Discovering that you’re related to a renaissance nobleman could be a lot of fun. It could also mean giving him and his family an opportunity to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Those of us who have been bitten by the family history bug know how fun it can be. But this isn’t why we have the largest genealogical library in the world and why 13 million Mormons are encouraged to research their family roots. Rather, we are driven by our doctrine that teaches that marriage and families can continue beyond this life. But this can only happen when families are sealed together in one of the Lord’s holy temples around the world and united for all eternity.
That’s fine for all of us today who have the chance to be sealed in a temple, but what about our ancestors who die without the opportunity to receive ordinances like baptism, or the blessings of being an eternal family? Does it make sense that God would simply say, “Too bad, tough luck?” Of course it doesn’t. When Christ organized His Church anciently, it included vicarious work for the dead and the practice of performing ordinances for deceased relatives “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:29). Christ’s restoration of his original Church to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith included the ancient practice of performing these ordinances for our deceased relatives in holy temples. The gospel of Jesus Christ includes the same blessings today in holy temples.
Genealogical or family history research is the essential forerunner of temple work for our deceased ancestors. We do it to obtain names and other genealogical information so these temple ordinances can be performed for our kindred dead. Our ancestors then are taught the gospel in the spirit world and have the choice to accept or reject the work performed for them. Mother Teresa once said that “loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” The thought that this poverty of loneliness—this being unwanted and separated from loved ones—could extend beyond this life is truly sad and something temple work can prevent.
Millions across the world of all faiths are actively engaged in genealogical research—trying to find cherished ancestors and binding their family ties past and present.
Why are they doing it? Most would probably say because it’s an amusing hobby and they feel motivated by a strong curiosity about their ancestors. It is because they’ve been touched by the spirit of this work. According to the Old Testament, Elijah was to come back and prepare the way of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord is the spirit of love that may eventually overcome all human family estrangements as it builds bridges between the generations. It binds beloved grandparents, now deceased, with the grandchildren who never knew them by preserving and sharing their histories and keepsakes. A life not documented is a life that within a generation or two will largely be lost to memory. And yet, knowledge of our ancestors shapes us and instills us with values that give direction and meaning to our lives.
Why do Mormons do family history or genealogy work?
Many years ago, around the time of 1854, many faithful men and woman made decisions to sell all that they own and move their families to America, to join up with the Latter-day Saints at the Salt Lake Valley in the Rocky Mountain West.
Johan and Johanna Larsen had recently been baptized and become members of the Mormon faith, along with their children. Following Mormon Church leader Brigham Young’s admonition to gather together to build up Zion, these motivated Saints, made up of 149 new Danish “converts”, prepared to embark on the long journey westward.
They must have been so excited. They must have truly wanted to do what their Heavenly Father wanted them to do. They likely had good intentions to do well, even if some had little else except the money for ship’s passage.
First they boarded the steamship Cimbria at Frederickshavn, where they joined nearly 300 other Saints coming from Copenhagen. The company was lead by Missionary and Church official in charge, Peter O. Hansen. It was officially the “Eightieth Company”
Interesting note: My friend Paul who lives nearby me, is a direct descendant of this same Peter O. Hansen, the LDS Pioneer who is credited with translating the Book of Mormon into Danish. Peter and Erastus Snow went on a mission to Denmark and converted many families, undoubtedly this included Johan and Johanna Larsen.
They set sail for Hull, England November 27th, 1854. A strong wind began to blow and fearful of trouble, the captain of the ship took refuge in a natural harbor at Mandal, Norway for a few days. Some of the Danish Mormons went ashore during that time and have been accredited with setting in motion the conversion of a few of their Norwegian hosts while they were there. Soon they pushed on toward Hull and Liverpool. Once again they were pummeled by a terrific North Sea storm. They could not proceed and now ended up seeking refuge back in Frederickshavn. The Saints had suffered due to the tempests and a few gave up right there and left the ship for good. But for the most part they bore the hardship with great fortitude and patience. Again they preached the Gospel in port while they waited out the storms.
