FHE- It's all about the Dash!!

Here is a fun FHE lesson idea.

First share this video that talks about the Dash- this is the short line that is between someones birthday and death date.

That short line represents someones whole life. Just like your life right now it is full of Joy and sorrow,  Fun and work, and hopefully family.

Next your going to learn a fun song

To the music of "All about that bass"

All about that Dash
by the Wells family

Because you know it's all about that dash, 'bout that dash, life stories.
It's all about that dash, 'bout that dash, life stories.
It's all about that dash, 'bout that dash, life stories.
It's all about that dash, 'bout that dash.

Yeah, it's pretty clear, that my heart's turned to
Search out my ancestors, like I'm supposed to do.
Just found a new name to fill in that space.
I got all the right dates and all the right places.
I see that dash in there, and wonder 'bout their lives.
Like where did they all live, and how did they survive?
What did she like to do?
Who were her friends?
Cause everybody's story's awesome from beginning to the end.

Yeah, great grandpa he told me his stories from World War 2.
And that one time great grandma's new pony threw off its shoe.
And when grandpa met grandma and they went on their first date.
Because learning about family history is so great.

Because you know it's all about that dash, 'bout that dash, life stories.
It's all about that dash, 'bout that dash, life stories.
It's all about that dash, 'bout that dash, life stories.
It's all about that dash, 'bout that dash.

My genealogy. So many people who are sealed to me.
We'll do their temple work from A to Z.
But I'm here to tell ya,
everybody's story's awesome from the beginning to the end.
Yeah, my ancestors did lots of really amazing things.
Some were just peasants and others were queens and kings.
And their stories make me want to make my own dash the best
Because the way that we live is what makes us all truly blessed.

Because you know it's all about that dash, 'bout that dash, life stories.
It's all about that dash, 'bout that dash, life stories.
It's all about that dash, 'bout that dash, life stories.
It's all about that dash, 'bout that dash.

Have fun with that!

Then your going to play a game. Login to Family Search and find an ancestor that doesn't have very much information.  Hopefully you have a Birth, Death, Marriage and Parents,Siblings, and Children's births and deaths.  Then you want to find the world events, like wars and who was president of the Church and the country you live in. All these go on a time line of this persons "dash". You can also add important church dates in this time line such as when missionaries were first sent to Denmark and when the first vision happened.

for example

Karen Sophie Rasmussen

Was born in 1808
She was married in 1831
She died in 1850 all in Denmark

So We are looking for all the major life events in her life that would impact her joy and sorrow.

Most of her siblings on this image were born before her but I found one sibling born after her

So your timeline would be like this

1808 Birth
1811 Birth of Lars baby brother
1814 - Norway’s departure from the Union.
1820 First vision of Joseph Smith in America
1830 The first Book of Mormon published and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints was organized in America
1831 Marriage
1832 Baby boy Lars born
1833 Baby boy Hans born and died
1835 2nd Baby boy Hans born (same name because first baby died)
1837 Baby girl Ane born. First LDS missionaries sent to England
1838 Baby boy Johan born
1839 Baby boy Rasmus born
1840 Baby boy Jens born, Baby boy Rasmus died
1841 Baby  boy Jens died
1843 Karen's mother died
1844 Joseph Smith is martyered
1847 Karen's father died
1848 - Abolition of absolutism.

1849 - First liberal constitution, the June Constitution.

Missionaries were first sent to Denmark in 1849 and the first Danish Book of Mormon was translated. Danish Saints to be the first non-English speakers to read the Book of Mormon in their native tongue.

Doing a search on LDS.org found several articles about the church in Denmark

In Denmark, a Quiet, Vibrant Faith

5 Things to Know about the Church in Denmark

Scandinavia, the Church in

Grandpa Arthur Samuel Roberts June 2, 1918

Favorite Song: Grandpa Sam remembers playing a duet with Grandpa Art in sacrament meeting twice. Grandpa Sam played the clarinet and Grandpa Art played the piano. They played "There is a green hill faraway" and "Rock of Ages"

Grandpa was in the air-force during World War II and was trained as a pilot. Some how he was later moved to top gunner in a B-29 Super Fortress. They have one at Hill Air Force base in Utah and we went and saw it for his birthday. 

