For the past several years I have devoted a considerable amount of time to family history research and temple work. It has been very rewarding in many different ways and truly has been a remarkable and exciting journey. There are many different aspects to this work. Some of it has been searching books and stories written by close and distant relatives who, for one reason or another, have been motivated to collect and record the records and histories of many of our ancestors. We have been blessed to have access to advanced computer technology, which speeds up the process, not only of researching and gathering information, but also facilitates recording and processing the information we are able to find. The Church has done a remarkable work in helping people find, organize, and prepare names of our ancestors who need to have their Temple ordinances done or completed. We have received much instructive and also motivating counsel and direction from many of the General Authorities in General Conference addresses and other formats. Perhaps most significantly, the Lord is truly hastening His work in every way. For those who are engaged in this work the "Spirit of Elijah" is demonstrably evident in many ways. This is particularly noticeable in the increased interest in family history and genealogy research among members of the Church and nonmembers alike.
This past week we had the opportunity to seek out some of the grave sites of some of our early ancestors who were called by Brigham Young to go to Utah's Dixie and settle that part of the country, while at the same time beginning to grow cotton. This mission was sometimes called the "Cotton Mission". We visited the cemeteries in Toquerville, just north of St. George,where my great-great-great grandfather, William Theobald, and some of his family are buried, and also the abandoned town of Grafton, a true "Ghost Town". Some of our ancestors settled in a place called Duncan's Retreat which is located about three and a half miles from the present-day town of Virgin. This town was abandoned long ago and there is barely a trace of it left. My heart was touched as we read about and contemplated the faith, courage, and devotion of these early pioneer converts to the Church. They faced hardship and trials that we, in our day, have a hard time even visualizing. They buried babies, who died as a result of sickness and accident, along with the rigors imposed by the hard work they did just to eek out an existence on the frontier with little relief. The effects of nature often imposed drastic consequences on whole communities as well as individuals and families. There was often serious droughts, coupled with flash floods. In some areas there were long and bitter cold winters which required much effort just to keep their families reasonably warm and their stomachs full. There was often the adjustment of moving to a new land and trying to build a new culture in what they believed to be the promised land. No small effort was expended in trying to make sure that their children received some education and had opportunities for a social life despite hardship, isolation, and in most cases, their poverty. I think most of them knew that things might never truly be very good for them, but they had faith and laid a framework for their children and grandchildren.
As descendants of these noble pioneers, we are blessed with a marvelous heritage and example of devotion, courage, and ingenuity. I feel a great debt of gratitude to so many, who in their own small, perhaps even unknown to us, ways have influence the lives of all of us for the better. I hope we never forget. I hope we live our lives in such a way as to bless and honor our pioneer forebearers. There is no question in my mind that we will one day meet them again, face to face. If we do our part to preserve and enhance the legacy they left behind, I am sure that reunion will be a happy one.
Below are a few pictures of the areas and grave sites we visited this past week in Southern Utah.
