Families - It's about time

Last night I went to the conference center to watch “A Celebration of Family History”

There were talks and films and music. Music was by the MoTab, so I wanted to support mom, and the films were created by my BFE Kim (no I don’t have an imaginary friend with my same name) she works for Family History for the Church, and has spend the last year preparing for this night, so we went to support her. The speakers were President Eyring & David McCullough. With that stacked line up, I could hardly refuse.

I really had no idea what to expect, I was mostly going for support. Figured it would just be another LDS thing I attended. I was unprepared. Unprepared for the emotion and spiritual pounding I would get. This was put together by the church but was not FOR the church. Apparently the NGS (National Genealogical Society) was in town for their yearly Family History Conference (apparently it’s been 25 years since they’ve been in Utah). And this was our contribution to the conference.

The opening prayer set it off and there was no turning back. The prayer was given by the Rev. Davis form the Calvary Baptist Church. It was just cool, and sweet. The theme of the night was Woven Generations. They started off with a sweet story about a girl who migrated, and as she left on the boat she and her mother both held an end of a ball of yarn, and held tight till the yarn ran out. Her mother repeating “Don’t Forget Us”

**That's my mom on the bottom left, second from the end**

The music from the choir was spiritually palpable, but really do we expect less? Pres. Eyring gave a fun and captivating talk about the history of the genealogical societies, and how he met his wife because she was traveling with a friend who was researching her ancestors.

David McCullough who captured our hearts at the Christmas Devotional this year was again on his game. He makes history come alive, and has such a passion for it you can hardly resist the pull. In fact that was one of his points, if we are excited those around us (including children) will catch the excitement.

The films were just spectacular. My BFF has such incredible talent and gift for doing what she does. I cried during each of the films. They were mostly stories of people researching their ancestors and finding close connections and amazing stories. One was about a little boy who fired the passion of genealogy in his family by deciding to learn the bagpipes (at like age 7) then to wrap it up the choir sang Amazing Graze, and the little boy (now a grown man) was on stage playing his bagpipe. I was a wreck. I have always believed in genealogy, but have never ever had any passion for it. in fact I specifically avoided it. I have two grandmas who are obsessed with it and have traced several of our lines back to Adam, and have hundreds and hundreds of names. What was left for me to do anyway??

I’m sure you’ve heard about the TV show “Who do you think you are” about Celebrities researching their ancestors. They even mentioned it at the meeting last night. Well I started watching it and I know it sounds cheesy, but I started feeling a stirring of interest. But as per my habit brushed it away. The stirring last night was more like a jackhammer nudge. I can’t avoid it any more, I must, MUST learn all I can about my past. Why I don’t know, mostly I’m just fascinated to learn.

Another thing emphasized last night was journals. W/O letters and journals we would have almost no history. With the multimedia communications these days letters via snail mail are almost and endangered species. McCullough joked that he once told his students if they ever wanted to be immortalized to write in a journal and submit it to a library. Everyone would read them as they would be the only journal in existence. We laughed, but how many of us write in a journal, or even store our blogs or face book entries so there is a record? I admit I like to write and I do it more than most, but not nearly enough. I struggle with wondering who in the world would ever want to read it? after last night.. I tend to think.. WHO WOULDN’T?

I heard a rumor it will be broadcast to TV, if I find out when I'll let you know