Celebrating Success of the My Family 15 in 15 Initiative

Now that we have started a brand new year,  we have had an opportunity to look back over all our efforts for the "My Family 15 in 15" initiative.  Our goal for the year was to get 10,500 people throughout the Pacific Area to submit a family name to take to the temple.   That felt HUGE when we first started.   There had never been that much engagement with family history  in the area before.  But we were willing to work hard and trust that with the Lord's help, it could happen.

There were ups and downs, wonderful blessings and times of frustration as we did everything we knew how to do to get people actively engaged in documenting their family lineage.  We met some amazing people and traveled to places we never dreamed we would see.

At the close of 2015, it appeared we had just missed the goal, which was terribly discouraging.  We had been so sure that if we put our faith in God, with fasting and prayers - which we did - that this righteous desire would be reached.  We honestly could not think of anything more we might have done.  We were trying to humbly accept that the important thing wasn't the numbers, it was the individual lives that had been blessed along the way.  Still, having missed the mark that had been set for us by the department was a big disappointment.

In one of our meetings with Mike we got into a discussion of exactly what these statistics measure and what they do not.  We reminded ourselves that not everything that counts can be counted, and that increasing faith is an intangible thing that doesn't show up on a report, but is really the only thing that matters in the end.

Just as we were almost at the point of being ok with how things had ended up, we finally realized we were missing a key point.  The way FamilySearch counts "submitters" only adds people after they have printed out the  ordinance request for the names they have reserved.   However, some people don't print the ordinance request forms until right before they go to the temple.  For those that live at a greater distance away from a temple it might be weeks or even months before they are able to complete the ordinances for their ancestors, but their engagement in the process and having found and reserved those names should still count for our goal.    So then Mike asked for a DIFFERENT report from Salt Lake that would show us both the "submitters" meaning they had printed out the ordinance request form AND the "reservers" who had identified the family member needing work and clicked "submit", but simply had not printed yet.

When that came back we discovered we had not only reached our goal, but had surpassed it by more than 18%.    All together there were 12,460 people throughout the Pacific Area who found family names to take take to the temple in 2015.

We were overjoyed.  There were so many miracles all along the way as we worked on this.We definitely do not take the credit - there were MANY people who worked together and at times we know we were accompanied by angels who were guiding us from the other side.

Mike decided we should celebrate the accomplishment, so he brought in a yummy chocolate cake and fresh fruit and some sparkling cider which we shared with all the others on our floor.

I kept the cork from the cider, writing the number 12,460 on it as a keepsake to remind me again that with God, all things are possible.   It really was a miraculous year.

Blessings in Whangarei Stake

As soon as we were finished with our part of the PAO Christmas festivities,  we took off for Whangarei.  We came up again to do the leadership training we planned with the Stake Presidency last week.  It turned out to be one of our best ever.  We met at the building in Hikurangi.  During the planning meeting President Poutou has said he didn't want the people coming to the training to simply hear another talk about Family History.  He wanted them fully engaged in doing it.  So he had us set up a bunch of lap top computers right in the foyer where people would have to walk by us to get in and out of their meeting.   In the opening he had us both give some brief remarks.  But then once the leaders broke up into the various groups he asked that they take turns stepping out of their meetings to work on their 15 in 15.

1st Counselor, Eldon Whittaker, Stake President Anthony Poutu and
 Exec Sec. Peter Rouse

Whangarei Stake 2nd Counselor, Ronald Reti

Teara Armstrong - Stake Assistant Clerk / Technology Specialist

Rihimona Davis - 2nd Counselor in Bishopric of Hikurangi wa

   We helped MANY of them to find family names to submit to the temple.  Hearts were touched.  Even some who were sure there was no way they could find a name saw that it was possible.  The Spirit of Elijah was so strong as we worked with them, it was amazing.

Then today on the way home we stopped for a short hike to see another lovely waterfall.  The trail head to Waipu falls is just 6K off the main road. There are about 60 steps down into the gorge followed by a short walk along the river, then it opens up to a lovely spot for a picnic. It was as gorgeous end to a really special trip.

As we bring 2015 to a close we are feeling very grateful for all these experiences.

