PROVO, Utah
Whether it be a matter of becoming better family history researchers or becoming better people, the key is to increase one's faith in Jesus Christ," Elder John H. Groberg, emeritus General Authority, said July 28 in his opening keynote address of the annual Conference on Family History and Genealogy at BYU.
"Were it not for Him and His marvelous, even transcendent Atonement and Resurrection, none of us could progress here or hereafter, and there would be no meaning to our life or our research efforts," said Elder Groberg, who, after being given emeritus status, served as president of the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple. "However, He did come. 'He marked the path and led the way' (see Hymns, No. 195). He did work out the infinite Atonement, including the Resurrection, all of which makes progress possible, and life and research meaningful."
A former director of the Church Family History Department, Elder Groberg drew a parallel between "our being at this conference and our being on this earth."
"You came to this conference with the assurance that you would receive help and support in our goal to become more effective researchers," he said. "We came to this earth based on similar assurances of help and support in our goal to become better people. So I repeat: Jesus is the key to moving forward in both of these goals, for He is the source of all true progress."
Elder Groberg promised the conference-goers that "increased faith in Him will result in increased research results."
He acknowledged that they will inevitably meet obstacles in their efforts to find information and asked, "What can we do then?"
In answer, he said, "We work harder, we put forth all the effort we can, and we learn to obey and rely on the Lord with a believing heart, which, by definition, is having faith in Him. Nothing will prove more helpful in these dead ends — no pun intended — than increasing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Listen carefully: Because He knows every single individual who ever has or ever will live on this earth. He has met them; He has suffered for them; He has brought about a resurrection for them, and He will be the final judge of them. There is no one better acquainted with the person you are seeking than the Savior. There is no one with a better desire to help that person, even greater than our own, and certainly, there is no one with a greater ability to see that that person receives the help he or she needs."
The Savior knows the family history researchers in the same way, Elder Groberg said. "So if you're working hard at trying to help someone else, just imagine what He can do to help you if you humble yourself before Him."
Elder Groberg admonished the audience to listen to and learn of Jesus and try to emulate the things He has done. Using the word "cares" as an acronym, he listed some of those things:
Creation: "As we join with Him in creating new life and new hearts and new attitudes, we experience some of the joy He feels," Elder Groberg said. "As we create an orderly mind or a clean room, we experience in a small degree the thrill of creation of which He knows the fullness."
Atonement: "As we do things for others which they cannot do for themselves, we experience some of the joy that is His because of His Atonement for all of us. As we sacrifice to get that help, we feel even more gratitude for His unfathomable sacrifice for us."
Resurrection: "As we plant and nourish both physical and spiritual seeds of goodness and truth and watch them grow, we experience some of the joy He feels in giving us the gift of the Resurrection."
Eternal judgment: "As we live pure lives and as we withhold judgment, even in difficult situations, and turn them over to the Savior, our love and appreciation for Him increases.
Sharing: "As we share more of what we have with others, physically, emotionally and spiritually, sharing ourselves, we begin to sense the magnitude of His love, power, goodness and total unselfishness. Remember, His desire is to share everything with us, physical and spiritual."
The four-day conference, which concludes Friday, July 31, has the theme "Strengthening the Ties That Bind Families Together Forever." Attendees choose from seven concurrent presentations during each of five sessions through each day.
