LDS track sessions
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Monday, March 20, 2017
Indexing
Promo Video: Indexing is Vital (animated)
Why indexing?
Indexing plays a critical role in filling the Family Tree with hints so families can find names and take them to the temple. In 2012 the First Presidency reminded us, “Members are encouraged to participate in FamilySearch indexing which is vital to family history and temple work.”
The good news… indexing is becoming much easier!
How to index a batch (do one in class)
1. sign into familysearch.org
2. click on the indexing tab (overview)
3. scroll down to Try a Guided Tour (try it out!)
4. see how simple.
Test Drive
Get Started
Find a Project: go to Find Batches. On the left column (refine results) select English, beginning.
suggestion: An easy project type to index for beginners is World War draft registrations.
Get Help
Check out the current stats at the bottom of the page...
How long does it take to do a batch? While times vary, I was able to index 10 marriage records in 30 minutes (earning 30 points).
TRUE STORY (WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016)
motivation
On Monday night Tom Marcheschi brought me over a plate of fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies. He wanted to thank me for the indexing I did during the month of July. I graciously accepted his gift. Then I told my children these were "indexing cookies" and they could have one if they did some indexing.
Tonight Marilee was bored. I told her she could index and earn a cookie. She took me up on the offer. I told her what to type and she typed it in herself. She earned a cookie. Then Emma wanted a turn. She got a cookie. Marilee liked the cookie so much she wanted to do another batch. And she did. Then Emma wanted to do another. The idea was catching on. Indexing has never been so much fun.
And is it easy? You bet! I have a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old submitting marriage records... thanks to the cookie incentive. (Those cookies were so good that Julia even left a movie to index a couple entries.)
PS The next morning Marilee came to me and said "I want to do indexing ... even without a cookie."
Web indexing:
On the new indexing tool, local units have dedicated pages where they can “adopt” a project and set goals to encourage members to work collectively. If everyone gets to know the same project, it’s easier for indexers to help each other.
scroll down the page under the web indexing tab; notice the groups that are tracked. (Weber Heights Stake and Forest Green Ward).
There are no adopted projects. Let's pick one. (Note that you can track the progress of a particular project to see how close it is to completion.) Each project lists the language and level of difficulty. Let's find a beginning project in English. (You can refine your search on the left of the page.)
When you finish a batch, you will get a thank-you and a virtual stream of confetti! (plus the option to select a similar batch or try something new.)
Why indexing?
Indexing plays a critical role in filling the Family Tree with hints so families can find names and take them to the temple. In 2012 the First Presidency reminded us, “Members are encouraged to participate in FamilySearch indexing which is vital to family history and temple work.”
The good news… indexing is becoming much easier!
How to index a batch (do one in class)
1. sign into familysearch.org
2. click on the indexing tab (overview)
3. scroll down to Try a Guided Tour (try it out!)
4. see how simple.
Test Drive
Get Started
Find a Project: go to Find Batches. On the left column (refine results) select English, beginning.
suggestion: An easy project type to index for beginners is World War draft registrations.
Get Help
Check out the current stats at the bottom of the page...
How long does it take to do a batch? While times vary, I was able to index 10 marriage records in 30 minutes (earning 30 points).
TRUE STORY (WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2016)
motivation
On Monday night Tom Marcheschi brought me over a plate of fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies. He wanted to thank me for the indexing I did during the month of July. I graciously accepted his gift. Then I told my children these were "indexing cookies" and they could have one if they did some indexing.
Tonight Marilee was bored. I told her she could index and earn a cookie. She took me up on the offer. I told her what to type and she typed it in herself. She earned a cookie. Then Emma wanted a turn. She got a cookie. Marilee liked the cookie so much she wanted to do another batch. And she did. Then Emma wanted to do another. The idea was catching on. Indexing has never been so much fun.
And is it easy? You bet! I have a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old submitting marriage records... thanks to the cookie incentive. (Those cookies were so good that Julia even left a movie to index a couple entries.)
PS The next morning Marilee came to me and said "I want to do indexing ... even without a cookie."
Web indexing:
On the new indexing tool, local units have dedicated pages where they can “adopt” a project and set goals to encourage members to work collectively. If everyone gets to know the same project, it’s easier for indexers to help each other.
scroll down the page under the web indexing tab; notice the groups that are tracked. (Weber Heights Stake and Forest Green Ward).
