I guess I am confused by the new emphasis on priesthood leadership in Ward and Stake family history.
By the feeds, it would appear that the consultants responsibilities are now suppose to be to work with people one-on-one. In my experience the Ward and Stake leadership doesn't even think to consult with those who know about family history. It now feels like over stepping our bounds as consultants to approach them to offer help. When I tried, I was rebuffed because it was not my place. The plan was already developed and they didn't want to hear anything else. It seems like all of the experience and knowledge of seasoned consultants is not being factored into the equation. I am trying not to feel discouraged.
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@Peggy Parker Ash It is easy to be discouraged or to feel stepped over and left out when things change. Offering to help is a good idea. If your offers are not accepted, then it is important to be supportive of those who have been called to make decisions for your ward--even if those decisions do not seem wise. Maybe change your offer of help to something more along the lines of "What can I do to help your plan succeed?" And, of course, continue to pray for your ward leaders and for the Lord to guide you to understand what He would have you do in your calling. It has been my experience that, when I humble myself and seek the Lord's guidance in a difficult situation, He will help me understand things and have a better attitude. That positive attitude becomes evident in my communications with my leaders and leads to better relationships and results for everybody.
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Peggy I'm sorry you're experiencing such difficulty. The changes have been challenging for everyone, including myself. Unlike your situation, my Bishop and Ward Council have been very supportive and welcome my input and involvement. I did have to "nudge" them to choose a leadership pattern and create a ward plan. Here we are halfway through 2019 and finally have a ward plan - its only taken six months...after Bishop asked me to spearhead the plan development with the Ward TFH Leader and RS Counselor over TFH. So i did. I expressed my willingness to help and do whatever it took to get the ball rolling and they were more than glad to allow me to help. So we're finally off and running but it took time, patience, prayer, and yes, a little nudging. I reminded the ward council that time is of the essence. Millions or our ancestors are waiting to be found and work done. The gospel is being taught in the spirit world at a rapid rate. People are waiting for their ordinances to be done, and we're the ones who have to do it. No time to waste. But that's just me. :-)
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Thank you!
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https://www.familysearch.org/calling/?page=5
Copy these URLs into Your browser address field. Click on your area of interest.
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As the Stake Temple and Family History Consultant, I went to my own ward first and talked with my bishop. He agreed to have his ward council meet and go through a training class (lasted about an hour). I then met with the Stake President and the Exec Secry and trained them. I will be presenting to the Stake High Council later this month. From there, I will plan on visiting the wards (bishops, etc) with the consultants to further the training.
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trying to upload all the pages is proving difficult...
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You are echoing what Elder Bednar told the attendees at the RootsTech conference. Elder Bednar attempts to elevate the FH consultants to a proper place in the ward.
My take is that the ward councils feel they have bigger fish to fry than addressing family history in the ward.
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We can just start helping ward members using the FamilySearch invitation process thus permitting access to the ward member’s tree; these are found in the helper resources. Helping key members of the ward council will give them the perspective best gained by personal involvement.
Any church member can help others, spreading the light in this manner can occur even if the ward plan hasn’t yet been developed.
Temple and family history consultants’ service to others doesn’t require a formalized ward plan and the process can help its development.
This has worked for our ward.
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As Elder Bednar stated Family History is to be "home centered church supported". This does not mean we don't magnify our callings. I know I personally watched the leadership talk back in February prior to the event it was suggested that Bishop, councilors, Relief Society and Temple and Family History consultant should all participate. After being in council meeting I found out I was the only one who participated. Seeing the results I could have been upset instead I just took it that they forgot or as everyone else had other important things going on.
These types of things happen all the time in and out of the church. We must remember the purpose of sustaining individuals is to help them learn to magnify their callings not to expect them to know it.
I'm thinking If your not being called upon to help or give your input then ask meet with your Bishop and ask him what he wants you to actually do with your calling. If he indicates he wants you to meet with each member . If you have a large amount of members explain that you need help. Try explaining how Family History is really a personal thing. Maybe ask if you can give a class so individuals can use it as part of their ministering, No mater what explain their is no physical way you could go to every members home by your self. Indicate even missionaries go in twos. However, I would try and see if you could be apart of different families Family Home Evening each week. you could address family history and the importance of attending the temple with the whole family at that time. Maybe your missionaries could help.
