Tonight for Family Night we discussed family history and told stories of our ancestors. One story I felt had particular significance to Jason leaving on his mission next week --- the story of Alpheus Gifford. I didn't know anything about Alpheus when I was a boy attending a descendants of Alpheus Gifford reunion. There were a few hundred people there at least. The highlight of the weekend, as far as I was concerned, was when they read a letter that had just been received by the family from President Spencer W. Kimball, the prophet of my youth. He basically thanked our family, saying that if it wasn't for our ancestor, he wouldn't be a member of the church today, for Alpheus Gifford was one of the missionaries that taught his ancestor, Heber C. Kimball, the gospel and baptized him. It was amazing for me as a boy to think that missionaries had been in my family for generations. Now, with Jonathan in Michigan and Jason leaving for Mexico, I proud that the missionary legacy lives on.
For more on Alpheus Gifford, read the McGee family blog at http://mcgeefamilyblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/alpheus-gifford-3rd-great-grandfather.html
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