Family History Consultant Training from RootsTech 2014

The Church News of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been running full page (or more) articles on family history based on presentations at RootsTech 2014, the very large conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah in February. This week there is an article by Church News Staff Writer, Ryan Morgenegg published on 15 March 2014. The article is entitled "RootsTech 2014: Family history consultant training."

The article reports about a special session at the Conference led by Todd Jones, Family History Department product manager and Shipley Munson, marketing manager for FamilySearch. The presentation outlined four core responsibilities of family history consultants of all levels of experience. The four core responsibilities were:

1. Help members feel the Spirit: When family history consultants prepare to visit members, it’s important for them to realize that people respond the best to family history work when the Spirit of God is present to influence them to take righteous action.
2. Minister with other ward leaders: Instruction in the class encouraged family history consultants to look for opportunities to teach with members of the ward council, auxiliary presidents or other teachers.
3. Get the help you need. The Church provides an array of information, training and help for family history consultants. “An important thing for consultants to do is dive in and experience the available family history tools themselves,” said Brother Jones. “A consultant can even submit a new ordinance request online.
4. Teach patrons to fish. Family history consultants are quite often challenged to get new ideas to motivate members and keep the family history work in the ward moving forward. However, nobody can answer every question or be present when members hit brick walls in their research. Therefore, it is important that family history consultants take the time to teach other members how to figure out their own challenges.

The article contains several additional suggestions and ends with this admonition:

Never forget to follow spiritual impressions. Family History work is all about doing work for those who have passed on to the world of spirits. Teach members how to increase their opportunities to receive spiritual promptings. Elder Russell M. Nelson has taught that the spirit of Elijah is “a manifestation of the Holy Ghost bearing witness of the divine nature of the family” (“A New Harvest Time,” Ensign, May 1998, 34).

I would add that there is a wealth of additional online sources directed at the Family History Consultant. For more information see the Family History Topics page on LDS.org.

The Future of FamilySearch's Digitization Program

The above image shows the current location of digitization teams from FamilySearch around the world as provided in a recent blog post from Family Search entitled "The Future Looks Exciting for FamilySearch's Record Digitization Program." As the post explains, in addition to digitizing the existing microfilmed records stored in the Granite Vault, FamilySearch has an extremely active and widespread effort to digitize additional records from around the world.

Currently, the records are being published at an ever increasing rate on the FamilySearch.org website. Here is a screenshot of a the recent additions to the website,

As the post further points out, FamilySearch has collected over 3.2 billion record images from over 100 countries, representing over 170 languages. The post explains that the effort to digitize additional records is expanding in many parts of the world. For example, in Guatemala, the following is happening;

Latin America has increased camera placement by more than 50% in each of the last two years. One of the most significant projects for Latin America is happening in Guatemala. The government there is truly partnering with FamilySearch to create some remarkable success stories.

FamilySearch is providing the cameras and training while the Guatemalan government is providing the manpower to operate 10 cameras, 3 shifts per day. It is amazing to see the remarkable success taking place in that country.

FamilySearch also explains some of the plans for the future:

While most areas of the world will experience expansion in 2014, the greatest growth, in terms of percentage, will likely be in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. All of these areas are expecting over 100% growth in camera placement in 2014. 

We are currently working on significant government contracts in India as well. Our access to Catholic records in the Philippines have taken a miraculous turn. This success should result in some remarkable experiences for anyone who wants to get access to important historical records in the Philippine Islands. 

The future is very bright for FamilySearch’s record digitization program. With indexing efforts expanding, new partnerships creating exciting opportunities, and the continued expansion of FamilySearch’s image capturing efforts, we will see significantly more images added to FamilySearch than ever before. This is truly an exciting time for FamilySearch. The future looks very bright, indeed!

It is interesting that I commonly find people, even in the Church, who are entirely unaware of this vast effort to digitize the world's records.

What exactly is Puzzilla.org and how does it work?

I was talking to one of my friends last night and she made some comments about a recent Church meeting she had attended where the visiting Church leader from Salt Lake City mentioned some of the new developments in family history including trying to tell about the Puzzilla.org program. The comments made showed that the speaker really did not understand what the program was or what it did.  In fact, he could not even get the name of the program down correctly. 

If you go to the program and watch the introductory videos, you will have a basic understanding of the program, but you also need to know something about how the FamilySearch.org Family Tree program works also. This blog post is probably just one of many I will write on this subject. The reason for this is that Puzzilla.org solves several very common problems members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have with genealogy in general. 

