Last year, I wrote a book about one of my pioneer ancestors. I could talk for hours about what that experience has meant to me. In fact, I kind of have. I recorded my own audio book and made an hour-long podcast.
But that’s not what we are talking about today.
Back in July, I decided I wanted to visit the Relic Home in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. It’s a little museum about pioneers about a mile from where my ancestor (Eliza) is buried. So, my two youngest and I stopped at the cemetery first, and then went on to the Relic Home. (It was pioneer day, hence the outfits.)
It felt a little strange opening someone else’s door, so I inched it open just a crack and peeked my head in. The only thing I could see was an old floor and a picture hanging on the wall. Many of my fears subsided as I discovered I recognized the face in the frame. It was my ancestor’s husband.
So we had a beautiful time at the Relic Home. They didn’t have any info about Eliza that I didn’t already know, but I got to learn about other pioneers she would have interacted with and see some really awesome stuff. If I hadn’t had my kids, I could have spent hours in that place.
When we went to leave, our tour guide asked me if I had heard of Mt. Pleasant’s Walk with the Dead day. When I said I hadn’t, she quickly told me about a Halloween themed family history event that took place in the cemetery. Volunteers would stand by a grave dressed like the person buried there and tell their story. She asked if I would come and portray Eliza.
I said yes and just this last weekend, I finally got to do it. It was challenging pairing down a story I knew so well into a 5 minute presentation, but I loved getting to feel close to Eliza again.
I think my biggest takeaway from this experience was that people do want to talk about their ancestors. I can’t tell you how many times I would finish my speech and people would immediately tell me a story about someone from their family tree. It was such a neat and spiritual experience. The people may be dead, but their stories can live on if we continue to share them.
A huge shoutout to my husband, kids, and mom who came to support me. I haven’t really done anything like this since high school, and I appreciated my little fan club who not only cheered me on, but worked with people to get my books for sale at the event and now in the Relic Home while I was busy acting.
If you want your own copy of the book, find it on Amazon, the Relic Home, or come see me at my book signing on November 7th in Spanish Fork. :)