There are no adopted projects. Let's pick one. (Note that you can track the progress of a particular project to see how close it is to completion.) Each project lists the language and level of difficulty. Let's find a beginning project in English. (You can refine your search on the left of the page.)
When you finish a batch, you will get a thank-you and a virtual stream of confetti! (plus the option to select a similar batch or try something new.)
What are some advantages of this new web-based program?
- Easy access: You will be able to index on any computer, laptop, or tablet that has access to the web.
- Simple to use: The new system is much easier to learn and navigate.
- Quick start: Since it is a web application, there is nothing to download. Just click a link and get started indexing right away.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
lesson 8: Organize your records
Online and paper info needs to be organized so you can find the information you are looking for.
Have your paper system and computer system compatible.
Organize by last name (recommended), location, or chronologically
Each family should have their own folder.
When a child marries, create a new folder for them.
Have a family group sheet in the front of the folder for easy identification of family members.
watch this video for tips
Have your paper system and computer system compatible.
Organize by last name (recommended), location, or chronologically
Each family should have their own folder.
When a child marries, create a new folder for them.
Have a family group sheet in the front of the folder for easy identification of family members.
watch this video for tips
guest speakers: Jay and Sue Huber
their collection of genealogy records (by surname, 166 binders as of 12/17)
Linnea's family history room:
photo albums
written records (journals)
blogging: for missionaries, journals, family history, sharing, etc. give examples. It is also a great opportunity to share the gospel!
their collection of genealogy records (by surname, 166 binders as of 12/17)
Linnea's family history room:
photo albums
written records (journals)
blogging: for missionaries, journals, family history, sharing, etc. give examples. It is also a great opportunity to share the gospel!
Saturday, March 18, 2017
lesson 7: the circle of success
watch the video "The Research Process"
1. gather - everything you already know about your genealogy
2. choose - a question you want to answer (a simple question with only 1 answer)
3. find - what you don't know (ask the person, look for a document)
4. evaluate - take the new info you found and decide if it answers your question; consider the source of your information
5. share - once you've found good information, share it with others online or in paper form
(get help) - help is in the center of the circle if this sounds hard
challenge: spend 5 minutes and get started!
1. gather - everything you already know about your genealogy
2. choose - a question you want to answer (a simple question with only 1 answer)
3. find - what you don't know (ask the person, look for a document)
4. evaluate - take the new info you found and decide if it answers your question; consider the source of your information
5. share - once you've found good information, share it with others online or in paper form
(get help) - help is in the center of the circle if this sounds hard
challenge: spend 5 minutes and get started!
There are many resources:
family tree contains approximately 141 million new record hints from 86 indexed collections
obituaries now include a text transcript or viewable image with the indexed data
extended family members also indexed with obituary
Friday, March 17, 2017
lesson 6: Quick Start (5 minute genealogy)
You may have asked yourself: “What is family history and genealogy?” “Why would I do genealogy?” “Is genealogy difficult?” An increasing number of technological advances has made genealogy simple to do. In this episode, Jesse will show you examples of how to find an ancestor’s record in just five minutes. You will learn how to search for a record using FamilySearch.org.
Watch a 3 1/2 minute video here
Challenge: add a record to your ancestor
Watch a 3 1/2 minute video here
Challenge: add a record to your ancestor
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Lesson 5: To the Temple
Your goal is to reserve family names and receive ordinances in behalf of these relatives in the temple. Depending on what a person’s family tree looks like, there are different ways you can help him or her succeed.
If the member’s tree is small, the Temple Opportunities page may display ordinances ready to be performed. Or, you can look on the pedigree for a green arrow next to the temple icon.
If the member has a full tree, help him or her identify an ancestor whose descendants need temple work.
Using the traditional pedigree view in Family Tree, show where to find temple icons, and discuss what they mean: request ordinances, more information needed, ordinances in progress, and ordinances complete.
Click a name to show the summary card. Discuss the ordinance abbreviations shown.
Discussion Question: How do I know if someone needs ordinances? Look for the icons or indicators for requesting ordinances.
Question: After I have reserved ordinances, what do I need to do? You need to print a Family Ordinance Request. This form lists the ordinances you plan to perform at the temple. You take this printed form to the temple where temple staff will print the ordinances cards.
Discussion Question: If ordinances have been completed for all of a person’s direct-line ancestors for several generations, what can he or she do to find temple ordinances that are needed? You can search for descendants of an ancestor who may need temple ordinances. You can look at the children in a family to see if there are gaps of several years between birth dates. These gaps may indicate a missing child who you might easily find by searching records.
understanding temple reservations
How can I check my progress?