                                 

         

                                               

                                                   

Gardens and Worms

While we were in Hamilton for our recent Temple trip we took the Ormonds to see one of our favorite places, the Hamilton Gardens.  This is a world class botanical gardens that is absolutely gorgeous year round.  There are many different areas each dedicated to a different style of garden.  I've always been a sucker for pretty plants and flower, so it was great to be able to spend time there with good friends.

David & Gayle Ormond at Hamilton Gardens

Gayle loved all the roses!

Another fun thing we did together was visit Waitomo Caves to see the glow worms.

The "worms" aren't really worms at all.  According to eHow:  "Glow worms are the larvae of a beetlelike bug and this insect produces light due to a chemical process ...

Attracting Prey

• Glow worms produce threads that resemble mucous. This mucous like substance is what they use to attract and capture their prey. They place these threads in cracks and crevices within their habitat. After planting the thread, they wait patiently as insects slowly flock to it. Glow worms also use their light to lure their prey to the mucous thread."

These insects are unique to New Zealand and can be found in several different parts of the country.  Seeing the caves all lit up by their bioluminescense was really quite pretty if I didn't think too much about it really being a chemical condition of bug snot!

At any rate, we enjoyed showing our visitors some of the unique and beautiful places this country has to offer.

Another reason we were down that way was so Larry and I could  visit one of the Family History Centers in Hamilton to talk with the director about the ongoing My Family 15 in 15 program.  As the year is winding down we are all pushing extra hard to reach our goal of 10,500 people submitting family names to the temple throughout the Pacific.  
We have recently received approval for our planned trip to the United States to be able to go to the temple with Aaron and Stephanie, as well as to spend a bit of time with our other family so we are feeling extra pressure to reach this goal before we leave.   I hope we make it!  We prayed and fasted to know what we might do to be as effective as possible.  Now all we can do is trust that the program is moving forward as it should and that the Lord will help us to reach the people we are assigned to serve.

Return to the Taranaki

We had the opportunity to make a second trip to the Taranaki district to do a Family History training in Waitara Branch.   This time we stayed in New Plymouth.   The training went really well, particularly the connection we made with the Young Women's president and the Branch Mission Leader.  We got some beautiful views of the mountain and had a bit of time to explore again in Pukekura Park.  It's a long drive down there, but we really like the area and love working with the saints there.

We had a positive meeting with the Director of the Family History Center in New Plymouth.  Many FHC staff feel somewhat isolated and disconnected from the stake or district leadership.  It's important to us to get to know as many of the directors as we can and let them know how much their efforts truly are appreciated.  Often times we find that with just a little bit of validation these faithful men and women begin to blossom.

As we draw closer to the end of the year we are pushing really hard to meet our goals for the My Family 15 in 15 program.  The monthly reports we get tell us  that more people than ever before throughout the Pacific Area are getting engaged in Family History work.  We certainly can't take credit for that, but we do know that as we plant seeds where ever we go and try our best to lift people up through instruction and encouragement, amazing things are happening all over.  It is such a privilege to be part of this great work.

Brother Arana Kipa-Dakin - Waitara Branch Clerk  

Ilona Ruru signed on to FamilySearch for the first time ever and now had all but one of the names for her "Family 15 in 15".  She was very excited to submit her mother's name for temple ordianances.

Peter Patuwairua, Branch Mission Leader submitted is great-grandparents for
temple ordinances to work toward completing his 15 in 15

Auckland 2nd Ward Family History Night

We had the best time ever tonight teaching members of the Auckland 2nd ward how to do Family History. The room was filled with laughter, tears and love. One of the sisters said "I had a feeling tonight I've never had before. When I opened up the tree and saw my family's names there and knew I was part of that, it made me cry with love for them". If I EVER doubt for even one instant the truth of this work, may I forever remember this night.

Sisters from Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands and New Zealand.

We have also worked with Brother Harry Vete in his home to help him get his 15 in 15.

Oh how I love these ladies!

My Family 15-in-15....More than Who-begat-Who

We love our assignment as Area Family History Support missionaries working throughout the Pacific. We have especially enjoyed the opportunity to team with others in carrying out the My Family 15 in 15 goal.



There is nothing new about asking members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to compile records about four generation of their family.  The 15 in 15 program is unique, however, based on the emphasis placed on individual accountability.  Our main focus has been engaging the leadership of the church to set the example and the degree of expectation to "return and report".

