Menlo Park Family History Conference

We attended the 2010 Family History Open House - "Forging Golden Links To Your Ancestors" on the 27 Feb. 2010 at the Menlo Park Family History Center & Valparaiso Ward Building in Menlo Park.

We had the opportunity, as the lunchtime speakers, to share our Australian Adventure. The work of digitizing records, helps to preserve the valuable genealogical information that is then put online so that people may find their ancestors and unit their families forever in the Temples of God.

The Menlo Park Family History Center is the best family history center outside of Salt Lake City, with unbelievable resources, books, maps, and expert consultants.


Inge was our original trainer and mentor in Family History back in 2004-6. She was also the chairman of the Family History Conference and has been so for 4 Conferences over the past 6 years.

Faith is an expert in New England Genealogy and can break any "barrier wall" when it comes to researching your family in that area.


John (sitting at the table) is from England and is the master trainer in military history and genealogy.
Note to the left on the wall is a Tongan Family History Tree from Adam down to the present. Sue (back to camera) was the director and coordinator of the conference and also co-director of the center.

Michael learned from John how to find his Irish Ancestors who served in the British Army. This lead him to discover his great grandfather John Flynn who served as a Pensioner Guard on a convict ship to Australia. He among other ancestors were highlighted in our presentation.


It's wonderful to see the work is still progressing and in the hands of such capable people.

Many of our friends are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but like so many people they feel the Spirit of Elijah and their hearts have turned to their fathers and their fathers to their children. (Old Testament- Malachi 4:5-6 & Book of Mormon - 3 Nephi 25: 5-6)

Besides speaking we were able to attend classes and also help out in the kitchen putting the food artistically on the trays.

Sue W. and her sister were over the breakout sessions (snacks & lunch)

The joy of returning to one's mission and re-acquainting with friends is
indescribable. It's like a hero's welcome with warm greetings and hugs. It was a time of renewing friendships and catching up what was happening in their lives.

Daniel & Mary from San Carlos are dear friends who taught us the joy of music. Daniel a renowned composer with many awards to his name (scoreperfect.com) and

Mary touching the hearts of children throughout 13 schools in the Palo Alto area as string orchestra teacher and conductor.

Rita & Pete also from San Carlos love Family History Work and has their links to Utah and Ohio.

Unfortunately we missed our friends the Kelly's who were out of town visiting family back east.

There were many friends whose pictures we didn't capture except in our hearts and minds eye. Thank-you for making us feel welcomed and special.

While there we also took advantage of a beautiful sunny California day to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and visit the De Jung Museum in Golden Gate Park.




De Jung Museum had a spectacular 360 degree observation tower.

You could see the lined streets of "row houses" famous in San Francisco.