As Lehi's family journeyed toward the promised land, the Lord made them this promise: "I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments" (1 Nephi 17:13). Clearly, that promise did not mean that the journey would be easy—family members still disagreed, bows broke, and people struggled and died, and they still had to build a ship from raw materials. However, when the family faced adversity or seemingly impossible tasks, Nephi recognized that the Lord was never far away. He knew that God "doth nourish [the faithful], and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them" (1 Nephi 17:3).
How has the Lord prepared a way for your family to do family history work? Do you know what resources are available or where you can find some help with family history if needed? How can you accomplish this task the Lord has given?
Family History—I am Doing It
As a family, sing or read the lyrics of the song: Family History - I am Doing It. Identify and write down some of the activities the song mentions that you can do for family history. You may want to discuss and write down which of these activities your family would like to begin trying or continue doing. What do you learn from the second verse about your eternal family?
Family history is so much more than names and dates on pedigree charts or documenting records and research. There are many ways you can start your family history experience. Maybe you want to find some stories about your ancestors, or find what country they came from, or do some fun family activities together. The video below provides an overview of The Family History Guide, which may give you some other ideas as well.
Still looking for ideas? Do Family History may be what you need. You can check out some other ways to begin your family history endeavors from these two articles:
If you are interested in learning and doing your family history with one of the four most frequently used family history sites, you can learn how to get started in any of these family history programs by clicking below.
The Lord guides me through small and simple means.
From Come, Follow Me :
When God led Lehi's family into the wilderness, He did not provide them with a detailed travel plan to the promised land. But He did give Lehi the Liahona to guide his family daily toward their destination. What has Heavenly Father given you to provide guidance and direction? What do you think it means that "by small means the Lord can bring about great things"? (1 Nephi 16:29).
In General Conference October 1986, Thomas S. Monson said, "The same Lord who provided a Liahona for Lehi provides for you and for me today a rare and valuable gift to give direction to our lives, to mark the hazards to our safety, and to chart the way, even safe passage—not to a promised land, but to our heavenly home. The gift to which I refer is known as your patriarchal blessing. Every worthy member of the Church is entitled to receive such a precious and priceless personal treasure.
"Patriarchal blessings," wrote the First Presidency in a letter to stake presidents, "contemplate an inspired declaration of the lineage of the recipient and, when so moved upon by the Spirit, an inspired and prophetic statement of the life mission of the recipient, together with such blessings, cautions and admonitions as the patriarch may be prompted to give for the accomplishment of such life's mission, it being always made clear that the realization of all promised blessings is conditioned upon faithfulness to the gospel of our Lord, whose servant the patriarch is (First Presidency Letter to stake presidents, 28 June 1958)." (General Conference, October 1986, Thomas S. Monson)
Reading your patriarchal blessing can give you insights into spiritual gifts, blessings, warnings, promises, or challenges you may face in your life. It may also provide direction and counsel to you. It will also declare your lineage. Just as you may receive insights from reading your own personal patriarchal blessing, reading ancestors' patriarchal blessings may help give you insights into their challenges and promises. It may also help you better understand your ancestors and draw closer to them.
Remember : Patriarchal blessings are sacred. They should be read humbly and prayerfully. Respect this sacred information given to your ancestor from the Lord and, if shared, share it only with close family members. Handbook 2, Administering the Church states: "Each patriarchal blessing is sacred, confidential, and personal ... Church members should not compare blessings and should not share them except with close family members. Patriarchal blessings should not be read in Church meetings or other public gatherings" (20.12.2). "They should not (emphasis added) be distributed or shared through electronic means, such as in the Memories section of FamilySearch or on social media, websites, or blogs." (Patriarchal Blessings, Church History Library)
Ancestor's Patriarchal Blessing
Request an ancestor's patriarch blessing by following the instructions in the FamilySearch Wiki, or on Requesting an Ancestor's Patriarchal Blessing. Read it and see how their blessing may relate to your life. What do you learn about your ancestor from his or her blessing?
Preparing for April 2020 General Conference
President Russell M. Nelson closed the October 2019 general conference with an invitation for Latter-day Saints to prepare for the subsequent April 2020 general conference, 200 years since Joseph Smith's First Vision. The year 2020 will be designated as a bicentennial year. "General conference next April will be different from any previous conference. In the next six months, I hope that every member and every family will prepare for a unique conference that will commemorate the very foundations of the restored gospel."
One idea is to check out this site to see your Nauvoo relatives!
Your Personal History
Write one brief story about your life as you study each Come, Follow Me lesson. By the end of the year, you will have compiled 50 stories to add to your personal history. Save as a story (also consider audio-recording it) and add it to your FamilySearch memories to preserve it. Use your own questions or those from (or inspired by) the #52 Stories Project below. For example:
What is something new you taught yourself to do? How did you go about learning this new skill? Did others help or discourage you and how did this influence you?
What are some words of wisdom you would like to leave for your family, children, grandchildren?
Tell about an ancestor you would like to become like and why.
