Indexing for Family History Files

Indexing is a great way for all of us to get involved in the great and marvelous work of Family History. Watch this video to see how you, your friends, and your family can assist in this area of Family History or click on this link to view instructional video https://www.lds.org/youth/family-history/serve?lang=eng#help-others-find-records-by-indexing

Youth Respond to Invitation from Apostle

  By Melissa Merrill, Church News and Events

• 11 JANUARY 2012

For Sarra Erb, 17, of Oklahoma, USA, it really began in the spring of 2011, when she was called to serve on the youth conference committee for her stake’s 2012 pioneer trek in Nauvoo, Illinois. The youth of the stake were to prepare family history names to take to the temple, which meant that all of the youth would be introduced to family history work.

Then in October things really accelerated. For starters, Sarra heard a conference address directed to her and the other youth of the Church around the world. In his talk “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn,” Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught youth that they “need not wait until … an arbitrary age to fulfill [their] responsibility to assist in the work of salvation for the human family.”

Just two weeks later, Sarra herself gave a talk at a stake youth fireside introducing the theme of her stake’s 2012 youth conference. In that talk she told of an ancestor, Robert, she had just learned about from her grandparents. This ancestor lived in South Africa, where he owned 17,000 acres of land, a bed-and-breakfast, a blacksmith shop, and a wheelwright shop. Later, upon hearing an invitation from a living prophet, he left it all behind and moved to Utah, using his vast resources to help others make the journey too.

Sarra realizes that, like Robert, she too has the opportunity to respond to the invitation of a prophet, seer, and revelator—by taking Elder Bednar’s challenge seriously. “When he said that his talk was for the youth, that got me excited,” she said. And she has an opportunity to help others along the way. She and her peers are taking advantage of opportunities to attend family history classes after Mutual and often find themselves talking about what they’re doing at firesides, dances, and other youth events.

“This is more than just sitting down for a few hours,” Sarra said. “You can’t really go in halfheartedly. It’s looking up the stories and really getting into it. Family history work is really personal, and it has brought me a lot of joy.”

Youth around the world are responding in similar ways. Across the globe, young men and young women are finding that many blessings come from their involvement in the work of salvation.

Finding Time

Like a lot of teenagers, Brandyn Young, 16, of Arkansas, USA, is busy. He attends early-morning seminary, plays on a state champion football team, takes advanced-placement classes, performs in the school choir, and serves in student government positions. But he hasn’t let any of that be an excuse for not responding to direction from Church leaders.

One Saturday morning, after returning home from his routine run, he listened to a general conference talk on his phone. It was Elder Bednar’s message.

“He started by inviting the youth specifically to listen,” Brandyn explains. “And then he went on to talk about how we have been prepared with technology. It’s our generation’s tech savvy that has prepared us to be involved in family history work.

“That really hit me. I have often wondered why Heavenly Father sent me to earth at this time, and here was an answer: one of the reasons was to be involved in family history work.”

Brandyn recognized that what he was feeling was a prompting from the Holy Ghost. He went upstairs and logged onto the Church’s family history website, FamilySearch.org, and spent some time looking around. Then, because he had a lot of homework to do, Brandyn bookmarked the site and determined to come back later.

He did. He knew his ward would be going on one of its semiannual youth temple trips in a few weeks, and he wanted to take a family name for his brother Benjamin, who would be going to the temple for the first time. Brandyn made time for family history research and found an ancestor—also named Benjamin. With his father’s help, Brandyn prepared the name for temple work.

Two weeks later, Brandyn returned home at 2:00 on a Saturday morning following a championship football game on Friday night. Just three hours later, at 5:00 a.m., he left with his ward to go to the temple. Even though the trip meant multiple sacrifices on his part, Brandyn said that he was grateful for the opportunity to have prepared a name for his brother and to have been able to go to the temple with him.

“There is no way to describe the feeling I got when I found my ancestor Benjamin,” he said. “Before this, the names were just names. But because this name was my ancestor, it helped me realize that all of the names we do work for are real people.

“Whenever I get this certain feeling, I know I need to go and do it,” he added. “I had that feeling when I heard Elder Bednar’s talk. I knew there would be enough time to do everything if I obeyed the prompting I felt.”

Finding Talents

When Madison Lee, 17, of Utah, USA, learned that each of the youth in her ward were invited to find a family name before their trek in the summer of 2011, she thought, “Oh, great. They’re going to make us do family history.”

But her attitude changed when her parents invited a ward member to their home one Sunday after church. The neighbor taught Madison how to navigate and usenew.FamilySearch.org, and within 10 minutes, they had found one of Madison’s ancestors who hadn’t had temple work done on his behalf.

