Though I did not feel that the lyrics to ‘Windows of My Soul,’ by Quinton Mills, were particularly inspiring, the idea of there being windows of or to our soul has been tickling my thoughts. There are many windows and they play an important part in our lives. For example, I was sitting relaxed in…
Tag: Ancestors
On Elijah
What is the heart of the FamilySearch.org Family Tree program? For all our talk about compiling histories and making memories, the real heart of the Family Tree is the Spirit of Elijah, President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of this back in General Conference in October of 1994, when…
On The Law Of Others
We have been instructed by the Savior to “Be ye perfect even as your Father in Heaven is perfect”—an admonition that was an objective, one not meant for this life, but rather, it was an eternal objective for each of us. The Father’s perfection, justice and power are all directed toward assisting His children to…
On Census Records
In verifying a person’s identity in our family line, legitimate sources are absolutely necessary. If a relative were working on our line and made a notation in the source area that said; “I believe this is the correct person?” With no other evidence, an experi- enced researcher in that family may suspect that the entry…
On Israel And You
Israel, in the Hebrew language, literally means “Champion of God” (From the Book, ‘Wisdom of Israel’). Israel was the name given to Jacob when he ‘prevailed with God’ at Penuel in the wilderness. Jacob (Israel) was the son of Isaac who was the son of the great Abraham. Israel had twelve sons who eventually became…
On The Greatest Achievement
Different persons will give a different answer as to what is the greatest achievement in a person’s life. If I were a long distance runner winning a marathon might be my answer. Many would say to marry a good person whom you love and raise several children who grow to be good citizens who contribute…
On Looking At Others
What do we see when we look at others? Do we superficially compare ourselves in some prideful way or do we develop a tinge of jealousy because they appear younger or better looking, maybe in better condition? I thought this following story was humorous and maybe described how some of us really are. “Have you…
On Serendipity in Family Research
A story by my wife, Joanne When I first started to do my father’s family history, I had very little information. But I did know from family stories that my grandfather, John James, was a two year old when their family emigrated from England and settled in Colorado. Because my father was born in Colorado…
On Mining And Miners
History has demonstrated that mining has been going on nearly since man first existed on earth. Mining is not limited to coal, silver, gold and other valuable minerals, but those are most commonly associated with the thought of mining today and in the recent past. Mining can be associated with most everything man does that…
On Ancestral Awe
Can a person be in awe of something or someone that they have never met nor seen? Maybe not, but that is the way I feel when I think about and read about my great great grandfather, John H. Fairbanks. He was truly a man for his time. A time when life was a struggle…