The basic idea of recording our lineage back to our great-grandparents was initiated during the early days of the church.

At the April 1894 general conference, President Wilford Woodruff  presented a revelation to the membership of the Church.  “We want the Latter-day Saints from this time to trace their genealogies as far as they can, and to be sealed to their fathers and mothers. Have children sealed to their parents, and run this chain through as far as you can get it. … This is the will of the Lord to his people.” ⁽¹⁾  The Church began gathering print records from that time.  Microfilming of records started in 1938.⁽²⁾   As more records became available in the collections of various genealogical societies, the specific responsibility to seek out family records for at least four generations of every members’ family was instituted  in the mid 1960’s. ⁽³⁾

For generations, church leaders have invited and encouraged members to seek out their kindred dead to ensure that ordinances of salvation could be extended to them.There are many rich blessings which have been promised by prophets, seers and revelators to those who follow the commandment to seek out their  ancestors and take their names to the temple. (4)

 People around the world have been gathering family records for a very long time. Today, however, we seem to have reached a tipping point in which enthusiasm for this work is supported by a greater array of tools and resources than ever before. (5)(6) More than at any other time in history, it is now possible to obtain primary source records, histories, and government documents at the click of a button. 

The LDS Church has embraced emerging technologies for family history research in a big way.Substantial resources have been invested to ensure that church collections of geneology information are properly preserved and protected.⁽⁷⁾  Most family history centers offer internet services, including free access to a number of partner sites for anyone (member or non-member) who uses those centers.  FamilySearch has also made contractual agreements to allow free access in the home for specific premium websites for church members. ⁽⁸⁾⁽⁹⁾

There are currently 274 LDS family history centers in 14 countries throughout the Pacific Area. ⁽¹⁰⁾    Equipment for those centers is provided for and tracked by the Pacific Area Office in Auckland, New Zealand, where we work. (Keeping a technology inventory list up to date and ordering new computers and printers as needed are parts of our job).  Local leaders in each country assign individuals to work as volunteer Family History Center directors and consultants.  We have opportunities to train many of those people, as we recently did during our trip to Fiji. 

There are also several missionary camera teams working in New Zealand and in Australia, as well as a team in Papua New Guinea, to continually add to the growing collection of key family history information that is available.   Called "Records Preservation Missionaries" these folks provide a vital link that makes document research possible by filming old records in government archives, church records and other sources.  The combination of converting old microfilm records stored in the "granite mountain" into searchable digital images and the new images that are being captured from archives all over the world by records preservation teams are adding 400 million images each year to the LDS collection which are shared freely with the world  (11).

Even in those parts of the world where recorded documents are not generally available, great efforts are being made to preserve living memory by recording oral histories which can then be indexed to provide searchable records of a community or certain family group. (12) (13)

The My Family 15 in 15 goal encourages members to use the My Family booklet as a tool for  gathering information which can then be input to FamilySearch.org.  

The great thing about this book is that it encourages gathering stories and photos to bring memories of our ancestors to life.  Keeping an accurate record of names, dates and places detailing the when and where of each person's birth, marriage and death is all well and good.  By itself, however, even the most detailed chart of who-begat-who is not particularly inspiring.  It is the stories that help us feel a sense of connection to those in our family tree.

The most meaningful part of the trainings we do is when we teach people how to gather and record family stories.  We have been humbled and honored by the many stories that have been shared with us at each of the places we have visited.

It has made me want to do a better job of recording my own family stories and special personal experiences. I plan to begin with the list of QUESTIONS that I have so often shared with other folks to help them write their family narratives.  I will be posting the questions here on this blog so I can always find them easily.   Our days are often full and our schedule packed with a long "to do" list.  So it will take some careful planning to carve out time to focus on this.

However, if I have learned anything from my work on th My Family 15 in 15 program it is the power of leading by example.  I cannot sincerely expect the people I am teaching to get serious about writing their personal and family history stories if I am not willing to do it myself.

Who wants to join me?