“I thought, ‘Wow, this is kind of neat,’” Madison said. “After that, our neighbor left but told me I could call him if I found any more names.”

Half an hour later, she had found a dozen more.

Madison was intrigued. The next day was a holiday, and because she didn’t have school, she spent four or five hours continuing to search, often focusing on “horizontal” rather than “vertical” research. (In effect, rather than going back another generation, Madison was looking for people’s siblings and spouses.) The result: 400 more names.

“I did a lot of sideways searching,” she said. “I wasn’t going straight back. So these people were still related to me—just through marriage or other connections.”

When Madison’s neighbors, who had long been praying to find family names that they could take to the temple, learned of Madison’s success, they invited her to search their family tree. Madison quickly found in their line a family who had eight children, all of whom needed ordinances completed.

“This was something I found I had a talent for,” she said. “I could go quickly and find what I needed to. It just seemed like something I was meant to do.”

She has begun pairing her research with temple work, which she and her younger sister, Ashlynn, who just turned 12, plan to do together. “This work is about piecing families back together,” she said. “There’s a very personal connection there.”

“It’s very exciting,” she continued. “I remember the first time I found that name, and I felt utter joy. I was so happy I found it. I feel that every time I find another name. It’s like getting a big hug. I don’t know that I can really describe it, so I am trying to help my family and everybody else go out and try it so they can feel that feeling too.”

A lot of people now turn to Madison for help with their research. “We’ve grown up with technology,” Madison says of herself and her peers. “We do our schoolwork on it. We write papers on it. We play games with it. Elder Bednar said that we were prepared for this work, and I’ve seen that that’s true. It makes so much sense for us to be involved.”

Finding Family

When Kylie Treadwell of Texas, USA, first turned 12 and saw older teenagers in her ward take their own family names to the temple for baptisms and confirmations, she wanted to do the same thing. As she grew older and received her patriarchal blessing, which talks about her contributions to family history efforts, she knew that this work would be an important part of her life.

Now 16, Kylie has continued to participate in family history. With the help of family history specialists in her ward, she was able to look at members of 16 generations of her family tree and make corrections to errors she found. She was even able to use that as a catalyst for a family tree project she was doing as part of an extracurricular organization she participates in.

But her research entailed more than finding names and dates. Using both FamilySearch and commercial programs, she starting piecing their stories together too. For instance, she learned that one of her ancestors had been a blacksmith before the United States Civil War and a farmer afterward. That information has led her to believe that he may have been injured in the war.

Knowing details about their lives and stories about their experiences is helping Kylie feel more acquainted with her ancestors. “I am discovering that my ancestors are part of me,” she said. “I am here because of them, and I am who I am because of them.”

Forebears aren’t the only family members Kylie is connecting with. She said that family history has brought her the opportunity to connect with her contemporary relatives too.

“I’ve talked to my extended family—my grandparents and aunts and uncles—about the family history they’ve done,” Kylie said. “They aren’t part of the Church, but one night over the Thanksgiving break, we spent the whole night talking about our family.”

Kylie said she has particularly appreciated the opportunity to connect with her grandfather, who pulled out all kinds of binders containing genealogical information. “I definitely feel like I know him better,” she said. “We have a stronger kind of bond now than we did before.”

Kylie knows that living in an information age makes searching a common task. But family history searching, she said, is markedly different.

“This is different than a Google search,” she said. “It’s more personal than that because it’s your ancestors, your family, that you’re finding. They’ve waited for you to do the work on their behalf. And when you really get into it, the Spirit … helps you do what you need to do to find them.”

100 Years of Seminary

Seminary Centennial Broadcast, Sun. January 22 6:00 PM @ Stake Center. Invite your friends, parents, and other fellow seminary students too.

“I’ve seen most of that 100 years,” President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, smiling, as he prepared to speak in a broadcast commemorating 100 years of seminary. Actually, “I’ve got a little more than 50 years, so I’ve known the seminary administrators, the teachers, and I used to supervise the seminaries. I suppose what we want to give the students is the answer to ‘Why?’ Why does the Church do this? Why does the Church do that? Or, Why doesn’t the Church…? And teach them the basic gospel principles and show them the answer is there, but that they have to earn it. We are teaching them to study and to gain a testimony of their own.”

President Packer, who taught seminary and oversaw the seminary program in its beginnings, has previously said, “In the history of the Church there is no better illustration of the prophetic preparation of this people than the beginnings of the seminary and institute program. These programs were started when they were nice but were not critically needed. They were granted a season to flourish and to grow into a bulwark for the Church. They now become a godsend for the salvation of modern Israel in a most challenging hour.”

