Before they leave, make sure you...

My great aunt on my father's side recently passed away. It is always a sad time when a family member leaves this life.

Other relatives started to share pictures and stories of this women I have never really met- as I clicked through the pictures and read the captions associated with each picture, it became very clear to me that pictures are invaluable when it comes to family history.

The strategy today is to visit your family that is still living and got through pictures making small captions for each as you go. If you do not do this, the pictures become nameless faces with us endlessly wondering, "Who are these people?"

Temple Work Just Got Easier and You'll Never Guess How!

Went to print off a Family Ordinance Request Sheet and saw a new addition to the drop down menu, "Print Ordinance Card". I clicked it and up came an Ordinance Card for that ancestor! Wait... what?

Yes, ordinance cards can now be printed from home; no more getting pink and blue cards printed at the temple.

Make sure they are printed on WHITE paper- it will tell you that cards must be printed on white paper.

I hope someone is out there reading this and not just sitting in space doing nothing.

Happy Searching!

Not everyone will agree with you

Since my last post I am hoping some research has happened on your part. I have done a lot of research in putting families together, adding pictures, adding documents, etc.

Whenever I add or change something I strongly believe is correct I feel good about it- until someone emails me.

Recently, I was received an email from an old woman, I knew she was old because her picture was next to her email address and all I could see was large brass colored glasses with curly white hair. The glare on the glasses  prevented me from seeing her eyes.

This woman seemed upset with changes I had made to a certain ancestor born in 1650. She seemed so upset with me that it triggered that human response of "How dare she say that?' I wanted to send an equally negative email back to her but, I had the thought that maybe I should figure out the reason of her being upset (thank you to the Holy Ghost for that one).

After 20 minutes of emailing back and forth, I learned her emotional response were based off the journal entries written by the ancestor she had in her possession (very cool possession if you ask me). She emailed me a scanned copy asking me to upload them to FamilySearch for her, I obliged immediately.

My "strategy" for you is to take great care in your interactions with those you communicate with regarding the lives of  your ancestors. If someone disagrees with you, learn the root of the "disagreement" - see if they have documentation you don't have or if they knew the ancestor personally.

We were not put on this earth to complete His work all alone; learn from everyone you can. You may need to work together to discover your ancestors.

Hope is Not Lost If You Know Where to Look

All you want is to find a name to take to the temple but no green temples are to be found.

If you use the Hope Chest App your chances are greatly increased.

The app can be downloaded on a mobile device but I have only used it on a desktop computer-

• Its only available on Google Chrome Browser 
• Once downloaded it should appear in the bar where the url is (see picture)
• Click it and you'll see you can search descendants or ancestors.
• Once you click search= the app does the looking for you and leaves no stone un turned.
• When its complete you'll see your list pop up in a new window. 

Good luck!

#templechallenge 

Now It's Your Turn

I've posted almost two dozen strategies to help you find your family. I have nothing else in my notes but I have one final tip for you to help you and whoever comes after you. Its time to write down your story!

Get on FamilySearch and go to YOUR profile- no one will ever see what you put on here until you die. It's a bit overwhelming trying to think of everything that has happened and you don't have to; what has helped me is having one question guide me, "When I leave this life, what do I want people to know about me?"  Personally, I have uploaded pictures from college, uploaded documents, written stories my parents have told me. 

Get on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter... wherever you've got pictures and look for memories you want preserved forever. 

Grab A Pen! You Don't Want To Miss This

Histories and journals of my ancestors are some of my most treasured possessions. Here are tips to get you started finding histories and journals-

• Go about 2-4 generations out in your tree
• Look at their profiles on FamilySearch- If a history/journal has been uploaded it will be under Sources or Memories. 
• Ask relatives for them - scan and upload to FamilySearch. (Example: my father has the histories of his parents)
• Google search using the name and adding life history and/or journal (Ex: Ryan Archibald life history)

Websites to start your search-

• FamilySearch Catalogue and Books 
• dupinternational.org
• sonsofutahpioneers.org
• history.lds.org

Put Your Family Tree in Your Pocket

Thats right, grab your phone and download the Family Tree App and the Memories App too.

• Update information on an ancestor and it automatically syncs to FamilySearch.com
• Take a picture of a grave with your phone and upload it to your ancestors profile
• The Memories App allows you to record the stories your living ancestors tell you - upload the recording to FamilySearch so you have it forever.