September 2015

The Temple and Family History Initiative was our major focus in September.

We spent a lot of time updating lessons on Family History, developing a graphic document for new members,  adapting the MA Boston Mission Plan for helping new members attend the temple,  and working with stake and ward leaders.
We updated lessons on Facebook group, family history dcn.
This is our Introductory Lesson to missionaries.  It is not included with Facebook lessons.

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Lesson 0.

Promised Blessings of Family History

 (1 Oct  2015)

Prophets Testify

• Beginning with Moroni’s appearance to Joseph Smith (D&C 2), every prophet has urged us to engage in Family History; and promised blessings for doing so.  In this video (2:42 min), four of today’s apostles promise incredible spiritual blessings. View and discuss them with your companion.
• What blessings were promised?
• Do you want these blessings for your investigators and the members you teach?
• How can you help them receive these blessings?
• Additional blessings are discussed in lessons L3 & LP1.

Another Apostle's Blessing

• Discover the promised blessings that await all who make temple and family history work a part of their lives. View & discuss Elder Cook's Challenge (1:17)
• To whom can you teach these concepts?
• (Some missionaries may not have enough time to find a family member in need of temple ordinances. But all can help someone else find & take their relative(s) to the temple.)

 May We Suggest?

• Study the lessons listed below. Use the tools and concepts to help you:
• Discover and expand your own family in Family Tree,
• Serve your ancestors by taking them to the temple, and
• Help others do the same.
• Lessons are available via Facebook (family history dcn) or via email from shariknight33@gmail.com.

The Absolute Most Important Tool

• Prayer! Prayer! Prayer!
• Pray for inspiration, direction, and comprehension as you:
• Study family history.
• Discover your own family.
• Teach. Help others discover their families.

Family History Lesson Titles

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(Lessons don’t necessarily have to be completed in order.)

L 1. Overview of Family History

L 2. Introduction to FamilySearch

L 3. Memories Change Hearts & Strengthen Families

L 4. Collect, Preserve, & Share Your Photos

L 5. Explore, Prune, and Grow Your Family Tree

L 6. Document Family Relationships With Historical Records  

L 7.  The Research Process: Ancestral and Descendancy

L 8. Record Types & What They Contain                         

L 9. Get Help and Discover Resources

L10. Family History Center Treasures

L11. Indexing Historical Records

LDS Perspectives

LP1. The Doctrine, Urgency, and Blessings of Family History

LP2. Identify and Prepare Kindred Dead for Temple Ordinances

LP3. Submit Temple Ordinances

LP4. The Challenge: Combine the Book of Mormon and the Spirit of Elijah

(Most lesson images are from https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng  and  https://familysearch.org/)

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FamilySearch just added the challenge to  to the home page.

https://familysearch.org/

During October we will be very involved with temple and family history events.

October 2015
6                      Specialized training workshop for new missionaries.
13                    Assist with Ward Baptism Event
20                    Assist with FH Workshop at our ward
17 & 31           Coordinate - New Member Temple Baptisms for the Mission
27,28,30          Coordinate Missionary Baptism Events
Each Sun         Family History Sunday School Class
Tues evenings Family History Workshop for High Priest Group Leaders/our ward
4 days              Visit each zone one time to make announcements
Each Sat           Work at the WDC Family History Center
3 Meetings       Stake Coordination Meeting for Missionaries and Stake Presidencies
Periodically      Assist missionaries and members with personal family history
                                   This is going to be an exciting month!

Every Thursday we serve as group leaders for the Silver Spring Stake Addiction Recovery Program.
The church just published videos to support each step in the book.
I will include a link to the videos.  They are very interesting.

http://addictionrecovery.lds.org/videos?lang=eng&prefs=
We are very grateful for the opportunity we have had to serve in this program.  We love the people we meet with.

Love this video:  It's Good To Be Alive!

