Sources

This is a link to the slideshow we presented about different types of sources and what each offers.





Some helpful tools are:

• Familysearch.org/search
• Ancestry.com
• Mormon Migration
• Pioneer Overland Travels
• The Internet

Remember that Primary sources are often better than Secondary sources, although be sure to search as many places as possible in order to get a full perspective.

Week 1

Welcome to our First week of Family History!

Remember to spend half an hour this week -fill out your Four Generation pedigree chart and log on and explore  Family Search.

This week we mainly discussed the doctrines and principles of Family History, watched a video on Family History vs. Genealogy, reviewed blessings from participating in the work.

Here is a link to the slideshow we presented in class this week:

Week 1 Presenation

Class Expectations and goals:

1. Work on your own personal history
2. Create a Four Generation pedigree chart
3. Find a name to take to the temple

Bring your computers and we look forward to seeing you next week!

Easy Family History

Don't you wish your family history was as easy as this?

It can be... take the Family History class or go to the following links to get started:

www.familysearch.org

www.familysearch.org/tree

www.ancestry.com

The First Mystery: Ruby Reed

I love this picture, because it describes how I feel like Family History works.

As a young girl, one of my favorite Disney movies was Mulan. I love the part where Mulan goes out to save her family, and then her ancestor asks Mushu to wake up the ancestors, and Mushu says, "One great big family reunion coming right up!" and then the ancestors counsel together about how to help Mulan.

In this picture, the girl is finding how to help her ancestors through their help beyond the veil while she uses modern technology. I feel like this is how it works today - I have my laptop trying to navigate the world of genealogy, but in the end, they know where their records are and can point us in the right direction of how to be found.

One time, something similar occurred to me. I started looking for the members of the family of James and Cordia Stowers and from information from my mom, looked for them on Census knowing that he had married before to Bessie Bradley, so I was trying to find all of their children. I could find the names and dates, but no birthplaces, so I did not have enough information about them. I prayed hard after I had done as much searching as I could do, but that was all I could do.

The next morning, I awoke suddenly with the thought to look in the 1910 Census for Oklahoma, and there she was! It was a very joyful experience! I know that she wanted to be found.

My Own Beginnings with Family History Research - part 1

When I was little, my mom had a large family tree drawing to color in, and I would see it periodically and it would spark in me thoughts about my family heritage.

We would have family reunions on my Jones side every other year, and it was so fun for meet everybody and see how we were all connected.

My mom was a Family History consultant for a while back in Texas. As a convert to the church, she had most of her family history work to research and complete, so she worked for a while on it.

Researching family history was always something that I had wanted to, but whenever I asked, my mom told me that I was too young.

Indexing began and after a short while, I started to index and it was fun, because of my computer skills, but I struggled to read some of the handwriting, but at least it was a start into being able to find my ancestors.

So when Elder Bednar said: "Many of you may think family history work is to be performed primarily by older people. But I know of no age limit described in the scriptures or guidelines announced by Church leaders restricting this important service to mature adults. You are sons and daughters of God, children of the covenant, and builders of the kingdom. You need not wait until you reach an arbitrary age to fulfill your responsibility to assist in the work of salvation for the human family," at the October 2011 General Conference - I was overjoyed! And glad that the time had finally come!

Later, Elder Richard G. Scott confirmed this in the October 2012 General Conference:
"Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life."

Thus, my quest for finding my ancestors began with the simple goal of finding three names to take to the temple. My mom did not think that I would be able to do it and said three was too many. However, after some basic research, I found one or two ancestors and then all of the sudden, I found all of their family (including children and parents) who needed their work done.

What I had thought would be a daunting task was now providing substantial exponential results!

After taking those names I had found to the temple, I was again filled with joy! The processes begins over and over again, and I love the power of finding my ancestors. I know that help comes from beyond the veil, because they truly want to be found. The work of salvation and the Spirit of Elijah is real. I am sure of this.