Family History and Youth

General Conference is always a delight!  We hope you are reviewing and using the talk by Elder David Bednar from the October 2011 General Conference (To Turn the Hearts of the Children, Saturday afternoon session  https://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/the-hearts-of-the-children-shall-turn?lang=eng ).

Please consider the following quote from that talk as you involve the youth in Temple and Family History work:

“But do not overly program this endeavor or provide too much detailed information or training. Invite young people to explore, to experiment, and to learn for themselves.”

Explore, experiment and learn.  Perhaps we need to move away from some of our traditional teaching approaches when working with youth?

Consider how youth can help with Family History.  This could include youth teaching adults, or youth helping adults who find computers difficult to use.

Family History website for youth  – www.lds.org/fhy

Please share in Comments things that you find work well.

Addendum to article 20 Nov 2011 – the main search page at FamilySearch.org changed this week!

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Recent changes at FamilySearch.org (as of 19 November 2011)

Used to be in the old days (?? – a year or 2 ago!) that we looked forward to updates to nFS every 3 months and a nicely written summary of the changes.  For the past year the focus of changes has shifted to FamilySearch.org.  Besides additions of data – which seem to be almost weekly – there are usually monthly updates to the website.  The What’s New at FamilySearch link gives details of the updates on 24 Sept.  There is no mention of the updates in October . . .  and yes I have used Feedback to ask them to provide us with a summary (if you miss the articles too, maybe you can send feedback?).  In the meantime here are some of the updates we have noticed.  If you have noticed other changes not on this list then please add a comment.

1. The main page has changed – don’t panic!  – everything is still there but some things are in different places.  There is an effort underway to make the web site easier to use for beginning genealogists.
2. Where are the What’s New articles?  Click on the link to Blog at the top of the page, look to the right under the heading Categories, and there is a link to What’s New at FamilySearch (currently 73 articles).   Articles you might want to look at might include Feature Changes at FamilySearch.org as of 14 Sept 2011, Searching at FamilySearch (12 June 2011) and “Nine Powerful Search Features in the FamilySearch Search Engine” by PBDunn (in April 2011).  Note the link to What’s New at the bottom of the main page is not What’s New at FamilySearch!
3. Icons and messages on links to images in Historical records have changed.     Now gives a better explanation of how to get to the image.
4. Images are no longer in Flash – iphone and ipad users can access them.  Features still need to be added to the image viewer (in our opinion).
5. Changes to the Learning Centre at FamilySearch.org – that’s the official title for the Learn section!  Getting started is a link to the 5 minute genealogy videos.  The Learning Centre also has links to Forums, Research wiki, and Research Courses.
6. There are links from Ancestral File or Pedigree Resource File entries to the nFS tree now at FamilySearch.org when you search in Trees.  If you are signed in to FamilySearch.org and search for an ancestor in Trees and find someone who is also in the nFS Tree there is a link provided that takes you directly to that person in nFS.
7. Sources and notes for Pedigree Resource File (PRF) have been added on Trees at FamilySearch.org.  PRF is after the Ancestral File listing – and we still don’t see an easy way to just get to the PRF results – hopefully that will soon be coming.

Bottom line – FamilySearch offers more resources than ever before.  We need to embrace changes and improvements especially those that help people new to Family History.

It is true that we “believe in continuous revelation as long as it does not involve change.”  (Richard Condie,  A Disposition to Do Good Continually, Ensign August 2001)

Please remember that training materials are available at familysearch.org/serve.  There are new videos!

Hope you got the news from FamilySearch this week?  (if not maybe you aren’t registered at familysearch.org/serve ?)  Thank you and farewell to Jay Verkler who has been CEO of FamilySearch for the past 10 years, and welcome to Dennis Brimhall who becomes CEO in early January 2012.

Did you know that you can now follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pldarbyfh ?  We are using Twitter to post any items that come up during the week.  We are learning new things too!

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Using and Contributing to the FamilySearch Wiki

The Research Wiki at familysearch.org is a great tool.  It is like an encyclopedia for how to do research!  Click on the Learn link at the top of the main page at familysearch.org and scroll down to the Research Wiki link.   Over 64000 articles!   . . .  and you can also help with editing and contributing!

For example:  Type in Canada Census and click Enter (or Return), select the top article “Canada Census,” and you get a very helpful article on the Canada Census including the date when each census was taken.  There is also a section on Canadian Censuses Online with links to the actual sites.

Would you like to learn more about how to use the Research Wiki?  Try these links

https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Help:Tour

https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Help:Wiki_Basics

Would you like to learn how to contribute to the wiki?

https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Help:Edit_and_Contribute

Take advantage of the mentoring program to help new contributors:

https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/FamilySearch_Wiki:Mentors

Next to the Research Wiki on the Learn link are over 300 research courses and also a link to the Forums where you can post specific research questions.

Now you can follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/pldarbyfh

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Reviving a FH Centre

by

Bill Buchanan

If I were trying to revive a stake FHC, here are some ideas I would try:

1. Create a schedule of fairly basic lessons. We have more patrons when we

have lessons to offer.

2. Phone each ward to get the name, phone number and email address of the

bulletin editor and HPGL.

3. Contact each bulletin editor to verify their email address.

4. Send each editor and HPGL a copy of the schedule of lessons and ask to

have it included in their bulletin for the next two weeks.

Ask them to include the hours of operation as a standing item in each weekly

bulletin.

5. Make sure that your hours of operation and phone number are listed in the

stake directory, and maybe the FamilySearch wiki.

6. Get a list of all the ward consultants with their contact information.

7. Schedule a monthly training meeting for constultants and other staff.

8. Make sure your stake president and your high councillor over genealogy

know who you are and what you are doing.

9. Find out who your area FH advisor is, and what suggestions they have.

Their support can be a tremendous benefit.

10. Try to recruit staff that are comfortable with technology. Maybe that

recently released YW president or High Councillor? That young man that needs

to wait a year before serving a mission? Or that couple who just returned

from a mission where they used Skype for a weekly visit with their families?

If you are the director, a few strong assistants can help to move the work

forward.

11. Delegate these tasks as necessary.

12. Always pray for guidance and help.

 

Thank you, Bill!

 

Bonus!

More information on FHCs

From Knowledge Document (KD) 101753 – “The future for family history centers (from question and answer session with Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the First Quorum of Seventy and Executive Director of the Family History Department.

Q.(Family history center director) My question is just what is the future for family history centers?

A.(Elder Jensen) Family history centers will continue to exist. Family history centers are a resource for family history consultants to help members identify their ancestors and provide temple ordinances for them. Members and community patrons can use the resources available in family history centers to extend their family history research.

Q.(Family history center director) I can see from this presentation that the Church is providing the members with new family history resources. How will those resources affect family history centers?

A.(Elder Jensen) The Church will increasingly make family history information available online for members to conveniently use at home. In areas of the world where home access to the Internet is generally available, we likely will not see many additional centers approved.

In some areas of the world, access to the Internet from home is still relatively limited. Members and consultants in these areas can use the Internet connection in family history centers to do family history work and prepare names of ancestors for submission to the temple. In these areas, the Church may approve additional family history centers where needed.

Family history centers have provided exceptional service to our members for many years, and they will continue to do so.”

_____________________________________________

“To Turn the Hearts – Leader’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work” p 9.

“Family history centers give members and community patrons access to family history resources, including:

• Genealogical resources

• Classes and workshops on family history

• One-on-one assistance

As stake leaders seek to accomplish specific public affairs goals, they view family history centers as a unique and effective way to enhance the Church’s position in the local community. The majority of the patrons who use family history centers are not members.”

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