The window on top was where
Grandpa Art would sit and shoot.

Back Gunner

WWII Uniform

Wendy,  You always are interested in anything we know about our parents,etc.  I came across this note card my dad wrote and used to memorize something about Egypt.  His writing is almost impossible to read (a lot worse than my own).  I can remember that he used a fountain pen that you had to fill often with ink and that he usually had 3-6 cards in his shirt pocket to memorize their contents throughout the day.

Attached to this email is a photograph of both sides of this note-card.

Love, Sam

Grandpa Smith's Birthday-- January 10,1907

Favorite Food: Brown Sugar

Grandma Kennard said he just liked lot's of it because he remembered being hungry as a child. Hated to see food to go to waste.

Grandpa was color blind so Grandma Kennard doesn't think he has a favorite color

Liked the music of Steven Foster especially the song "Old Black Joe"

Grandpa loved to whistle and sing. I loved to hear him sing "Froggy went a courtin", and "You get a line and I'll get a pole."

Grandpa could quote whole chapters in the Bible from memory. Uncle Sean remembers "It was amazing. I would sit there with the Bible open and he would start talking and get it almost word for word at age 78. I couldn't believe it. He knew chapters from Isaiah, parts of Chronicles, and Ecclesiastes."

"Following (our daughter's) mortal death, our feelings were raw, we struggled, and still today we have moments of great sorrow, but we hold to the understanding that no one ever really dies. Despite our anguish when Georgia’s physical body stopped functioning, we had faith that she went right on living as a spirit, and we believe we will live with her eternally if we adhere to our temple covenants. Faith in our Redeemer and His Resurrection, faith in His priesthood power, and faith in eternal sealings let us believe. . . ( what). . .  President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God. … The Lord will not forsake us.”4 Yielding Our Hearts to God  By Neill F. Marriott Oct 2015

Happy Birthday Grandma Smith- January 30, 1915

Favorite food: Soup Beans and corn bread
Favorite color: Red
She was a great seamstress and made all her children's clothes. She would take Grandpa Smith's old dress shirts and cut off the tail and use it to make baby clothes with embroidery,
She loved listening to old radio programs like "Only the Shadow knows", Red Rider, Ma Kettle, and Loan Ranger and Tanto.
Once they got a TV she enjoyed watching Soap Operas like Days of our Lives and music programs like Lawerence Welk

"My niece Katie was a hopeful 20-year-old university student with many talents and plans for the future. Four years ago Katie died in an auto accident. Though our family still feels much homesickness for her, we know that we will be with her again, and we are not worried about her. In Katie’s wallet was her temple recommend, given to her by her bishop so she could be baptized for her ancestors. Katie was worthy. Not long before Katie died she wrote these words: “If this were my last day on earth, this is the record I would leave. Make each day meaningful. … Stay close to the Lord. Gain all the knowledge you can about the scriptures, the gospel, the creations of the Lord. … Give of yourself … and always remember Christ for His example and His Atonement and strive each day to be like Him.” There Is Hope Smiling Brightly before Us  Julie B. Beck April 2003

Grandma Rebecca Bastian Roberts March 22, 1922

 

Favorite Food- Grandpa said "She never sat down to eat. She was too busy serving everyone else." She made really yummy "flap jacks" which were like a scone but "different"? So we will be having scones

Grandma Terry said Grandma Rebecca was a meat and potatoes kind of girl.

Grandma Terry thinks Grandma Rebecca's favorite color was Lavender

Sheri, Grandma Rebecca, Sam, Shauna, and Scott
when Sam was preparing to go on his mission to Holland.

