Focus on Family Search

            We really enjoyed conference last week and we are really grateful for the technology that allowed us to listen and watch each session as it was broadcast.  The priesthood session did not start until 9:00 with the three hour time difference; President went to San Fernando to be with the missionaries and members there so he didn’t get home until 12:00 a.m.  He said it was worth it to be there and they were thrilled to see him.

            We have been counseled that our focus should be not just on baptism but baptism as a necessary step toward the temple.  We presented this concept in our mission leadership council for September, so every missionary then heard about it in their district meeting last week. 

            Since October is our month for specialized training, President decided we would meet with each zone and have a presentation by a missionary about how to create an account in Family Search and some basic information about adding or finding names.  Then each person had a short time to find their account and make sure they could access it.  They also have an extra hour in the cyber this week to work in their account.  Of course, we have a wide range from families with most of the work done to new converts who have their name and little more.  The point is that they will be able to share this concept with their recent converts and recently activated members.  Even investigators can create an account and start working on their family history.  We are hoping to see an increase in temple attendance by the members in our mission, even for baptisms which can be done as a family with the older children.

            We met with four of the eleven zones this week and really enjoyed each meeting.  I hope the missionaries enjoyed it as well.   We rewarded them with cookies as they left, which they are always happy to receive.  We are always happy when we can be with the missionaries, so we had a great week.  I hope you did also. 

Missionaries accessing family search in the mission office

This elder is explaining family search to one of the Tupahue zones