Sources:

   1)  The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham (1946), 157; or Millennial Star, 28 May 1894, 339. As quoted by Russell M. Nelson.  April 1998. “A New Harvest Time”.  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/04/a-new-harvest-time?lang=eng

         2)   FamilySearch YouTube Video.  Uploaded October 8, 2010.  “Granite Mountain Records Vault, Part 1.  FamilySearch Genealogy Records”.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KLea_DPxb4

    3)  Ensign. (1972)  “What is the Four Generation Program?” https://www.lds.org/ensign/1972/03/what-is-the-four-generation-program?lang=eng

    4)  LDS.Org. (ND). Family History Topics. “The Promised Blessings of Family History”.  https://www.lds.org/topics/family-history/fdd-cook/blessings-video?lang=eng

     b  5)   Family Tree Magazine.com  July 28, 2014. “Best Tech Tools For Genealogy”. http://familytreemagazine.com/article/best-tech-tools-2014

    6) Gagne, Tammy. 2012.  A Kid’s Guide to Genealogy.  Using Technology to Find Your Family History. Mitchell Lane Publishers. 

https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=RLuXBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA44&dq=new+technology+for+family+history&hl=en&sa=X&ei=67WTVZf9AsTwmAWp346ICA&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=new%20technology%20for%20family%20history&f=false

          7)  Family Search YouTube Video. Uploaded Feb 4, 2011.  “Granite Mountain Records Vault, Part 2 – FamilySearch Genealogy Records.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYkLKAPzCfQ

    8)  FamilySearch.org. 2015. Partner Access. https://familysearch.org/partneraccess

     9)  Brimhall, Dennis. Febuary 26, 2014. FamilySearch Blog. FamilySearch Parnerships: Some Questions and Answers. https://familysearch.org/blog/en/questions-answers-familysearch-partners/

   10)  FamilySearch. (ND). Find a Family History Center.https://familysearch.org/locations/#

   11)  Lloyd, R. Scott.  Jan 22, 2013.  Church News.  "Preserving the World's Records".  

    https://www.lds.org/church/news/preserving-the-worlds-records?lang=eng

   12)  Mormon Newsroom.  February 8, 2014. "Church Making Strides Preserving African Family Histories".  http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/2014yearinreview/church-making-strides-preserving-african-family-histories/ 

    13)  Raleigh Yow, Valerie. 2005. Recording Oral History: A Guide For the Humanities and Social Sciences. Second Ed. P. 273.  Oxford, UK. AltaMira Press.

https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=IFkKhtalPzAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Recording+Oral+History:+A+Guide+For+the+Humanities+and+Social+Sciences.+Second+Ed.+P.+273&hl=en&sa=X&ei=brCTVZrzFIXVmgX5_oHYCw&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

My Family 15 in 15

The project we spend most of our time on is supporting the Pacific Area Presidency's goal called "My Family 15 in 15".  For over 100 years LDS people have been encouraged to seek out information about at least four generations of their ancestors and to perform saving ordinances for them in the temple.   The difference with this particular project is the degree of accountability it includes.

Stake leaders throughout the Pacific Area (including Australia, Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Papa New Guinea as well as New Zealand) are being specifically asked to report if they have entered their 15 names (which means doing 4 generations - self, parents, grandparents & great grandparents = 15 people) into FamilySearch.org.  The challenge is for every one of the members of Stake and District Councils to be sure those names are in the system (as far as is possible) and then to go to the temple for at least 1 family name.

Pacific Area Presidency - Elder O. Vincent Haleck, Elder Kevin Pearson and Elder Gifford Neislen with their
 4 generation charts showing their 15 in 15 completed

In the Pacific Area Office where we work there are a little over 200 people working in various departments (some are senior missionaries, most are church employees.)   Everyone in the office here was also challenged to complete the 15 in 15 goal.  I had the opportunity to work directly with some of these folks to help them locate their family information and get it into system.

This has been a remarkable program to work on.  We have seen so many blessings come from it.

I am a firm believer in the prophet's words when he quoted what he referred to as a cardinal principle of industrial management: "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates" (see Thomas S. Monson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 107).

There are times when tracking down reports from each stake and updating the master database for how people are progressing can be tedious in the extreme.  But I know that as we gather the numbers to make the reports, those numbers represent real lives that are being changed as a result of the experiences they are having.  It is by providing consistent and careful watch care over these reports we are able to reach out to the specific stake leaders who may be in need of further support and to cheer on those who are having success.

We have learned so much working together to carry out this program.  It will be exciting to see how things go as this spread outward to the ward councils and on to the rank and file membership of the church.