James is a great

boy. He's always been exceptionally obedient, and he's an easygoing kid.

He's athletic. He's a peacemaker in our family. He really is.

And he's a self motivated child, which is wonderful.

He is just kind of an amazing boy. I have to say, I am his mom. So I'm 11 years old and I'm in sixth grade. I've always kind of liked puzzles. I don't know. I kind of had a knack for doing puzzles. Blames my little brother, and he's probably one of my best friends.

My older brother is Max, and we like to joke around a lot. And my my older sister, Emily, we we like to just kind of play around with jokes and have fun.

We were listening to general conference

and we heard Elder Bednar speak about family history. And in particular, he invited youth and children.

I invite the young people of the church to learn about and experience the spirit of Elijah.

We didn't know how to do family history, really.

And but we knew that we have someone in our ward who's called to be a word family history consultant.

And so I approached her and and asked her if there was anything she could do to help us.

The word family history consultant came and told told us how important it was for us to know who our ancestors are and to come to love them. And we met around our computer.

You know, she she just opened the door for a lot of different ways that that you could get involved.

And in particular, my son James was really just kind of crowding around her. They're very, you know, excited about it.

It was interesting that James and actually William were the two that were so energized and excited about it. I thought it kind of looked interesting. So as soon as the family history consultant left, I immediately wanted to try family history. And so I got on the computer.

I first expected it to be pretty hard, and so I didn't expect to really find any. But when I found my first one, it was kind of like, Oh, I just found someone who doesn't have their ordnances done. And then I found another, and so I just kind of thought, This is actually pretty fun. It didn't take him long at all. And so there were his his first names and he was excited. I think that next Sunday, you know, when we came home from church, James just decided this was a great thing to do on a Sunday afternoon.

Well, it's kind of like what you're doing is you're finding more pieces to the puzzle of your your genealogy. And you can just also this is where this goes or

so this is how this person fits into my family. And elder business conference talk.

He gave several promises to youth and children

who would participate in family history. Work, I promise you, will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary as you participate and love this holy work. You will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives.

I just really wanted those amazing promises for my children and they are amazing promises. What? Mother wouldn't want that for her children.

I think this is really this family's history work has really helped me spiritually because. I've really been focusing more on what's important.

Not like, Oh, can I go get this text or something like that? It's really made me want to work more and do the Lord's work.

I really wouldn't be surprised if James has prepared over 200 names for us.

He's gotten our whole family kind of focused around the temple

because because he's focused in on family history work and because he's done that, he's focused on the temple all the time.

So I think because we've had this experience, there hasn't been as much contention around the house as there used to be. And I really think that it's kind of gotten my older brothers and sisters who actually do the work to go to the temple more and to really profit from the blessings that you can get from going to the temple. And it's just really helped our family.

He's doing the work. He's doing what he was asked to do. And I think it will be a blessing to James and he will have some additional protection and blessings that he would not have otherwise had.

I think it's just kind of the feeling of being able to do something for other people that really keeps you going on it. James can't go to the temple yet,

but this is a way for him to be involved.

When I see James's name on those cards, I just I do feel a lot of peace.

So I get to see these cards with the person's name on it and all their ordinances that have been fulfilled that need to be fulfilled. And then my name on it. So it's kind of special for me.