Lesson on Doing a Book of Remembrance
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Subject: RS: Fw: Fw: Bk or Remembrance handout
----- Original Message -----
From: carol inman
Subject: RS: Fw: Bk or Remembrance handout
From my files.....I taught this and it was very well received! Carol in Phoenix
----- Original Message -----
From: Darlene Smith
Subject: RS: Bk or Remembrance handout
Here's a handout (sorry emailing will mess up the format, but you can
fix!) to give for a lesson or HFPE about temple blessings or family history,
etc. Many in the church, particurly newer members don't even know that we're
each supposed to have a Book of Remembrance. It doesn't seem to be talked
about as much anymore. This is a work sheet for the beginner who needs an
outline of what to do & fits front & back on one sheet of paper.
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A BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
You are encouraged to work on your individual Book of Remembrance at least
once a month- the Sabbath & Family Home Evening are possible times. A
Bk of R should not be a scrapbook. Rather, it should be something that would
be spiritually uplifting and faith promoting for future generations. It should
rate second only to the written scriptures. It is your own "personal scriptures"
of your life & the Lord's dealings with you. The Lord distinguishes between
the righteous & the wicked, in part at least, by their diligence in recording
His dealings with them (D&C 85:9-10). Your Bk of R is a physical witness
to the Lord that you are keeping His commandments. The Bk of R should be
used along with scriptures in teaching the gospel to the family.
What we record in our Bk of R may be recorded in heaven. Let us therefore,
offer unto the Lord, when it is finished, a book containing the records of
our families which shall be worthy of acceptance. (D&C 128) In 1 Nephi,
chapter 3, Lehi commands his sons to go back to Jerusalem & obtain their
Bk of R (the plates of brass in the house of Laban) & they did murmur,
saying it is a hard thing which he required of them. Lehi replied saying,
I have not required it of them but it is a commandment of the Lord.
The following steps are nothing more than a suggested outline for those who
are not sure where to start. Write down the month you begin & each month
you work on your Bk of R-
MONTH: _______________
-Write your personal testimony
-List major positions held in the church
>
-Start on your pedigree chart
-Write some spiritual experiences of a sacreed nature from your own life
-Begin to compile addresses, phone numbers && email addresses of family
members who may have information you will need regarding your family history.
MONTH: _______________
-Complete a Family Group Record for your fammily
-Work on Family Group Records where husband & wife appear as children
(2 sheets)
-Make contacts or write letters that will giive you missing information on
your pedigree chart and/or Family Group Records
-Write down the spiritual goals you would liike to achieve as a family
MONTH: _______________
-Start Family Group Records for grandparentss of both husband & wife
(4 sheets - this makes a total of 7 sheets you've worked on & is known
as your 3rd Generation set of FGR's)
-Continue on previous sheets where informatiion was missing. Write letters
NOW to get missing names & dates.
-Start your personal history. Start with thee first 20 years of your life.
(Do not attempt to make it so lengthy that it becomes a chore. Cover only
the highlights of your life. In some instances a paragraph may cover several
years.)
MONTH: _______________
-Continue on first seven Family Group Recordds (FGR's). Verify if temple work
has been done for deceased persons.
-Put Patriarchal Blessing in your book. If yyou don't have one, make an appointment
to talk to your Bishop about getting one.
-Continue on personal history. For older perrsons, try to cover another 20
years.
MONTH: _______________
-Start on FGR for grandparents of both husbaand's & wife's father. These
4 sheets are part of the 4th generation.
-Continue your personal history.
-If you attend a Family Reunion, plan ahead to take your sheets with a list
of missing information you need to complete them.
MONTH: _______________
-Work more on your personal history - finishh as soon as possible.
-Start on FGR for grandparents of both husbaand's & wife's mother. The
husband & wife should now have a total of 15 sheets. When completed,
you will have completed your Fourth Generation family history.
-Gather pictures for a Picture Pedigree Charrt.
MONTH: _______________
-Include special certificates in your B of RR(birth, ordinances,etc)
-Gather any known spiritual experiences of yyour ancestors
-Write a few paragraphs about each of your cchildren. Mention some of their
virtues & capabilities. You may want to have a page for each child &
add to it from time to time.
MONTH: _______________
-If not covered already, write down sacred eexperiences in the lives of your
children. It need not be meaningful or even impressive to everyone, just
to your family. Examples are: prayers answered, miraculous recovery from
illness, etc.
-Continue on to complete FGR's & other iitems not done yet.
MONTH: _______________
-Brethren include your Priesthood line of auuthority. You need only to give
your line of authority for the highest office you hold within the Priesthood.
Sisters might want to include line of authority of person who baptized and
confirmed her.
-If not done already, organize your B of R iin a logical way. For example:
Title page, Intro, Table of Contents, Personal Records, Life Story/Biography,
Genealogy (FGR's, Pedigree charts, ancestor stories), Spiritual Record (blessings,
answered prayers, testimony, spiritual experiences, church activities/callings),
Family Life & Traditions, etc.
-Check FGR's to see that temple work has beeen done for all deceased persons.
MONTH: _______________
-Look at your Bk of R - how do you feel abouut it? Do you have a personal
feeling that it is your very own? Has it begun to represent the personal
feeling that it is your very own? Has it begun to represent the spiritual
tone of your individual family?
-Should death take the father or mother, thee pages of the Bk of R should
remain to reveal to the bereaved the spirit of that individual.
CONGRATULATIONS! Now, keep your Book of Remembrance up-to-date as special
events occur in the life of you & your family. Make any necessary copies
of things for your children. Why not do some research on your 5th generations?
Or keep a blank book to record important experiences of all the family members
in their own handwriting.
Here are some more scriptures regarding a Book of Remembrance- D&C 85:9-10;
Malachi 3:16-17; Rev 20:12; Abraham 1:31; Rev 1:11; D&C 128