Find out from your leaders when they will be having Temple prep classes. Invite new members or never before endowed members to attend.
When I was called once again to Family History I became very depressed. I thought what is it I haven't learned. When I asked my Heavenly Father, he told me very plain I NEED YOUR HELP! I saw the changes that were happening and felt VERY STRONG the direction being expressed was not quit understood. and in some cases taken to the extreme.
Meaning just because some things are available online doesn't mean Family History center doors are to be closed (this is where the supported it to come in). Unfortunately the doors being closed is the pretty much the case in my state. We must remember that not all items are available for circulation and or have restrictions. Thus can only be made available through a Family History Center.
Do we have tunnel vision with our calling? Meaning is our focus only on the members of our words or do we reach out to educate our community?
I'm asking this question because of closure of FHC (or Very Very limited hours if it is open) did we close a door on possible missionary opportunities? Sense so many of these doors appear to be closed, are we making ourselves available in other ways?
I guess what I'm asking is do we think our calling is to only help the members who physically come to church each Sunday?
I remember years ago what my brother told me once about my calling. he said "Sis, your calling is the only calling that fulfills the three fold mission of the church" I asked what is the mission?. He indicated, P.P.R. I asked him what that was? He stated, "Proclaim the gospel, Perfect the Saints and Redeem the Dead. He indicated that P.P.R. was the easy way to remember it" When we work with individuals and their family history we are proclaiming the gospel not only on this side of the vail, but on the other side as well., We help them to know their families often helping them have a better understanding of their own lives, in turn we help them to take their ancestors to the temple to redeem their dead.
It was a past Bishop who brought it full circle for me when he indicated that what I do with genealogy and Family History is another form of missionary work. I not only work with people on this side of the vail but on the other side as well.
The handbook about Temple and Family History Consultant as well as running a Family History center, It indicates that we can promote Family History at events within our community it suggested joining the local genealogical and historical societies, After reading what I can and can't do I spoke with my Bishop got permission to put on genealogical education classes for our members as well as the community. for the last two years I've been asked to participate in a community event where there were over 800 attendees through out the day. I was able to share about Family Search and get many non members excited about using Family Search for Free. I always explained that the tree is the Worlds Tree and that their family was just a branch on the tree, I explained and showed them how to locate original records, educating material, finding aids, etc. all for Free. From doing this I have been asked to speak to a local African American Historical Society, where I was able to teach them about researching their black ancestry using Family Search , I took another TFH consultant to this event because she was depressed with where here calling was going. She got to experience the excitement these individuals had for wanting to learn about preserving their ancestry. Here depression became excitement. Then In return she shared her experience with her Branch President. He asked to speak with me and after our conversation we will be having a Family History Conference for the members and the community this October. He would like to have a formal invitation to hand out to participants to attend our area Temple 's open house in October . At the same time this same branch participated with the community on cleaning and recording graves in a local cemetery. I believe through Family History this branch will soon become a ward as the numbers are growing.
I shared the above with you because instead of feeling our leaders aren't working with us or our members just aren't interested. Let's possibly try a different approach to reaching our objective.
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I have only been in this calling about 9 months. My experience began with inviting members of the Ward council and Ward leadership and their families to visit one on one. And sometimes it took weeks or months to find a time that worked to meet with them. With the youth, I always introduce them to the discovery page, the fan charts, and ordinance ready. That way, when they have a few minutes free, they have somewhere to go to immediately to find things to do in Family Tree. I also encourage every youth to then help someone else learn what they have learned. The adults sometimes have difficulty with technology and this is something the youth can help with.
As far as the Ward plan goes, we are still working out the kinks. We recently had a change in the Elder's Quorum leadership, and each prior and current member of the Presidency has been invited to watch the training either with the consultants or on their own. And I have begun asking different members of the Ward Council to show me how to locate the Family History Activity Report or provide me with a copy so we can review which numbers relate to their stewardships.
From time to time I now even receive an email from the Bishop with a request to work with a particular member or family to help them find names to take to the temple.
