Come Follow Me & Family History: Judges 2-4; 6-8; 13-16
“...and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10)
It wasn’t until I began taking family history classes through Brigham Young University–Idaho that I discovered I had pioneer ancestors. Even more astonishing, I learned that some of my ancestors were endowed and sealed in the Nauvoo Temple before heading west.
For generations, these stories went untold because no one had passed them on.
Knowing that my ancestors crossed the plains gives me strength and confidence that I can do hard things. Understanding the sacrifices they made to receive temple covenants before leaving their homes helps me better appreciate the importance of those sacred ordinances. They were willing to face persecution and uncertainty in order to follow the Lord with faith and devotion.
What courage they displayed. What faith they had in the Lord they loved.
If we are not intentional about passing down the stories of our ancestors, they too may be forgotten. Our children and grandchildren can come to know the Lord through our stories and through the stories of those who came before us.
One Story I Want my Children to Know
My husband and I were married during his ten-day leave between boot camp and combat training. We loved military life and planned to make it his career. Our hope was that he would serve for twenty years and then retire.
The Lord had other plans.
After five years, my husband was not selected for reenlistment. It was heartbreaking. People generously offered advice, and we dutifully pursued every avenue, but everything felt difficult—as if we were trying to walk forward while strong winds pushed us back.
After months of feeling stuck and losing hope, my husband decided to switch branches and join the
Army. As he was getting ready to leave the house, I suddenly said, “I don’t want to go back into military life. I want to move to Utah.”
I don’t know why I felt that way. Other than visiting Zion National Park, I had never been to Utah before.
Almost immediately, everything began to fall into place. My husband found work, and six months later the girls and I joined him. As we sat in sacrament meeting on our very first Sunday in Utah, I was overwhelmed with peace and the unmistakable feeling that this was where we were meant to be.
I still do not fully understand why we struggled for so long, but I know the Lord was aware of our family. He was working miracles we could not yet see.
Through that experience, I learned that we can trust the Lord even in seasons of uncertainty and struggle because He prepares blessings we may not yet understand. In many ways, it reminds me of my pioneer ancestors who endured persecution and hardship while moving forward in faith, trusting that the Lord had blessings waiting for them on the other side of their sacrifice.
If the stories of my pioneer ancestors had never been discovered or shared, I would have missed powerful examples of courage, sacrifice, and faith. Their stories remind me that the Lord is mindful of His children in every generation.
Judges 2:10 teaches how easily faith can be forgotten when stories are not passed down. As we intentionally preserve and share our family stories, our children and grandchildren can come to know the Lord through the experiences of those who came before them.
Activity: God's Hand in Our Family
Think of a time when the Lord helped your family. Draw or write about that experience.
Then, if possible, ask a grandparent or older family member to share a time the Lord helped them or Is there a story that has been passed down about the Lord helping one of your ancestors?
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