Family History

One of the goals our Area Presidency gave to us at the first of the year was to help members and friends to record 15 family names of direct ancestors in 2015.  We had already done our four generation (15 direct ancestors) work several years ago, but felt that we could still find other family names.  We were told by the Area Presidency that can we increase our faith in Jesus Christ and love for our family through submitting and performing temple ordinances for family members who have passed on.   Not only will we have the eternal gratitude of our loved ones, we will be bound together as families for the eternities to come.  This past year we have been able to find and submit several family names and then go to the temple and perform the temple work for them.

Two weeks ago we left the office early and drove to the town of Hamilton.  Upon arriving there we went to the home of Vic and Rangi Parker.  We had previously been invited to spend the night at their home which is minutes away from the Hamilton Temple.  We dropped off our bags and went to the temple to participate in family temple work there.  After the session we stopped to take some pictures of the Christmas seasonal lights which are already on at the temple grounds.  While in the parking lot Gary offered to take a picture of a couple.   Coincidentally,  the couple (the Shurtz) had just returned from Tonga where they had been volunteering in the humanitarian dental clinic with Elder and Sister Johns, who just went to Tonga to direct the dental clinic in September.

We then returned to the Parker's home for the evening.  Elder and Sister Parker have undertaken the task of writing the history of the Church in New Zealand.  We had a delightful visit with them.  She showed a fascinating movie about the life of Matthew Cowley an early missionary in New Zealand and later member of the Quorum of the 12.  We had a great nights sleep and in the morning went back over to the temple to participate in another session.

After our session, we drove home, stopping several times on the way at stores and shops that we are usually too busy to visit.  We figured we better check some of these places out sooner than later, as we will be going home before we know it.

Dr. and Sister Shurtz

View of temple from Parker's home

Vic and Rangi Parker

"The first thing that everyone should do is to gather all possible information about himself that might be found in the home and from close relatives.  The purpose of this is to identify yourself as an individual and to know from whom you have descended."  Howard W. Hunter, Primer in Genealogy, Ensign, February 1971

Post Script - This post was finished and ready to be published, but as we typed the thought above, we had the impression to share a bit of family history that we discovered recently.  Last week our daughter went to a Remembrance Day Program at the local elementary school in Raymond, Canada.  During the program they showed pictures of veterans.  One of the pictures was of a young man who looked like her brother.  The name on the picture was George William Winters.  She inquired if Gary's father had been in the service (his name was George).  We said no, but thought we could check with a cousin who had relatives from Raymond and see if there was any connection.  We sent out an email and heard back the very next day that yes, George William Winters was the son of Gary's grandfather's brother.  But now, the story gets even better.  The person who gave his cousin all this information about George Winters was a man named Ray Court.  Ray Court was a cousin to our son-in-law's grandfather.   It is indeed a small world.

My Family 15 in 15

My Family 15 in 15

In February the Pacific Area Presidency invited everyone in the area to enter their 15 family names into familysearch.org and perform the temple ordinances in 2015.

The goal is to help members and friends to record 15 family names of direct ancestors in 2015. The challenge was given for all those in leadership positions in the stakes and districts throughout the Pacific Area to complete their 15 in 15. Once it was completed we were asked to share it on the My Family 15 in 15 FaceBook page.   What is my 15 you might ask?  That would be yourself, your parents, your grandparents, and your great grandparents.  That might seem like a simple task to some.  There are some challenges to many people on the various island of the pacific as the information has not been written down.  The family history in some cultures has always been shared just verbally.

We have been told that can we increase our faith in Jesus Christ and love for our family through submitting and performing temple ordinances for our family members who have passed on.   Not only will we have the eternal gratitude of our love ones, we will be bound together as families for the eternities to come.

Since coming to New Zealand we have worked on our family history.  In reviewing our records, it was discovered that we had made a mistake and overlooked one of Gary's grandfathers sisters.  We had the wrong person linked to his family.  Recently we were able to do her temple work and can testify to you that she was happy to be found.

We have also learned about different websites and apps to help in recording family information.  Our latest find was an app call Family Search Memories.  Here you are able to add photos, write stories and even record yourself or family members telling their memories and stories verbally.  Thus also preserving a recording of their voice for future generations.  We feel this is important.  As an example, our children were quite young when their grandparents died and so they don't have the memories that we have of our parents and grandparents.  We have decided to start writing and recording some of the memories we have of our parents and grandparents for our children and grandchildren.

Did you know that family history is a popular world-wide hobby.  It is reported as the number 2 hobby after gardening?    How are you doing on your family history?

"I believe that the Lord, through His servants..... is preparing many spirits to receive the gospel.   Our job is to search out our dead and then go to the temple and perform the sacred ordinances that will bring to those beyond the veil the same opportunities we have." Hastening the Work, Thomas S. Monson, Ensign June 2014

You might enjoy this youtube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDDTDxakm0w&feature=youtu.be