I was wondering how many Temple and Family History Consultants have been consulted by their Temple a
Unfortunately, our leaders who are very inexperienced in family history have developed their own plan without any input from their very experienced and successful consultants. The plan, although well-intentioned, could have been far better and the consultants find themselves being reigned in and not allowed to fly because the leaders are in charge. Are others experiencing this? How do consultants (mostly women in our ward who now have no leadership role) who used to successfully lead the charge work under leadership who doesn't see the vision?
Answers
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While the plan may have been developed, it can be improved upon & changed as time progresses. I have not seen anything stating the this plan has to be static once developed. I see plans being able to be changed as circumstances necessitate & as wards grow & develop in their implementation of their plans.
As to your specific question, I read in one of the presentations that the Church leaders do expect that there will be a slowdown as new Priesthood Leaders bring Temple & Family History work under the guidance of the ward council as these leaders learn their new responsibilities. But the ultimate plan will supposedly bring T & FH work to its rightful place as a major consideration of every ward leader, not just as an auxiliary for those trained consultants to independently set forth to make T & FH work fly. As consultants, my understanding of the calling will still be working with individuals on their personal FH but not to organize the T & FH work throughout the ward. I think the idea is that eventually the priesthood leaders will catch the vision, but I believe that some will catch it faster than others. That might be, in part, based on whether the priesthood leaders & ward council members have had their own personal experiences with Temple & Family History work, which may motivate them to want to spread these experiences throughout the ward membership.
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In our ward the leaders being busy enough with their callings decided their role was to approve not create the plan and I agree it should be a plan which changes. We had a rather comprehensive plan to begin and now have decided to have simpler plans so we can see progress when implementing it. You mention in your ward the leaders were not as experienced in FH maybe that is exactly what their new role is trying to achieve, engage them more so they own their responsibilities. I find it makes my job so much easier when I am approached by quorum leaders to help them with teaching Temple and family history to their members.
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There is no reason why a Consultant can't call ward members and set up an appointment for a one on one. They need to be pro-active and send the email through the system as a follow up, gain access to their tree and analyze it for opportunities for success. That was how the system was built. If you need help learning how to analyze a tree, please contact me. I have some ideas which others have found useful. During your meeting, start with prayer and ask to be led to the correct choices when placed before you. Once you show your patron some of the successes and end of "dead ends", they will be happy. At that time, ask if they felt like the spirit helped them find these names. If they are happy with your meeting, ask them to tell their leaders about the road blocks they and their consultant obliterated. A few well meaning words about a Consultant magnifying her calling will help the leaders pray for more guidance to know in what direction they should be going.
Ted and Karen Meyer, Area TFHC - naswfamilyhistory@gmail.com
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Fortunately, my Bishop and HP Group Ldr. (now EQ Pres.) have asked me to submit T&FH goals for the ward for several years, so the new leadership alignment didn't change that. However, I did point out to them the need to have T&FH Committee meetings and/or communications to help achieve our goals. They have been supportive of this and we are holding quarterly meetings with emails/calls in between. From past experience I would say you need to be very proactive in dealing with ward leaders.
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As an aside. Our ward Elder's Quorum planned a week long ward family history event in March and carried it out without contacting or consulting the Ward TFH consultants. We were a bit surprised. It was nice, but could have been so much more. We kind of felt unneeded. The consultants in our ward work one-on-one successfully focusing on converts and making sure everyone has their 4 generations but that is not in the Ward Plan.
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That's the case with our Ward.
Our Elders Quorum held an event for 21 days and didn't consult any of the 9 consultants our TFH Leader. We had no idea it had even happened! They had the Young Men teach indexing to the brethren without informing us and we all feel rather disconnected.
It's been very disappointing so far.
However, the RS have asked us to run a monthly activity on TFH and it's not been well attended yet, but we will persevere.
The Young Women have been great too. We've done a lot of great work with them.
One on one work is moving forward steadily too.