It was December 20th when they finally made their 3rd attempt to reach Hull and Liverpool. Again they were stricken by wind and waves, but Christmas Eve brought much rejoicing as they finally anchored at Hull /Humber. They went to Liverpool by rail.
Having been delayed for so long, their original ship, the Helios, had been filled with other passengers. An alternative ship would have to be contracted. They spent Christmas in England.
The new year arrived while they were in Liverpool, and they finally departed for New Orleans on the ship James Nesmith, January 7th, 1855. They arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi River on February 18th. According to records it was a fairly uneventful voyage, although 13 Saints while under way. Overall the James Nesmith transported 440 Scandinavian and 1 British Saints, under the direction of Peter O. Hansen to New Orleans, where they arrived on February 23rd, 1855.
Now the Company of Saints boarded the steamboat Oceanan, and sailed from New Orleans, February 24th. During the journey up the Mississippi, seven more Saints died. They arrived at St. Louis March 7th.
Johan and Johanna Larsen had quite a nice savings they had brought along with them. They had sold their family tavern, which would be something like selling a motel by today’s standards. Seeing that their fellow Saints had not expected such long delays and hardships along the way west, Brother and Sister Larsen shared all the money that they had with those in need. Now they had little. Maybe not enough for their own family.
It seems the company was splitting up now. About 150 of thee Scandinavian Saints went on to Weston Missouri in an attempt to find work and raise the money they’d need to continue on to the Salt Lake Valley. They were completely broke.
Still under the leadership of Peter O. Hansen, another 175 Saints, including Johan and Johanna and the children, bought riverboat passage to Atchison Kansas, one of the designated launch points for crossing the plains in 1855. They left St. Louis March 12th on the steamboat Clara, but due to such low water levels, they only made it as far as Ft. Leavenworth. 20 more Saints caught the fever and died during the stay in Ft. Leavenworth and Father Johan was one of them!
Sister Larsen made it to Atchison, Kansas. She and her two little girls relocated to a camp 5 miles west of there called Mormon Grove. Sister Larsen would attempt to get work to raise the money needed to finish the journey to the Rocky Mountains. People were getting sick and dying. Sister Larsen got sick and died.
The Larsen’s showed a selflessness that is rare indeed. While others may not have been prepared as well as they could have been. They helped their follow Saints in need until they had no more to give. Their faith must have been amazing. I wish I knew such great people. Maybe I will someday.
Arrangements were made to get the orphaned girls to Salt Lake. The eldest girl was set to cross the plains from Atchison with Captain Hansen’s company, and the other, a little 6 year old girl named Maren Kjirstin, or Mary as she was now called, would have to wait for a family to take her. She was eventually assigned to ride with a childless couple heading west on one of 56 wagons of the Jones/Hunt Wagon Company out of Iowa City Iowa, one year later.
The Hunt Wagon Company left on August 1st, 1856, a bit later than usual. The wagons were tasked to accompany the Martin Handcart Company as a supply train. The handcart companies were poorer Saints heading west pulling small wagons or “Handcarts” with all their earthly belongings.
Having left too late in the year they all succumb to bad the weather along the Sweetwater River in Wyoming that November. They began to run out of food, they were freezing and travel slowed way down, then became impossible. Alone in the wilderness, disaster overtook them.
The Martin handcart/ Hunt wagon company tragedy was the worst disaster in the history of western overland travel...one hundred and forty-five died. The highest death rate was among fathers that gave up part of their meager rations to their starving children. Many fathers literally worked themselves to death pulling the handcarts. With the loss of so many men, the burden fell on the women and young people to pull the carts and put up the tents. In additions to the deaths, there were many left handicapped from amputation of frozen feet and fingers.