Here is the explanation.

Why does the Puzzilla.org program exist?

During the past 150 years or so, members of the Church have been encouraged to research their ancestry and compile information to enable Temple ordinances to be performed for their dead ancestors. If you need an explanation of why this is necessary, please see LDS.org Gospel Topics, particularly Baptism for the Dead. Suffice it to say, we have accumulated a huge amount of information about our families. Many of the members of the Church find themselves in the position of looking at the work that has already been completed about their families and have concluded that their genealogy is "all done." This is not the case. In some cases, the work has been done over and over again, sometimes hundreds of times, but in every single family there are whole genealogical lines that have been ignored. This is generally the case with the descendants of remote ancestors who did not join the Church. 

The challenge has been how to find and identify these people who have been ignored by researchers. Puzzilla.org exists because there is a need to identify those lines of the our ancestors where Temple work has not been completed because the research to identify these "cousins" has not been done and is not entered into the FamilySearch Family Tree program. 

How does Puzilla.org work?

Puzzilla.org examines the data in FamilySearch.org Family Tree and extracts a pedigree in the form of a fan chart, showing the information in the Family Tree. here is an example of such a pedigree chart;

Each node or dot on the chart represents an ancestor in the FamilySearch Family Tree program and moving your mouse cursor over the dots will show a pop-up that identifies the ancestor. You can then choose anyone who is already in the program and show a descendancy graphic of all of their descendants. Here is an example of such a chart for my Great-grandfather.

Obviously, many of the Henry Martin Tanner family members are already in FamilySearch Family Tree. If you spot a place where the lines end, you need to investigate further to see if this is, in fact, someone's line that has been overlooked. The further you go back in time or generations, the more successful you will be in finding lines that have not been researched. 

What will Puzzilla.org not do?

First of all, Puzzilla.org does not show anything that is not already in FamilySearch Family Tree. It cannot find your missing relatives. The program is billed as a way to find your cousins. It does exactly that, but because FamilySearch Family Tree does not display living people, the Puzzilla.org program will not show the identity of living cousins. Also, Puzzilla.org is not designed to tell you whether the Temple work has or has not been done for any of the individuals in FamilySearch Family Tree. In all cases, you must go back to to the FamilySearch Family Tree program by clicking on the individuals involved to find additional information about their status. 

In addition, Puzzilla.org is not designed to answer specific questions about individual ancestors. It cannot tell you birth dates or whatever unless the information is already in the FamilySearch Family Tree program. Remember, FamilySearch Family Tree will not show living people. If you do a descendancy search for a recently born ancestor, the ends of the line are likely to be people who are currently living and not missing from the program. 

Puzzilla.org will only work well if the information in Family Tree is correct

One of the results of inheriting a hundred and fifty year's accumulation of genealogy is that some of it is inaccurate or otherwise defective. As time passes and more work is done on the data in FamilySearch Family Tree this problem will become less serious. Right now, it is a monumental problem with relying on the information in FamilySearch Family Tree for accuracy. To have valid results from Puzzilla.org, you must verify your ancestry in FamilySearch Family Tree. If you assume that the information is correct, you will probably be wrong. 

Puzzilla.org is a marvelous tool but it is limited by the accuracy of the information in FamilySearch Family Tree. Before assuming that all is well, I would strongly suggest doing some basic checking of the data in the FamilySearch Family Tree program. 

Why Do Mormons Build Temples

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Even though it is several years old, this is a much needed classic explanation for why the Latter-day Saints build Temples. As President Gordon B. Hinkley stated, "Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are sacred structures in which eternal questions are answered.”

The genealogical research process from an LDS perspective

For many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the genealogical research process is as foreign as the far side of the moon. Even among those new missionaries who are motivated enough to volunteer to serve at a major FamilySearch Library, the idea of a genealogical research process is entirely foreign. Understanding the research process is absolutely essential to making headway in finding your ancestors. Even if you do not strictly follow the process but merely use it as a model, the basic structure of the research process must become second nature in order to make any real progress in identifying ancestors.

There are dozens of variations both in print and in graphic illustrations of the process. From time to time, I use something like the following drawing to illustrate the various stages:

Here is a more complex variation of the same process:

The additional complexity of the second diagram seems superfluous.

As a member of the Church, there are several considerations that should be included in the process depending on the time depth of the membership of the member's ancestors. Normally, the survey portion of the roof research process involves consulting with family members and gathering locally available records. Members should always consult the records available on FamilySearch.org Family Tree in order to determine the extent of previous research. Even if the member's immediate ancestors seem to be missing from Family Tree, the potential researcher cannot make the assumption that substantial portions of the ancestry are not in the program.

