Helping others with family history work is a lot like being a missionary. Why?
- You are focused on bringing others to the ordinances of salvation.
- You are focused on uniting and strengthening families on both sides of the veil.
The Holy Ghost will help you find others to teach as you seek its guidance. It will prompt you because Heavenly Father wants His children to have positive temple and family history experiences that build faith.
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Tips
- See yourself as a missionary as you help others with family history. You are on the Lord’s errand.
- Live worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost; act on promptings as they come.
- Pray specifically to be led to those who are ready to have spiritual experiences with family history.
- Work with your high priests group leader and others on the ward council to identify people you can help.
Ideas for Offering One-on-One Help
Adapt these ideas based on your ward and its unique needs.
- Under the direction of your bishop, use Sunday School time to provide one-on-one help for a two or three week period based on the principles outlined in this article. The assistance you give during Sunday School should replace the six-week class that was offered previously. Avoid multiweek Sunday School courses that tend to focus on teaching exhaustive genealogical research skills. Focus Sunday School time on helping people accomplish their goals based on opportunities in their family trees.
- Work with youth leaders to offer one-on-one help to youth classes or quorums.
- Work with Primary leaders to offer one-on-one help to 11-year-olds preparing to go to the temple when they turn 12.
- Offer to help families find family names as part of a family home evening.
- Offer to help recently baptized members so they can attend the temple for the first time with family names.
- Offer to help recently called missionaries who will attend the temple for the first time and would benefit from having family names as they subsequently attend the temple.
