“President Monson, Elder Oaks Present U.S. President with Family History,” Liahona, Dec. 2009, N5–N6

President Monson, Elder Oaks Present U.S. President with Family History

In July, President Thomas S. Monson met with United States president Barack Obama, presenting him with five large leather-bound volumes of his family history going back multiple generations and covering hundreds of years.

President Monson was accompanied by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who is also a member of the Church.

“President Obama’s heritage is rich with examples of leadership, sacrifice, and service,” President Monson said at the event. “We were very pleased to research his family history and are honored to present it to him today.”

Elder Oaks, who oversees the Church’s family history program, said, “The Church has great resources and experience in genealogy work, and we are proud to have researched such a unique and impressive family history.”

President Obama and Elder Oaks, a former justice of the Utah Supreme Court, also had an opportunity to discuss their shared passion for the law.

“I thank President Monson and Elder Oaks for sharing our religion’s tradition of genealogical research with the president and his family,” Senator Reid said. “Recognizing the president and first lady’s deep regard for family, I am honored that our Church can have any part in documenting their family history.”

President Obama said he enjoyed the meeting. “I’m grateful for the genealogical records that they brought with them and am looking forward to reading through the materials with my daughters,” he said. “It’s something our family will treasure for years to come.”

The Church has also presented personal histories to other U.S. presidents, including Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

President Barack Obama (second from right) meets with (from left) Senator Harry Reid; Joshua DuBois, director of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; President Thomas S. Monson; and Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Oval Office.