The Heavens Will Open

Photo From LDS Media Library

“My dear brothers and sisters I entreat you to make a sacrifice of time to the Lord by increasing the time you spend doing temple and family history work and then watch what happens. It is my testimony that when we show the Lord we are serious about helping our ancestors, the heavens will open and we will receive all that we need.” 

– Wendy Watson Nelson, Family Discovery Day General Session, RootsTech 2017.

President Russell M. Nelson to Speak at RootsTech Family Discovery Day

Salt Lake City, Utah, November 20, 2016 - RootsTech, the world’s largest family history conference, announced today that President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, will be speaking at RootsTech’s popular Family Discovery Day on Saturday, February 11, 2017, in Salt Lake City at the Salt Palace Convention Center. The unique format of RootsTech Family Discovery Day will give attendees a more intimate perspective into the family lives of Elder and Sister Nelson and their insight into the significance of family. The event is free, but registration is required at RootsTech.org.

Prior to receiving his call in 1984 as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Nelson was well-known both nationally and internationally as a heart surgeon and medical researcher. He performed the first open-heart surgery in Utah and has helped people throughout the world with heart problems. He served his medical residency in surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and the University of Minnesota. He is the recipient of many distinguished honors and awards and is the author of numerous publications.

Sister Wendy Nelson, also an author and avid genealogist, graced the Family Discovery Day stage in 2016 and won the hearts of all in attendance by sharing the excitement she has experienced in her family history discoveries. She is excited to be speaking again in 2017, this time sharing the stage with her husband, President Russell M. Nelson. Prior to her marriage to President Nelson, Sister Nelson was a professor of marriage and family therapy for 25 years, the last 13 years at Brigham Young University. She holds a Ph.D. in family therapy and gerontology.

Joining the exciting and inspiring speaker lineup at Family Discovery Day will be Kalani Sitake, Vai Sikahema, and Hank Smith. Sitake is BYU’s head football coach. Sitake played collegiately at BYU as a fullback and served as an assistant coach for the Oregon State Beavers and Utah Utes before taking the head coaching position at BYU in December 2015.

Vai Sikahema is a former NFL football player and current television personality. Sikahema is well-known for his diverse skills as both an anchor and sports reporter and can be seen co-anchoring NBC10 News Today on weekday mornings. He also serves as NBC10’s sports director.

Also joining the lineup is Hank Smith, BYU professor of religion and popular public speaker. Smith enjoys speaking at assemblies in elementary, junior high, and high schools around the country. He has also published many talks on CD and speaks to tens of thousands of youth each year. His life has been touched by family history and temple work. “There is something about temple work that unlocks our own personal gifts,” he says. When asked what family means to him, he readily replies, “Don’t make me cry! Family means happiness. Family means fun. Family means experiences. It means learning, friendship, and love.”

Family Discovery Day is a free, one-day event for members and families of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Attendees are invited to come and enjoy inspiring messages, engage in interactive activities for all ages, and discover the latest technology, products, and services in the family history industry by touring the expansive expo hall and other fun activities throughout the venue. Families with children and youth can discover the fun of family history together by playing games such as Family Feud and Twisted Family History.

Family Discover Day is the perfect place for individuals and families to discover helpful family history solutions, watch demonstrations, get one-on-one help, interact with innovative family history technologies, and mingle with hundreds of exhibitors from around the globe.

Select sessions are also available for those with Church callings and responsibilities related to family history and the temple. Individuals will be able to get their questions answered, discover new tools, and learn best practices.

Over 15,000 adults and children attended the free event in 2016. Tickets will be limited again in 2017 for this increasingly popular event.

Interested individuals and families should register as quickly as possible online at RootsTech.org.

Family Discovery Day Schedule:

1:00 p.m.—Opening General Session
1:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.—Sessions
5:30 p.m.—Closing Event

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I am 2017 RootsTech Ambassador and will be sharing these press releases on my blog in preparation for RootsTech in February 2017. I have received a free conference registration from RootsTech.
#RootsTech

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To learn more about the Nelsons, check out the following:
Facebook: Russell M. Nelson
Twitter: Russell M. Nelson
Website: Prophets and Apostles: Russell M. Nelson
Website: General Authorities: President Russell M. Nelson
Website: Deseret Book - Russell M. Nelson
Website: Deseret Book - Wendy Watson Nelson

RootsTech 2016: Wendy Nelson and Sheri Dew

RootsTech 2016, Wendy Nelson and Sheri Dew

Here are some of my takeaways from this Family Discovery Day session:

• Temple is a life line.
• Sealing power is very bold doctrine. - D&C 128:9
• Set up a family history room
• Spiritual environment
• Work in silence
• Clean and uncluttered
• When you hit a brickwall (block) it may be that those relatives may not have yet been taught in the spirit world.
• Pray before you work - "Please lead me to those who are ready to make covenants with Thee and receive their ordinances."
• "Those on the other side of the veil are very much alive." 
• "Those on the other side are desperate for their ordinances, and many know when and where their ordinances will take place."
• Extended family can provide protection.
• Easier to motivate someone to do something difficult than it is to motivate them to do something easy.
• The temple changes you.
• Temple experiences are much more meaningful.
• You can learn how the spirit speaks to you.
• "When the Lord know you're serious about family history research, other people show up to help."
• "Family history research is fun."
• Those who have gone before LIVE on the other side of the veil.
• Have miracles ceased? Have angels ceased? Nay - Moroni 7:29, 31
• There is an urgency that accompanies this work.
• The Nelsons within 24 hours had visited with children from all 12 tribes.
• Sheri: You emerge from the temple with power. Go regularly. Go see what the Lord will teach you. I testify the work of salvation is the only work that will matter.

You can watch their keynote here:


I had the opportunity to participate in a Media Hub Sofa Chat with Sheri and Wendy.

Here are some of my takeaways from the chat:

• Sheri - I am who I am. I'm very comfortable sharing what I believe, because I know what I believe. Doubting not, doesn't mean understanding everything.
• Wendy - It's the covenants and ordinances that count. I think about who is watching (Heavenly Father and Christ) and I think about those on the other side of the veil.
• Sheri - There is nothing I care more about than building the kingdom. There are many ways to do that. Build our own testimony and help others find their own. Link arms with those who care about things like we do (family, marriage, children).
• Wendy - Our work is to help those on the other side of the veil. 
• Sheri - I'll have to change something or give up something to do this work. I'll have to ask for help from Heaven and make it a priority.
• Wendy - If you want help from Heaven, you need to help Heaven. God is a great compensator. I never miss the time I give to family history work. The Lord compensates me.
• Wendy - A group of young families at BYU with lots of stress and problems - what to tell them in 20 minutes - invited the sisters to spend 3 weeks increasing their time in family history and temple work. The results were unbelievable. More power in their lives, depression and stress left, time to make changes. It works because they made covenants with God and they did the work and God poured His power into them.

#RootsTech