by David E Bay, High Councilor

By getting to know our families and the history of our ancestors, we can find power that can help us as we overcome our challenges that we face on a day-to-day basis.

In early 2020 I was introduced to the My Family booklet and was given the challenge to get to know my family members and their stories in a personal way.

The My Family booklet covers you and your spouse and children, if you have either spouse or children, your parents and their children, your grandparents and their children and your great grandparents and their children. Most of us have personal memories with many of those who are listed. Many of us will also have living relatives who remember stories and information about those who are included.

Sister Barbara Washburn, our Stake Temple and Family History Consultant, and her husband David designed a recognition pin for those who complete their My Family booklet. President Merritt has determined to share this recognition for members of the Brigham City South Stake. The pin looks like this.

My biggest struggle to complete my own My Family booklet was setting aside enough time and focus to write the stories and my memories of my ancestors. Every month my deadline for this newsletter came and the urgency of needing it now gave it priority over completing the My Family booklet.

As you each know there are always lots of distractions, setting aside time for the most important things is critical. President Nelson said, “Now, we would like to talk with you about the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth. And we want to invite you to be part of it!

“Would you like to be a big part of the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today?
“Would you like to help gather Israel during these precious latter days? Would you, who are the elect, be willing to help find the elect who have not heard the message of the restored gospel? Would you like to be among those “swift messengers” of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke?

“Now, participating in the gathering of Israel will require some sacrifice on your part. It may even require some changes in your life. It will definitely take some of your time and energy and your God-given talents. Are you interested?
“Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.”

A week ago, I started to feel sick. I was diagnosed with COVID. For the first couple of days I had no strength or energy to do anything. Then I started to feel a little bit stronger but knew that I did not want to share this illness with any of my family members. Unfortunately, my sweetheart, Coleen, came down with it too. So, the two of us were stuck at home without being able to spend time with our family as we had planned. I decided that this would be a good time to spend some time with family members who had preceded us. I spent the Thanksgiving weekend finishing my stories and checking the ordinance statuses for each individual.

I found out that I have some exciting relatives. I knew that my grandmother never ever complained about taking care of housework and feeding others. I was reminded that she would feed people anytime of the day or night when they came to her house. The Navajo families who were her friends would come even in the middle of the night, knowing that they would have a place where they could get a meal and have a place to sleep.

What I did not know is that she was the oldest child of her university professor father. She was married and had children when he was called to go to Norway with his family, those still at home, and preside over the Norway mission. I was reminded of the miracle in my Great Grandpa Knudsen even being able to speak in Norwegian. He really struggled with Norwegian as a young missionary After prayerful effort, he began to be taught the language by his Grandfather in his dreams at night. He miraculously became very fluent but spoke in the older style Norwegian of his grandfather, rather than the modern Norwegian of those of his age group.

I was reminded of the faithful dedication of my Great Grandfather Anderson (my mother’s grandfather) as he served as Bishop of the Junction Ward mentoring my Grandpa Bay (my father’s father) who was his counselor. So, he directly blessed both sides of my family.

President Nelson reminded us at the last General Conference, “My dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead. In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory,” He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful.”

I expect that we will also have opportunities to show our faith like those who have gone before us. May we each take an opportunity over this next month to connect ourselves and our posterity to those who have prepared the way for us to be here, our ancestors and their families.