How Claire found a dozen names in 30 minutes

It all starts with attaching names.  You've seen that list of recommended tasks on the right-hand side of the home page after you sign in.  All those little blue squares indicating Record Hints Available.  Start attaching!
As Claire did so, she discovered new names in census records.   (I should insert the fact here that Claire knew nothing about these families, but she recognizes a match when she sees one!) As the families grew, so did the information we had about them.  After only 30 minutes she had found at least a dozen names doing nothing more than attaching records.  (Did I mention that Claire is only 16 years old?)  She then took those names the next day to the temple and did the baptisms for the females.
In looking over the names she had found, I made several amazing discoveries myself.  One was that the family was Jewish (being buried in a Hebrew cemetery).  The other was a will of the husband to one of the daughters.  In it he requested daily prayers for each of the family members - by name including the date they died for those who had already passed on.  No where else had we been able to find death dates, but here it was in the last will and testament of an in-law!  (I attached the will to each person mentioned so others would know the source of the information.)
So start clicking.  Start attaching.  You will start discovering!

Note: see example at Maryland Probate Estate and Guardianship Files for Solomon Greenwald (LYR7-4TV)

writing prompt

In the science-fiction movie Arrival (2016), Louise asks in a closing scene, "If you could see your whole life laid out in front of you, would you change things?"
In the context of the movie, she was asking "would you rob someone of their existence, and yourself of the time shared with them on Earth, if you knew they would one day feel pain, and you would feel their loss?"
Put into general terms, our biggest trials are often our best teachers.  What was one of the hardest times of your life and what did you learn from it?

PS The movie Arrival is based on the short story by author Ted Chiang called "Story of Your Life" which is a reflection on personal choice.  The author says foreseeing a choice and then making it is not the cruelty of fate in action, but a powerful exercise in free will.  We as humans are made of our memories and defined by our choices.  The movie Arrival is about acceptance, understanding our life's choices, and living as if any one moment were as valuable or meaningful as the next.

PPS As Emerson once wrote, life's a journey, not a destination.

Summary: If we could see our lives laid out before us, would we change anything? Story of Your Life — and by extension Arrival — is telling us to live as if the answer is, and always will be, a resolute no.

Why Preserving Stories is Worthwhile

When we commit to writing about our lives or helping loved ones record their memories, we don’t have to wait decades into the future to reap the benefits. The advantages are immediate—deeper conversations with loved ones, greater understanding about where we come from, a changed perspective about what’s important in life, strengthened ties between generations, and profound feelings of gratitude.

Before you begin, you don’t have to know exactly what you’re going to do with the stories you gather, how you’re going to organize them, or how you’ll share them. The most important thing is just to start—and to start now.

How to Start Now

Try these tips to help you get started preserving your personal and family stories in simple but meaningful ways.

1. Just start somewhere. Begin with what’s inspiring you right now. There’s no rule that says you have to start at birth and record your life story chronologically.

2. Capture now, organize later.Write or record stories in the moment, or when the memory first arises. You can decide what to do with your captured stories later.

3. Establish a routine. Set aside 30 minutes every Sunday for personal journaling, or schedule a regular monthly interview with your grandparents. Just be consistent.

4. Use prompts to spark memories. Don’t know what to write about? Rely on insightful writing prompts and questions, like those found in the #52stories project.

5. Make it conversational. Skip the formalities. Whether you’re writing your story or interviewing someone else, encourage authentic voices to shine through. Be real.

Tip: Whether you’re gathering stories about yourself or a loved one, upload them as Memories to the person’s profile on FamilySearch.org, a permanent and free archive that aims to create the world’s largest genealogical database. You can even add audio files and pictures. For mobile access, try the FamilySearch Memories app and the FamilySearch Family Tree app.

Become a Gatherer in God's Kingdom (video)

Watch this inspiring message from President Henry B. Eyring here.

“Our Heavenly Father is anxious to gather and bless all of His family. While He knows that not all of them will choose to be gathered, His plan gives each of His children the opportunity to accept or reject His invitation,” said President Eyring (“Gathering the Family of God,” Ensign, May 2017, 20).

As you engage in family history and attend the temple, you become an active gatherer of the family of God.

favorite family history quotes

"Whoever seeks to help those on the other side receives help in return in all the affairs of life." -- John A. Widsoe

our heritage: recipe for success

My great-grandma’s family owned the first restaurant in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania.  Her mom baked an average of 20 pies a day!  One day her aunt asked Bessie to make a pie.  Bessie wasn’t prepared to make a pie.  She didn’t know how to make a pie.  But her mom always made really good pies, so she said: “I know how to make a pie!”

She tried. But her uncle said he’d never tasted worse pies!  Bessie went home and told her mom, “I knew I wouldn’t make good pies.”  Her mom responded, “Why don’t you show them you can bake good pies?”

