FamilySearch Library Family History Conference Ogden 2018
Everyone has a story, and the details of that story make up a personal history. That story only becomes a history that can be passed on when we record it. As we suspected when we began trying to help people find creative and fun ways to Rememberize, a lot of us are looking for answers in this area, as confirmed in conversations at Saturday’s 2018 Ogden Family History Conference.
One of the biggest highlights of the conference came right out of the chute, as Utah State University LDS Institute teacher Eric Richards addressed those in attendance. Richards shared a number of scriptures and quotes from Church leaders tied to family history research, but the most inspirational part of his address was the sharing of his own personal history.
Eric Richard’s Story
Born to a single mother and raised in San Diego, Richards did not know the identity of his father. After missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knocked on their door, he and his mother joined the Church. That started him on a path that led to marriage and a career as a religious educator. It also took him to the point at which, at his wife’s suggestion, he searched for his roots through a DNA test kit. It actually took a pair of DNA analyses from two different sources before he was convinced.
Richards’ background is primarily a mix of white and American Indian on his mother’s side, and Polynesian and African American from his father. Through connections that resulted from the DNA tests, he eventually connected with a woman who figured out that she was his aunt, and she was able to let him know the identity of his father. As it turns out, there was a great story associated with that.
“Alabama ? …. I think they misspelled Honduras.”
He had been called to serve in the Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission, and had done so for 14 months before a bone tumor in his shin forced him home for medical treatment. As he awaited his return to Honduras, Richards received a letter informing him that he would be completing his mission in Alabama instead. His initial reaction, “I think they misspelled Honduras.” But he served, actually the full six months in the community of Gadsden, Alabama.
After those DNA tests and the connection with his aunt, he received some interesting information. The side of his father’s family from which he draws the African American bloodline has its roots in … Gadsden, Alabama.
… the minister announced they had a guest that day and invited “Reverend Richards” to the pulpit to address that Baptist congregation.
He now knows who his father is, but his father has chosen not to be involved with Richards’ family. He did connect, however, with his paternal grandmother, now in her 90s. He took his family to visit her in Memphis, Tennessee and he shared one event from that visit – going with her to the Baptist Church she has attended her entire life. Apparently, she had shared with the preacher that her grandson was a teacher at his church, and while he was there, the minister announced they had a guest that day and invited “Reverend Richards” to the pulpit to address that Baptist congregation.
Richards’ message in sharing his story was to inspire those in attendance to keep pushing forward in the work in which they are engaged. He shared a scripture from The Book of Mormon, in Ether, chapter 6, verse 8, which says: “And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were driven forth before the wind.” The winds, he shared, blew him forth as the Lord led him to his grandmother.
Among the other thoughts Richards shared during the address was a quote from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It urges us to do the work that leads to answers, and Richards specifically applied it to our work in family history. “When our wagon gets stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to push than the man who merely raises his voice in prayer – no matter how eloquent the oration.”
Rememberize Your Story
At Rememberize, our goal is to provide whatever help we can to those who want to capture their memories and share them with friends and family. The stories of our lives, in any form, once recorded, become a priceless connection to the generations that follow us. Our goal is to help push those wagons.
