Post # 106 – Memorial Day
Dear Family
and Friends
I have been
thinking about Memorial Day and what it means to me. My father died in while in
the service of our country. My older brother also served in the military and his
life was shortened as well. Growing up I didn’t learn much about this special
day. I know that the actual day was a couple days ago, but there are some very
important ways that we can remember and honor our deceased soldiers as well as
our other deceased family members.
Have you
began doing your genealogy for your family? This is a very good place to begin –
with yourself and work your way backwards through each generation searching out
your deceased family members. Another way is if you were to do Indexing work. If
you have never done indexing work, you really should give it a try. You can
help so many people when you are doing this work – it can almost become
addictive. You can learn more about indexing here: https://www.familysearch.org/indexing/
I found this article that I wanted
to share with you about Memorial Day I hope you enjoy it with me:
Memorial Day Message
May 25, 2015
In
the United States, Memorial Day has been established as a federal holiday to
remember those who died while serving in the armed forces. Other countries also
have established days of remembrance for their fallen service members—valiant
men and women who gave what Abraham Lincoln called “the last full measure of
devotion” to a cause greater than self. It is only fitting that we pause to
remember them and the sacrifices they made so we can enjoy the blessings of
“life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
If
you’ve ever visited a veteran’s cemetery, like those at Arlington or
Normandy—or anyplace where veterans have been laid to rest—you know that
there’s a sacred feeling there. You can’t help but feel a deep respect and
reverence for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Behind each grave marker
are unfulfilled hopes and dreams of families saddened by the loss of a loved
one.
General
Douglas MacArthur observed that “the soldier above all others prays for peace,
for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of
war.” For every grave marker at a cemetery there are many other veterans who
survived war but carry its scars. Some have endured terrible life-changing
physical injuries. Others are broken emotionally because of what they
experienced. Still others suffer from post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain
injury. Most experience some form of moral injury that causes them to question
whether the Atonement of Christ is still available to them.
I believe
that my brother suffers in this way, but I don’t think he will ever believe
that he is good enough to even repent☹
The
truth is, Christ descended below all things, suffering every kind of affliction
and temptation so that He would know “how to succor his people according to
their infirmities” (see Alma 7:11–12). Therefore, no one can say to the Lord,
“But you don’t know how I feel” or “You do not know what I have endured.” He
indeed knows, and we all have access to His Atonement and His healing influence
in our lives. Through the Atonement, the burdens we carry can be lifted.
My granddaughter suffers from depression and anxiety and she is
often telling me that I don’t understand. I try to explain to her that the Lord
will help her if she will let Him.
Even
after his conversion, Alma still had memory of his sins, but he was no longer
harrowed up by those memories because He had turned to Christ. Because of this
redeeming experience, Alma explained that he “labored without ceasing, that
[he] might bring souls unto repentance; that [he] might bring them to taste of
the exceeding joy of which [he] did taste; that they might also be born of God,
and be filled with the Holy Ghost” (see Alma 36:17–24).
Following
the invasion of Iraq, the wife of a marine who was involved in the operation
wrote a letter to Elder Robert D. Hales explaining that her husband and others
in his unit were struggling with what they saw and did during the war. She
asked if there was anything the Church could do to help them put their war
experiences in a gospel perspective. In response to her request, a fireside was
held for the marines and their families. The talks given at the fireside became
the genesis for the DVD Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled. Inspiring
talks by President Boyd K. Packer, Elder Robert C. Oaks, Elder Lance B.
Wickman, and President Gordon B. Hinckley provided gospel insights, compassion,
and understanding for our combat veterans. The title was selected from John
14:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be
afraid.”
You can find this video here: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2009-07-002-let-not-your-heart-be-troubled?lang=eng&_r=1
All
veterans seek peace—peace of mind, peace of conscience, peace of understanding,
and the peace that comes from Him who suffered for all of us and, through His
grace, enables us to return to God whole and complete. For those who still
yearn for His promised peace, may I offer this counsel: Never stop trying,
never give up, and never lose your faith, for the Son of God knows you and will
heal your heart and encircle you in the arms of His love (see 2 Nephi
1:15).
Watch
the latest 'His Grace' episode to see the story of
two military brothers and their journey.
Here are a
few quotes from articles about Memorial Day observances and the work we can do.
If you need help with your family history, they have put together tutorials with
step by step instructions to help you out. You can find the help you need here:
https://www.familysearch.org/en/
22 May 2014 - Salt Lake City
News Story
Online
Collections of Civil War Records Updated for Memorial Day
FamilySearch adds new military records
to assist in genealogy work
If you have an ancestor who
served in the American Civil War, it may now be easier to find information
about that relative online. In conjunction with Memorial Day, FamilySearch.org is announcing significant updates to its Civil War
historic records collections available online.
“Each soldier family has a story, and these stories are handed
down from generation to generation,” said Ken Nelson, collection manager for
FamilySearch, a nonprofit volunteer-driven group sponsored by The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “When you want to get the particulars of
what that service was, you start going to these government records that
document this service.”
Nelson said the census data gives people a “glimpse of what the
towns looked like prior to the war.” He explained the state information is
useful because “a majority of the men were in volunteer regiments raised out of
counties and towns. These regiments represented their homes.”
