The Gospel Doctrine lesson I am preparing for our ward this week focuses on temple and family history work. One of the suggestions it makes is to learn about our ancestors lives. In preparing the lesson it caused me to reflect on a Young Women’s project, “Generations of Women”, Ashley and I devised in order to bring her ancestors to life for her when she was a senior in high school; something I plan to briefly focus on this week as an example. What a blessing it was in both of our lives to work on this delightful mother-daughter project together which she will be able to share with her own children one day. And perhaps when she serves in the Young Women's program she will be able to inspire the youth to want to seek out their own history.
What does a pre-Civil War southern plantation and a Negro (African American) nanny … a one room school house and a love for playing Chinese checkers … an 80 year old ceramic mixing bowl and a 1940’s pill box hat and gloves … a depression glass tea cup and a World War II Hollywood glamour shot … a 1975 wedding veil/hat and a POW bracelet ... and a pink, size one cowboy boot and a beanie baby all have in common? Experiences and artifacts which knit heart to heart throughout the generations of time from Ashley’s 3rd generation great-great-great Latter-day Saint grandmother all the way down the line to Ashley herself!
What fun we had as mother and daughter over a period of several months; dreaming up, discussing, laughing and planning an incredible project which helped Ashley achieve her ‘Good Works’ and ‘Choice and Accountability’ values; through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Personal Progress program for teenage girls.
Ash titled her project “Generations of Women” a presentation and artifact display which was combined with hosting a Victorian Tea for the leaders and young women in our ward as well as special guests.
Displays included everything from 1800’s photographs to a late 1950’s Dick & Jane first grade reading book; A rhinestone purse used when visiting Las Vegas back when there were only three hotels on the strip to a 2002 spelling bee award; A braid of her great grandmother’s hair which her great grandpa used to dip in the ink well on his desk to tease her while sitting behind her in the one room school house where her father taught; China tea cups, a flour sack from a Utah roller mill, 1960’s cookie jar, crystal beaded bracelet, key chains from throughout the country to a baby rattle and ballet slippers. The artifact displays were a delightful addition to Ashley’s presentation.
What a blessing this was to us as we discovered charming, heart felt stories about each of our grandmothers. It brought to life for Ash the feelings, passions, humor, sacrifice, experiences of all of the remarkable women in her maternal line!
Most paramount is that Francis Jamima, Maggie Anna, Maggie Elizabeth, Maybelle, Rebecca Lynn and Ashley Bretlyn make up six generations of extraordinary Latter-day Saint women. Six generations, thus far, who have positively been affected as a result of Ashley’s 3rd great grandparents conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ; and how their testimonies and commitment to the gospel have affected each generation thereafter. Each have enjoyed strong, happy temple marriages and continued activity and commitment to the gospel no matter where they have lived whether it be Tennessee, Utah or Pennsylvania; a testament to personal faith, courage and a desire to make each of our homes a little piece of heaven here on earth.
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