So, the first step in the research process which is stated as "verify what you know about your family" must include a more extensive examination of the available genealogical records than would normally be the case for someone outside of the Church. The next step in the research process which is commonly described as "decide what you want to learn about your family" is to some extent predetermined by the context of the research to be done. Most common motivation for beginning genealogical research is the desire to "take names to the Temple." Unfortunately for many people, this is the only goal and all other considerations are essentially ignored.

The third step in the research process "select records to search" is also predetermined by the second step.

For many members, the entire process usually breaks down at the point when obtaining and searching records becomes necessary. A considerable amount of effort goes into motivating members to start the process but no concomitant effort is made to learn how to accomplish the fourth step. Often, there is an invalid assumption made that finding new names will be "easy" or take little time. This is especially true for people who wish to motivate others to "do their genealogy" but have little or no experience in the process themselves. However, from this point on in the research process, the original motivation of the researcher makes little or not difference.

The idea of a research process implies that the cycle will be repeated with new goals built upon the discoveries of the prior experience. In order for this to happen, the researcher needs to recognize the need to incorporate some level of research as a nearly constant background activity. This happens only rarely, especially if the motivation for the initial effort was a particular activity or event.

I would suggest that genealogical activities be long-term and involve a significant amount of training in actual research skills, not just motivation. During my service in Young Mens program, Scoutmasters and other Scout leaders were called for a minimum of 3 to 5 years. I think almost all genealogy or family history positions should have the same longevity. The amount of dedication and training are similar.

5 Ways to Get Started with your Family History

It is hard for me to understand why the topic of genealogy or family history has any negative connotations. But unfortunately, it is not a popular subject with some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch.org has tried to attract new users through photos and stories and some specific programs directed at the youth. It is difficult to see how successful this has been since they have stopped providing a counter to show how may photos have been uploaded, but it is likely in millions by now.  There is also no way to tell whether or not any increased interest in photos and stories has translated into an increased number of submissions of names for ordinance work.

 However, there are some tried and true ways for people to be involved in family history besides doing genealogical research. In this post, I will discuss five ways that individuals and families can become involved in family history. Hopefully, this involvement will lead to an interest in investigating their ancestral lines, but in each case, the activities are valuable in and of themselves.

1. Write a journal

President Wilford Woodruff stated,

There is one subject I wish to speak upon and that is the keeping of a journal with respect to the dealings of God with us. … When the Prophet Joseph organized the Quorum of the Twelve, he counseled them to keep a history of their lives, and gave his reasons why they should do so. I have had this spirit and calling upon me since I first entered this church. I made a record from the first sermon I heard, and from that day until now I have kept a daily journal. Whenever I heard Joseph Smith preach, teach, or prophesy, I always felt it my duty to write it; I felt uneasy and could not eat, drink, or sleep until I did write.” (in Matthias F. Cowley, Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors [1964], 476–77)

  It is clear, that members of the Church have been urged since early times to keep a journal. Genealogists know the value of personal journals as historical documents. As President Spencer W. Kimball said,

Your journal is your autobiography, so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life. There may be a flash of illumination here and a story of faithfulness there. … Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available. … What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity. … Get a notebook, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity. Begin today and write in it your going and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. Remember, the Savior chastised those who failed to record important events. ... This is what the Lord has commanded and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance their daily lives. (New Era, Oct. 1975)

 If you are keeping a journal you are involved in family history work. It is as simple as this. With today's technology, you can even keep an oral journal through a smartphone, tablet or a desktop computer.

2. Organize and preserve all of your valuable family certificates and documents

This activity may take some time but you should go through all of your papers and documents and make sure that the important certificates are preserved. I would suggest making digitized copies of each of the documents and certificates and sending copies to the individuals involved in the documents. It is very common, that parents will maintain copies of the documents pertaining to their children such as birth certificates, school records, church records etc. long after the children of left the home. It is important to takes the time to make digital copies of all of these documents and make sure that the individuals have copies of their own certificates.

