The blessings and sacred nature of the Church work known as family history were discussed in a program transmitted Sunday, Nov. 8, over the Church Satellite System.
President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve, presided over the presentation, received at meetinghouses in many parts of the Church. He gave an address, as did Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Presidency of the Seventy, who conducted the proceedings.Stake and ward officers with responsibility for family history work - as well as mission presidents and missionaries with family history assignments - were invited to view the transmission. Local officers were encouraged to record the transmission for future viewing.
In introductory remarks, Elder Christofferson noted: "Currently all missionaries called to missions in North America receive a very basic course in family history. Sister missionaries receive additional training and arrive in the mission field conversant with FamilySearch [the Church's computer software and databases for family history research] and may assist family history center directors and other missionaries who bring investigators to family history centers."
Elder Christofferson added, "We encourage stake and mission presidents to work closely together to build upon the growing interest in family history, to introduce non-members, less-active members and others to the full blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
On this page are summary reports of the addresses given by President Packer and Elder Christofferson.
