I recently just finished taking a family history class at BYU. To be honest, I forced myself to take it because I had zero interest in it, but knew it was something that I had to learn to do. It turned out to be a very interesting and useful class. I've learned a ton about the research process and more importantly some of my ancestors' stories. I ended up gaining a strong testimony on family history and have realized that there is SO MUCH work that needs to be done.
One thing that really opened my eyes was when we studied from D&C 128. Verse 8 says the following:
Now, the nature of this ordinance consists in the power of the priesthood, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, wherein it is granted that whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Or, in other words, taking a different view of the translation, whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven; for out of the books shall your dead be judged, according to their own works, whether they themselves have attended to the ordinances in their own propria persona, or by the means of their own agents, according to the ordinance which God has prepared for their salvation from before the foundation of the world, according to the records which they have kept concerning their dead.
We need to keep our personal lives and family lives recorded!!! That means writing in your journal, preserving photos/documents, making a book of remembrance, family bible etc. Anyway, this class inspired me to be better and continue to do more family history work.
Here are some useful tips and resources that I learned...
-If you don't have anything to start with, START WITH YOURSELF.
-Interview relatives and record them. Ask for pictures, documents, anything that can give you a lead.
Useful websites:
new.familysearch.org-Here you can upload your family tree and print off temple ready names. I recommend taking the online tutorials before starting.
Familysearch.org- Here you can find digital and indexed images of historical records. Under the "Library Catalog" search you can also find call numbers for mircofilms, mircofische, and books that are located in either the BYU library or Family History Library in Salt Lake City. You can also download an indexing program from this site and volunteer some of your time to indexing records.
wiki.familysearch.org- This website is location based and will give you useful articles and links according to the location that you are searching.
ancestry.com- This is a subscription database (highly worth it) which also contains digital images of all sorts of records (vital, military etc.). This site has personally been the most helpful to me.
familyhistory.byu.edu- Here there is a link to Script Tutorials. This will teach you how to read old styles of handwriting. There are also online lessons from the RelC261 class (BYU family history class).
lib.byu.edu/sites/familyhistory- Here you'll find links to other subscribed databases. On the bottom right of the main page you'll also find a link to the Family History Archive. There you can search call numbers that you found from FamilySearch.
lds.org- Under the "Tools" tab, you can request copies of your ancestor's patriarchal blessings. You must be related to them and they must be deceased.
Another useful program that's pretty cheap is called RootsMagic. You can download everything from NewFamilySearch onto it. You can add all kinds of source citations and digital images in this program. It basically keeps you very organized.
A good read would be "The Holy Temple" by Boyd K. Packer.
These are just a few of the many useful resources that are out there. Check them out and start looking up your ancestors. It kind of gets addicting. Feel free to ask me any questions and I'll try my best to help!
D&C 128: 22
Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.
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