For outstanding contributions to genealogical work, the Church Family History Department was honored April 16 with the prestigious Silver Tray Award from the Utah Genealogical Association.
The award was made at a luncheon of the association's convention in Salt Lake City. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Presidency of the Seventy accepted the award as executive director of the department.
He said he was representing "not only President Gordon B. Hinckley and the leadership of the Church, but hundreds, even thousands of men and women who contribute daily to our great family history effort." These include the department staff, missionaries and Church members in many nations who staff local facilities and extract records.
"We are excited about our FamilySearch Internet Genealogical Service now on-line in a test version," he noted. "We appreciate the feedback we have already received from many of you. We are looking forward to the official launch of FamilySearch in the near future, although a specific date had not been set as yet. FamilySearch will be a powerful research tool, and I am confident it will eventually become an even greater asset over time."
The award presentation came the day after the shooting at the Family History Library in which two people, in addition to the gunman, were killed and four others injured.
"Our hearts reach out in sympathy to the families of Donald Thomas and Patricia Frengs who were killed," he said. "We pray their grief will be assuaged, and we likewise pray for those who were injured and their families. We are pleased to note the reports that those who were wounded appear to be recovering. Our sympathies also extend to the wife and son of the disturbed man, Sergei Babarin, who perpetrated this tragedy. Knowing that they suffer as well in sadness over what happened, we pray for their well being.
"It is difficult to imagine a less likely target even for random violence than this library and its patrons who are engaged in the praiseworthy and peaceful activity of tracing roots and preserving family histories. We don't understand it, and we are deeply saddened. Nevertheless, we trust that you and hundreds of thousands like you who depend on our facilities and resources generally, and the Family History Library in particular, will be undeterred in using them. And we can commit to you that we will continue to forge ahead in the field of family history with even greater momentum and commitment."
