The Voice of the Spirit

Before Blogging, I used to keep a steady journal . . . I am so glad that I did! I recorded all of the emotions of new motherhood, undergraduate schooling, managing an apartment building, living without a car in Alaska, and a variety of spiritual experiences.

I pulled out my journal this morning in search of a memory. This particular memory kept coming to my mind, as I lay in bed last night. It is a memory of a prompting I received, years ago -- that I am diligently trying to live up to.

Let me explain . . .

Yesterday evening, I was watching "A Celebration of Family History" a presentation put on by the Church in the Conference Center. They showed a bunch of video clips and had inspirational speakers sharing their love of Family History . . . I was in Heaven. :-)

(It is on DVD. I am sure you can order the video on-line.)

I particularly loved this video clip of the "Clan McCloud" . . . you will love it, too!

Watch it, Watch it!

It struck me because of my prominent Scottish heritage and my LOVE of bagpipe music. It sends shivers through my spirit -- like electricity.

Bagpipes seem to arouse the very core of my soul!

There is nothing better to me than a story coming full-circle.

(Which happens often in Family History, by the way). LOVE IT!

I was filled with emotions watching the stories of strength that come from finding your family. I shed many tears. My mind was thrown into a frenzy of excitement and determination to be even more diligent in the work, that I love.

So, back to the beginning and my journal and my promptings . . .

Journal Entry: 2-15-04 -- Written 7 years ago, living in Alaska, in the "Hoyt Building" (the Mormon Mansion) which we were managing at the time. We were preparing to leave Alaska for law school.)

I had a really amazing experience. I was lying in bed at the end of the day and just pondering on life and things. Suddenly, I heard a voice, in my head -- speaking to me. At first I thought it was just me thinking the words and then, as I lay still, I knew that is was the Voice of the Spirit -- the literal Voice. I was told quite loudly, "Feed my sheep". I asked (in my head) to the voice, "What was that?" Again repeated, "Feed my sheep . . . and use your hands." "Use my hands?" I asked. "Yes, I will!" was my response. I was also instructed not to worry, to have patience and that marvelous things were coming my way. I was instructed to continue reading my scriptures, praying and keeping the commandments . . . (I wrote more but it is a little too special for me to share).

I finished with: It is possible to hear the Spirit's voice. It is a real voice. You must BE STILL and LISTEN. The veil can be made thin. Just listen!

---- Mari

I remember thinking afterward that it was an amazing request that was just made of me. I thought of all the things I could do to help, "Feed his sheep". But at the time -- 7 years ago -- I did not really understand what was being asked of me . . . I actually had NO IDEA. I just knew I was willing.

Fast-forward a few years later (2009) in Boise, Idaho . . . I had another quiet night in my bed, pondering life and things. I had just gone through a bunch of my grandma's pictures and belongings, and in my heart I felt something stirring. Something was being awakened inside of me. Something awoke that had been sleeping -- lying dormant for a season. Similar to my reaction to bagpipe music -- my very core seemed to be aroused and full of electricity! The stirring in my heart led me to know what I was supposed to do!

"Feed my sheep . . . and use YOUR HANDS!"

I knew what it meant . . .

Feed my sheep = FAMILY HISTORY

Use my hands = TYPING ON THE COMPUTER

I cannot express how it made me feel to finally know what I am supposed to do, what I CAN do to help. Since my "awakening" I have found countless information, missing people, Charles' ancestors (including never-before seen images), valued family stories, and we have both done a great deal of temple work -- especially for Charles' family, since he joined the Church at 17.

It has been such a joy for me. I recently shared my testimony in church and mentioned that few things get me excited -- but family history is thrilling for me! Truly, I feel that those who have gone before are now my friends. Their lives are so intriguing and inspiring. They give me great strength.

When it is my time to part from this world, I will feel like King Theoden in The Lord of the Rings (Yep, I am quoting it, again!). As he lay dying he stated . . .

"My body is broken. You have to let me go.

