How do I Start?

I hear this question from a lot of people.  Many tell me that their family is complicated so it can't possibly be done.  Though it may be hard to believe almost everyone has something complicated about their family history.  Some more than others.  You just need to begin.

Start with yourself.  You know when you were born and where.  Next you go to your parents.  Do you have brothers and sisters?  What do you know about them?  Put the information on your immediate family on a family group sheet. (see pages for an example).  Then create a family group sheet for each of your parents families showing your parents as children and your grandparents as the parents.  Create a pedigree chart showing yourself as number one, your father as number two and your mother as number three and so on. You will most likely find information missing.  Now is the time to talk to your family members and try to gather information from them.  Then you begin to search other sources.  That is when the short list of websites comes in handy to help you begin to do research.

If you need help contact the family history consultants or visit the family history center.

Remember this is important work.  

Welcome

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

I hope many of you heard the talk given by Elder Russell M Nelson in the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference.  I felt he made clear the importance of Family History and Temple work.

This is an exciting time.  More and more resources are being made available to us through the internet.  Those who are doing indexing are to be complemented.  Thanks and congratulations to Cailynn Brinkerhoff who had already indexed 1,000 names this year.  The stake has set a goal of indexing 600,000 names this year.  We could use as much help as we can get.  Just go to www.familysearchindexing.org and register.  You log on using your LDS logon.  This is the logon you use to access the ward website.  It will now be the single logon for all LDS websites including www.new.familysearch.org. 

If you are looking for some enjoyable family TV programs, there are currently 3 available which cover Family History research.  These are as follows:

• "Who Do You Think You Are?" on NBC, channel 8 on Comcast, or you can watch it on www.nbc.com or www.hulu.com
• "The Generations Project"  on BYUTV - Shown on Monday evening at 7 pm
• "Faces of America" on OPB.  I have watched it at www.PBS.com.  I am not sure what time it is on our OPB station

I have posted a page with several websites which will allow you to research your family.   If you have any questions or want any help, contact me at genealogy_bug@hotmail.com.  I am also at the Church on most Tuesday evenings from 7 pm to 9 pm.

Please help to move the Lord's work ahead.

Ann Shettles