3. Start a family newsletter or blog

If you have a blog or newsletter already, periodically make copies of the content to make sure that it is preserved. A family newsletter or blog can become an important historical document. This is especially true if the members of the family are not consistent journal writers. If you send letters to your children or other family members, be sure and keep a copy as a reference. President Spencer W. Kimball said the following about family histories:

I urge all the people of this church to give serious attention to their family histories, to encourage their parents and grandparents to write their journals, and let no family go into eternity without having left their memoirs for their children, their grandchildren, and their posterity. This is a duty and a responsibility. ... Those who keep a book of remembrance are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives. Journals are a way of counting our blessings and of leaving an inventory of these blessings for our posterity.” (General Conference. April 1978) 

People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful and nobody would be interested in what they have done. But I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations. … Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us – and as our posterity read of our life’s experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us. And in that glorious day when our families are together in the eternities, we will already be acquainted. (President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, Ensign, Dec. 1980)

4. Visit the family cemetery and make sure the graves are taken care of and are photographed for an online program such as FindAGrave.com or BillionGraves.com

Some families have the tradition of visiting the family graves once a year. However, in our mobile society we may now live very far from the traditional family burial ground. During the time that you are visiting relatives or friends in the area where your ancestors are buried, it is very important to take the time to visit the graveyards.

5. Search out and read a published history about your ancestors or about the place where they lived

Consistent with the FamilySearch.org pushed to involve members in uploading stories and photographs, it is important to do some activities that help the members of the family to remember their heritage. Many people, are surprised to find out that their family has a published family history. One place to look for such a history is to do a book search on FamilySearch.org. That website has over 100,000 local histories and family history books.

All of these are simple activities but lead to more involvement in our ancestors lives and create valuable records for our descendants.

Online Training on FamilySearch.org

Two days ago, one of the people attending a class I taught at the Mesa FamilySearch Library commented that I should do a video of exactly how to put photos onto FamilySearch.org giving all the steps. I had just shown him how to do this very carefully going through each step, so I was a little surprised by the comment. He had recently been called as a Family History Consultant and was looking for some help with training.

That same day, I received a copy of a blog post from FamilySearch entitled "FamilySearch Online Training is a Click Away." Evidently, I get email notification of these blog posts before they actually go onto the FamilySearch.org website because when I try to view the post online, I get an error message but later, sometimes as long as a week or so, they show up online. Steve Anderson of FamilySearch gives us a list of links to FamilySearch online training:

Some of our most useful and popular training has been put online for you to use quickly and easily. Links to this training are found below. If you click on any of the training items and they don’t appear, check to make sure that your popup blocker isn’t the reason. If it is, go into popup options and allow FamilySearch popups to appear.

• The Training Material link will take you to a rich menu of training options. Simply click on the link of the item you want to use.

• The FamilySearch Family Tree Curriculum link will take you to a whole selection of training content. It provides training on how to use a computer mouse, basic beginner training, intermediate training, advanced training and the option to view training in Spanish.

• The Family Tree Quick Start Guide is a 7 page PDF File explaining how to quickly and easily get into and use some of the most basic and popular features of Family Tree.

• The Family Tree Reference Manual is a 204 page PDF file that provides extensive in-depth coverage on all features of the Family Tree. Please note that about 5% of this manual is already out of date. Within the next several months this manual will be redesigned and posted in smaller sections that will allow for faster and easier updates.

• The FamilySearch Learning Center is a library of several hundred classes and video presentations that teach you how to use various FamilySearch features as well as how to do research on a wide variety of genealogical topics.

• The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a collection of over 76,000 research article covering some area of genealogy and family history research. These articles are written and updated by experts from around the world.

It is nice that the patron at the Mesa FamilySearch Library came for some help and is attending classes, but it is interesting that he is apparently unaware of the existing online training. A while ago, I got a comment on a post on this blog correcting me about how "Family History Consultants" function in the Ward. The commentator cited the Handbook 2 and the Leader's Guide to Temple and Family History Work. The pertinent part stated:

High priests group leaders have the primary responsibility to coordinate the ward council’s efforts to encourage and enable temple and family history work in the ward.

The Guide, at page 19, goes on to state:

The high priests group leader directs the work of family history consultants as he:

• Recommends members to be called and set apart as family history consultants, as requested by the bishopric.
• Works with the bishopric to ensure that enough consultants are called to meet the needs of the ward.
• Provides assignments to consultants, including assignments to work with certain ward members.
• Ensures that consultants are properly prepared to perform their callings and makes them aware of the training resources at FamilySearch.org/serve

When this Family History Consultant was called, was he made aware of the training resources at FamilySearch.org/serve?

I also wonder where are the other hundreds of Family History Consultants in the Stakes here in Mesa? How many of them are aware of the Online Training available?