--OUR BIRTHRIGHT--
by James Berry Tomlinson
[This document is unedited and in its original form--grammatical errors and all.]

We can well look back upon our parentage down through the generations as far back as recorded, and down to the present generation, with deep pride and admiration, which builds an unbounded determination to march forward in the path they so nobly paved for our feet. As countries and states and cities honor their founders, we may not find excuse for not embellishing the memories of those who sent their life^'s stream of noble blood into our veins, for any failure to carry forward the historical and genealogical information so nobly and purposely laid by them. No: but we will embellish their memories, adding our own to theirs, leaving it where thousands gather to find genealogical and historical backgrounds for their families.

We will preserve copies of it in our homes and in the homes of our children and our children's children as long as the lord permits us to live in mortality. No effort shall be spared, no sacrifice shall be so heavy that we will not gladly carry it to a successful conclusion. We will leave not their histories only, but also our own, that our posterity shall follow in this well-beaten path of respect and pride of our parentage and birth. We shall honor them by lives of virtue and the heritage of nobility planted in our hearts by them. We shall live and act in such a way that we may prove the worth of the stock from which we sprang.

GOD BLESS THEIR MEMORY! While we embellish these historical sketches of our lives by proof of our worthiness of the heritage we bear.
                                                                                --Joseph D. Tomlinson, President--

Dr. Sylvester Webster Heath (Mr. Heath was a cousin to James B. Tomlinson and married a Tomlinson.), author of the "Tomlinson Family Record" says:

"While to inherit wealth is no crime, yet to inherit an honorable Family Name, is of far more value in the true purposes of life; and that we can all claim from our Tomlinson ancestors, who have been a noble people, always on the side of right, with good morals, and supporting that which was for the upbuilding of the community in which they lived.

We are proud to trace our ancestry back among them_. While some may be poor, they were all honorable, and some have been distinguished_.

The knowledge of a noble ancestry ought to and does stimulate and strengthen our character to move onward and upward, and try to achieve greater things which were impossible during the time of our Noble Sires."

*****

Genealogy and Temple work for our dead require faith, patience endurance, and the power to grasp every opportunity that presents it self, just remember:

"I shall not pass this way again."

God help us to assume the great responsibility that lieth at our door: that of gathering our genealogy and doing the temple work for our dead. Let us not neglect the opportunity of doing our own temple work and having our families sealed for Time and all Eternity."

When first enthusiasms wane and strength has all but gone - endurance is the stuff that makes you smile and carry on - beyond the point where weaker men put down their tools and say: "I've had enough, I can't go on, I'll try some other day." When failure looms ahead of you and everything looks black, when courage flags and hope grows dim, you're tempted to turn back. When all the world's against you, yet undaunted on you press, that^'s where endurance triumphs, crowning effort with success. --Patience Strong--

A BEAUTIFUL PROMISE OF THE LORD TO HIS SAINTS: D & C 121: 45-46.

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