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-01-009-good-to-be-alive?lang=eng

It's great to be serving a mission!
Love you all!
Shari

July 10, 2015 Washington DC North Mission

We have had awesome expediencies this week.  Wednesday was Transfer meeting.  New missionaries were introduced.  Missionaries who were going home shared their testimonies.  It is interesting to hear these testimonies.  Almost always, the missionaries talk about how they have grown while serving their missions.  They express gratitude for the opportunity they have had to serve and for the people they have grown to love.  They talk about the things they have learned and how their testimonies have increased.  It is a great experience to be surrounded by 200 missionaries.  It is fun to work and serve with them.

Thursday was a wonderful day.  We had a spiritual, inspiring workshop in Zone Meeting.  We have 2 meetings on Thursdays, Zone Meeting and District Meeting.  I loved our District Meeting. Each of the missionaries told a little about themselves.  One Elder told about his experience growing up in a family where his father was a drug money collector.  He said that their family was always on the run.  Other Elders said that their families were not supportive of them serving missions.  It was really interesting to learn why each missionary had decided to serve a mission.

After Zone/District Meeting,  we met Ema Munu’s niece, Khadi, and her cousin at the Visitor Center.  Khadi came from Sierre Leone  to visit Ema, and Ema died while she was here in the United States.  Khadi and her cousin loved the Visitor Center.  

Khadi was very grateful for the DVD we are sending to Ema’s mother and family in Sierre Leone.  She said that they had not seen Ema for 26 years, and this would be a wonderful blessing for them.

When we were here in 2013, we interviewed Ema and created a Personal History of her life.  It was wonderful to be able to watch it again, to see Ema talking about things that were important to her and to hear her voice.  I loved it.  It reminded me that Ema is alive.  It is just like being separated by being in another room, or another city.  Most of Ema’s family members are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Ema shared her testimony with her grandchildren and family in the interview.   She said, I may not always be here.  I want you to know....(testimony)

I am so grateful that we could share this video with Ema’s family.  This will be a wonderful memory for them and I believe it will bring her family closer together.

We showed Khadi Family Search.  She said, she is going to add information, and we will be surprised when we see it. Ema only had a couple of photos to add to Family Search.  Soldiers burned her home and tried to kill her father during the war in Sierre Leone in the 90’s.  All her family photos were destroyed.  It will be awesome when Khadi adds memories and family names to Family Tree.

We watched a video at the Visitor Center about the wells that have been provided in Sierre Leone by LDS Charities.  Khadi said that it is a wonderful gift and desperately needed.  Many people get typhoid and other diseases because of unclean water.

Thursday evening we attended the Addiction Recovery Meeting.  I am very grateful for this program.  I know it is a great resource to the people that attend.  It has been a blessing to us to participate in these meetings.

Pornography Addiction: Is There Hope? - His Grace

So many needs in the world today.  I hope we will each recognize the people that we can love, and serve, and lift.  I love this statement by Elder Eyring:  "We lighten the loads of others by helping the Lord strengthen them." (Ensign, May 2015, p20)

Love this video

The Old Shoemaker

Hope your lives are filled with peace, joy, and happiness, and that you will be blessed in all your efforts to lift, love, and serve others.

Shari

June 2015

June 26, 2015   Message from Shari

Saturday June 20th was a different day.

We worked at the WDC Family History in the afternoon, then got to go to Alexandria, VA for dinner.  Biff Williams is one of Dad's former students, and he invited us to a Dixie College Alumni Dinner.
He is now the President of Dixie College.  It was really fun to remember and talk about Dixie College and experiences from long ago.  Dad and I met at Dixie College.  Just realized that in 3 years, we will be celebrating our 50th Wedding Anniversary. Ohhhh....that makes me feel really old.  We traveled home in a scary lightening - rainstorm, during which we got about 100 texts notices, while Kurt was helping our family set up "GroupMe".  Didn't really understand what was going on in the beginning, as we were mostly focused on trying to figure out where we were and how to see where to go.