We just ask need to get on the same page as a Ward; and hopefully that will be happening in the coming days and weeks. I have much planned to make this happen!
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Remember that this is Priesthood led for a reason. There is a learning curve here and not a ton of guidance. There is nothing wrong with making suggestions but we need to support our Priesthood leaders. The ward leadership makes the plan and the leader puts that plan into action. It is frustrating when our experience is under utilized or not utilized at all but we have to support our leaders. They will get it.
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T&FH is Priesthood led, but there is nothing wrong with showing our ward leaders the exciting new additions to FamilySearch and the Discovery Experiences they can have. I was invited to do a presentation at Ward Council and began with "Relatives Around Me." Nearly everyone in the room was related to someone else. Then I did "Family History Activities" and they were amazed at what they learned about their ancestors and the family activities for all ages. I finished by showing Elder Renlund's T&FH Leadership Training from February 2019 which gave several scenarios for organizing ward leadership over T&FH. None had seen it previously. They all came away with a new perspective of T&FH and how it should be administered in the ward. Afterwards, I was asked to give presentations in Relief Society and Priesthood to demonstrate Family History Activities on smartphones and pads. These "Discovery Experiences" are easy and exciting for people. They don't have to do research or spend hours looking for ancestors, FamilySearch is constantly making connections for us and keep adding new findings weekly. Today I worked with our youth during Sunday School, helping them find pioneer names to take on our stake trek. One leader said, "Wow, this is fun. They (FamilySearch) have done all the work for us!" Don't assume your ward leaders know what you know about T&FH. Invite them to a Discovery Night at your home or offer to do a Family Home Evening at their house and show them some of the fun Family History Activities. Good things will happen.
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I tend to think the Ward Plan should address who we are to contact. Should we be working with converts, youth, those who lack 4-generations, Ward leadership, Primary, those who seek us out, etc? Does proactive mean over stepping the Ward Plan?
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I agree that we have to encourage and support. I hope they do get it and learn to utilize their resources.
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I would echo the advise above to be proactive with the ward leaders. We just have a few consultants in our ward, but we have taken the opportunity to speak up and make presentations to our leaders (as much as they let us) to stress the spiritual blessings from doing family history work, and convince them that this is really another form of ministering. The ward leaders are supposed to set priorities for our activities, but sometimes don't understand what we really can do to help. A little explaining seemed to be appreciated, and had an impact on our ward plan. The webpage for Priesthood Leaders says:
"As a leader in the Church, the demands on your time are numerous, and there is never enough time to do all that is expected of you. You are also often expected to be the example in all things—even when you may not have any prior experience.
As you desire to better understand the divinely appointed responsibility of enabling the salvation of the dead by performing vicarious ordinances, consider meeting with a temple and family history consultant."
I found them to be receptive to this.
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Temple and Family History work involves all of those people. The ward plan should address how this will be achieved. We strive to have converts find ancestors to take to the temple within 30 days of baptism as this greatly increases their retention and activity. Consultants meet with investigators and full time missionaries to teach lesson #5 (Temples and Families) and start collecting information on their 4 generations BEFORE baptism. Likewise we work with youth to find family names for temple baptisms. We minister to members and help them find their 4 generations and beyond, so they can take their ancestors to the temple. We conduct small-group FHEs and one-on-one meetings so people (including leaders) can have personal discovery experiences. Missionary and Temple & Family History is "One great work of salvation." Spreading the Gospel and finding our ancestors are the greatest responsibilities we all have. As consultants we have the responsibility to magnify our callings and train our leaders, if needed, to help achieve this great work.
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I have only been in the position of the ST&FH consultant for about 4 months and we just had a person into the ward position. What I have learned is I am responsible for my calling and I am pushing forward. My priesthood leadership knows I am in the position and I give weekly invites and update them on our progress. Also I have learned that if I volunteer to help any one with there job and responsibilities that they are usually willing to let you help them. Bottom line pray and the lord will give you direction where to go.
