The largest conference of its kind

Genealogy (aka Family History work) is a hobby/obsession of mine. If you are "into" genealogy you know what I mean- the rush of being immersed in history piecing together the lives of our ancestors that came before us. It is fantastic stuff! Anyway I got the chance to attend Rootstech, a conference all about family history work, and further my knowledge of my favorite thing to do. Here is a rundown/review of what happened the one day I could attend-

The date- February 6, 2016
The time - 7:16am
The location- The Salt Palace Convention Center

I walk into the large ballroom and am overwhelmed by the sheer amount of empty chairs before me. I take my seat as close as I possibly could - about 8 rows from the front (rows 1-7 were reserved). I was so excited to hear the keynote speakers Mike Leavitt (former Utah Governor) and Doris Kearns Goodwin (Award winning author) - I have never waited as patiently as I did for the conference to begin at 8:30am.

Leavitt told several stories from his own life but focused on one I hope to never forget. He told the story when Salt Lake City was chosen for the 2002 Olympics. The run with the Olympic torch began in Greece by placing flammable items in a hot bowl and the sun ignites the fire.

Part of the run was completed by a 5th grade boy in Utah. Governor Leavitt asked an Olympic official, "Why that boy?" The official said, "You don't know what the meaning of the torch run is do you?" Leavitt agreed with the official.

Weeks passed with no contact when finally Leavitt called the official and asked for more information as to why the young boy was chosen for the run. The official chuckled and simply said, "Since the olympics that boy has never sat alone at lunch."

The Olympics is about lifting each other up which is what family history work is all about- helping each other piece together the history of our family  

In The Temple, I Learned...

In LDS Temples, sacred ordinances are performed for ourselves and for those that came before us. To learn more about why Latter-Day Saints build temples click here.

In December, I started working at the Bountiful LDS Temple. Recently, I went to the temple to start my shift, after being turned down for yet another job I had interviewed for; I felt frustrated and my self worth was slowly declining to the point I almost didn’t go to the temple. I forced myself to smile and made my way into the temple to begin working.

I began assisting an elderly woman in a wheel chair, I became extremely concerned she would not be able to complete the ordinance when a quote from Elder Jeffery R Holland entered my mind, “…loved ones whom we knew, to have disabilities in mortality, will stand before us [at the resurrection] glorified and grand; breathtakingly perfect in body and mind.” 

I admit it, tears were running down my cheek when it became clear to me that God is not concerned with our education or experience in the corporate world. In the temple, no one is better than another; we are all working together to complete His will.

Why did I need to learn this? I honestly don't know for sure, maybe to help ease the stress I was facing. That's the cool part of going to the temple- you get to leave the stress of the world behind you.