Sunday was Father's Day, which was great,  because we got to talk to some of our family.  We left church early to take some investigators to the French Branch.  One of the teenagers, went with us in the evening to "Why I Believe" at the Visitor Center.  It was a great program. The Naval Academy Football Coach,  Coach Niumatalolo,  shared many personal experiences.  His talk was fascinating and inspiring.  There is a story about him in "Meet the Mormons."

Monday, we went to dinner at the home of a young family.  Yummy Mexican food.
They asked me to teach a home evening lesson.  I could not resist  the opportunity to teach something about Family History.

Click below for 2 great videos and a fun game.



Click on Green box. Soccer Boy



The Promised Blessings of Family History


Memory Game - It was pretty fun!













Ema Munu


Our friend, Ema Munu, died on June 20th.  We have shared many experiences with Ema, and we will miss her very much.  Shortly after we arrived here in 2012,  we began helping Ema with her family history and took her to the temple and the visitor center many times.  We loved helping Ema with her family history.  She had dreams about her ancestors and learned that they needed her help.  We also helped Ema record her life history and took her to the family history lab on Wed nights.  Ema was on dialysis 3 times a week, but seemed to be feeling pretty good in Dec 2014. She loved going to Christmas Concerts.



Thursday, June 25, 2015
This was an interesting day.

I was asked to dress Ema and place her temple clothing on her for burial.  So we left our zone meeting to go to the funeral home to dress Ema.  I appreciated the opportunity to do this for Ema.
There was confusion about which funeral home she was at, but it all worked out.

We needed to be at a zone meeting by 7am. We had an early zone conference so that the missionaries could get to a concert by 1 in the afternoon.  Part of this meeting included instruction on black boxes that were installed in the missionaries cars.  These boxes record missionary driving practices.  They are used to help keep missionaries safe and to help save money lost due to accidents  and careless driving.

After going to the funeral home,  we drove about 1/2 hour to another area where we picked up a non-member friend, and went on the adventure of riding the metro, first time for dad since we moved here.  Our destination was Strathmore Music Center where we got to see the Tabernacle Choir afternoon concert.  All the missionaries in our mission were invited.  It was an exceptional program.  We loved it and our friend loved it.  It was inspiring and fun.  Alex Boye sang a couple of  African American spirituals that were very entertaining.  The choir also sang a Nigerian carol that I loved.  Closing songs were some of my favorites - Come, Come, Ye Saints, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Climb Every Mountain,  This land is Your Land, and God Be With You Til We Meet Again.
  Following the concert, we took the metro back,  ate a yummy salad at Wendy's, (forgot the name, but it had strawberries in it.)

 Next, we went to the church where we are the group leaders for an Addiction Recovery Program.  The lesson was Step 3 - Trust in God.  I am very grateful that we have had the opportunity to participate in this program.  The lessons and discussion focus on the atonement of Christ.  They help me to improve my life.  I love  and appreciate the people who come , and I continually gain insights about life from them, as they share in our meetings.

Friday June 26, 2015

Most of the day we were involved with Ema's Funeral.  I have been thinking that it is important  for us to record our testimonies and things we would like others to remember when we are gone.
3 days after we  returned to this mission, our friend Fay Miller, died.  She was born the same year as me.  Ema was only 52.

The Family Search Memories App is a great way to save photos, written messages, and audio messages.  Have you tried it?  I'm trying to help others but I  need to record my own messages as well.  I have forgotten to begin Jolynne's suggestion.  Need a reminder, Jolynne.

Saturday June 27, 2015

Pres Cooke asked us to organize and coordinate a program similar to a program in The Massachusetts Boston Mission.  Saturday is our first "New Converts Temple Baptism Day"   We plan to be in the temple by 9:30am.