Bro. Schantzen
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We also received a new Ward Leader for Temple and Family History, as outlined by Elder Renlund. We also had a great system in place and were making wonderful progress in bringing more consultants up to speed, as well as getting more ward members involved . The priesthood support we were receiving was great. We would analyze the monthly report and check results against our ward goals. Our ward consultants had specific people assigned to them in addition to the proactive approach and reported back every month in our monthly ward consultant meeting, where we brought our concerns, successes and ideas and received support, training and direction. Our numbers were climbing as a result.
Our new leader is not experienced with family history . It is true that there is a learning curve in any new calling and especially in one which involves as much depth as family history. Being supportive, as well as proactive as outlined in the responsibilities of consultants, will hopefully allow our priesthood leaders to grow into their callings. That support is vital for the work to go forward. Although the ward consultants are not now being utilized as much and not functioning as a team, and the report we were learning to use so well, is now not shared with us; we still need to show our support of priesthood direction.
That said, Temple and Family History has not yet come fully into the fold of ward/stake organizations, at least in our ward/stake. (Stake T&FHC not included in ward conferences , ward T&FH leader not invited to the stake leadership meeting for stake conference. )
Those of us who have a burning testimony of family history and know how vital the work is in bringing our ancestors as well as ourselves and ward members to Christ, may feel somewhat frustrated with setbacks or lack of progress. This has brought home to me that it is not my calling to "steady the ark". There is plenty of learning available to sharpen my tools/skills and many opportunities to invite others to feel the joy of discovering their lost kindred and having their hearts turned to them. Sharing in that joy and the blessing it is to be a part of this great work, are things we can testify of at every opportunity.
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We consultants and ward leaders over FH met and discussed a plan, and after we finished the discussion, our designated leader folded his arms and said I don't intend to do any of that stuff. Hmm. The EQ Pres mentioned to me he wanted to talk with me about this, but I haven't heard from him yet, and it has been 2 months since this happened, So we essentially don't have a ward plan. I just do my own things.
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I applaud your fortitude and tenacity; but support from the ward leaders will help you. Have you considered meeting with your Stake High Council and ask for support from him? Perhaps, he can get the ball rolling so you are moving in the same direction.
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The TFH leaders should be involved in writing the ward TFH plan. You can watch the ward council meeting led by Elder Bednar and how he included the TFH leader and consultants.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/miscellaneous-events/2019/02/13mendoza?lang=eng
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Yes, I immediately contacted him and he said he would contact the ward leader. When I expressed my concern with a member of the bishop, he said, well he is a volunteer, implying that nothing could be done. Hmm.
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Wouldn't it be great if the TFH lead were a member of the Ward Council too!
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The Bishop has the keys over Temple and FH work. If you feel comfortable, I'd talk to him. This can be a powerful opportunity to get everyone involved in doing TFH work. That is what the changes are supposed to enable. Once we get everyone doing something then this work will be powerful.
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Do any of you have an example of your ward T & FH Plan you could share as an example?
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I am the T&FH Leader for my ward. I was consulted by the EQ Pres. to develope the T&FH plan. We consulted together and then he presented it to the bishop and ward council for their suggestions. I was invited to attend this meeting. After modifications, it went back to the ward council for their approval. It was later presented to the ward membership and discussed during a 5th Sunday meeting.
Our goal is to help the ward members become more temple centered thru the spirit of Elijah and Temple and Family History work in three areas: 1) Missionary, 2) Ministering (priesthood & Relief Society), and 3) Youth & Primary programs.
Missionary
“Preaching the gospel and seeking after our dead are complementary parts of one great work—a labor of love intended to change, turn, and purify the hearts of honest seekers of truth. 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.” Elder David A. Bednar
Principles:
1. Hearts and conversion. Turning to the fathers awakens and prepares a heart for the mighty change. Thus, the spirit of Elijah helps in conversion.
2. Hearts and retention. Turning to the fathers sustains and strengthens hearts that have experienced the mighty change. Thus, the spirit of Elijah helps in retaining new converts.
