“How We Have Been Blessed through Family History Work,” Liahona, Feb. 2025, United States and Canada Section.
How We Have Been Blessed through Family History Work
The Lord blessed these three members in different ways as they participated in temple and family history work.
Illustrations by Kylee Bodily
Increased Power to Handle Challenges
During her teenage years, Sarah Farr suffered with mental health issues and eating disorders, and she struggled to feel God’s love. She grew to love temple and family history work because it relieved her burdens. She said, “I began spending at least one hour per day on FamilySearch. When I was baptized and confirmed as proxy for my female ancestors, the Holy Spirit was so strong and uniquely powerful.
“As I diligently and consistently served the Lord through family history work, the power of Jesus Christ came into my life, and I felt Him give me the power to begin gradually improving my eating habits. Within a few years, I had the power to act and not be acted upon. I had the power to choose to eat healthily consistently, and my health began to improve. The temptation of the eating disorders did not go away, but I gained the power to resist the temptation through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”
Increased Strength during Difficult Times
During a difficult time in Melinda Trego’s life, she found hope by learning about an ancestor. She said, “I found that my great-grandmother had some similar experiences over 85 years ago! I had known my great-grandmother when I was a child, and she was always very cheerful and had a positive attitude. I never realized the hard things she had to do until I started to look at the information available about her life.
“I found a picture of her with her beautiful smile and put it where I could see her face,” she said. This helped Sister Trego find strength by remembering her ancestor’s life and example. The connection she felt helped her deal with her difficulties while maintaining a cheerful and positive attitude.
Increased Testimony of Jesus Christ’s Atonement
Amy Wilson related how she learned of the Savior’s love for all. Her father was a convert and came from a troubled family, which was difficult for her and her family. As she worked on her family history, she found the name of an ancestor who had struggled with alcohol and had abandoned his family. She wondered if she should submit his name for temple work.
She looked at his photo, and the Spirit whispered to her heart, “He is not beyond the reach of the Savior’s Atonement.” She pondered the statement and thought, “Do I believe that the Savior suffered for my sins so that I can repent? Do I believe that the Savior also suffered for this man’s sins so that he can repent? The answer was and is yes. My ancestor still has the opportunity to repent and accept the gospel, and he, just like me, is not beyond the reach of the Savior.”
She submitted his name for temple work and participated in performing ordinances for many of his posterity. “I have felt the healing power that comes from researching my family and doing their temple work. My faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ has become stronger as I have let Him take the burdens of sadness, anger, and judgment from me and my family.”