Sam, Rebecca and Sheri. Grandma Rebecca sent her first missionary out 3 years after Grandpa Art died in a car accident.

Grandma Rebecca loved to read anything she could get her hands on. 

My Grandma Kennard died in 1984 from liver cancer. None of my children were able to meet her.

Grandma Rebecca had heart surgery April 10, 1984 done by Elder  Russell M. Nelson the Tuesday after he was ordained an apostle. She was able to live 20 years after that surgery. She was able to meet and give gifts to 5 of my children because of that surgery. She was like a Grandmother to me from the time I was about 17 and taught me to crochet and other homemaking skills. She was always kind and loving to our family and gave us amazing quilts. All of my children were able to be blessed in a quilt she made.

Wendy, Grandma Rebecca, Terry, and baby Rachel 2001.

Andrew John Roberts baby blessing 2008 in a handmade quilt Grandma Rebecca made for Joseph in 1992.

Grandma Rebecca served 2 missions one to England on an Extraction mission. She got her mission call and the Doctor said she wasn't healthy enough to go to a foreign mission. She was not daunted though and was determined to serve where she was called so she asked the Doctor if he would give her approval if she was able to work at Walmart for 1 year. He said yes and so she did. He had to give her the approval after one year and she served a year and a half in England. 

The second was to the Family History library in downtown Salt Lake.

Grandma Terry Kay Stevens Birthday Celebration March 17th, 1945

Favorite food- Ice cream nuts and goo and chocolate, and hamburgers

Favorite Color- Greens, or teal, cream, yellow

Favorite Song- I believe in Christ, If the Savior stoodbeside me and I’m trying to be like Jesus.

Les Miserable- Show tunes. Love the music of Frank Sinatra, Big band, love songs

When Grandma and Grandpa Met

Seeking mentoring from the Master week 5

This week for mentoring we are talking about Faith and Joan of Arc. Here is a link to an essay I wrote about the things I learned about Joan of Arc. 

Faith--  Here are two former blog posts about how I am living proof that Gods love is real. I have been so blessed with miracles and Light. I cannot deny the truth.

http://livinghappiness.blogspot.com/2013/06/living-proof.html

"Living proof
I am evidence
That His love is real"  

http://livinghappiness.blogspot.com/2013/06/earliest-memory-of-living-proof-needle.html

One of my first personal experiences that the Lord hears and answers prayers.

In the bible dictionary this is the definition of Faith: 

"Although faith is a gift, it must be cultured and sought after until it grows from a tiny seed to a great tree. The effects of true faith in Jesus Christ include (1) an actual knowledge that the course of life one is pursuing is acceptable to the Lord (see Heb. 11:4); (2) a reception of the blessings of the Lord that are available to man in this life; and (3) an assurance of personal salvation in the world to come. These things involve individual and personal testimony, guidance, revelation, and spiritual knowledge. Where there is true faith there are miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that He gives to His saints."

For our family memorizing scripture we are studying about the Stripling warriors and how they "obeyed every word of command with exactness" Thinking about how faith inspires us to obey with exactness and honor.

And creating a Spiritual plan. As we all know if you fail to plan you plan to fail. This week we will be discussing each family members next step on the covenant path. We have one getting baptized this year in August and several that are working on receiving their patriarchal blessings. I found this amazing resource for Patriarchal blessing preparation and we are really excited to begin reading it. Endure with joy to the end is the next step for several in our family and we are working to find joy in the journey each day. There is so much to be grateful for and so much joy to be had if we will just look for it each day. 

Affirmations are another way to strengthen our faith and help us remember our worth and divine nature. 

"The Father and our Savior desire to lead us through love, for if we were merely driven where They wish us to go, we would not be worthy to be there, and, surely, we could not stay there. They are Shepherds, not sheepherders." Meekness—A Dimension of True Discipleship” Elder Neal A. Maxwell