She remembered how her life had come crashing down. A friend at school had turned on her, and started bullying her. At the same time, she was notified that she wouldn't be able to get into the advanced program for cello. And on top of that, her dad lost his job, and they had to move. Now that made it easier because she would move schools. But she felt alone, and hesitated to make friends.
As she went to the new ward, she sat with her family. She moved her red hair out of her face, and looked around. There were a lot of people and other girls her age. But no one reached out to her. She had to ask someone where she would meet for young womens, and she found the other girls weren't very friendly. But she kept coming with her family.
The second Sunday, she listened to a young boy give his testimony about the importance of Family History. Ella remembered a talk by Elder Bednar saying that youth could do family history, but this was the first time her heart felt touched by the spirit. She listened to this young boy talk about how his mother showed him how to do family history, and how he was turning 11 and would soon go to the temple to do their baptisms for them.
It was the first time she had felt peace in a long time. She couldn't stop thinking about it. when she was home, she wanted to get started, so she searched for the Family Tree Mobile App. She found it, and remembered that all church apps would work with her one Account login, so she signed in.
After signing in, the Family Tree section came up, and she spent some time exploring her ancestors stories. 2 hours later, she had discovered she had 2 great grandmothers who had experienced severe trials in Nauvoo, and as they came across the plains. As she read their stories, she felt a connection to them, and she didn't feel so alone in the trials she faced that often tormented her. She put her hand behind her head, brushing her hair down, and she felt a bit of hope come into her life, and it felt for a bit almost like she knew these women were there. The comfort of the spirit calmed her like nothing else.
And then she got an idea-but how could she follow the impression? She didn't know anything about Family History, and no one in her home did. Still, she couldn't ignore the impression. She tapped the 3 lines on the top of the app, then tapped help, and called the Family History Help line. When Sister Benbow asked how she could help, Ella asked her how she could get started on the app?
She was surprised how much Sister Benbow knew about the app, and she told her to look for ancestors who had new records under the "Ancestors with tasks" bar. After a few minutes with Sister Benbow, Ella felt like she was ready to try on her own. In closing, Sister Benbow recommended she try looking for the app help videos, so she could become better acquainted with the app.
The videos were long, so she just watched part of one, partly because of the strength of the impression, and she wanted to get started right away. She felt something alive in her like never before, and there seemed to be some sort of purpose to her doing this. She had never experienced this before-this sense of purpose pushing her onward.
But after all Sunday researching and trying to find names, she found nothing. It was discouraging. The same thing happened the next Sunday. She flopped onto her bed with a harrumph. She remembered the spirit she had felt originally, but that had faded a bit. And she began to doubt the impression.
Then she remembered that boy's talk. She could still see his earnest face, clear brown eyes and dark hair, and hear his confident voice-strange there was such confidence in an 11 year old. He stated that he couldn't find names, and so had asked the Lord for help, and that soon after that, he had found some records with some of his ancestors names on the Family Search Website-and they hadn't had their work done yet.
Ella admitted, she didn't know of any other way to go, so she prayed, and asked the Lord to help her to find some of her ancestors names. She related how she had felt her ancestors near, and how she had thought he wanted her to work on her Family History but needed help. As she closed the prayer, she felt a sense of peace. As she was pondering, about 20 minutes after the prayer, she got the impression to call the Family History Center again.
So she did. And after a short conversation with a very delightful Consultant named Elder Oakenberry, who had a good sense of humor and a deep voice, Ella went back to work, this time trying to see if there were any additional hints on her ancestors with tasks. After checking through five of them, she saw a relative from another posterity line who had a census record. On her records, it showed he was just single, but the census records showed a wife and five children!
She tapped review, and then quickly added the names, remembering to search for duplicates, and when she didn't find any, got very excited. She said a little silent prayer, and felt an overwhelming peace. She felt as if heaven were near, and a sense of Joy. She also felt like these people were real, and needed their work done.
She tossed her hair behind her shoulder, and was able to reserve all 6 names, 4 women, and 2 men's names. And she knew that the impression she had gotten weeks ago was true. She knew she was doing the Lord's work, and she felt of his gratitude. Her blue eyes filled with tears as she realized she would be able to do these baptisms and confirmations.
Unbeknownst to Ella, in the same room, but in the spirit world, the Glorious being with the Hansen Family showed them this girl named Ella, and let them know that Ella and her father would be getting baptized and confirmed for them in a few weeks. And as he spoke, they felt something else.
The spirit filled the room, and Blue eyed Hans, blonde Etta, and their children were filled with such joy as they hovered there just by Ella. They had just finished their proxy lessons when they learned that their names would be found soon, and when they realized it was almost time, they were filled with joy.
They now felt a connection to this dear girl Ella, and committed that when her life was over, they would be there to meet her. For over 150 years they had waited to receive the blessings of the true church, and now it would become a reality. The thought that they might be able to return to the Savior they loved so much was almost more than they could imagine.
Later, as they were in the temple, they felt the presence of the Lord. And it seems Ella had felt it, too, because they saw tears falling down her freckled cheeks as they were confirmed.
And Ella, sitting in the foyer of the temple afterwards, reflected upon how much her life had changed. She had more peace in her life. She didn't feel alone. She felt a connection to the Lord, and to people she couldn't see or hear, but knew were there. And it had changed her.
She watched her Father walk out of the baptistry, see her, and then they walked out of the temple together, not speaking, and enjoyed the lingering feeling of the unspoken experiences.
I testify that as you will engage in Family History and Temple work, your life will change in ways you can't imagine right now. You will see miracles happen in your lives, you will feel more connected to your Father in Heaven, and maybe more importantly, you will find a purpose and meaning to your life.
You will become a Savior on Mount Zion, and you will join the multitudes who are sowing and reaping to help hasten the Lord's work in preparation for the second coming. Jesus Christ lives. He stands at the head of this work. Engaging in this great vicarious work of salvation brings its own reward. It is joy, peace, and comfort to the weary soul. It will enlighten your mind, and bring you the peace you never thought you needed.
Discover your own story on the Free Family Tree Mobile App or at the Family Search Website. Below is a one minute video about how youth and children are doing Family History work. "We are doing an eternal work, we are doing the Lord's work."
Picture is the Accra Ghana Temple courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Media Library
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