99 on 9th day of 9th month 2023

Expect Miracles!

To honor our prophet, and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I quote him from his Oct 2022 talk entitled, "Overcome the World and Find Rest"

"....my dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead. In comng days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior's power that the world has ever seen.

"Between now and the time He returns with 'power and great glory', He will bestow countless privileges, blessings and MIRACLES upon the faithful."

Journals Record Personal Miracles

President Nelson continued, "Let Him know through your prayers and your actions that you are serious about overcoming the world. Ask Him to enlighten your mind and send the help you need. Each day, record the thoughts that come to you as you pray; then follow through dilgently. Spend more time in the temple, and seek to understand how the temple teaches you to rise above this fallen world."

Why I Do Family History and Temple Work

It is in this talk that I found my patriarchal blessing's expression of my personal life mission explained.

He said, "Anytime we do anything that helps anyone -- on either side of the veil -- to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel."

My Miracles Happen Quietly

As I focus on one individual in my family on FamilySearch who is dead, I find memories, photos and records or sources that mention them. My thoughts of them probably surprise them. They may have thought that their life was a hum drum plain vanilla one lived out in obscurity, but I am showing them by my love, focus and concern, that simply is not true. They matter. They matter to me and they matter to God. He knows them individually. 

More than likely, I promised them in the pre-existence that I would find them, and perform for them a work that they cannot do for themselves.

79 not 99

I was born 79 years ago into the very family lineage that would enable me to exercise my gifts and talents of solving mysteries, finding puzzle pieces, and the skills needed for researching, needed to identify each and every one. THE ONE IS IMPORTANT. Mine is a tree with messy roots, meaning many children, many with multiple marriages and all farmers. No one famous. No pioneer heritage. During the pandemic I added over 8,000 names.

 Now I quote President Nelson in his talk given April 2018 "Let Us All Press On"

"Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God's children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for etrnal life."

THIS IS MY BIRTHDAY GIFT TO OUR PROPHET, PRESIDENT RUSSELL M. NELSON! 

 

The Summer of Eye Discontent

 

“The Summer of Eye Discontent”

Fix your eyes on Jesus Christ

He is my pioneer

In this the winter of my life,

He is the author of my faith

He brings contentment.

Right eye, wrong eye

Focus near, focus far, or not

Wear glasses now half-accurate

Blink, Blink, Blink

What is left?

The other eye becomes right.

Where, then will that leave me?

Content or not?

Fix my eyes on Him in

Every circumstance of my life

God will make for my good

If my focus is on Him.

Crystal clear vision

Through spiritual eyes

Brings true contentment.

The peace of God

Reigns in my heart now

The seasons of my life flee

and long far away there

I glimpse eternity.

--Bev Field 20 Jun 2023

More of the Photo Story

Shadows Define Light

Photography is the perfect medium to show the contrast between dark and light, good and evil, sad and happy, and even to tell the story of relationships.

One summer I asked local photographer to take photos of me and my grandson. The result was an amazing, fun story of our relationship.

A Portrait of me in 2015
by Linda Larson

Our Story is Worth Everything! 

When world reknowned photographer Me Ra Koh sponsored by Sony told her story at RootsTech2023 as a keynote speaker, she showed the most exquisite photos that I've ever seen, she said "Shadows define light" and "Our story is Worth Everything!" and the "world is desparate for authenticity." It rang true! She and her team ask close relatives about the person who is to be photographed, then they arrange the session and tell that person how the others described them. And the resulting photos revealed a unique voice or rather captured the resilence, that continues to inspire for years. I have had photos taken that did that same thing for me and my grandson.

Here is my favorite photo of my grandson. An enlarged copy of this photo printed on canvas, hangs on my bedroom wall so that it is the first thing I see each morning. His smile absolutely delights me. 

But we were having so much fun that summer, that to capture it, the two of us dressed up like Ninja Turtles! My mother dressed up at Halloween, so did I. I dressed up to sell fireworks in a red devil outfit while in the Jr. Woman's Club. So this was just another part of my history that tells a story. 

Many people now know me as very serious. But I have a completely crazy side too!

Ninja Turtles

Hugs

Comparing In-person and Online Experiences at RootsTech

My In-Person Experience at Rootstech
 Several Years Ago in 2015

There is no comparison for Me
Physically I am no longer able to travel. I use a walker. My knees give out even using that walker. I've lost 80 lbs since the photo of 2015. The walker is smaller, I am smaller, my budget is smaller, and so the Online experience is FABULOUS!!!!!

FOR EXAMPLE:

While watching a Main Stage Performance, I cried, learned new things and began asking myself questions that I'd never thought of before today. Like, There is now a Foster Care app for finding family members (I used to befriend a fostered girl for several years, who eventually found her parents, married and now has children):

 or when world reknowned photographer Me Ra Koh sponsored by Sony told her story with the most exquisite photos that I've ever seen, said "Shadows define light" and "Our story is Worth Everything!" and the "world is desparate for authenticity, it rang true! She and her team ask close relatives about the person who is to be photographed, then they arrange the session and tell that person how the others described them. And the resulting photo revealed a unique voice or rather captured resilence, that continues to inspire. I have had photos taken that did that same thing for me and my grandson.