3. Hearts and reactivation. Turning to the fathers softens a heart that has become hardened after experiencing the mighty change. Thus, the spirit of Elijah is key in reactivation.
4. Hearts and valiant missionaries. A missionary who has experienced both the mighty change and the turning of the heart will be a more converted, consecrated, and valiant servant.
Goal: With these principles in mind, we will more fully integrate temple and family history
work into ward missionary efforts thru:
1. Teaching the ward and full-time missionaries the above principles and help
them have a “personal discovery experience.” (Discover-Gather-Connect).
Consultants are the missionaries new “Best Friend.”
2. Meeting with the Ward Missionary Coordinating Committee as needed to discuss investigators and newly baptized members progress
3. Share in teaching discussion #5, “Temples and Family History,” from Preach My Gospel to investigators.
4. Meet with investigators and introduce the “My Family” booklet and help guide them
to a discovery experience.
5. Help newly baptized members find family names to take to the temple for baptism within 30 days of their baptism.
6. Continue to work with new members to complete their four generation chart and gain a testimony of the spirit of Elijah.
Ministering
Principle:
“The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead. The apostle says, ‘They without us cannot be made perfect’ [see Hebrews 11:40]; for it is necessary that the sealing power should be in our hands to seal our children and our dead for the fullness of the dispensation of times—a dispensation to meet the promises made by Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world for the salvation of man.” Joseph Smith
Goal: Help ward members fulfill this responsibility and feel the spirit of Elijah thru
Discover-Gather-Connect experiences. This will be accomplished in several ways.
1. Consultants’ role
a) Bishop calls 4 additional consultants (couples or singles)
b) Ward lead consultant teaches consultants principles of “Discovery” experiences
c) Consultants meet with ward council members one-on-one for “Discovery” experiences.
d) Lead Ward T&FH Consultant reports monthly to the EQ & RS presidents and councilors over T&FH on ward FH activities such as names submitted to temple and indexing results.
e) Attend Ward Council meetings at the invitation of the bishop or EQ president.
2. EQ & Relief Society Role
a) EQ and RS leaders call on consultants to help in re-activation where less active member is interested in learning more about family history. The spirit of Elijah is key in reactivation efforts.
b) Family history/missionary moment during opening exercises of EQ & RS.
3. Family History Instruction
a) Initiate small group (4-6 people) family history socials with consultants conducting “Discovery” experiences in members’ homes.
b) Personalized one-on-one instruction in members’ home or at FHC.
c) Arrange with Stake FHC Director to hold classes in the FHC on weekdays and Saturdays. These would be open to members and non-members and include FH webinars from BYU and live instruction by consultants.
d) Promote family history classes and Sabbath activities in the ward bulletin.
e) Teach of the blessings which come thru doing temple and family history work.
4. Special Events
a) Plan a Ward “Take An Ancestor to the Temple Day” where all ward members can participate such as: Family baptisms, endowments, babysitting, tour Visitors Center or Family History Center, etc. (This would be a culmination of ward missionary, re-activation and family history focus)
b) “My Heritage” potluck dinner – members bring a dish representing their heritage or favorite family recipe.
c) Indexing Breakfast Social – Saturday morning social to instruct members in doing indexing with a continental breakfast served in the courtyard.
Youth & Primary
Principle: “When members of the Church find names of their ancestors and take those names to the temple for ordinance work, the temple experience is greatly enriched.”
First Presidency Letter 2012
Goal: Help the youth learn how to use the technology available to find ancestors to take to the
Temple for baptisms and “connect” to them thru family stories and traditions.
1. Youth leaders co-ordinate with Family History Consultants to help youth find family
names to take to the temple for baptisms. (Determine when youth baptisms are
scheduled and prepare accordingly.)