Women also contributed to the war effort by serving as nurses
and working in soldier aid societies that sent supplies to the front. Nelson
said many of their stories are preserved in letters and diaries.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is an outgrowth
of the Civil War. Union veterans of the Civil War formed the Grand Army of the
Republic (GAR) in 1866, which was instrumental in organizing an annual event
honoring the war dead from the Northern states by placing flowers on their
graves. The first official observance of Decoration Day was held on 30 May
1868 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, which is
commemorating its 150th anniversary.
Southern states didn’t honor Decoration Day until the end of the
First World War in 1918, when the holiday began honoring the American dead
from all wars. Decoration Day was officially established as Memorial
Day, the last Monday in May, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed he law in
1971.
“If you think about it, veterans themselves perpeuated Memorial
Day,” said Nelson. “A lot came out of the Civil War. We saw the beginnings of
national cemeteries.”
You can read the whole article here: https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/online-collections-of-civil-war-records-updated-for-memorial-day
For Memorial Day, See Images of Ancestors’ Headstones on FamilySearch.org
With the approach of Memorial Day on May 29, many people are
planning to connect with their ancestors by visiting their graves.
A
joint effort between FamilySearch and Billion Graves makes it easy to
either locate and visit a grave or view ancestors’ headstones from home.
You can
read the rest of this article here:https://www.lds.org/church/news/for-memorial-day-see-images-of-ancestors-headstones-on-familysearchorg?lang=eng&_r=1
22 May 2015 | POSTED BY Tracie Cayford Cudworth
War
of 1812, End of Civil War 150th Anniversary Commemorated
FamilySearch adds new information to
locate ancestors this Memorial Day weekend
FamilySearch
patrons can review information about their ancestors who served in the War of 1812, including pension
records that offer details about the individual who served, his or her spouse
and other historical information. Supporting documents may include pages torn out
of the family Bible that were presented to the government as a witness of
military service.
You can read the rest of
this article here:
Viewpoint: Family History Is a Treasure Trove
Contributed
By the Church News
·
4 JUNE 2017
Between the resources at
FamilySearch.org and a nearby ancestral cemetery, this young family had a
memorable family home evening.
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
·
Involving children in family history helps them learn from their
predecessors.
·
FamilySearch.org is a great resource for getting families into
their own history.
“Behold, I will
reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the
coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall plant in the
hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the
children shall turn to their fathers.” —Doctrine and Covenants 2:1–2
RELATED LINKS
Last
Sunday, the day before Memorial Day in the United States, a man noticed a
Facebook posting from his sister-in-law: a picture of herself decorating the
graves of her parents earlier that day.
“Is
this cemetery in Salt Lake?” he asked in a comment post.
“Yes,
Wasatch Gardens,” she replied. “We also went to Crescent.”
Ah
yes, the man reflected to himself, Crescent Cemetery, just down the street from
his home, the burial place of his own beloved parents.
“I
need to take my family to Crescent tomorrow,” he replied to his sister-in-law.
“It has three generations of my folks. Our kids never knew their grandparents
on my side, and I’m afraid they are growing up without a consciousness of
them.”
“Between
the Browns and the Lloyds, there is a lot of family history at Crescent
Cemetery,” remarked the sister-in-law.
“It’s
a treasure trove for sure!” the man replied.
By
the next evening—Monday and Memorial Day—the man had hatched plans for a family
home evening lesson.
You can read
the rest of this article here: https://www.lds.org/church/news/viewpoint-family-history-is-a-treasure-trove?lang=eng
Well, my Dear
Family and Friends we have come to the end of today’s post. I hope that each of
you have learned a little bit more about Memorial Day. I know that I have, I found
these articles very enlightening and eye-opening. I will view Memorial Day
differently from this time forward. Of course, if you already have known about this
special holiday, maybe this was a good refresher for you😊
I
want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of those of you who, have
served in the military. your service to this your country is greatly
appreciated. so many have given their lives in the service of their country. we
are so glad that you have been willing to serve in the protection of all who
live in this country. Your courageous service has blessed so many lives.
If you are still in the service of our country, please stay close to the Lord,
He will guide and protect each of you.
I have been thinking a lot about Memorial Day I believe that the bravest man who ever lived upon this earth and freely gave His life in a battle, not for our country, but for every person who has ever or who will ever be born into this earth; He died for our very souls! You ask, who could have the ability to do this grand thing?? it was our own savior, yours and mine, even Jesus Christ who has born the sins of us all so that we might have eternal life. I believe that we should honor Him as well! On this special day and every day of the year.
I believe that is important for us to keep learning new things and for me it is really very good to have refresher courses on what I have already learned. There is always something changing so it isn’t very often that you can not find something new to learn on any given subject, right??? As always, keep studying the New Testament with me, remember who you are, keep the commandments, and until my next post, make it a great week😊
I believe that is important for us to keep learning new things and for me it is really very good to have refresher courses on what I have already learned. There is always something changing so it isn’t very often that you can not find something new to learn on any given subject, right??? As always, keep studying the New Testament with me, remember who you are, keep the commandments, and until my next post, make it a great week😊
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