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HofsearchCindy:
What a great perspective! And those of us who are "brains" and "experts" in the family history field, should remember we are there to help, sustain, and train to fulfill this great work. Gaining a perspective of what each ward needs and their plan will help us to train to meet those goals. Since having the training with my ward council, the Relief Society is now having one of their activities to follow this training. My consultants will be teaching and supporting the class as we move forward in this great work. (I have trained them to help guide, and execute on the training.) I am excited about this plan and for our ward. I am looking forward to the training for our Stake High Council group next week.
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Doing family history and temple work is an on going opportunity to share eternity with our families. If this current chain of command as I have heard it called is not working, we need to stand up and say so. Our salvation is depended on their salvation. Yes I do understand that ward councils have many things to think about and help with but this is the 3 most important part of the gospel. We are a chosen people to have this opportunity and if the leaders do not
support this program with full attention it deserves they will be sorry. We have to work together and teach our children that family matters here and for all eternity. If Bishop 's and so forth are not supportive. I think it should be moved higher up until you find someone who cares. The priesthood leaders in most all wards and branches have their hands full and I feel for them and Pray for them. Now we need to add family history to those prayers.
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Oh my, Nancy, with all due respect, yes prayer will certainly help. Perhaps we also need to ponder and pray to understand what the Lord is wanting to accomplish here and how He desires it to be accomplished. He has provided direction to the Brethren with a wisdom sometimes beyond our mortal ability to comprehend and understand. I do believe He and the Brethren care deeply. And I do believe that gathering the family of Heavenly Father is at the top of His and and the Brethren's lists. I know my Bishop has many burdens and he is a busy man. I also know he understands the personal value of doing family history and taking family names to the temple. I believe it is my stewardship to study and understand the full vision and help my Bishop and Ward Council to begin to grasp the full vision also. Are there glitches, yes. Are there struggles, yes.
How do we stay properly motivated? I listen and listen and listen to the talks on Temple and Family History work by the Brethren, I listen to the Still Small Voice and continue forward, sometimes baby step by baby step. I keep in mind that the local Priesthood has dealt with the change from two Ward Ward Melchizedek Quorums to one and are still working out kinks. Without the assistance of all of the Ward Council, I being one, would surely miss individuals who desperately need the spiritual influence of this work.
SherryGrabill, I appreciate your positive thoughts.
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Here is a scriptural example that has helped me a lot!
Nephi is a great example to me. When his bow broke, Laman and Lemuel - even Lehi - were murmuring. Nephi did what he could do by making a bow and an arrow, preparing stones and a sling, etc. Then he went to his priesthood leader and asked "Whither shall I go to obtain food?" (1 Nephi 16:23). I suppose he could have felt that his priesthood leader didn't care because of the murmuring. I suppose he could have thought about bypassing his leader and just praying to know where to go to get good. Yet, he still went to his leader (Lehi) for direction. What an example of humility to me! The result was amazing and they were ultimately directed by the Lord about where to obtain food.
My testimony: If we, like Nephi, do all we can to follow the direction of the Spirit and our leaders, we will be instruments in the hands of our Heavenly Father. It will all work out if we heed the counsel given by the Holy Ghost and out priesthood leaders. We may have frustration, but the Lord loves us regardless.
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Thank you for sharing the example of Nephi. It helps me to remember Heavenly Father knows who he has in charge at ALL levels and at all times. It also helps me to remember I promised to help the building of the kingdoms no matter what.
I think of a story where the children were complaining when the mom was having a teaching moment she would say mur! mur! mur! When I find myself thinking negative I always remember the little story and say mur! mur! mur! Quit complaining and start being supportive.
Thanks again for reminding me we’re all human
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Are you looking for a good family history Annual Planner? What do you use when your Stake President asks you to turn in your Quarterly plans for family history? We devised one that goes with Elder Renlund's request for no quotas, no names of who went to the temple, etc., Just allows for each faction to click on a family search link that correlates to their calling and gives them ideas to report to the Bishop. this way, you won't have a duplication in effort of the YW/YM planning a community event the same weekend Primary is putting on a Family History Event, etc., Try it. We are getting a lot of great feedback from our Stakes. Each quarter results tally to the Annual page.
How to use the Ward Family History Annual Planner Video
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AjS2RGb0p-4Pjw5j0lrsPfBtqja1?e=sXjgF1
Excel Work Book
https://1drv.ms/x/s!AjS2RGb0p-4Pjw1EHc4wK8sRgma_?e=FqwnHv
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