(As people enter the room, they are handed slips of
paper with names on them. It is important that the names listed at the
end of this program are handed out. Other names can be made up.)
Welcome:
Opening Song: "Genealogy, I am Doing It"
Opening Prayer:
Narrator: "We thank you for coming to our Temple Awareness Fireside
tonight ... How great shall be your joy! Each of you may take part in
the program tonight. Look at the paper you have been given. There you
will find the name of a person and the year of their birth. Many people
have accepted the gospel in the Spirit World and are waiting for earthly
ordinances to be performed, so that they too may participate in the
blessings of the Gospel. The first ordinance that must be performed is
baptism, then endowment work, and finally families are reunited through
sealings.
"Let's sit back now and imagine that we have come to participate in
the ordinance work of baptisms, endowments, and sealings. You have been
given names. Just names ... names without faces or stories .... but
these names represent people who have lived here on the earth; real
people who are living now in the Spirit World, learning and hoping -
hoping that someone has come to do work in their behalf tonight.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear their stories and know them as real
people instead of just names?"
"These people will tell their stories and state their names. If you
have their name, will you please make yourself known."
Instructions: People dressed in white file up the aisles, ad-libbing
about their presence and their hopes to be baptized, endowed, or sealed.
They gather in the choir seats behind the podium. One man shakes hands
with the Narrator, thanks him, and comes to the podium.)
Alexander Hill: "May I introduce myself to this company? My name is
Alexander Hill. I was born at Skipness, Argyflshire, Scotland on August
1, 1779. When I was ten years old, I was apprenticed as a sailor boy,
and later rose to the dignity of first mate. I fought in several
important battles for the British Navy, including the Battle of the
Nile, led by Lord Admiral Nelson in 1798, where I received a grape shot
just above the knee. The government awarded me a land grant of 100
acres in Canada for my military service, so I moved my wife Elizabeth
and our seven children to Bathurst District, Ontario, Canada in 1821.
Here we joined the John Taylor Society and later converted to the Church
through the instrumentality of the early missionary, Samuel Lake, and
his companion Parley P. Pratt. We removed to Nauvoo in 1842, then had
to flee to Winter Quarters in 1846. There I was severely afflicted with
fever and ague for 15 months and entirely lost the use of my right
side. Eventually, I was able to go to the Valley of the Great Salt
Lake."
(An older gentleman joins him) "I want to introduce you to my father,
Daniel Hill, who died in Scotland. Because of my health, I was never
able to have his temple work performed. Does anyone have my father's
name, Daniel Hill, born in 1753?"
(No one has his name. The Narrator helps the men back to their
seats.)
Belle Harriet Topper: "My name is Belle Harriet Topper. I was born
on January 4th, 1893 in Warren, Pennsylvania. My father was a coal
miner and later worked in the oil fields, so he was gone a lot. But, I
had a very happy childhood and many good memories. There were always
lots of children around our neighborhood, and we loved to play. One of
my jobs was to take a tin bucket and go daily after milk for our
family. In the evening folks sat on their front porches. We would
often have a molasses taffy pull. Two doors down lived the Smith
family. The Grace Church was directly across from their home, and I
went there for league meetings and church services. They always knew if
I was with a date or not. They had a son George. He did not attend
church there, but gradually I would find him waiting at the church door
to meet me and walk me home. We later fell in love and married. I have
had a wonderful life filled with love and joy. I would like it to
continue forever. Does anyone have my name? My name is Belle Harriet
Topper."
(Someone does. Belle Topper joyfully goes to the audience and sits
by the person with her name.)
Martha Severance: "My name is Martha Severance. I was born on
October 20, 1718 and married Asahel Burt in 1737. We were blessed with
four sons and one daughter. On April 15, 1747 my husband and friend
were driving cattle home from the field, when Indians fired upon them,
and they were both killed.
I tried very hard to raise our children by myself, but it was so
difficult. In 1754 my only daughter passed away, and two years later
one of my sons joined her. My last three sons lived to be 95, 83, and
91. They had a total of 23 children and my posterity now number over one
hundred thousand. Please, does anyone have my name, Martha Severance?"
(Someone does. Martha Severance joins them in the audience.)