What do the different colored blocks mean?
How do I share a name? (demonstrate)
What can I do to get the work done faster? (stake file, ward youth baptisms, etc)
What do the different colored blocks mean?
How do I share a name? (demonstrate)
What can I do to get the work done faster? (stake file, ward youth baptisms, etc)
Family History Is about Hearts before Charts (Feb 18, 2014)
Past approaches to family history work in the Church have resulted in less than 3 percent of members submitting names of ancestors for temple ordinance work.
To reach the other 97 percent, we need to change how we think, how we teach, and what we teach.
in the United States 25 percent of Church members do not have four generations of ancestors in the Family Tree section of the Church’s FamilySearch Internet site. Internationally, 70 percent of members don’t have both parents in Family Tree, 90 percent don’t have their grandparents in it, and 95 percent don’t have their great-grandparents included.
Elder Packer drew an analogy from travelers needing a passport and credentials to enter a country and explained that a “spiritual passport” is needed for entering the kingdom of God. Like individuals waiting in immigration lines without a passport and desperately seeking help, persons who have died rely on their descendants who are Church members to provide for them the spiritual passports and credentials they need, Elder Packer said.
“Start by touching their hearts with stories and pictures of their ancestors to help members have a spiritual experience to feel the spirit of Elijah.”
Elder Packer spoke of obstacles to doing family history work that over the years have become fixed perceptions in the minds of people, and he said that even though most of the actual obstacles have been eliminated, the perceptions remain. Among these, he said, are that family history is only for old people to do, that all the work on an individual’s ancestral line has been done, that there are no more records to research, and that one must have a lot of technical knowledge.
taken from Elder Packer's talk at RootsTech 2014
To reach the other 97 percent, we need to change how we think, how we teach, and what we teach.
in the United States 25 percent of Church members do not have four generations of ancestors in the Family Tree section of the Church’s FamilySearch Internet site. Internationally, 70 percent of members don’t have both parents in Family Tree, 90 percent don’t have their grandparents in it, and 95 percent don’t have their great-grandparents included.
Elder Packer drew an analogy from travelers needing a passport and credentials to enter a country and explained that a “spiritual passport” is needed for entering the kingdom of God. Like individuals waiting in immigration lines without a passport and desperately seeking help, persons who have died rely on their descendants who are Church members to provide for them the spiritual passports and credentials they need, Elder Packer said.
“Start by touching their hearts with stories and pictures of their ancestors to help members have a spiritual experience to feel the spirit of Elijah.”
Elder Packer spoke of obstacles to doing family history work that over the years have become fixed perceptions in the minds of people, and he said that even though most of the actual obstacles have been eliminated, the perceptions remain. Among these, he said, are that family history is only for old people to do, that all the work on an individual’s ancestral line has been done, that there are no more records to research, and that one must have a lot of technical knowledge.
taken from Elder Packer's talk at RootsTech 2014
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
find, take, teach
a Sunday Family History Lesson
includes information about:
Find Your Family Names: a First Time Guide
Family History: Get Started Now
Discover Relatives on a Full Tree
My Family: Stories that Bring Us Together
Video: Delight in the Sabbath ("a young mother ... sharing her family stories and pictures with her children is doing family history work."; "Make the Sabbath a delight by finding your ancestors.")
Video: find, take, teach ("Help those who cannot help themselves; you will be blessed with more closeness and joy in your family and with the divine protections afforded those who are faithful in his service.")
Video: using the booklet My Family: Stories that Bring Us Together (animated)
* Invite all class members to write down or upload a photo or story of an ancestor.
Video: Finding Our Cousins: Descendancy View (when it seems like all the work has been done...)
includes information about:
Find Your Family Names: a First Time Guide
Family History: Get Started Now
Discover Relatives on a Full Tree
My Family: Stories that Bring Us Together
Video: Delight in the Sabbath ("a young mother ... sharing her family stories and pictures with her children is doing family history work."; "Make the Sabbath a delight by finding your ancestors.")
Video: find, take, teach ("Help those who cannot help themselves; you will be blessed with more closeness and joy in your family and with the divine protections afforded those who are faithful in his service.")
Video: using the booklet My Family: Stories that Bring Us Together (animated)
* Invite all class members to write down or upload a photo or story of an ancestor.
Video: Finding Our Cousins: Descendancy View (when it seems like all the work has been done...)
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