Faith Endures Through Hard Times

This past week my heart has gone out to the many suffering all over the world. So many lives have been harmed even lost. So much despair and sorrow. There have been many groups of people throughout history who have lived through terrible circumstances and underwent excruciating hardships. Many people who have been lost to war and strife in their nations. Thinking about this, I thought about how family history could possibly provide hope for us living today and for our children who will live on.

When we think about our ancestors, what thoughts come to our mind? What impressed you? Why do you remember or connect with specific individuals in your ancestral family line? Was there anything they did that has helped you and your family today? I was reading a talk titled, “How Family History Changes Our Hearts and Minds” by Amy Harris, a Professor of History and Genealogy, Brigham Young University. In this talk Amy discusses the idea of recognizing how important our ancestors' decisions can be to us living today. Their efforts helped lead us to where we are now.

“For years, every time I attended the temple, I thought of my great-great-grandmother Hannah Mariah Eagles Harris (1817–88), but not because I needed to perform proxy temple work on her behalf. Mariah (as she preferred to be called) is one of the reasons my family is even in the Church. She was baptized in 1840 in England, was endowed in Nauvoo, Illinois, was sealed to her husband in Winter Quarters, Nebraska, and died in Utah. My thoughts about her while I was in the temple were not about her need to have ordinances performed, but about how those ordinances bound her and me together across time and space.” Harris, Amy. 2 February 2015. “How Family History Changes Our Hearts and Minds.” Church of Jesus Christ.org: Accessed 13 October 2023. [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2015/02/how-family-history-changes-our-hearts-and-minds?lang=eng#kicker1]

Mariah’s decisions led her family down the line to be very blessed. Amy knew she might not be where she is today if not for Mariah’s courageous decision to be baptized and sealed to her eternal family. She also left England and traveled to Utah. That is now where Amy resides. Mariah made so many life-altering decisions that left a huge impact on her future posterity. Circling back to the many suffering today. How could family history be of any hope to them and us now? If there is one thing I know to be true in this life, it is that there is life after death. I know that we receive help from ancestors that have lived before us. I know that I have felt immense comfort in difficult times through the Holy Ghost and family members on the other side. I feel comfort and peace while working on and learning about family history now. I know that all those who have suffered immense pain and struggle because of war have received help from their ancestors in one way or another. Whether it is through their memory, lessons/knowledge learned that was passed down, or the influence that can be felt through the power of the Holy Ghost that their ancestors are with them helping them through difficult times.

So I ask you now. Who in your family line strengthens you? Who’s courageous decisions have brought hope to you and your family today? Our Savior Jesus Christ leads and guides us today. Through His example and guidance, we know how to truly follow Him in this life. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all have the opportunity to be healed from wounds that can be inflicted upon us here. Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will all have the opportunity to be with our loved ones and sealed to our families for time and all eternity. Our goodness, compassion, love, forgiveness, long suffering, we owe all to our Savior Jesus Christ. Our ancestors knew this truth and so do we. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.