This podcast contains my interviews with Elleny and Rick about genealogy. So inspiring!
From the manual: (Please follow this link to get to the videos that go with this lesson)
Brigham Young once said of Joseph Smith, “He could reduce heavenly things to the understanding of the finite” (in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 499–500). This seems especially true of the Prophet’s teachings in Nauvoo in the 1840s, some of which are recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 129–32. What is the Savior like? “He is a man like ourselves.” What is heaven like? “That same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:1–2), and our most cherished family relationships in this world, if sealed by the proper authority, “shall be of full force” in the next world (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19). Truths like these can make heaven feel less distant—glorious, yet reachable.
But then, sometimes God may ask us to do things that are so uncomfortable that they do seem unreachable. For many early Saints, plural marriage was one such commandment. The commandment to marry additional wives was a severe trial of faith for Joseph Smith, his wife Emma, and almost everyone who received it. To make it through this trial, they needed more than just favorable feelings about the restored gospel; they needed faith in God that went far deeper than any personal desires or biases. The commandment no longer stands today, but the faithful example of those who lived it still does. And that example inspires us when we are asked to make our own “sacrifices in obedience” (Doctrine and Covenants 132:50).
This next video isn’t on youtube so I can’t embed it. Please follow the link back to churchofchrist.org to watch the video called, “Why Was it Necessary For Joseph Smith and Others to Practice Plural Marriage?”
Here are the websites that Rick Price suggested we use. And follow Elleny’s advice to use your ward family history specialists to get started if you don’t know how to start doing family history work.
https://www.familysearch.org/en/ free to members of the church
https://www.ancestry.com/ free to members of the church
myheritage.com free to members of the church
https://www.findmypast.com/ This is British Ancestry information (I think it’s free to members of the church?)
https://www.americanancestors.org/index.aspx This one is run by that very first genealogical society, New England Historic Genealogical Society (he said you have to “join”. Not sure if that involves a fee or not.
Good luck! Please share your experiences with me!
Is there a list somewhere or the resources Rick mentioned? Many of them were new to me.
Thanks for the great uplifting work!
Yes! I’m so sorry! They are on that page now!
I would argue a little with your cousin, or maybe supplement.
That genealogy you bought at the garage sale…
Take some pictures of the pictures or documents and throw them up on family search in the gentleman’s memories section before you donate it. Then, you can note something in the notes about where you got it and where it is – “purchased at a garage sale in city, state. Has since been donated to ________.”
Good idea! I will do that!
I was behind in listening to your podcast, and was catching up on episodes. This one meant so much to me! I come from lots and lots of pioneer ancestors, and often feel like all of the genealogy has been completed. When I go to the temple, I usually pull family names from Ordinances Ready on Family Search. The names are always my 5th cousin 2 times removed, or something like that. But it had never occurred to me that I could be the one to find those names until your guest talked about doing descendancy research.
I have some great-great-grandparents whose story I have always loved and felt especially close to who immigrated from Germany when they joined the church. I decided to start looking there. In just a short time, I was able to find my that my great-great-grandma’s sister’s son had a marriage record indexed online. I am going to do the temple work for his wife and have them sealed together. It’s hard to express the joy and excitement I felt doing this. When I think of the love I have for my siblings and nieces and nephews, and how blessed I feel to be sealed to them, it is wonderful to think that I can do that for a beloved ancestor. I hope to be able to have more success as I do this descendancy research.
Thank you for your wonderful podcast!
Isn’t it awesome! I am so grateful I have been led more and more to my ancestors lately. It’s so fun!!