When Debbie Brown Knoebel tried to research the names of her ancestors, her efforts "ended with nothing to show for hours of searching." Leads seemed to turn into dead ends and discouragement replaced enthusiasm. A courthouse containing information about her family had burned, and its records were destroyed.

So she focused on her husband's ancestors, who had settled the area where they lived in Kerrville, Texas. Sister Brown and her husband, Lawrence R., are members of the Kerrville Ward, San Antonio Texas Stake."The local library was a wealth of knowledge," she said. "Finally I felt I was getting somewhere."

However, as they progressed on his family line, she felt that "my ancestors yearned for similar attention."

So she began where she left off and tried again to uncover leads. This time, the name of an aunt seemed to come to mind. So, on a hunch, she wrote to her. This aunt soon sent a box that had been in a closet. In the box were the names of 500 people, many of whom were ancestors, compiled long ago by a distant relative. A list of family tombstones was also enclosed.

Sister Knoebel wrote to an old address of that distant relative. Her letter was answered by another distant relative, an avid researcher.

Before long, Sister Knoebel's task shifted to one of searching for names to one of submitting the many names she had received to the Dallas Texas Temple.

"Because we live so far from the temple, I usually ask the temple to see that the baptisms are performed," she said. Ward members help her in performing the other ordinances.

But at one temple visit, she was assisted by a ward group from Fredricksburg, Texas. "Being in the same room while the baptisms were done brought a real feeling of closeness," she said.

A few weeks ago, she and her husband, and grandmother were proxy for sealings for her ancestors. "That was a real special feeling also," she said. "The sealer was moved by the Spirit as well. We felt that some of them accepted their sealings.

"The excitement of linking my ancestors has not slowed down. Everlasting joy comes when these ancestors have the opportunity to accept ordinances done in their behalf."