New Pacific Area Church History Advisors for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tina and Lindsay Dil, say that despite some feelings of inadequacy their past experiences have taught them that “when you get stuck in, what you need comes.”
They have learned this lesson over the years as parents of four children, grandparents of 10 grandchildren, and in their professional and church service experiences.
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Brother Dil ran a funeral business for many years, and has served in a volunteer capacity as a bishop, stake president, mission president and Area Seventy. Sister Dil has also served in numerous leadership positions in the Church, including as president of ward and stake Relief Society organisations, and as a leader in the Ghana Cape Coast Mission, alongside her husband.
The Dils’ last church assignment was to organise a young single adult conference for over 700 young people in Auckland earlier this month.
Tapping into their many years of leadership and other experiences, the Dils will work with national Church history advisors throughout the Pacific region gathering historical information and artefacts.
“The goal of Church history worldwide is to collect, preserve and share information and physical items that help us remember as well as inspire us, thus strengthening Gospel influence in our families and throughout world,” Brother Dil says.
Brother Dil says he and his wife see Church history “as more than just a nice thing to do.”
Referring to comments made by President Henry B. Eyring, First Counsellor in the First Presidency of the Church, Brother Dil said: “Remembering (through our own journals and through gathering and sharing Church History) helps us remember God’s kindnesses to us and builds testimonies.”
Quoting Elder Marlin K. Jensen, a former historian for the worldwide church, Brother Dil said, “Remembering in the way God intends is a fundamental saving principle of the Gospel.”
“Where would we be without a record of Joseph Smith’s first vision, or the scriptures, which are essentially historical accounts?
Also citing Elder Jensen, Brother Dil asks: “How many missionaries are encouraged by President Gordon B. Hinckley’s story about how when he was a discouraged young missionary his father wrote to him: ‘Dear Gordon, I have your recent letter. I have only one suggestion: forget yourself and go to work.’ One seemingly unimportant moment in time can bless many into the future if it is recorded and shared.”
“Our challenge now,” Brother Dil says, “is to help church leaders throughout the Pacific Area to believe the same thing so they will give it a priority and call capable and inspired people to do the work.”
Sister Dil said: “Our work will be with country church history advisors throughout the Pacific Area, encouraging them to gather recent inspirational material from their countries and also gather oral histories and older historical stories and artefacts. We are blessed in the Pacific to be getting a Church History Centre at Temple View, Hamilton where we will have easy access to our Pacific Area history. We hope families and Church groups will strengthen testimonies by visiting these centres often.”
Sister Dil added, “We have just begun to realise how our lives are going to be personally blessed as important spiritual events unfold in the area.”