 

Day Two at RootsTech2023 Blew Away My Mind

 The Innovations and Technology Forum at RootsTech2023

The first mind-blowing visual was on the Main Stage when CEO of FamilySearch International, Steve Rockwood, began doing push-ups and had MC record this act for Marco Polo. Apparently Steve had been using this app with his familly for sometime to challenge other family members to stay fit. 

I too, have been using Marco Polo's free app to unite with 16 "Inklings" friends to spiritually unite. We discuss a different LDS Conference talk and a scripture each week. 

During the Innovations and Technology Forum, MARCO POLO was the first presentation. Not only was it delightfully presented by it's UkrainianCEO Vlada Bortnik, but the purpose and moral premises of the company swelled my heart with gratitude and joy with their integrity.

Other Presentations Incuded:

FamilySearch's Computer Generated Trees

Stories with their Story Assist App

Bank of Memories their Blackchained FamilyTree, FamilyFriend DOA, and Memo

Kursame by Warren Stein from Tel Aviv

GenXT with Stanislaw Nikolsky a DNA Confidential Computing app

Ericcson Updates by Oscar Johnson with EPHAS 5G emersive imagine

MAC Family Tree by Benjamin Gunter app for iUsers that interfaces with FamilySearch

MyHeritage by Maya Lerner and their AI Time Machine This is a fun opportunity to see yourself in various past historical times as well as present and future garb. Here are a few of my own from present day frontal and side portraits used by AI to historical and future:

Side View Dec 2022 for MyHeritage AI

Portrait Feb 2023

Western Era

1970's Flower child

Recent Royalty

Portrait of Lady in Gold

My favorite of Midieval Woman

The Futuristic Me

Adding Pieces to the Puzzle at RootsTech2023

Attending Virtually in the Comfort of My Living Room

I've looked at the schedule and found the sessions of RootsTech2023 that I am interested in placing them on a "playlist." Some are "live" and others are prerecorded. My selected sessions for today, can be rewatched for the next month if not a year. These are all AMAZING! Just what I need to improve my research skills. After over 30 years of doing and loving family history, I find that there's SO MUCH more to learn. The most amazing part of this experience are the downloadable Syllabuses!!!! These include digital links to other sources like archives, libraries, databases, wiki and books.

My list of sessions today include: How to Research in the FamilySearch Wiki, Finding the Living-Reverse Genealogy, 10 Things a Genealogist Should do before Leaving a Library or Archive, How to Use a Manuscript Collection (and where to find them), Main Stage Guest: Jordin Sparks and Keynote Speakers, Innovationand Technology Forum, What's New at Ancestry, My Heritage Photo Features New Releases and to top off the day Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction. 

ALL OF THESE ADD PIECES TO MY PUZZLE

RootsTech2023 and away we go!

Finding Christ's Help in Solving the Puzzle

The serious theme for RootsTech 2023 is "Uniting" people, traditions, stories, memories, technology, innovation, communities and families.

Faith, identity, place and grace-- our stories may be our own, as we connect and belong, shared stories can unite us all. Sister Susan L. Gong said, ""the stories we preserve (in any format) and share through generations can have a lasting impact on our hears and minds."

"I hope," she continues "that we will each make an effort to discover our own family stories, record them and to share them with our children and grandchildren. I hope that we will all gain greater understanding and appreciation for the struggles, courage, faith and sacrifice of those who have gone before... and I pray that we will live lives of goodness to honor their memories and show thanks for the gift of life they have given to us."  

The FUN theme of this week of "Uniting" includes sharing other activities that engage children, youth, young adults and even other luke-warm Latter-day Saint members who view this work, and I quote: it's like "watching paint dry,"

Let's put Jesus Christ back into the center of our focus and allow Him to help us. 

Let's Come Unto Christ

Try writing in a journal, scrapbook, or create any other record of your personal or family history in your favorite format (formats could be paper, digital, audio, etc.)

● Digitize family photos or otherwise preserve heirlooms/memorabilia to share with future generations

● Tell family stories

● Make a family recipe or keep a family tradition

● Learn about the places or time periods of your ancestors’ lives

● Add sources or memories to FamilySearch’s Tree

● Interview a relative

● Study family history-related doctrine or church history (family proclamation, temples, Elijah, etc.)

● Attend the temple

● Babysit for someone who is attending the temple

● Work on your own worthiness in order to attend the temple

As President Gordon B. Hinckley used to say, just "DO IT," and I say do it with a S.M.I.L.E.

SHARING

MEMORIES

IS 

LAUDABLY/LAUGHINGLY

EXCITING