Seminary Will Help You

“Seminary has blessed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Latter-day Saint youth,” President Thomas S. Monson said. Recalling his own seminary experience, he said, “Seminary for me was held at an early hour, in a little house across the street from my high school. I thought if my teacher can get up that early, I can get up that early.”

President Monson continued, “Seminary will help you understand and rely on the teachings and atonement of Jesus Christ. You will feel the Spirit of the Lord as you learn to love the scriptures. You will prepare yourselves for the temple and for missionary service. Young people, I ask you to participate in seminary. Study your scriptures daily. Listen to your teachers carefully. Apply what you learn prayerfully.”

Three Powerful Things Seminary Can Do

“I served as Commissioner of Church Education for a number of years, so I’ve had a chance to see that there are three powerful things seminary can do,” President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, said.

“First, it puts young people together who share the same values. Youth like to be with others who share their faith and who love the scriptures. Second, it puts youth together with a teacher who has a testimony, and they can feel the fire of it when it is borne. Third, seminary gets young people into the scriptures.”

Speaking about the value of secular and spiritual education, President Eyring quoted the twelfth President of the Church, Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985): “It is clear that our first priority should go to spiritual learning. Reading the scriptures would come for us before reading history books. Prayer would come before memorizing those Spanish verbs. A temple recommend would be worth more to us than standing first in our graduating class. … Putting spiritual learning first does not relieve us from learning secular things. On the contrary, it gives our secular learning purpose and motivates us to work harder at it. … There should never be a conscious choice to let the spiritual become secondary as a pattern in our lives. Never. That will lead to tragedy. The tragedy may not be obvious at first, nor may it ever be clear in mortal life. But remember, you are interested in education not for life, but for eternal life. When you see that reality clearly with spiritual sight, you will put spiritual learning first and yet not slight the secular learning.”

A Shield of Protection

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also spoke of the powerful benefits of seminary. “I know the power that comes from associations in the seminary and institute programs,” he said. “It has enriched my life, and I know it will do the same for you. It will put a shield of protection around you to keep you free from the temptations and trials of the world. There is a great blessing in having a knowledge of the gospel. And I know of no better place for the young people of the Church to gain a special knowledge of sacred things than in the institute and seminary programs of the Church.”

Elder Perry also said that seminary provides an orderly method for studying the gospel. “There must needs to be an order to our learning, the same order indicated by the Savior’s teaching: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you’ (Matthew 6:33),” Elder Perry said.

“Learning about sacred things should come first, providing a context and a need for secular learning. If we want to return to our Heavenly Father’s presence, our first priority should be to learn about his ways and his plan. The world might fool you into believing there is insufficient time to engage in both spiritual and secular learning. I want to warn you not to be deceived by these philosophies of men. Your learning about sacred things will facilitate, even accelerate, your secular learning,” Elder Perry said.

“Don’t neglect the opportunity of attending seminary and institute classes,” Elder Perry said. “Participate and gain all you can from the scriptures taught in these great religious-education settings. They will prepare you to present the message of the restored gospel to those you have opportunity to meet.”

“Plan on completing the full four years of seminary,” Elder Perry said. “Are you enrolled? If not, I invite you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. And to you who are enrolled, study diligently to learn the gospel. I promise you that the foundation you receive in these two great programs will bless you throughout your lives. This is my witness to you.”

2012 Young Women Lesson Schedule Manual 1

January 1 January 8 January 15 January 22 January 29 February 5 February 12 February 19 February 26 March 4 March 11 March 18 March 25 April 1 April 8 April 15 April 22 April 29 May 6 May 13 May 20 May 27 June 3 June 10 June 17 June 24 July 1 July 8 July 15 July 22 July 29 August 5 August 12 August 19 August 26 September 2 September 9 September 16 September 23 September 30 October 7 October 14 October 21 October 28 November 4 November 11 November 18 November 25 December 2 December 9 December 16 December 23 December 30

