Genealogy is... Doable

{Preface}

It was the second time attending the Boston temple that I heard an off-hand remark that I will never forget. I had arrived early, earlier than the workers I had realized as I sat in the empty locker room. Finally, two workers appeared to attend to me and as they prepared for the day they made small talk- as usual they asked me where I was from, if I was married, if I had any little ones, how old Caleb was, the conversation de jour (actually l'année). Finally one sister took the conversation upon herself and talked about her gifted son, a piano prodigy since birth. I’m guessing this wasn’t the first time the other sister had heard this yarn, and she nodded methodically as she listened, and when the praise of her companion ceased she said, “Well, yes, that’s how it is for some, but the rest of us have to keep banging away.”

That, is a statement to live by. Music, is not a strength of mine (unless you count page-turning, I’m an excellent page-turner; I have credentials and come highly recommended).

We each have talents and gifts. I’m a firm believer that every talent given is linked to a perfecting attribute. If you are “intuned” with music, you may not only be the creator of peaceful sounding melodies, but be a patient person and serene in demeanor- you know how to create peace. The same goes with any talent.

But what if you don’t have that talent? Should you just assume it’s not meant for you? Should that talent along with its attribute fall by the wayside because we were not innate prodigies?

My seminary teacher gave me this quote and I read it quite often:

Genealogy, friends, is a talent. It will not come easy to everyone. It requires certain abilities and attributes that you may not be equipped with at this time, but if you keep banging away you’ll get it- and you’ll acquire qualities that will make you more perfect. I promise.

Just as there is a season for perfect scripture study, well-rounded food storage, and cultivating a family, there is a season for genealogy in your life. Take your time.

{To work on genealogy

for at least 35 minutes

for one week.}

(That’s at least five minutes a day!)

PART ONE: PRAY AND DO IT.

Here are some ideas for activities:

Interview, call up a family member and ask them some questions and record them!

Journal, answer one question a day or freelance!

Baby books, you know you have been meaning to get around to it!

Scrapbook your family tree or about ancestors

Create a family history activity book

Have spotlight on a relative for Family Home Evening

Tell your child a story about your childhood or a spiritual experience you’ve had.

Play a family history-related game, like memory with photographs and names

Teach your child family relation terms, like grandma and cousin, etc

Take a fieldtrip to a genealogical landmark

Take pictures of your house and label them with the full address and date

Research your four generations

Try to find your ancestor’s graves

Organize your genealogical materials

Learn about your full name and record your findings

Offer to help someone research their four generations

Learn and cook a family recipe, record a memory about it

Create a four generation display for your home

Join RAOGK, and help someone out

If you are a member of the Church and it is available in your area, please sign up for New Family Search

PART TWO: SHARE IT.

After one week, please write about your experience, what you have learned or how your testimony has grown and share it with others. Especially me! Please e-mail me, send me a message via facebook, leave a comment on the blog- whatever!

PLEASE IF YOU HAVE A BLOG make a post about it, entitle your post “Genealogy is…” and insert your own phrase and let me know you have done so, so I can read it! Challenge others if you want, you can even link back here!