Weekly Family History Activities

“God Is My Salvation”

Isaiah 1–12

How can I better understand the teachings of Isaiah?

From Come, Follow Me:

Speaking of Isaiah’s writings, the Savior said, “Search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah” (see 3 Nephi 23:1–3). Yet to many, Isaiah can be difficult to understand. Here are some tips to help you find greater meaning in the words of Isaiah:

• Ponder the symbols and metaphors Isaiah used. For example, ponder what you think Isaiah wanted to communicate when he wrote about a vineyard (see Isaiah 5:1–7), the waters of Shiloh (see Isaiah 8:5–10), an ensign (see Isaiah 5:26), and a flag (see Isaiah 11:10, 12)....
• Look for topics that feel relevant to our day, such as the life and mission of Jesus Christ, the scattering and gathering of Israel, the last days, and the Millennium. You could also keep lists of references from Isaiah that teach about these topics.

“We live in a world of symbols. We use them all the time not only to help us communicate complex ideas quickly but also to add deeper meaning to what we say. The symbols in our lives can define who we are, what we stand for, and what groups we belong to. Almost anything can be used as a symbol: images, shapes, colors, objects, actions, gestures, words. From architecture, to art, to corporate logos, to computer icons, to national flags, to civic and religious ceremonies, symbols are all around us.” (The Simplicity of Symbols) 

In the scriptures, an ensign is "a flag or standard around which people gather in a unity of purpose or identity. In ancient times an ensign served as a rallying point for soldiers in battle. The Book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ are symbolic ensigns to all nations of the earth." (Ensign, Guide to the Scriptures) 

What symbols does your family have or might you create to represent your family?

Family crests and coats of arms are powerful family symbols passed down through generations. Have fun discussing and making a family crest. You might create a coat of arms for a specific family line, for your current family, or consider designing a collection of symbols that simply inspire you personally. See this article for ideas to help children create a family coat of arms, and check out more instructions here. Find information about your ancestors' home lands and what symbolizes these places in The Family History Guide countries section. Discover many Latter-Day Saint symbols and their meanings here and in this article. 

As a family you may want to create a family flag or motto as suggested in this article Creating a Family Flag. Pictures, shapes and colors all have different meanings to different people. Are there some with unique meaning to your family? Design Your Own Family Flag may give you additional ideas on how to determine what your family flag should look like.

Isaiah 2; 4; 11–12

God will do a great work in the latter days.

From Come, Follow Me:

Many of Isaiah’s writings are prophecies that have specific meaning for our day. Which of Isaiah’s descriptions of the latter days in chapters 2; 4; 11–12 are especially inspiring to you? (Doctrine and Covenants 113:1–6 provides helpful insights about Isaiah 11.) What do you learn about the gathering of Israel and redemption of Zion? What do you feel inspired to do after reading these chapters?

“These surely are the latter days, and the Lord is hastening His work to gather Israel. That gathering is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, if you want to, you can be a big part of it. You can be a big part of something big, something grand, something majestic!

“When we speak of the gathering, we are simply saying this fundamental truth: every one of our Heavenly Father’s children, on both sides of the veil, deserves to hear the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. They decide for themselves if they want to know more.”(“Hope of Israel” [worldwide devotional for youth, June 3, 2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

In this video, Church leaders have described for you how temple, family history, and missionary work all work together in gathering Israel. How are you helping to gather Israel?

As you know, you must start filling in your family tree on FamilySearch in order to access information others may have already added on your deceased ancestors. If you have not completed your four-generations pedigree chart, make a goal to do so–then, share this knowledge with someone else.

You can print off a copy of My Four-Generation Pedigree Chart to fill in information you already know or give to someone so they can begin collecting their information. Also, check out How to Start a Family Tree on FamilySearch: Adding the First Four Generations, How do I add living relatives to a person in Family Tree and Filling in Your First 15: 4-Generation Research. 

This is an example of how one family shared their knowledge of family history with a sister in their ward. As a family, discuss some ways you can share your knowledge of family history with others. What are some interesting ways you can introduce family history to others?  

You may find some ideas in Family History is for Everyone; this article shares these nine fun ways to participate in family history:

1. Interview family members and share stories online.
2. Take and share photos.
3. Print and share a chart.
4. Prepare ancestors’ names for the temple.
5. Record what you learn on FamilySearch.org.
6. Index records for online searching.
7. Start a personal or family blog.
8. Make use of social media.
9. Create a digital scrapbook.

Determine an individual or family that you will approach, how you will do it, when you will do it, and then do it!

"The time has come for us to capitalize more effectively on the potent combination of the mighty change of heart, made possible primarily by the spiritual power of the Book of Mormon, and the turning of hearts to the fathers, accomplished through the spirit of Elijah. A yearning for connection to our past can prepare an individual to receive the virtue of the word of God and fortify his or her faith. A heart turning to the fathers uniquely helps an individual withstand the influence of the adversary and strengthen conversion ... The artificial boundary line we so often place between missionary work and temple and family history work is being erased; this is one great work of salvation." (David A. Bednar [address given at the seminar for new mission presidents on June 25, 2013, Salt Lake City]). 

Read more in Kathryn Grant's FamilySearch blog post.

Read more about The Power of Family History in Missionary Work. Also celebrate your missionary heritage through stories, activities, journals and letters, and database research tips.

Learn about Census Records

Census records were kept every decade in the United States, from 1790 to 1940 (with 1950 coming soon). To get started with census records, see Goal E1 in the United States page, or the corresponding Goal in the country page you’re using.