Little Mary Christine Larsen was seven years old now and stuck right in the middle of this disaster, without her parents or siblings. Grueling conditions again afflicted her young life. When she was rescued near Devil’s Gate and Martin’s Cove that snowy day in Wyoming, her feet had frozen black. Later her feet had to be amputated just below both knees.
She went on to Salt Lake and then lived with Abraham Smoot and his family near Provo Utah. Abraham Smoot was mayor of Salt Lake City and Provo. He was also one of the founders of the Brigham Young Academy (later called BYU) and was instrumental in getting Mary a sewing machine. Mary Christine Johnson (as she is now called) was able to get around ok and grew up. Using that sewing machine she learned to support herself. She married Elijah Parsons. She raised six children in Koosharem Utah. She taught her children the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
One of Mary’s sons was named William. William had granddaughter named Joan, who has a son named Steven…that’s me. I joined the Mormon Church only 14 years ago and I learned this story when researching my family history….
The very order of Heaven is based on family relationships. After this life, our goal is to live in Heaven with God and Christ, but things will be organized as a network of families from Adam, down to the latest generation. In order to achieve this organization, we must identify our ancestors and have the required ordinances done for them so they, too can be eternally joined into the heavenly family.
The Biblical prophet Malachi prophesied of the return of Elijah for the purpose of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers (see Malachi 4:5–6)
This prophecy was actually fulfilled when the Prophet Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (the man who helped Joseph translate the Book of Mormon) in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836. Elijah restored specific powers of the priesthood by conferring them upon Joseph and Oliver. This power is what makes it possible for families to be sealed throughout generations. Through family history work, we can participate in the continuing fulfillment of this prophecy. We can learn about our ancestors, and those who died without the opportunity to hear the gospel and receive ordinances, and increase our love for them. We can be inspired by their stories of courage and faith. We can pass that legacy on to our children.
The site is one of the most popular online genealogical services and is free of charge.
If you know the name of at least one deceased ancestor, let’s say your great uncle Theodore Jones, you can start a search on www.new.familysearch.org. You may find a wealth of information and resources to guide you through your search such as the six basic steps to doing family research.
The site is one of the most popular online genealogical services and is free of charge. It’s operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is linked to the world’s largest collection of genealogical resources and a global network of research centers. It contains a billion names from over 110 counties and territories including those found in the 1880 United States Census, the 1881 Canadian Census, the 1881 British Census, the Ellis Island database and the Freedman’s Bank Records. The Church is currently working on a massive digitization project of microfilmed and other records that will bring even more billions of names into the collection over the next few years.
Even though our reasons for doing family history may be different than most, we’re happy to share our collections of microfilmed and digitized records free of charge with anyone sharing our passion. That includes millions of people, since genealogy is said to be the fastest growing hobby in North America, surpassing quilting, stamp collecting and even gardening in popularity. So popular, in fact, that several TV shows have appeared recently featuring celebrities, as well as everyday people, tracking their roots.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Family History Library, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, is the largest genealogical library in the world and provides access to many collections of records, with more than two billion names of deceased people. It contains records from more than 100 countries, covering everything from 14th century English church records to African oral histories. An average of 2,400 people, including many visitors from Europe and Asia, visit the library each day.
Family History Library Information
Address:
35 N. West Temple Street, Room 344 Salt Lake City, Utah 84150-3440 801-240-2584
In addition to our main library, there are more than 4,500 local family history centers worldwide, often located inside our Church meetinghouses. Their purpose is to teach people how to search for their ancestors. They’re staffed by local Church members who volunteer their time, and all these services are provided free of charge.
According to the Old Testament, Elijah was to come back and prepare the way of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord is the spirit of love that may eventually overcome all human family estrangements as it builds bridges between the generations. It binds beloved grandparents, now deceased, with the grandchildren who never knew them by preserving and sharing their histories and keepsakes. A life not documented is a life that within a generation or two will largely be lost to memory. And yet, knowledge of our ancestors shapes us and instills us with values that give direction and meaning to our lives.
