News Release

The Youth of Africa Embrace Family History

Young people are enthused about Family History. Many of the records for ancestors in Africa are oral records. The records are passed from one generation to another generation orally making it critical to gather information from parents and grandparents.  Young people, along with their grandparents and parents, come to the Family History Center where they listen to their elders share recollections of their ancestors then record vital information into Family Search.

                 

Many grandparents and parents have not developed the computer skills to input information into Family Search, whereas the youth have grown up using computers and can easily use their computer skills to build their family trees. Ten year old, Josh Scheepers, is learning how to construct his family tree using computer skills he already has.

 

Language may also be a challenge for some older brothers and sisters. They may only speak their ethnic language. Their grandchildren and children have learned to speak English and are translating for them as they record information on their ancestors. Iviwe Kweleta, is interpreting and recording family history for his grandmother, Rose Kweleta.

           

        

Once family information is recorded, family names can be taken to the temple where ancestors receive essential ordinances allowing their family to be sealed together for eternity. Angelique Poussin and Jade Boyer from the island of Le’ Reunion, work in the Family History Center recording names of their relatives and ancestors, while their parents perform ordinances for their ancestors in the Johannesburg Temple.

 The prophecy of Malachi is truly being fulfilled, Malachi 4: 5-6;  5.”Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:”  6.”And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”  

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