 Following the temple, we work in the FHC from 1-4:30.   Love working in the Family History Center.  We are learning so much.  Lots of exciting things happening with family history.
Click below to learn more abut the Family Tree App.

Use Family tree App. Connect with Ancestors and Share Family Stories

Love each of you!  Think of you and pray for you!  I'm very grateful for the blessings that are coming into your lives and ours.

Have a great summer!
Mom, Grandma, Shari

January 11-17 Family History and Visitor Center Opportunities

Last week, we had several opportunities to help others with family history.  I'm happy when I get to help others begin thinking more about their ancestors and families.

In December, I gave a short talk to the sisters serving in the Visitor Center. This part of the talk describes some of the reasons family history is important to me.

"Christmas is a time when we love to share gifts with our families and friends!  

FamilySearch.org is a place where we can share wonderful gifts with our family members - past, present, and  future.  At FamilySearch, we can celebrate the lives of family members who lived in the past by sharing photos, stories, and memories.  As we share these memories, we can strengthen those who are living today and those who will live in the future.  In an article in the New York Times entitled, The Stories That Bind Us,  Bruce Feiler reported that: 'From stories, children gain insights into how to deal with the situations they encounter in life.  Knowledge about how ancestors lived strengthens families and helps individuals cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life.'”

https://www.lds.org/callings/temple-and-family-history/sunday-lesson/stories-that-bind?lang=eng

I feel happy when I help someone add photos and stories to family tree.  These memories can strengthen our families and help us remember the people we are connected to.

https://www.lds.org/topics/family-history/rootstech/elder-packer/can-you-hear-them?lang=eng

The past couple of weeks, Elder Knight has spent lots of time improving and updating Facebook Group Family History Lessons.  I assisted.  More about the lessons - later.

The Visitor Center is a great place to take friends and the people we meet. There are many things to learn about and think about, and the programs are always uplifting and inspirational.

Elder and Sister Eyring have served as directors of the Visitor Center for the past 2 years.  Sister Eyring is an incredible violinist.  Last Sunday, the missionaries shared their talents and inspirational messages.  The Eyrings are going home.  They were asked to speak and Sister Eyring was asked to accompany missionaries who were singing and to play additional pieces.  She said, that when she was called to serve this mission, she was counseled to play her violin, and she was told that people would feel the spirit through her music.  I'm grateful for many opportunities to hear her play the violin and feel the spirit through music. This was a wonderful evening, and we are grateful for the opportunity of getting to know the Eyrings as we served at the Visitor Center.  Elder Hardin Eyring and President Henry B Eyring are brothers.  In a program at the Visitor Center, last week, they shared memories from their lives and their love for each other.  Their messages of love and appreciation for each other were powerful.

I'm afraid my blog posts will be a feast or famine, too much, too often, or nothing.
Hope you have a great week!

Love you!

Sister Knight

January 4-10 Awesome Experiences

This past week was filled with blessings and awesome experiences.

On Sunday, Elder Knight did a great job with a  power point presentation on indexing, 

Quince Orchard Ward, Seneca Stake.  

Have you thought about “Indexing” lately?  View this video.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/03/a-call-for-indexers-worldwide?lang=eng

It snowed on Tuesday, so our District Meetings were cancelled.  Sister Howe and Sister Kohler live close by, so they came to our apartment to work on family history and help us in developing the family history initiative for the mission. We took this picture at the Visitor Center on Sunday.   These sisters are so much fun to work with. They are personable, positive, loving, cheerful, and outgoing.  They are also diligent, insightful, skilled, hard working, and excellent teachers.  They remind me of Nikki.  I love to spend time with them. 

Wednesday, we spent several hours working with Elder and Sister Kendrick on the Washington DC North Family History Initiative/Challenge, followed by dinner with the Kendricks and Sister Missionaries.  Lots of fun!  It has been a blessing and awesome experience to work with the Kendricks. We are learning so much for them.

