At RootsTech in February, Nicole and I had the opportunity to participate in an interview with the executive director of the family history department for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Elder Kevin S. Hamilton. Among the topics he discussed was a new FamilySearch feature called Learn About Your Family. It's built right into the FamilySearch home page. You will see it prior to login. This tool is available on the desktop version as well as in the Family Tree app. Just remember you have to be logged out to access it. How to use Learn About Your Family...
Have you visited a Family History Center near you lately? You might be surprised at what you find. I just returned from a trip to my hometown Burley, Idaho. While there I was treated to a tour of the newly updated Burley Idaho Family History Center by one of the consultants, Tamara. My parents started their genealogy research in the 1960's and spent many hours at this center viewing microfilm. I was curious to learn about the history. Dave Badger, one of the center's directors gave this information: The center originated in 1961 when a number of local genealogy enthusiasts...
President Russell M. Nelson and other church leaders continue to encourage members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to become involved in Temple and Family History work, as in the quote below. They emphasize its importance again and again. However many people believe that family history is difficult, overly technical, or only for the older generation. Those who fall in love with family history learn that it is really about finding inspiration in a family's story, both past and present, then connecting ancestors together and into your own family through temple ordinances. How can those who have...
We just updated our Resources for Temple and Family History Consultants page today. With so many exciting new resources online to help with family history in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we know you will find this helpful in your calling. Here are some highlights of the new additions to our resource list: Articles from the Souls to Bless blog A Possible Model for Youth Consultants – Suggestions for ways youth consultants can learn how to find and prepare names for temple ordinances and then help others as they meet with one peer per month in a mentored environment. 3...
I wish the MyFamily History Youth Camp had been around when I was a teenager. I would have LOVED it! The camp is in conjunction with the BYU Conference on Family History and Genealogy and when I was there last year, I saw that there was a youth camp going on at the same time. My curiosity was piqued! The youth camp is July 24-28 this summer and it's a one of a kind experience. I'll be attending parts of the camp this year as a break out speaker and observer. I interviewed the camp's director, Annie Merrell all about the camp....
Would you like to multiply your genealogy research and preservation efforts? As a parent, do you need tips in bringing out the best in your children? Could you improve your interactions with colleagues? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you'll want to discover the world of multipliers and diminishers and how it relates to family history work. Liz Wiseman, researcher, executive adviser, and author set out to discover why some leaders in the business world get so much out of their employees, while others squash talent and initiative. Her team's findings became Multipliers: How The Best Leaders Make Everyone...
At RootsTech today, leaders of the family history department of the LDS church announced changes to the names of family history consultants. They will now be known as "temple and family history consultants." The primary objective of temple and family history consultants will be "to assist members with a personalized one-on-one family history experience" which will enable them to perform temple ordinances (Temple and Family History Callings at LDS.org). See also Feb 9, 2017 Letter to Priesthood Leaders. President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “All of our vast family history endeavor is directed to temple work. There is no other purpose...
Tamra Stansfield, director of the Family History Library, spoke at RootsTech today about helping LDS church members turn their hearts to their ancestors with one-on-one guidance at the family history center. She encouraged the family history center directors and consultants present to use the Spirit and their experience (or lack thereof) to help people accomplish what they want to do. Her class was titled, "Family at the Center: Making the Family History Center a Sacred Place." Tamra started by sharing that most members of the church know that it’s important that they do family history work. They know they need...
Today I'm introducing Alana McCormack, my newly discovered cousin from London, England. Actually, Alana discovered me! FamilySearch sent her an email that she had Mormon pioneer relatives, something she never thought possible since she and her mum were the only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in her direct line. Alana found our connection through our ancestress Mary Holloway, born 1753 in Sussex, England who married James Coomber and had a passel of children. My line comes through Jane Coomber and Alana's line through her younger sister, Elizabeth Coomber. Jane married Thomas Huggett and had a...
What is Family Discovery Day and why should you go? Designed for families and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this is a unique opportunity to introduce people of any age to family history. Nicole and I attended RootsTech for the first time last year and for Family Discovery Day held on Saturday afternoon, fifteen of my ward's youth and their leaders joined us. The youth ranged from age 12 -17 and for some of them this was their first family history experience. They explored the expo hall, listened to inspirational speakers, and had fun just being...
