| 06/03/2006 |
| It’s About Connections |
| By AMY SCHWEITZER , Hub Regional Editor |
KEARNEY — History and family is very important to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Because they believe that family is forever and you will meet your ancestors in heaven, it is important to learn all you can about them. “Families are forever and eternal,” said church elder Alvin Emery, adding that he believes that some day he will meet these ancestors. “We are trying to bind them together.” At least 600 people went through the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument Friday during the 150th Anniversary of the Handcart Pioneers celebration, said Phil Kozera, executive director of the archway. He estimated that double that number was on the archway’s campus. Trails and Rails Museum, where there were more activities, had seen at least 200 visitors by 6 p.m. and more were still showing up, said Executive Director Jennifer Murrish. Both sites expected many more visitors today (Saturday).
Robert Moss of Salt Lake City, an author of a historical novel involving a couple that came across from England heading for Utah, said he loves to tell the story of his ancestors who pushed a handcart across the Plains. “The Jewish people have a saying that goes like this, ‘If you lose your heritage, you lose your way.’ Our church believes the same,” he said adding that it strengthens the modern-day church members in their faith when they hear about what the pioneers went through for their faith. Adam Diehl of Salt Lake City agreed as he set up a kitchen similar to one the pioneers would have taken with them. “Without (the pioneers’) sacrifice, I don’t think people today would be willing to make the same sacrifices,” he said. Some church members who are at the archway depicting life in the 1850s said they didn’t have any family members who were pioneers. “We wanted to have our own story to tell,” said Michelle Kelly, who came from Salt Lake City with a group of living history re-enactors. “It’s a connection to who we are, not only just our family, but as a whole.” Kelly, who was making a necklace for her daughters, said she doesn’t know how the women in the handcart companies managed. “I’m exhausted just sitting here in the shade keeping track of my toddler,” she said with a smile, and added that as a mother of two young girls and with another child on the way, she said sometimes it can be hard to imagine walking hundreds of miles that way. Her daughter, Aylish, 5, said she thinks it is fun to play pioneer. “I like the way we share our stories,” she said. “We make rugs and sew, and my favorite is making a button string for my sister.” Other church members were helping people trace their ancestors and family history inside the archway, whether they were pioneers or not. Emery said that most of the people who were investigating their family histories were not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “I believe the Lord is directing them here,” he said adding that anyone who wishes to research ancestors is welcome to use the church’s Web sites: www.lds.org and www.earlylds.com. “Every piece of information we get, we share,” he said adding that there are at least 55,000 names. People also are encouraged to share information about their families. Emery said that the church believes the amount of information it has will grow enormously in the next 10 to 20 years. Another church member, Alese Falsev, who has been working on her mission in Kearney, said the belief that everyone will meet his or her great-great-grandparents in heaven is why the church does genealogy work. “That is what is unique about our church. It’s not ‘until death do us part’ but goes on,” she said. e-mail to: amy.schweitzer@kearneyhub.com
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