So she did. Bessie became well-known for her delicious pies.  But the heritage she left us was more than an ability to cook.  She gave us the determination and persistence to never give up. Remember: one flop doesn't make you a failure!

Oh, to belong!

Ann peered into the first crib at the orphanage in Mozambique, Africa.  Why had everyone else passed it by when selecting a child to hold?  A pair of chocolatey-brown crossed eyes met her gaze.  As a nurse, Ann realized that problem could be easily fixed – but not here.  She picked up the smiling, abandoned, 13-month-old infant and cradled him in her arms.  He rested in a fetal position unable to hold up his head, sit, or crawl.  Ann felt the strongest urge to adopt him.  Left in Africa, at age 5 he would be sent to the streets to beg for money.

Ann took a picture of Jaron – just a rag of a diaper hanging off little toothpicks of arms and legs – to send to her husband and 9 children at home.  Her husband texted back, “The kids say to bring him home.”   Finally, he belonged.

Note: Jaron is one of only a handful of children that have been adopted outside of Africa because it is against their culture and philosophy which states "Children of the land who are born here need to stay here."

Jaron was emaciated at the orphanage. He could hear, but his eyes were crossed. He had cerebral palsy.  He couldn't talk, hold up his head, crawl, or walk.  They didn't even have a birthdate for him.  Yet through it all, he had the biggest smile.  He was just looking to be loved. 

Jaron is now one of 11 children, attending a functional skills high school in Arizona.  He communicates by pushing pictures on an IPad.  His eyes were corrected with several surgeries and he walks.  He was given the same birthdate as his brother Jaedon. But one thing hasn't changed: his huge smile.

 We all want to belong and need to feel loved. Jaron is a reminder that miracles happen.  God is watching out for each of His children in all corners of the world.

connected thru crocheting

Twist, pull, twist, pull.  AnnElyse’s first couple of loops were about four to five inches long.  She had never crocheted before, but she was fascinated watching her great-grandma Lee transform a ball of yarn into a bootie.  Soon AnnElyse had a three-yard chain dragging on the ground. 

“You’re a fast learner,” Lee commented.  “It took me a lot longer to learn how to crochet because my mother died when I was seven years old and I had no one to teach me.”  They talked while they crocheted, sharing stories and connecting – one stitch at a time. 

Grandma Lee made many booties for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but she hung AnnElyse’s awkward pair of baby booties (that looked more like boots than slippers) on a wind-chime in her living room so that everyone could see her pupil’s work.  Crocheting had connected them across the generations.

Note: One of the stories Lee told of her childhood was how at age 14 (when she was in the 10th grade), grandma Lee was asked to quit school and work to earn some money for her family. These were depression years and money was scarce. There was a lady who wanted to hire some help. Lee’s sister had refused the job because she heard the lady was very mean. Lee’s father gave her one thin Mercury dime and told Lee to take the job, which she did. The house was really something. Three times a week Lee would wash the windows – all those tiny panes. Once a week she had to scrub the cellar floor – which was cement. Lee worked hard for a year. She was starting to become hunchback from the labor. A friend convinced her to quit before the lady killed her. 

And yet, that same cruel taskmaster was the one who taught Lee how to crochet!  That skill was one that grandma Lee used to benefit family members and charities alike.  She became well-known for her handmade gifts: booties, blankets and more.  What her friend thought was a curse turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

This photo captures the moment when that skill was passed on from one generation to the next, connecting us all together.

About the photographer: My church calling is that of temple and family history consultant.  My only qualification for that position is that I love to collect photos and stories about family members and share them with others.

Your session confirmation number is 153127

Aw, Nuts!

While her mother was busy making soup on the stove for Sunday dinner, 20-month-old Amy opened a jar of peanut butter which she then proceeded to spread ... all over her face, her chest and stomach. In fact, her hands were covered in it up to her elbows. When discovered, Amy licked her lips and said, "Mmmmm." Her one-year-older sister Claire reprimanded her, and before I knew it, Amy was pointing her finger too and repeating, "No, no, no, no, NO!"
Four years later, we submitted this candid photo to Macey's "Dirtiest Kid" contest. Amy was relieved to not win that contest - she was the second dirtiest kid, behind the boy with a pet pig! (So we didn't win the washer and dryer, but we got some Tide detergent and Bounce dryer sheets ... just in case Amy decides to consume another jar of peanut butter.)

Your session confirmation number is 153034.

