Become A Family Historian!

Today is Pioneer Day.  A day that for many of us brings back memories of the stories told us about our heritage.  Perhaps a good day for us to record those stories - it's a good day to start.  We don't have to come from "Mormon Pioneer Stock" to recognize the sacrifices of those early Saints and also recognize the benefit that has come from their stories of faith, courage, charity, joys and sorrows.

This week, I read an article published in the Dessert News and written by Keith A. Erekson, Church History Library Director (and coincidentally Cindy Erekson's son).  The article is entitled Honor the pioneers by telling better stories.

As I read this article, I thought of the family history stories my grand-mother, mother and then I collected and compiled.  While I did my best to document these family histories, I'm sure there are errors in them.  I have shared them on Family Tree with the intent that others can benefit from what I had in piles & boxes for many years and that perhaps they would be inspired to share what they have stored in boxes too.  I appreciated the professional instruction from Brother Erekson in this article and know that as I go forward in my own family history research, I will employ his suggestions to help me be a better family historian.

We each have family histories that can be collected, recorded and shared.  That process is part of the injunction to seek out our ancestors.  We seek them to be able to perform sacred temple ordinances for them, but also to remember them, honor them, learn from them - to know them.  As we seek to find and preserve the histories of our families, we are blessed.  I know they are aware of our seeking for them and their gratitude will bless our efforts and our lives in ways we may not expect.  I have seen how preserving and sharing the stories of my ancestors has drawn my children closer to the Lord and opened doors of communication within our family.

Pictures are a great place to start.  Gather what you have - Document who and when - and then Share those photos with your family.  Family Tree is a great way to make those photos available to extended family - cousins you might not even know about.  And did you know that our Columbia Maryland Family History Center has an amazing photo scanner that you can use?  

I'm going to celebrate Pioneer Day today by spending some time being a family historian....and then maybe eat some sourdough biscuits like my pioneer ancestors would have made.

-Lorie Pierce

Anna Margaretha Buchi  "Margaret"
A Pioneer from Switzerland