I like this idea of what we can individually gain from knowing our family history and gospel heritage.
I wondered if each of those enthusiastic Arizona youth knew their own Church history—if they knew the history of how their family came to be members of the Church. It would be a wonderful thing if every Latter-day Saint knew the conversion stories of their forefathers.
“Your church history” I’d the history of your ancestors coming to and living in the church.
Whether or not you are a descendant of pioneers, the Mormon pioneer heritage of faith and sacrifice is your heritage. It is the noble heritage of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Converts are adopted into the pioneer heritage of the church just as latter-day covenant makers are aspired into the House of Israel. Stories like the one Elder Walker shared are the heritage of even the newest convert.
Eighteen months after departing with the battalion, Robert Harris was safely reunited with his beloved Maria. They stayed true and faithful to the restored gospel throughout their lives. They had 15 children, 13 of whom lived to maturity. My grandmother Fannye Walker, of Raymond, Alberta, Canada, was one of their 136 grandchildren.
If only 13 of their children lived to maturity then 136 grandchildren means that their children averaged more than 10 children each.
The more connected we feel to our righteous forefathers, the more likely we are to make wise and righteous choices.
And so it is. Each of us will be greatly blessed if we know the stories of faith and sacrifice that led our forefathers to join the Lord’s Church.
Although the admonition came from a letter from Robert Harris, I believe that countless forefathers would send the same message to their children and grandchildren: First, we must not forget the experiences we have had in the temple, and we must not forget the promises and the blessings that come to each of us because of the temple. Secondly, we must not forget that we are led by a prophet of God.
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