Richard Hill: "My grandparents lived at Tareytown, Maryland, during
the Revolutionary War. In fact, my Grandfather's well was sometimes
used by General George Washington and his horsemen. My parents loved
him so much, we gave our son that name ... George Washington Hill. My
name is Richard Hill, and I was born November 27, 1793 in Maratta, Ohio.
There I grew up and married Sarah Strait, and we had four sons. We had
to move many times, and I was gone a great deal seeking work as a brick
mason. We were often ill from the ague and fever, and wanted to find a
healthier place to live. Eventually we joined my son and his young wife
in southern Missouri.
While there, our son George became acquainted with a young Mormon
girl, Cynthia Utley Stewart, and I tried all I could to keep him from
marrying her; everything I'd ever heard about Mormons was low and bad.
But George became convinced the Mormons' doctrine was true, so they got
married, and he was pretty convincing when he talked about his church.
He got baptized and followed the Mormons all the way to Salt Lake, where
he arrived in September, 1847. I wrote him out there, to learn more
about his church; it had a strong effect in his life, and maybe it could
help me. He came back to teach and baptize me. I lived to see him
again, but the fever took hold of me, and I died with a testimony; but
before the privilege of baptism. Somehow, each of my descendants has
forgotten my three boys ... my work was done, but what about my son
William James Hill? And what about John Strait Hill? And my son Return
Richard Hill? We want all our sons sealed to us. Does anyone have these
names?"
(Someone has their names. William, John and Return join those who
have their names.)
Song: You may choose your own, but we did "Here I Learn of God" p.
17. You can find it in the book called "Spiritual Living, Music
Treasury, Volume 4, Follow Me" There are 4 volumes I think.
John Stewart: "I was born and raised in the South. My name is John
Stewart, and I came into the world June 1lth, 1844 in Fayette, Alabama.
I grew up in a time of great turmoil, and to defend our accustomed way
of life, I joined the Confederate Army as a private in 1861 and served
in the 26th Alabama Regiment Infantry, Company B. I then continued in
several other infantries until September 20, 1863, when I was wounded
and lost my right leg at Battle Chickamaunga. I was furloughed from the
hospital and came home, but never fully recovered and died later that
year.
Sometimes I wonder if anyone will do my temple work, considering I
died for this cause. Maybe they think a southern gentleman is
undeserving. I come here often hoping to find somebody with my name,
ready to do the work for me. Maybe someone here has it today. It's John
Stewart. Does anyone have the name of John Stewart? I do hope so ... it
seems I've waited so long."
(No one has his name. The Narrator escorts him back to his seat on
the stand.)
Janet Lamb Shiell: "My name is Janet Lamb Shiell, and I was born into
the world in Scotland in 1818. My husband Andrew and I came to East
Wawanosh Township, Huron, Ontario to homestead in this new land in the
1840s. We worked hard to make a new home for ourselves, but never heard
the Gospel in this life. Does anyone have my name, Janet Lamb Shiell?"
(Someone has her name. Janet joins the person in the audience who has
her name.)
Helge Hansen: "I died on a fishing voyage in 1842. My name is Helge
Hansen, and I am from Kvinnherad, Norway. I have witnessed the trials
of my daughter, Marta Karena Helgesdatter, who joined the Church when
she was 19 years old, on January 29, 1861. She received much
persecution for her membership and finally left Norway for America to be
with the Saints. I wish to add my faith to hers and to be baptized,
endowed, and then sealed to my faithful daughter. Does anyone here have
my name? It's Helge Hansen; please help me and all the others who are
anxiously waiting."
(No one has her name. The Narrator escorts her back to her seat.)
Susannah Brown: "My birthday is March 23, 1673. Belbroughton,
England was my home, and they call me Susannah Brown. I married Arthur
Waldron. Do you have my name?"
(Someone has her name. She joins the person with her name.)
Lydia Sawyer: "My name is Lydia, and I am the wife of Caleb Sawyer.
I was born just recently, around 1720, but no one seems to be able to
find my records to know what my parents names were. They do know I had
two children. I realize extensive research has been done, but as far as
I know, no one has found the missing information. Please, has anyone
found evidence of my maiden name so my work can be done, along with my
parents? My name is Lydia Sawyer does anyone have my name?"
