LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-L Archives
Archiver > LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT > 2009-03 > 1237849777
From:
Subject: Re: [LDS-WC] Which Utah temples accept FORs?
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:09:37 EDT
I'm not sure that our ward has had a third geared that direction either.
But we are getting a lot of preparedness talks...
Karen
In a message dated 3/23/2009 4:37:03 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
writes:
Ray wrote:
A "someday" thing isn't going to get them moving.
Ray,
I understand your frustration with this, but no deadline is going to be
announced because of the very real issues of dealing with each problem as it
occurs. They cannot predict the problems--or they would be preventing
them--but they can deal with them when they occur. That being the case, they
also can't determine how long the solutions will take to program. Based on
what I have heard, the Wasatch Front is going to give this system its very
biggest challenge to date. If there are problems as it continues to
roll-out, things will likely slow down or stop again. If a deadline is
given, the complaints when that deadline is missed are FAR worse than if the
people didn't know when it was coming and didn't know that they missed their
target date.
You have indicated that you think participation in family history work among
Church members will greatly increase when the program is released in your
area. Has anyone in the rolled-out areas had that experience? I would be
curious to know. I assume that there is a brief time period of curiosity and
learning about the new system, but has anyone seen a truly significant
increase in long-term participation? I'm not trying to be negative here, I
want to make a point. I don't believe any "tool" is going to generate the
level of family history and temple work participation that needs to be
occurring. I think making the process more user friendly is a definite plus,
but it isn't a life changer. Missionaries don't convert, the Spirit does.
Family History tools are fun, but they don't inspire testimony and
commitment.
When I started this work, my biggest concern in life was how on earth I was
going to be able to afford a long-carriage typewriter! Before I had the
money, PAF 1.0 was created. I started by submitting names to Salt Lake and
waiting 6 months for approval, then we had TempleReady, and now we have New
FamilySearch. I saw the IGI go from the CFI on microfiche to the current
online system. There has been a steady increase over time in participation
in family history, but as you mentioned, the current level of participation
is still peanuts. The new tools released over the last 30 years have not
been life-changers. It's my contention that no tool is going to bring the
commitment and dedication needed to accomplish this work--without the
testimony and conversion necessary to change our lives and the way we use
our time.
These tools are being created and will continue to roll forth as the Lord
sees fit to reveal them to us. He is in charge, and He knows the roll-out
schedule. I have been teaching family history through this entire process,
and trust me, the tools are not what the students get excited about. The
"life-changing event" is the testimony they gain of the work that gives them
the desire to learn about and use the tools--whatever they are. I would
suggest letting the roll-out schedule fall off your radar, and focus more on
testimony and the doctrine. I know that's hard to do, but I truly believe
you will have greater success with that approach. I have been asked to speak
in Sacrament meeting in a few weeks, and I was asked if there was a
particular theme I would like the meeting to focus on. I started laughing
and asked if they really had to ask that question! I don't know about any of
you, but our ward has certainly not had its one-third share of Sacrament
meeting talks for this aspect of the three-fold mission of the Church!! :-)
Just some thoughts,
Jill Crandell
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