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Some might see King Mosiah's proposal to replace kings with elected judges as merely wise political reform. But to the Nephites, especially those who lived under wicked King Noah, this change had spiritual significance too. They had seen how an unrighteous king had caused "iniquity" and "great destruction" among his people (Mosiah 29:17), and they were "exceedingly anxious" to be free from such influence. This change would allow them to be responsible for their own righteousness and "answer for [their] own sins" (Mosiah 29:38; see also Doctrine and Covenants 101:78).
Past examples of good and bad kings inspired Mosiah to warn his people of the dangers of having a king and he presented the establishment of judges. "(L)et us be wise ... and do that which will make for the peace of this people ... let us appoint judges, to judge this people according to our law ... that will judge this people according to the commandments of God." (Mosiah 29:10-11)
The Nephites had learned from past experiences that an unrighteous king could cause much affliction. These experiences helped them choose a plan that would afford them a voice in the future; however, even under the reign of the judges, members of the church faced persecution. How can learning from experiences of the past help you face today's challenges?
L. Tom Perry stated in his October 2009 Conference address, The Past Way of Facing the Future, "Former United States president Ronald Reagan has been quoted as saying, 'I do not want to go back to the past; I want to go back to the past way of facing the future.' His counsel still resonates within me. There is something about reviewing the lessons of the past to prepare us to face the challenges of the future."
You can learn a lot about facing challenges of today and the future by learning about the past through your ancestors.
Detective Discovery Day"
Plan a get-together with family members to discover more about the life of one or more ancestors. Each person can be a "detective" to find information by using tools of discovery. For example:
FamilySearch fan chart: locate locate family lines, birth countries, sources, stories, photos, research helps and more (see Project 1: Goal 5, Goal B)
FamilySearch/Discovery (sign into your FamilySearch account first)
Google for information, along with using Google maps and the Countries page of The Family History Guide.
You could also include making that ancestor's favorite recipe to enjoy!
As the "detectives" see, touch, read, hear, and taste what that ancestor did, and do their best to learn what was learned and feel what was felt, they will feel empathy for the ancestor. Discuss as a family how this activity can help develop an understanding of who we are and what we can become. How can the past influence you today?
You may also want to consider creating a collection of the stories of the first converts in your family lines. If you don't have many stories from the lives of your ancestors available, you could learn from conversion stories and other stories from the lives of our church leaders. See this link for ideas to illustrate conversion stories.
Character in the Face of Trials
Character is often defined in the face of trails. Alison Taylor explained, "Sometimes a single story has the power to change a life. More than once, a story of an ancestor has dropped into my proverbial lap, at exactly the right time, to lend strength and perspective in a time of trial." Read how Alison found strength in her ancestors' experiences in her blog article Why I Am Addicted to Family History. Many others have also found strength from ancestors to face life's challenges.
Ancestor Characteristics
Review stories about your ancestors. (If you need help locating some stories, All the Stories is a website that syncs with FamilySearch to help you easily find the stories of your ancestors. You can also locate stories on your part of the FamilySearch tree using the "Stories" option in the fan chart view. Read more here.)
Identify some characteristics of your ancestors. What were their challenges? What were their strengths?
Is there a phrase or quote that typifies one of their strong characteristics? If so, consider posting it in a prominent place (such as mirror, refrigerator, or main door) for all family members to remember and try to emulate.
Ancestor Profile
Put together an ancestor profile with the help of this Deseret News article. The article suggests looking at "every known detail of a human life, which includes information about the individual, their relationships and their origin." As a family, pick an ancestor or two and try discovering a few aspects of their lives. Maybe you want to start with where they were born and what their neighborhoods and cultures may have been like. Look at the article and pick a topic of interest to your family.
If you are interested in ancestors originating in a particular country, you can locate ancestors on your part of the FamilySearch tree using the Birth Country option in the fan chart. Read more here.
Strength Through Music
Families gain strength through stories and music passed down from generation to generation. Some families may have a favorite lullaby that has been passed down from generation to generation as mothers sang to their babies. Some may have created a song specifically for their family that has meaning to family members. Some have a song that helped them through a tough challenge, such as how the hymn "Come, Come Ye Saints" helped give the pioneers courage on their trek west. (The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square version; Hymns, music and lyrics version)
Yahosh Bonner learned about his ancestors' strength from the African American spirituals composed by those who were enslaved. Those songs were passed down from generation to generation. Yahosh's ancestors taught him that Jesus will always walk with him and help him see better days. Where did your ancestors get their strength? They went through what they did so you could be here. At the end of the day, you need to find out who you are and discover the relationships that are important to you, especially your relationship with Jesus Christ. You can view the entire 16-minute video of Yahosh's Finding Strength in Jesus Christ | Hope Works.
Family Sing-A-Long
Think of some songs that have meaning to your family. Sing them together. Discuss why these songs are special to your family. How far back have you heard of your ancestors singing them? You may want to sing together the song Family History is the Story of Me. This sing-a-long video displays the words; you can also find them here.
Music Around the World
Have fun listening to some current music from the lands of your ancestors. Ancestry has created What is the music in your DNA? Scroll down the page to "Explore Playlists From Around the World" to listen to a unique music mix from the country you select.
Your Personal History
Write one story about your life as you study each Come, Follow Me lesson. By the end of the year, you will have 50 stories to add to your personal history (also consider audio-recording it) and add it to your FamilySearch Memories to preserve it. Use your own questions, those from (or inspired by) Come,Follow Me, or the #52 Stories Project. See below for ideas:
Write your personal testimony.
What is a meaningful song to you and why?
Is there someone in your life who has inspired you to care more about community and global issues?