Note: Family life isn't planned - it just happens. Fortunate are the times when you are able to make a memory - through a photo or a story - to relive in the years to come. Even those moments of frustration can seem humorous ... if enough time passes. I like this candid shot because it captures her eyes of innocence. She didn't mean to make a mess. She didn't think she was being naughty. She thought it tasted delicious! Sometimes I have to step back out of parent-mode to see a situation through the eyes of a child. The time it takes to grab my camera and shoot a photo is usually long enough for me to calm down and not react hysterically to whatever the child has done. So capturing family history on film has not only preserved the moment - often it has preserved the child as well!

About the photographer: I am the mother of 9 children, so there is never a dull moment at our house. I decided long ago that I could either get mad when the children made a mess, or I could take a picture. I have filled many photo albums with pictures. -- Linnea Cardon

attaching books to people in family search

see Ethel and Al Jurvic; Jurevic/Jaskiewicz history

I went to Search, selected books, entered the keywords from the title.  Then linked the web address to the person.

"Keep me, protect me, share me" (video)

For a great YouTube video about photos in Family Search click here. (where families live forever)

President Kimball speaks about personal journals

"People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful and nobody would be interested in what they have done.  But I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations.  Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us - and as our posterity read of our life's experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us.  And in that glorious day when our families are together in the eternities, we will already be acquainted."

18 Writing Tips for 2018: How to Tell Personal and Family Stories with Confidence

 By Angie Lucas

Get Started

1. Own Your Story

You are absolutely the best person in the world to write your story and your family history. You are the only human being ever born to this earth who has your unique perspective and life experiences. You know all the details. You were there. J.K. Rowling couldn’t tell your stories better than you can.

2. Tell Favorite Stories Aloud

One of the reasons my cousin’s words came so alive for me is because her family members are all great verbal storytellers. They get together and reminisce and repeat some of the same stories over and over. This practice adds structure to fragmented memories, making it easier to write them down later.

3. Make a Time Line of Major Life Events

In a notebook or a computer document, write down each year you’ve been alive. Leave a page or two between each year. Now start adding in all of the big turning points that divide your life into chapters: being born, going to school, moving, changing schools, reaching religious milestones, learning to drive, graduating, getting a job, changing jobs, getting married, having children. Unhappy events like divorces and deaths will make the list too. Jot down names, places, dates. If all you ever complete in your personal history is this list of major life events, that’s a lot better than nothing. If you’re inspired to keep going, you’ll have a great framework for writing a thorough personal history.

4. Be Specific

Add as many relevant details as you can when sharing a memory. If you make a general statement, think about the evidence you’d include if you had to prove you’re telling the truth. For example, my cousin Natalie wrote, “I remember Grandpa always took very nice care of things.” If she had stopped there, it still would have been a true statement about Grandpa, but it became much more memorable when she added this detail: “If he used the weed eater, he’d wipe it off and put it back in the box.” Now that tells a story about just how careful and meticulous Grandpa was. Not only did he keep the original box for years and years, he also took the time to wipe off dirty lawn equipment before putting it away. I loved that detail; I can picture him doing exactly that.

5. Just Start

It doesn’t matter how far behind you feel you are in capturing your personal history. Start somewhere, and start today. Even if you don’t have time to delve deeply into the past right now, make a regular habit of capturing and collecting current thoughts and memories. The important thing is to capture them while they’re still fresh; you can always organize and rearrange your memories later.

Trigger Memories Authentically

6. Make a List of Stories to Tell

Not sure where to start with your personal or family history? Start by making a list of stories you want to write down eventually. Then elaborate on each of them, one by one. Think about the anecdotes you find yourself telling over and over—like that disaster you narrowly avoided, that crazy coincidence, that one time you ran into a famous person. If anyone ever says, “Yeah, you told me that one before,” that’s a clue the story is important to you. Add it to your list.

7. Forget About Chronology

I know I told you to make a time line, but there’s no rule that says you have to write your life story in chronological order. You can use the time line for reference only, then write your stories in any order you want. After all, you don’t remember your life in chronological order. Memories tend to pop up at random, triggered by the strangest things. As you write your stories down, you can add whatever structure to your memories you want. Leave them in random order. Group them by person or place. I have an encyclopedia-style document on my computer where I gather memories under alphabetized topics: “Adventures with Jori,” “Body Quirks,” “Cheese,” etc. (Yes, I really do have a story about cheese.)

8. Use Memory Triggers

Photos, keepsakes, clothing, and other objects can be wonderful memory triggers. Look through photo albums at relatives’ homes and see what stories come to mind. Then add them to your list of stories to tell. Plan a visit to a neighborhood or city where you once lived. Walk around, notebook in hand, and see what memories surface. You can also use questions or writing prompts, like the #52stories project, to trigger memories and stories.

9. Let Your Thoughts Percolate

It’s hard to summon stories on demand; our memories just don’t work that way. If you’re using writing prompts or trying to answer a list of questions, read through them at the beginning of the week. Then set them aside, and go about your life. You’ll be surprised what you can remember after you let a question marinate in your mind for a few days.

