Quick GenTip 2

Genealogy tip 2—Prayer is an essential tool in ancestry research.

Being a history researcher comes with the need to learn and understand how to research records, find the key information and develop a plan that will take you to all available information.  Through the years, I have had the pleasure of conducting historical and genealogy research throughout the United States and Europe. Every time I conduct research in a new location, I feel like I have to learn/relearn how to conduct historical research.  Why? I need to learn where the records are kept, what is available, develop a plan of how to research this location and so much more. I have written a series Genealogy Tips to introduce you to what I consider to be the most foundational skills I use over and over. In this article, I want to share Genealogy Tip 2: Prayer is an Essential Tool.

Genealogy Tip Series

Click on an of the following Genealogy Tips to be taken to the article.

Genealogy Tip  Series for History and Genealogy Research
1. Focus on One Ancestor at A Time 15. Obtain and Search the Record
2. Prayer is an Essential Tool 16. Use Multiple Sources to Correlate Information
3. Nine Ways to Stay Focused in History and Genealogy 17. Every Record Has Value
4. Build An Identity Profile About Ancestors 18. Use and Record What You Learn
5. Set Realistic Goals for History and Genealogy 19. Detailed and Exhaustive Research
6. Follow Every Clue in History And Genealogy 20. Cite and Verify Ancestry Research
7. Remember the Power of One 21. US Census, Vital Records, and Other Records
8. Five-step Process to Discover Your Ancestors 22. Events Create Records
9. Research with Fresh Eyes 23. Search in County and Date Records
10. Genealogy Requires Preparation 24. Start Ancestry Research at Home
11. Expect the Unexpected in Genealogy Research 25. Start Organized and Stay Organized
12. Learning Begins with A Research Question 26. Strategy for Searching Societies and Libraries
13. Learn and Use the Genealogical Proof Standard 27. Genealogy and Social Networking Sites
14. Conduct Evidence Analysis 28. 16 Forms to Gather, Manage and Guide Your Research

Genealogy Tip 2: Prayer is an Essential Tool

I have thought a lot about prayer and Genealogy and just how to approach the concept without offending or preaching. Prayer is the essential tool I have as a Genealogist. I remember one of my very first experiences as a Genealogist, where I had chosen to work on one Family line with very little success. I felt the need to include prayer but didn’t. As time went on, I became more and more frustrated.

Finally, one day, now at a dead-end, I knelt in prayer, poured out my heart, and pleaded for help. Within days, information began to pour in and has been almost continuous for ten years.

Is it a coincidence? No! I have had many personal experiences associated with Genealogy that are divine. I have felt like I have been guided to find information, meet people and soften hearts, making it possible to find what I needed. Prayer is the cornerstone upon which I build my genealogical research. I have spoken with many people who included prayer as part of their research, and they have had similar experiences.

It’s hard for me to believe that Genealogy work is anything but divine. Personal revelation is available to anyone willing to pray, serve and listen. Include prayer in your work; experience the difference it will make in your success and happiness in your Genealogy research. Pray for which lines you should follow, for help in finding the information you seek, for help in softening the hearts of those who have the information you need, and for guidance on where to search. Pray for anything and everything you do in research.

And be sure you show your gratitude for the blessings you receive. May you have the blessings of a loving Heavenly Father in your work and all else you pursue.

I would like to share one experience with you that I hope will help explain my belief in the power of this work we call Genealogy.

I researched my Danish ancestry for several months and had progressed several generations back to the early 1700s. But I had reached a brick wall and couldn’t seem to locate a descendent who had been born and had raised a family in the area I was researching.

The family had lived in the community for generations, and then they were suddenly gone, leaving no trace of where they might have gone. I searched the military, community and church records with no success. My next step was to systematically search all the neighboring communities and parishes in a 25-mile radius. After several weeks of research, I was down to the last several microfilms for the search area. I arrived at the Family history library at 8 a.m. and began carefully searching a rather large parish record — line by line, page by page — for most of the day. As I finished the film and was on my way back to return it to its original location, I heard the words, “I’m here. Look again.”

I knew I had to return and research the film the next day.

When I returned to the Family history library, I anxiously retrieved the film to embark on what I hoped would be a successful search. Again I searched each line and page, and I went through the film forward and backward. Sadly, I was no closer than I was the day before at the end of the day. As the library was closing, I was returning the film to its location and, again, I heard the words, this time with greater force.

Were the words wishful thinking or actual direction to search the film again?

I privately agreed to give it one more look the following day. As I had on the previous two days, I retrieved the film. This time, I knew I would find the Ancestor I had been searching for.

I spent several hours searching the same pages. I searched every word, letter, and line this time with focused precision. I was being very detailed in my research notes. I marked off page 56, decided to take a break, and rested my head to take a short nap. When I woke up 20 minutes later, before me on the screen was the name I had been searching for. The microfilm reel had been advanced more than 100 pages. I can’t explain why or how the film was advanced. I do know that I heard and obeyed the prompting I had received.

This, like so many other experiences, has taught me that my ancestors wanted to be found. In my pursuit of researching each of my Family lines, I have come to believe that my Ancestors do take an active role in helping me join the generations.

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