Sharing Family Stories of Faith

This is a link to an article in Meridian Magazine about sharing family stories. Anne you would especially like it I think!

http://www.meridianmagazine.com/turninghearts/100709history.html

My Great, Great, Great, Grandfather

I guess because I was abandonded by both parents and raised by a grandmother who was less than thrilled to do the job (meaning she left the job to me) I have never felt connected to anyone except my husband and children who I am passionately devoted to! But, I have never felt any real connection with ancestors. They have been just names on a pedigree chart. I've wondered if I suffer from some attachment syndrome or something---honestly! I guess when your own mother doesn't even care enough to talk with you more than once in the last 20 years and maybe a contact once a year in the 25+ years before that, it's a little hard to believe that a long-dead realative with thousands in posterity, could even know who you are, let alone care about you.

Yesterday I felt compelled to share this experience in testimony meeting. I resisted as long as my beating heart would allow, thinking that this was another wonderful witness, but that it was only for me. I was quite astounded with the reponse of a few in our ward afterward. Well, I thought that if I should share this experience in my ward I should surely share it with my family and friends.

When I first heard the film presented before the tour of the new Draper Temple it mentioned two of the men who founded Draper. Ebenezar Brown (who is related to Ron) and William Draper who is my Great, Great, Great, Grandfather. These two amazing men where friends who lived through all of the persecution of the church starting with Kirtland until they settled Draper. They became brothers-in-law when William married Phoebe Brown Ebenezar's sister. (Girls remember when your Dad took you to Draper and gave you the tour in the park which contains their statues) I had always known I was related to William Draper. But, when I heard his name mentioned in the film, for the first time I really felt something. He hasn't been far from my thoughts since. Last Saturday we served for hours at the open-house and I thought of him again. I've thought of him in the Jordan River Temple as I have administered in the ordinances there.

I got quite emotional (something I really try not to do in church) as I bore my testimony that the Temple is REAL. The ordinances are REAL. People on the other side really do know who we are! I've always known that I was William Draper's great, great, great granddaughter, but for the first time in my life I know that he knows it too! He knows me and cares about me, and is grateful I think, that I will be serving in the Draper Temple!

Ordinary People

I had the most extraordinary dream last night. It seemed to last for hours and in such great detail! Ron and I were visiting Aunt Mame’s house after it had been restored and opened to the public. It was so large, and we marveled at the changes. It was just filled with memorabilia and at the end of the tour you could buy copies to help offset the cost of the restoration.

The extraordinary thing about the dream, was that as the tour guide moved us from room to room she taught the values of hard work, honesty, etc. of the couple who had built the home. In the dream they began to blend with Ron’s other grandparents the Fairbourns and some of the rooms looked like their house. But, then the entire church was celebrating these people. In all the wards they were having anyone who was descended from them speak in church. I marveled because these people were not prophets or famous public servants, just good ordinary people. Ron, Krisiti, Brian, Julie and Becky as well as little Becky and Ammon all participated and they were each amazed that they would be asked to do this.

The amazing thing about the dream was the feelings that it left me with. This morning I still feel a sense of deep gratitude that my husband and children are descended from such a noble family! And, I am a little amazed that these people were being so honored not for some extraordinary large scale public achievement, but for simply being good!

I am reminded of Elder Packer’s last conference talk when he said that the common good people in the church are the same in the Lord’s eyes as the highest leaders! I need to read this talk again, because most of the time I feel so insignificant! I wish I could express the profound feelings of honor and respect these people and “our family” were receiving for simply being good honorable people!