I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed."

I love that. I feel the same way. Those on the "other side" are my friends, my family. I feel so close to them. I am doing my best to help them, to hear them, to find them. Because I am giving my best effort, I will not feel ashamed to be in their mighty company -- I will stand with them.

I can feel them, now, standing with me.

Sometimes, they feel so close. Sometimes when I wake in the night -- I know I am not alone.

The veil can be made so very thin.

I love finding my family, learning where I come from, knowing who I am.

It gives me a great sense of purpose.

Finding the dead makes me feel alive . . .

I know in whose footsteps I am following.

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Here are a few pictures of my lovely friends and family . . .

Charles' family captures my interest in a fascinating way. I love finding out where he has come from -- who he has come from. The only family I have met in life are his parents -- no one else. Finding his ancestors makes me feel a part of his family. I am doing my best to "butter them up" so that they will love and adore me. ;-)

Charles Great Grandpa. (On his mom's side.) See the resemblance?

Marvin Searles Jones

Charles' Grandpa, Henry Porter van Ormer nickname: "Tip" or "Van".

Manager of the varsity football team at Gettysburg College 1929.

His Grandpa van Ormer attended West Point in New York

Charles' Grandpa (on his mom's side) pictured on the far right

Marvin Searles Jones, Jr.

Marvin Searles Jones on the right (Charles' Great Grandpa)

His Great Uncle Gerald, on the left

Benton Weaver Jones (Charles' Great, great grandpa)

Gladys Searles (great, great grandma) wife of Benton

William Henry Jones Family (Charles' Great, Great, Great Grandpa)

William Henry Jones g, g, g grandpa

Eliza Ellen Washburn (great, g, g, grandma)

I love learning about and seeing his family and their faces. Like I said, I know so few of Charles' family members . . . it is nice to see the familiarity in the faces of the past.

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Here are a few of my very close friends . . . (my family)

Victor and Embell Cram (Great Grandpa and Great Grandma on my mom's side)

Nan's mom and dad. I love Embell's face. She looks so lovely and nice.

There is a great softness in her expression -- I LOVE soft faces.

The family that really peaked my interest . . . the Kippen family. I have their picture on my wall. I feel a great love for them. (Grandma Lindquist's parents.) Grandma is the baby in the picture.

Isabella Kippen's face always haunted me . . . she looks so beautiful and fresh. I recently found a tape recording of her speaking -- it was a very unique experience to hear her voice and hear her share her experiences from her own mouth.

Louise August Osterdahl

(Wife of Anders Anderson who changed the family last name to "Lindquist" . . . because there were too many Andersons.)

Her story is so amazing to me . . . 11 children (or more -- need to look into it, more.)

I just love to look at her face. She looks noble to me.

My Grandpa Lindquist . . . I just think he is so handsome. ;-)

I like to look at his piercing eyes.

There are so many more . . . but I am running out of time and room! My new project I am working on is getting all of my information, images, stories, etc. onto a family tree on ancestry.com and then creating and printing it off into a book . . . it will take some time, but I think it will be so worth it!

The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see.

Winston Churchill

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The reason I took the time to write this is because my great hope is to stir something in YOUR heart. This is a work for us ALL! This is something that can be done from the comfort of your own home, and on your own time . . .

We recently had our home teacher over and he challenged us to do some missionary work this month. Sammi said,"That will be hard for my mom, she doesn't get out much." True. She is right. I do not interact with many people outside of church functions. And unless I want to pass out Book of Mormons in the school parking-lot, or go down my street knocking on doors -- I probably will not have much luck being a missionary. BUT being a missionary extends beyond -- even beyond the grave. There is MUCH missionary work to do, many souls to offer salvation to. And WE can do it!

Without having doors slammed in our faces!

I have never helped anyone into the waters of baptism in this life -- but I have helped MANY in the life beyond. So, I am a missionary, after all!

Those who have passed away are JUST as important as those who live today.

Find your family!

They need YOU! And you need THEM!