Lesson: 1 A Daughter of God     STAKE CONFERENCE     Lesson: 2 Jesus Christ, the Savior     Lesson: 3 Following the Example of Jesus Christ     Lesson: 4 Seeking the Companionship of the Holy Ghost     Lesson: 5 Finding Joy in Our Divine Potential     Lesson: 6 Finding Joy Now     Lesson: 7 Homemaking     Lesson: 8 Attitudes about Our Divine Roles     Lesson: 9 Honoring Parents     Lesson: 10 Supporting Family Members     Lesson: 11 Growing and Maturing in Self-reliance, Part 1     Lesson: 12 Growing and Maturing in Self-reliance, Part 2     GENERAL CONFERENCE     Lesson: 13 Sustaining Priesthood Bearers     Lesson: 14 Patriarchal Leadership in the Home     Lesson: 15 The Melchizedek Priesthood     Lesson: 16 Women and Priesthood Bearers     Lesson: 17 The Purpose of Covenants and Ordinances    Lesson: 18 Temple Marriage - Requirement for Eternal FamilyLife     Lesson: 19 Personal Records     Lesson: 20 Reach Out to Others     Lesson: 21 A Righteous Example Influences Others     Lesson: 22 Repentance     Lesson: 23 Forgiveness     Lesson: 24 Prayer and Meditation     Lesson: 25 Sabbath Day     Lesson: 26 Testimony     Lesson: 27 Scripture Study     Lesson: 28 Resisting Sin     Lesson: 29 The Second Coming     Lesson: 30 Service     Lesson: 31 Group Activities: A Basis for Wise Dating     Lesson: 32 Personal Purity through Self-discipline     Lesson: 33 Avoiding Degrading Media Influences     Lesson: 34: Worthy Thoughts     Lesson: 35 Living Righteously amid Pressures     STAKE CONFERENCE     Lesson: 36 The Importance of Truth in Living a Virtuous Life     Lesson: 37 Caring for Our Physical Bodies     GENERAL CONFERENCE     Lesson: 38 Nutrition and the Word of Wisdom     Lesson: 39 Drug Abuse     Lesson: 40 Health Care in the Home     Lesson: 41 The Ability to Succeed & Lesson: 42 Courage to Try     Lesson: 43 Righteous Living     Lesson: 44 Using Time Wisely     Lesson: 45 The Value of Work     Lesson: 46 The Purpose and Value of Education     Lesson: 47 Encouraging the Development of Talents     Lesson: 48 Short-Range Goals as Stepping Stones      Lesson: 49 Delegating Responsibility to Others     To the YW Adviser:Organizing Lessons from General Conf Addresses

Seminary Centennial Broadcast will be at the Stake Center @ 6:00 PM for details click here

The Scholarship Workshop 17 Jan '12 07:00 PM YSA 14th Stake Center 735 East 800 South Orem, UT 84057 USA Increase your ability to earn scholarship funds for college.  Learn 5 steps to finding and applying for scholarships.  Prepare reusable materials that allow you prepare an entire scholarship application in 30-60.  No appointment necessary.  Perfect for Priests, Laurels, AND their parents.  Excellent for current and potential college students.   Elder Rasband

College Scholarship Workshop @ Spanish Fork Public Library

Due to the 4 day weekend the January Scholarship Class has been moved to Saturday Jan. 21.

Here is the information --

College Scholarships
How to Find Them -- How to Win Them
January 21, 2012
1 pm
Downstairs Meeting Room
Spanish Fork Library

This class will show several methods of searching out scholarships.  There will be a handout with tips on how to win the scholarships.
And there will be a drawing for scholarship books (for ages 12 and up).  These are thick books with more than 800 pages of useful advice and scholarship listings.
Arrive at the class at 5 minutes before 1 pm and get your name in twice.

Scholarship Tips

Check your school's website for scholarships you may be interested in.  High schools and colleges have scholarships specifically for their students.  Search engines can help you find general and specific scholarships.  Try http://apps.collegeboard.org/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp

Double check your work.  Have a parent or teacher look over your application and give you suggestions as needed.

Proper spelling and good grammar are important.

Apply early.  Avoid the last minute rush which may not give you time to do your best work.  Also, servers can go down on web sites with online entries when lots of people send their applications in right before the deadline. 

Many scholarships are offered every year.  If you find an outdated listing on a website, etc. go to the scholarship sponsor's webpage to get the current due date.

Good luck in your scholarship search!!!

-Kari Nay

NEW! 2012 Mutual Theme Song: Arise!

Love, love, love this song!!!! 

So Inspiring and Incredible.

  Hope we can all use this powerful song in our YW Camps and Youth conferences this year!  Also, found on Lds.org too :) 

Arise!

 Young Women of Provo UT Wasatch Stake  

We love you!!!!

University of Utah College of Education

Scholarship application window is now available

NOW accepting application for all scholarships offered through the Dean’s Office

http://www.ed.utah.edu/Scholarships/ScholarhipApplication.pdf

AND the Terrel H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loan Program

http://www.ed.utah.edu/scholarships/THBellApplication.pdf

Through March 1, 2012

For More information

Contact

Mindy LH Jones

Executive Secretary, College of Education

307 MBH

(801) 581-8222