Treasure
of Heart and Spirit
By Sherlene Hall Bartholomew
I beg forgiveness for failing to emphasize enough the most obvious source
for success in “The Search” after our very living and dead.
For years I have given at least passing mention to family
history efforts in my personal prayers. However, I have
in more recent times realized that I am no longer so immortal
as in my teens. Consciousness of passing time has weighed
heavily, evoking prayers over my ancestral search that is
increasingly specific and pleading.
I believe our Father is very practical in His hope to keep us, His children,
coming Home, in sweet communion. If He blesses us without
our asking, how are we to recognize answers and the Fount
for such? How can He guide our hand, unless we accept His
invitation to reach out for His?
Through this column and others, we try to provide experience and ideas
that might be helpful. We can’t imagine, though, what adventures
lay in store when we invite the Spirit to guide our footsteps,
inviting His input, as we set goals. What blessings are
realized when we make our desire to do family history a
matter of focused, specific prayer!
I confess that, in retrospect, my “golden” Internet cousin finds were,
yes, contacted using methods shared in more recent and in
subsequent columns, but the best of it was engineered in
ways no earthly guide could anticipate, by Unseen hands,
in answer to prayer.
Another unforeseen blessing that has come from increased networking, in
active family history effort, is not only the natural bonding
among relatives, but the strength and comfort that come
as we share our life experience. We are thereby positioned
to draw on our enlarging family circle’s participation--not
only in times of joy, but also in times of crisis and sorrow.
In an earlier column I mentioned some trials of my own and the inspiration
our family felt as we attended the funeral of our beloved
aunt Joyce Hansen Hall. One of the most glowing tributes
I have ever heard given a mother was given there by her
daughter-in-law, Jeannie Hall. I got a letter from Jeannie
this morning that touched my heart. I am sharing it not
only with all our family, but also with you readers, because
I think this is a beautiful example of blessings that come
when we turn our hearts to our fathers. As we face our
own trials and share our burdens, we also encourage each
other by example, as Jeannie does here, with her faith and
insight:
Dear Sherlene,
I have truly enjoyed reading your e-mails and being more
in touch with the Hall Family. We are currently researching
my Polish roots and even with all the horse thieves my father
has warned me about, my sisters and I are grateful for our
heritage. It has also brought joy to my parents to
discuss the past. I don't know if you remember that
my sister and I are converts. My dad is still a little
(understatement) unhappy about the Church, but I do think
he loves the way his daughters are "turning out."
This fall has been challenging for the Alan Hall family,
with my surgery, Grandma's sweet, but painful passing, my
dad's knee replacement surgery and hardest of all, the upcoming
surgery of our precious six-year-old grand-daughter, Morgan
Michelle West. She will be entering Primary Children's
Hospital this Tuesday morning at 6:30 A.M. in preparation
for major surgery on her pancreas. She was hospitalized
for eight days in October (of course the same time my dad
was up here at the McKay-Dee). Since then this very
brave little first grader has attended school and all other
functions with an NG tube inserted in her nose going to
her small intestine.
This tube is hooked to a pump that puts nutrients into her
body for 18 hours each day. She can eat nothing by
mouth but a few ounces of clear liquids - thus by-passing
the pancreas.
We felt great love and strength when all of you came to
honor our beloved grandma and grandpa. I am calling
upon that power of family love, prayer, and sure knowledge
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to beseech the Lord in behalf
of our little Morgan. We will be grateful for your
prayers on Wednesday and in the many painful weeks to come.
We have faith that our Heavenly Father knows and loves
her even more than we do (although that is hard to comprehend),
but a grandma's heart is heavy and so willing to trade her
places if it were only possible.
I hope your dear mother is feeling better. I watch
my own parents struggle through the challenges of declining
health. I hope I can be equally gracious and brave.
This is a beautiful, but demanding time of life--one that
leads hopefully to growth, kindness, empathy, greater love,
and service. Please give our love to your parents,
and all the family. We will be thankful for your prayers.
Love, Jeannie
I have in this past month received letters from other cousins who represent
other paths in terms of religious belief and orientation,
filled also with their light of love and strength. They
have shared their concerns, as I have shared mine, and I
have been so blessed by their thoughts, faith and prayers.
Elijah’s quest, inspired as it is by a loving Father watching
over all His children, not only turns our hearts to our
fathers, but to each other.
In these next columns are tips for finding cousins near and far by placing
queries on the Internet and doing searches there. Also
coming are tips for setting up effective websites—another
great source for finding new cousins. What marvelous resources
are now ours, as our Father hastens to bring about His purposes
on behalf of both the living and dead:
For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to
pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 3:5).
What honor and blessing our Lord bestows, as our own hearts turn, as they
do when enlisted in His great cause!
Sherlene Hall Bartholomew, copyright 2003
