As part of my preparation, I was studying some writings of John A. Widtsoe, a former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, noted author, scientist, academic, and recognized amateur genealogist. His testimony of keeping accurate records has given me much to ponder and appreciate in the work I am doing as a missionary. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes:
“As I view it, in every family a record
should be kept of the immediate family: the father, the grandfather, and the
great-grandfather— at least of those of whom we have a memory. That record
should be the first stone, if you choose, in the family altar. It should be a
book known and used in the family circle; and when the child reaches maturity
and gets out to make another household, one of the first things that the young
couple should take along should be the records of their families, to be
extended by them as life goes on. It does no harm if there is duplication.
There is a strength, an inspiration, and a joy in having such a record near at
hand, to be used frequently, the story of our ancestors, their names, the times
in which they lived, and something about their lives and accomplishments. Each
one of us carries, individually, the responsibility of record keeping, and we
should assume it.”
(Church
News, Oct. 31, 1942.)
“Those who give themselves with all their might and main to this work...receive help from the other side, and not merely in gathering genealogies. Whosoever seeks to help those on the other side receives help in return in all the affairs of life.”
John A. Widtsoe, Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, July 1931,
p. 104.
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