My dad has been telling me for months that I need to check out Puzzilla.org. But I never got around to it until he actually showed me himself. I visited the site again a few nights ago and was deeply touched by this thought. Here is the display of the descendants of Ane Andersen. She was the first to join the church in her family on my paternal grandfather’s line. And yet that decision greatly changed the lives of all of the people after her. (This pictorial representation is powerful though not even close to complete.) Ane is the red dot in the very middle. I am one of the red dots on the yellow line with a blue dot after it (Scotland.) As you can see only my grandfather is listed, then only my father, and then only me. In actuality my grandfather is from a family of twelve, my father from a family of six, I’m from a family of eight. . . and that’s just our one line. Imagine if every descendant was actually shown. Now consider the impact this one woman made. As a result of her conversion to the church she left her affluent life in Denmark; traveled via boat, train, handcart and foot to Utah where she settled in a completely undeveloped area and started her life again. Her faith changed the way she lived her life, and it changed how she raised her children. Five generations later I know of her story of sacrifice and service. It is from this, and other lines of “Anders” that we named our second son.

 
I recently was called to be a leader in the organization for the young women in our church. I’m in charge of teaching sunday lessons, planning mid-week activities, and overseeing the needs of the girls. I’ve been praying about two particular girls who have recently stopped coming to church. As I pondered how important it might be to get them re-engaged I was directed to Puzzilla. As I watched the site “retrieve” Ane Andersen’s descendants I was overwhelmed by the influence of one good woman/man. Then I thought, if I carelessly let these two girls slip away, it will not only effect their lives but the lives of all those who follow them.
Likewise, I pondered on my own life. In five generations what will I have to offer to my great-great-great-great-granddaughters and sons? How can I choose a life worth emulating? What decisions can I make now, that will positively effect my progeny?