Each Thursday night, we serve as the group leaders for an Addiction Recovery Program.  We worked on Step 4, Truth.  We recommend the manual to everyone, A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing.  “With the Savior’s help we can overcome our addictions and find new meaning to life.”  We recommend this program to everyone, to help us change bad habits, and improve our lives through the atonement of Jesus Christ.  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"  (Phillipians4:13)

Saturday, we had an awesome experience.  President Henry B Eyring was here to share a message with religious and community leaders concerning a new display in the Visitor Center. 

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/model-washington-d-c--temple-on-public-display

The missionaries in our mission were invited to a meeting with President Eyring on Saturday afternoon.  His message was encouraging and inspiring to us.   Listening to his message was an incredible experience for me.

In the meeting with missionaries, President Eyring discussed some ideas that I think I will remember and attempt to apply, for the rest of my life.  It was not just what he said, but the way that he said it, and the ability that he has to teach with the spirit, that had such a powerful impact on me.  This is my interpretation of what he said:

1.     You must love the people you serve.  Love is a gift from God.

This counsel made me think of the following scripture:

 “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever;”

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love…” (Moroni 7:46-47)

2.     Pray for revelation and discernment. 

“When you teach, look into their eyes.  Ask God to tell you what they are feeling.  Ask God:  What do they need?   Ask Heavenly Father to tell you something about these people that you wouldn’t know otherwise.  God knows who they are.  Ask God to help you to ask some questions that will help them get the feeling that God knows them and is showing love for them through you.  Ask God - reveal to me the heart of this individual.  The Lord knows everybody you teach.  It is not an accident that you are together.  There is something for you to do for them.”

  I am very grateful for our Savior and for this opportunity to serve Him.

Christmas in DC - Festival of Lights

Sister Knight's Memories of   "Festival of Lights" 2014

It was really fun to serve in the Washington DC Temple Visitor Center during "Festival of Lights." Each Friday in December, we served at the front desk, answering phones, greeting,  and assisting people who came to visit.

Elder and Sister Knight

                                                                     


                                                                                         


In the evenings, we had the opportunity to take many people to concerts at the Visitor Center.

• Temple grounds glow with 600,000 lights
• Nightly performances in indoor theater
• Christmas trees decorated in international themes
• Exhibit of crèches from around the world
• Life-sized outdoor nativity

Click on this link:  dctemplelights.lds.org   and scroll down to see photos of the lights.
Click on the concert titles to learn more about the performing groups.


                                                                                                                                           "Festival of Lights" is a wonderful place to celebrate the life of our Savior with family and friends.

The Visitor Center is a beautiful environment with images of our Savior's life, videos, learning stations, and wonderful concerts and programs.

We have developed love and concern for the people we meet and work with here.  We are grateful for the love we feel and we are grateful for the love and appreciation that 

others express to us.

Many times, I have impressions about individuals or families.  This scripture describes my experiences:  (D&C 128:1)

“…that subject seems to occupy my mind and press itself upon my feelings…”

The name of an individual or family seems to occupy my mind and press itself upon my feelings.  This is one of the ways that I am guided by the Lord.  As we visit and interact with these individuals, miracles happen, our feelings of love and concern and gratitude for each other increase.  Often, we grow closer to our Savior and feel his love and influence in our lives more deeply.

I am fascinated and feel amazed as I learn about the lives of our friends.  I am grateful to live in an area with so much diversity.  I love meeting and getting to know people from many countries, cultures, and life experiences.  

I am grateful for the health, resources, and opportunity to serve here in the Washington DC North Mission.  Thank you for your prayers for us.  We are being blessed in many, many ways.

"He is the Gift"  was a short video that we shared at the Visitor Center.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1E_IqoQh6M

This  youtube video with David Archuleta and the Piano Guys  was not shown at the Visitor Center but is was created to promote "He is the Gift."  I love this video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrLoWt2tfqg

Happy New Year!
Sister Knight