First Step? Prayerfully determine what you need to be doing. Ask for guidance and then ponder on your family as you go through your day's work. Look through what you have. Many of us have huge Books of Remembrance that we haven't even opened. Think back to some of the stories you have heard or relatives you have known. I promise that you will start to feel stirrings that will lead you to your own spot in this great work.
Some suggestions:
Get signed up for the new family search. You will need your membership number (on your temple recommend) and your confirmation date. The site will guide you to set up your account. If you already have an LDS user account (one you use to access the ward and state website) you will use that user name and password. The website will soon be open to everyone so the LDS user accounts identify you as a member of the church and allow you to view the LDS ordinances. You will choose a user name that will show up on the new family search (nFS) whenever you make changes. I chose to use my name; others choose to use a nickname, etc. to protect their identity. You also choose what information you want others to be able to see. At least include your email address. It is really frustrating to try to get in touch with a "new cousin" and not be able to find any contact information. I included my name, address, phone and email. I have had a couple of cousins call me and we had great visits about our common ancestor. Most of the time I have been contacted through email. If you have trouble registering or using the site, come to the FHC on Thursdays or visit with your ward FHC consultant. A tutorial will show up on the screen after you register. It is a good idea to go through that and learn the basics. The site is easy to use and improvements are being made all the time.
CAUTION: There are a lot of mistakes and misinformation in the nFS. Make changes only if you KNOW the right information. If you make a change on nFS without documentation or proof then you are only adding more clutter. You can easily document your information on the website. Even if your information came from "Aunt Sallie", always put down the source. Others will use your source to evaluate the value of the data. A birth certificate may trump a family source. But not always. One friend ordered her birth certificate in order to apply for social security and it showed her name as "Carole" instead of "Carol". She was appalled that she had misspelled her name all her life. But did she? Her mother had taught her how to spell her name. Mom would obviously be the primary source as to her daughter's name. The doctor or clerk who filled out the birth certificate had changed the spelling. An explanation of the circumstances in the notes of her PAF program,or the discussion tab on nFS would help others searching for the correct information.
MESSAGE BOARDS:
I was so proud of myself when I started doing FH research on the Internet. I carefully typed "Durfee Family" in the search engine that first day and luckily came up with a great site. There was a lot of really good information and help---and for a long time I didn't know that I could go anywhere else. I had tapped into a MESSAGE BOARD. They are a great place to look for family information. www.genforum.com was the one I had stumbled across but you will find them on many websites. You can choose your surname or locality on genforum. It will bring you a list of messages from other people. Type in your locality, ancestor name, or a keyword in the search box and see what comes up. You browse through the messages, looking for information on your people. If you find something of interest, you can create or follow a thread, and discuss that family with other researchers.
If you don't find your family listed in the message board, be sure to leave your own message. Many times, even years later, a cousin may come across your message and get in touch with you. Be smart in leaving the message. Some try to be cute with a message title like "Help! Looking for Family". There are researchers who'd love to help but won't waste their time clicking on the message to see what help you need. Your message title should be something like "James and Mary Allen Gray, Daviess County, Missouri, about 1850." Use full names, dates, places, ask specific questions in the body of the message. Look at some of the other messages and see what works.
Oh, the new family search just added a great new "discussions" feature. It works like a message board. "My" James Gray is linked to the wrong parents and I haven't been able to get it changed. I left a message on the discussion board stating why these parents are incorrect and explaining where I think his family came from. I think it will really help clear up some of the confusion and clutter on nFS.
JUST BECAUSE YOU FIND IT ON THE INTERNET DOESN'T MEAN IT IS TRUE. Look for sources and documentation. Evaluate what you find against what you already know and what makes sense. The new family search and message boards are two good ways to get in touch with new cousins and share or increase your knowledge of your ancestors. Have Fun!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Getting Started is the Hardest!
That old adage is true. I have been procrastinating for several months and finally decided it was time to get our stake family history blogspot going. It has been hard to get started. Many of you find that it is hard to get started in your family history research. At some point, you just have to DO IT!
Most family history "how to" tips tell you to start with yourself. Gather a big box and start collecting all of your important papers in order to document your own life. That's a really great idea----but I'd never have gotten involved in family history if I had started with me! I'm still trying to get enthused about writing my own history. My five year old granddaughter thinks I am old enough to remember both the pioneers and the dinosaurs, so I guess it is time to set the record straight and write down my own personal stories and memories.
MY ADVICE? Start with something that interests you. Each of us brings a unique perspective to family history. We have different talents, different interests, and different goals. A new convert can generate names to take to the temple without a lot of work. A member whose family has been doing genealogical work for generations will struggle to find even a few names. So prayerfully ponder where you are at. I can guarantee that you will be guided to your own particular place in this important work.
Are you interested in the stories of your ancestors? Does a particular family or person intrigue you? Do you enjoy writing? Are you drawn to old photos? Do you feel the need to research your family line? Do you have records available to help you document and correct your family information on the new family search? Do you have heirlooms that need to be preserved? Do you need to host a family reunion---or even a cousin reunion? Have you been procrastinating a visit to an elderly aunt or grandparent? Do you regularly attend the temple?
There are so many ways to become involved in family history work. The scriptures and the writings of the prophets make it clear. Elijah came to turn the hearts of the fathers and the children together. This is the dispensation in which this work is to be done---and this is the time for you to get started.
Come to the family history center on Thursdays. Consultants will be there from 10 AM to 7 PM. Each ward has at least one family history consultant who would love to help you get started. We can help you so that it isn't quite so intimidating! In fact, you will find that it is really fulfilling and even fun!
Most family history "how to" tips tell you to start with yourself. Gather a big box and start collecting all of your important papers in order to document your own life. That's a really great idea----but I'd never have gotten involved in family history if I had started with me! I'm still trying to get enthused about writing my own history. My five year old granddaughter thinks I am old enough to remember both the pioneers and the dinosaurs, so I guess it is time to set the record straight and write down my own personal stories and memories.
MY ADVICE? Start with something that interests you. Each of us brings a unique perspective to family history. We have different talents, different interests, and different goals. A new convert can generate names to take to the temple without a lot of work. A member whose family has been doing genealogical work for generations will struggle to find even a few names. So prayerfully ponder where you are at. I can guarantee that you will be guided to your own particular place in this important work.
Are you interested in the stories of your ancestors? Does a particular family or person intrigue you? Do you enjoy writing? Are you drawn to old photos? Do you feel the need to research your family line? Do you have records available to help you document and correct your family information on the new family search? Do you have heirlooms that need to be preserved? Do you need to host a family reunion---or even a cousin reunion? Have you been procrastinating a visit to an elderly aunt or grandparent? Do you regularly attend the temple?
There are so many ways to become involved in family history work. The scriptures and the writings of the prophets make it clear. Elijah came to turn the hearts of the fathers and the children together. This is the dispensation in which this work is to be done---and this is the time for you to get started.
Come to the family history center on Thursdays. Consultants will be there from 10 AM to 7 PM. Each ward has at least one family history consultant who would love to help you get started. We can help you so that it isn't quite so intimidating! In fact, you will find that it is really fulfilling and even fun!
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