(No one has her name, she starts to walk away but comes back to the
podium)
"I have been hoping for so long that someone would find me, you can't
imagine how many spirits are waiting to have their work performed. I've
seen the happy faces of those whose names have finally been called after
hundreds of years of waiting. I've also seen countless faces of those
who have left the temple sad and disappointed because their names have
yet to be called. We are waiting, please find us and submit our names
so that our work might be done."
(The Narrator escorts her back to her seat.)
Song: You may choose your own, but we did "Through Temple Doors", p.
22. You can find it in the book called "Spiritual Living Music
Treasury, Volume One, Remember Me" There are 4 volumes I think.
Samuel Gorton: "I left a comfortable life in England, due to the
frustrating religious hypocrisy I had encountered. My name is Samuel
Gorton, born in 1593 in Manchester, England. I was a clothier and a
professor of the mysteries of Christ. My wife, Mary Maplet, and I
sailed to America, to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1636, just 13 years
after the pilgrims first landed there. But I disagreed with many of the
practices of the Puritans, one of which was their method of rather
serious religious discipline. It seems I was constantly arguing with
the authorities, and finally I was banished from Plymouth in December of
1638, because I tried to defend my maid, who had been reprimanded for
smiling in church.
We moved to Rhode Island, where I later established the town of
Warwick. I was friendly with the Narragansett Indians until the son of
Chief Massasoit, whom we called King Phillip, warred against us. We
eventually subdued these Indians in the Great Swamp Fight in South
Kingston, Rhode Island. Now that the true Church of Jesus Christ is on
the earth, I am anxious to receive the blessings of the Gospel. Does
anyone here have my name, the name of Samuel Gorton?"
(Someone has his name)
Johanna Olofsson: "I was born May 15, 1798 in Elfsborg, Goteborg,
Sweden, where I grew up and married Johannes Magnusson. We had a lovely
family, and our children attended the village schools. We would bake
twice a week and wash all our clothes twice a year. We went to the sea
with the wash, washed all day and then danced all night. We always
looked forward to this. At night, our dresses would be frozen so hard
that when we took them off they would stand alone.
"When my son Olaf was 16, he took cholera and died. A few days later
I passed this life from the same dreaded disease. Then a week later, my
good husband joined me across the veil. We left 3 children orphans. We
missed the chance to raise them to adults, but we do want to be sealed
as a family. We love each other so much . . . we want to be a family
forever. Do you have our names?"
(Johannes Magnusson calls out names of family, one by one, beginning
with his wife, and then each child:
Mother: Johanns Olofsson Born 1798
Son: Olaf Johansson Born 1824
Daughter: Johanna Maria Johansson Born 1827
Daughter: Petronella Johansson Born 1833
Daughter: Olga Johansson Born 1836"
(Someone has the children's names, and they go sit with them ... all
but the youngest child, Olga. Olga needs to be eight or older--acountable.
Father tells her that maybe nobody has his name either, and they can
wait together.)
Daughter, Olga: "Pappa, you haven't asked if anyone has your name."
Johannes asks: "Does anyone have the name of Johannes Magnusson?"
(Someone has his name. Johannes turns to Olga)
Johannes: "I am sorry my child. I am sure someone will find your
name soon since they have found the rest of us.
(Johannes kisses Olga on the cheek and joins the person who has his
name. Narrator takes Olga by the hand, escorts her back to her seat and
sits next to her.)
Narrator: We would like to thank you all for coming and sharing this
special program with us. We pray that your hearts were touched and that
we will all be able to catch the vision of Malachi. May our hearts be
turned in love to bless our kindred dead. May we be able to assist the
Lord in accomplishing His wondrous plan for all of us to live eternally.
Optional: Invite a young man and young women to bear their
testimonies of Youth Baptisms. Maybe one of the youth has even
taken family names.
Closing Song:
Closing Prayer:
(Copy these names on slips of paper)
Belle Harriet Topper 1/4/1893
Martha Severence 10/20/1718
William James Hill
John Strait Hill
Return Richard Hill
Janet Lamb Shiell 1818
Susannah Brown 3/23/1673
Samuel Gorton 1593
Johannes Magnusson 1792
Johanna Olofsson 1798
Olaf Johansson 1824
Johanna Maria Johansson 1827
Petronella Johansson 1833
