to do something to help her pass the time. We began to go through the pictures and label who was in them. 

One day, as I was scanning a picture of my Grandma Trudy when she was 12, I had an overwhelming feeling come over me and I started to cry. I told my mom about the experience later and we both cried. It was a tender reminder once again that those who have passed on are still aware of us.  

In 2021, my mom was hospitalized 3 times, so picture scanning slowed down a bit. Then in November (a couple of days after Thanksgiving) my mom had to be hospitalized. During that time, I felt the presence of my Grandma Trudy, my mom’s mother, and my Grandpa Earl, my mom’s father (pictured with their family above). Their spirits were near. Now I understand that they were coming to get my mom. My mom passed away on December 9, 2021. She was sick for most of my life. Although she dealt with many health challenges, she still seemed to accomplish so much in her life. 

I felt like I needed to finish the project that we started together. I set a goal and have been going to the family history center once a week to scan more pictures and stories from my mom’s family. While I have been doing this I’ve missed my mom, but I feel close to her at the same time. One day I was having a hard day and I opened up a book that I had been scanning and looked at a picture of my Great Grandma Adamson. I never knew her, but, as I was looking at her picture, I felt some encouragement coming from her. It was as if she was saying to me, “Don’t give up, just keep going.” 

The more pictures I scan and stories I read, the more connection I feel with my ancestors. I think about them and their lives. I don’t understand fully how we are all connected or how temple sealings bind us together, but there does seem to be a strong connection between us and them. They are still living and are very much aware of us and our lives. I become more sure of this with each experience I have as I do my family history and temple work for my ancestors.

-Julie Hyder, Patron, Granite Family History Center