10. Gather Memories from Other People

Consult siblings, cousins, children, and other relatives to help round out your memories of a person or event. Natalie talked to two of her sisters before typing up the final list of memories she sent to my dad. I’m so grateful to all of my cousins and aunts for contributing their perspectives, despite any writing insecurity they might have felt. Now we have a well-rounded picture of this man we all loved, from those who knew him as a young father and those who knew him as an aging grandfather, from those who saw him daily and those who visited a few times a year.

Keep It Simple

11. Use Your Handwriting

I already know what some of you are going to say. “But I have ugly handwriting. I hate my handwriting. Typing is so much easier.” Let me just ask you this: Have you ever encountered a recipe written in your grandmother’s hand and thought anything other than, “Wow, I miss her.” Your handwriting is unique to you. Your family will want to have some of your words written in your own hand. They won’t judge you for sloppy or imperfect handwriting. They’ll treasure it as a piece of you.

12. Write the Way You Speak

Forget about formality and the rules of writing. Just do your best to allow your authentic voice to shine through. The more your written words reflect the way you speak, the better. It can take years for even professional writers to find their own “voice” and feel truly at home with their style, so don’t worry if you feel awkward with writing at first. If you still feel stuck, pretend you’re telling the story out loud to a friend. Actually say each sentence out loud, and then write down what you said. It’s that simple.

13. Don’t Stress about Grammar and Spelling

There’s a saying I want you to repeat to yourself over and over: Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. What does that mean? Perfection is not the goal. If that’s what you’re aiming for, you won’t get anything done at all. An imperfect life story that’s written down is infinitely more valuable than a perfect story that’s never told. So don’t worry if you struggled diagramming sentences in school and can’t distinguish a subject from a predicate. If you know how to speak in coherent sentences, you’ll be able to write a coherent history, too.

14. Write in List Form

Lists are a great way to break up your prose, making it both easier to write and more fun to read. The options are endless. Here’s a brief list of things you could make lists about in your journal:

• Cities you’ve lived in
• Schools you attended
• Songs that remind you of high school
• Favorite books or movies
• Quotes or sayings your grandfather always said
• Traits you inherited from your grandma
• Recipes that remind you of home
• Personal injuries and hospitalizations
• Childhood mischief that you got away with
• Pets your family owned

Make It Last

15. Make It a Regular Practice

The more you exercise your writing muscles, the easier and more naturally your words will flow. Set aside a block of time once a week for journal writing, as the #52stories project encourages you to do. If that sounds overwhelming, write every other week or once a month instead. You could also pick one month a year (maybe your birthday month) where you write briefly every day—either about your current life or about your past or your family history. Do what you have to do to remove barriers and make journaling fit your lifestyle, even if that means carrying a small journal in your purse or writing your entire journal in a Notes file on your smartphone.

16. Keep Multiple Journals

Long-form, paragraph-style writing is just one way to capture memories about your life. I have a journal like that, but I have other kinds of journals, too. I have a file on my smartphone where I capture spiritual insights and a-ha moments. I have miniature notebooks where I capture funny things my kids say. Several times in my life, I’ve used a blank wall calendar as a journal, writing one tiny memory a day inside those little squares. I did this for my daughter from the day she was born until her first birthday. I’m doing it now for my infant son.

17. Curate Your Own Writing

Everything you write about yourself counts, so collect it all together. If you give a presentation at work and you share a personal anecdote, pull that out of the presentation and save it in your personal history. If you share a personal experience in a Sunday School lesson, save it. If you speak at a family funeral, definitely save that. Comb through social media for stories you’ve already shared and save them in a more archival format.

18. Make Some of Your Stories Permanent

Some of the writing you do will be just for you, and that’s okay. But some of your writing will really matter to someone else, like your account of the birth of your child, or your recollections of a beloved grandparent. Save your most important memories in the FamilySearch app, in the Stories section, where all of the data is archived and backed up to the cloud. If it’s a story about your grandfather, save it to his profile. If it’s about your life, save it to your own profile. All stories remain private while the person is still living, but they’ll eventually be visible to the entire extended family.

It’s Up to You

Don’t let your self-doubts get in the way of preserving the important stories of your life. Don’t let your insecurities keep you from helping your children—and their children—see your parents and grandparents the way that you saw them. There’s no better time to start preserving your most important family stories. There’s no better person to do it than you.


Comment: So many of us don’t have significant chunks of time to devote to family history research, record creation, or preservation. However, we all have single minutes. A word here and a sentence there adds up to a chapter and then, over time, to a whole story. Our family stories can be preserved and shared in the single minutes we do have.

Start writing yours today.