2. Bishop calls youth consultant if appropriate.
3. Hold special class for youth to introduce use of smart phones and apps for family
history. Help them make their own FS account and use the Family History Activities
to discover more about themselves and their family
4. Co-ordinate with the Primary president in transitioning of 11 year olds and
introduction of baptism for family ancestors and help them have a discovery
experience and take family names for baptism.
5. Co-ordinate with Primary Presidency to have at least one family history activity.
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Here is the plan we put together. Our ward council is reviewing it and changes will probably be made but it can give you an idea.
Ward Temple and Family History Plan 2019
1. Provide support to each family in the ward to write a Family History Plan.
2. Support families in carrying out their Family History Plan.
3. Organize a monthly ward temple session.
4. Help each family in the ward with teenagers use available resources to teach their children about the temple and temple preparation.
5. Plan Family History events/classes for the youth and 10-11 year olds.
6. Encourage members to participate in indexing efforts.
To help carry out this plan:
1. Call 10 – 12 Adults to be Temple and Family History Consultants and encourage them to choose areas of focus.
A. Take classes at the Family History Center.
B. Learn to index and set personal goal for indexing
C. Contact families in the ward to help support each family in their specific needs and goals and help them write their Family History Plan.
D. Work on personal family history.
E. Write their family stories and/or their life story.
F. Contact families with teenagers and guide them to the resources available for parents to teach their children about temple preparations.
2. Involve the Youth in Temple and Family History
“My dear extraordinary youth, you were sent to earth at this precise time, the most crucial time in the history of the world, to help gather Israel,” the prophet said. “There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing. This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth.” (“Hope of Israel” President Russell M. Nelson, June 3, 2018.)
A. Call Youth from each class to be Youth Temple and Family History Consultants.
B. Help the Youth Temple and Family History Consultants plan and carry out a quarterly Youth activity.
C. Work with each Youth age group and show them how to sign in, index and request names to take to the temple.
D. Help plan and carry out a ward Youth Temple Trip.
3. Hold regular meetings with the Temple and Family History Consultants to organize and evaluate the implementation of the Ward Temple and Family History Plan and how to support each family and organization.
4. Meet with Elders Quorum/Relief Society/Ward Council to discuss progress and implementation of the Ward Temple and Family History Plan.
Root Tech 2017
Sister Wendy Nelson: Preserving ancestral stories is important, but it should never be at the expense of completing our ancestors’ ordinance work. We need to make time for our ancestors’ ordinance-qualifying information.
President Russell M Nelson: And that means sacrificing time we normally spend on other activities. We need to be spending more time in the temple and in doing family history research, which includes indexing.
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Wonderful, thank you so much! I am the Stake Temple & Family History Consultant and the High Councilor and I are training nine wards to get theirs going. This will give them an example of where they can start. Thanks agin @lynettedoelling1 lynettedoelling1
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Here are our ward goals for 2019
1. Increase the number of ward members submitting a name for temple work to 30%.
2. Each family history consultant will work with two additional members on a regular basis.
3. Train youth consultants on indexing, and facilitate a youth activity where they train young men and young women to perform indexing.
4. Have two additional consultants fully trained and functioning in their calling
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Super. Thanks
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I think that would be PERFECT! A wonderful solution although I understand he CAN be invited as needed.
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WOW! That is AMAZING! I will be making a copy of that to save! Thank you for sharing!
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Yes, to all the groups you have listed. I think our responsibility is to reach out one by one. Eventually we plan to meet with everyone, starting with the bishop and ward council. Hopefully your ward plan includes all these factors and you're not over stepping.
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I found that sharing/ teaching the principles behind family history had a much larger impact on my ward leaders than just giving them a list of goals. There are no numeric goals, the plan is based on following the principles and it doesn't make more work for the bishopric! The T&FH Consultants have the primary responsibility for carrying out the plan with the help of the ward council. It has been very well received and members are learning the family history can be FUN. The words of the prophets and apostles are powerful and they have left no doubt that we are in the latter-days and it's our responsibility to gather in Heavenly Fathers' family. Temple and Family History work is moving forward at an incredible pace!
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