Why Your Ward Should Be Using the Ward History Tool | A How I Lead Interview with Beth Zeleny

Beth Zeleny has pretty much done whatever church callings needed to be done: teaching in Primary, Young Women, Relief Society, early morning Seminary, Gospel Doctrine, and Gospel Principles; serving in Relief Society, Primary, and Young Women ward and stake presidencies; serving as a temple ordinance worker, Relief Society compassionate service leader, and provident living specialist. Just when she thought she had done everything, she was called to be ward history specialist.
Beth has a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's and PhD in Geography. She taught middle school math and science before grad school, then taught geography courses in university for a few years before switching to a career in intelligence. She retired seven years ago but enjoys research, analysis, and writing so much that she would like to go back to work and do it some more.
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This discussion centers around the innovative unit history website, which simplifies the process of recording and sharing ward histories. Beth shares how the introduction of the unit history site transformed her experience as ward history specialist, making ward history engaging and accessible for all ward members.
Beth elaborates on how the website allows leaders to document experiences and activities throughout the year. This fosters a sense of community and connection, as members can share personal stories that reflect their faith journeys. Beth emphasizes the importance of capturing these narratives, highlighting various stories from her ward that showcase the diverse experiences of its members, from missionary efforts to personal testimonies.
Kurt and Beth discuss strategies for encouraging ward engagement with the history site, including proactive outreach to members. Beth shares her methods for collecting stories, such as approaching individuals after sacrament meetings and inviting them to contribute their experiences.
00:09 - Introduction to Beth Zeleny
00:43 - Beth's Background and Calling
02:01 - The Church's New Ward History Tool
03:18 - How the Unit History Website Works
07:39 - Accessing the Unit History Site
09:00 - Member Contributions to Ward History
10:45 - Navigating the Unit History Site
14:36 - Gathering Stories from Ward Members
18:58 - Importance of Personal Stories
21:27 - The Value of Recording Ward History
24:00 - Engagement and Participation in Ward History
28:45 - Encouraging Story Submissions
33:13 - The Impact of Sharing First Experiences
35:17 - Conclusion and Call to Action

[@BunnyWatson-k1w]

When Richard Bushman was bishop of his ward in Wilmington Delaware there was a book produced which documented the stories of members. It dealt a little with the history of the ward and how people lived as Latter-day Saints.

[@JimVercoe]

This is awesome. I served as District Clerk for 6 years and histories were hard to get submitted. But this new system is perfect. I think itll help leaders purposefully plan activities etc to share in these histories. Next year will be a good year of recorded history. 😊

[@2u43]

Wow! I’m on our High Council and I was not aware of this. Thank you.