We had a wonderful morning today.  We invited 4 Elders to come to discuss how to use Family History in missionary work: Elder Mitchel, Elder Farley, Elder Nielson, and Elder Nolan.

You can see they are absolutely awesome!

We talked, then shared stories of our families.  I shared the story about John William Dutson's experiences in Nauvoo, then Jerrol shared his stories about Eunice Billings (his 3rd great aunt) and the youth dance in the Nauvoo Temple.  Then he told about his grandfather Alan Amasa Morley and his friend Heber Olsen and the handcuffs.  (I'm going to have to have him tell those stories later. If he doesn't, bug him about it.)

Then we invited the Elders to share stories. Elder Nielson had brought a folder with his fan chart and a story.  I was impressed.  He read a paragraph from an ancestor in 1836 who, on her death bed told her family not to have anything to do with the churches at that time, but to wait for men who will come in twos who will bring the true church.  He got a little teary as he was reading it.  So did I.

Elder Nolan told of his great uncle who was a messenger for the King of England during one of the wars who rode his motorcycle in Egypt.  

Then we let them get on the computers and see what they could find on Family Search. I sat with Elder Nolan.  He found very little information, one line going 1 generation and the other going 2.  He had brought a small pedigree chart his grandmother had helped him with that had his grandparents and great grandparents of one line.  So I helped him put in his grandfather’s name.  When he checked the tree again, there were 3 more generations on that line that appeared.  He was so excited!  He just glowed!  I’ll never forget the look on his face!  He added another name and more lines were extended.  Some had their work done already, but some didn’t.   When he checked on one of his ancestors he found there was actually a source on it.  When we checked it we found that it had just been entered 2 days ago. . . by his grandmother!  He was surprised and so excited! “She’s been busy hasn't she?!”  I have such a good feeling about this young man.  He has a great future in FH and the church.  It is a blessing, a tender mercy to know him.

Elder Nielson said something quite profound.  He had participated in a youth program at home at the Riverton FHC where they made fan charts for them and had them do some indexing.  He said, “There is a special feeling doing this.  Reading the Book of Mormon has a special spirit, but it isn’t the same.  There is a feeling you get doing this you don’t get anywhere else.” 

It was a wonderful experience having them here this morning.  I think I learned as much, if not more, than they did.  I am learning things I thought I knew.