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FAMILY HISTORY NEWS UPDATE

Here is some important information about a newly certified software application that will work directly with the new.familysearch.org Web site to prepare ancestral ordinances for the temple.

RootsMagic 4 is the first software affiliate product that is certified to reserve and submit ancestral names to temples to print LDS temple name cards using new FamilySearch Web services.

As an application that is certified to reserve ordinances, RootsMagic 4 has the ability to link people in your desktop genealogy file with matching people on the new.familysearch.org Web site.Once linked, a simple click on the temple icon next to a person’s name will display that person's official temple ordinances, complete with dates, temple name, and status.Incomplete temple ordinances may then be reserved to be performed at a later time. Your own file may also be updated with ordinances that are already completed. RootsMagic 4 can select reserved ordinances and print a Family Ordinance Request (FOR) form to take to the temple.Once at the temple, a worker will scan the bar code on the form and print all the desired temple name ordinance cards.Once the ordinances have been completed, RootsMagic will be updated with your ancestors’ new ordinance status.

For more product information go to:

FamilySearch Support

Ancestral Quest Versus RootsMagic

Ancestral Quest was the first software to develop synchronizing features with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ new family search. At that point, I was sold on AQ and issued this statement to the message board for family history consultants:

“I like Ancestral Quest because I want to continue to use PAF. I think the syncing in Rootmagic is a little easier to do than the AQ process, but I like the fact that I can make changes in AQ and then open my file in PAF (without having to make a GEDCOM), and there are the changes. I did not want to have to learn another program, and since AQ is so similar to PAF, it was an easy transition. I have been using AQ for about 6 months, and I am pleased with all the syncing the program can do. You can compare, combine duplications, then sync; in another process, review the person to get parents and spouses' sealings, go to nFS from AQ to view the file in NFS (with proper sign-in), and add end of line people from nFS to the last person in your AQ/PAF. Another feature I like in AQ is that I like to put the typed opening of a census record into my notes. If I copy and paste it into PAF, I get all the URL's for each person and a lot of extra garbage.

If I cut and paste into AQ, the record is clean. A future feature I would like to see is the sealing to parents and spouse coming up on the initial syncing screen.

As for me, AQ is doing a fantastic job for my needs, and I like to go back to PAF to do some features that I am more familiar with than I am with AQ. The changes are automatically made in AQ.”

Sylvia

York, PA

ADVANTAGES TO ROOTSMAGIC

As my husband Jack said in an earlier e-mail, he likes Rootsmagic, and now he is going to store his record in RotsMagic (RM) and probably leave PAF behind. (PAF is Personal Ancestral File, put out for free by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) Jack says that the synchronizing features in RootsMagic are slick. The thing we both like is that when you are looking at your record and the same person’s record in RN, side-by-side, you can synchronize (sync) all information about that person. In Ancestral Quest, you will only pick up baptism, confirmation, iniatory, and endowment on the first sync. Then you have to review the person to get the sealing to parents’ date, and then sync a third time after reviewing a person to get sealing to spouse date. This seemed to end up duplicating records in my database, which I had to merge.

Also, finding a family is easier in RM as the children automatically appear at the bottom of a parents’ record. In AQ, you need to click on + buttons to have the children’s drop-down menu appear.

RootsMagic has one big drawback over Ancestral Quest. Once you make a GEDCOM of your people in PAF and import the file into RootsMagic, your PAF file becomes dormant. None of the changes that you have made in RootsMagic appear in PAF. Since The Church has issued a statement that they will not be updating PAF, to some it is not a loss. But PAF is still a free program, whereas both Ancestral Quest and RootsMagic ar $29.99. Both offer a trial period, and there are also specials offered at times. The bottom line is that you should test the programs, consider costs, and buy the one that best suits your needs.

RootsMagicSoftware

PRESIDENT OF ANCESTRAL QUEST SPEAKS OUT ON AQ’sGOOD FEATURES

As you say, "PAF is my 'friend' and ... it is the 'friend' of most members ...". Ever since we gave the Ancestral Quest code to the Church over 10 years ago, we have recognized this friendship relationship between PAF and the members. And we know that if "most members" will just take a look at Ancestral Quest, they will feel like they are still in the house of a friend. It will be a comfortable adjustment to use the new tools, like NFS syncing, for most members, as AQ and PAF are so much alike, except for the newer features, which aren't in PAF.

One of the other cool things about AQ's relationship with PAF is that you can use most PAF add-on utilities with it. For example, you should be able to use FamilyInsight and PAF Companion with it. (AQ can let you use either of two database types: PAF and its own. If you will use the .paf database, then you can continue to use PAF, FamilyInsight, PAF Companion and other PAF add-ons with AQ.)

Let me elaborate just a bit on another good feature of AQ. You saw in the demo how to upload one family at a time. There is a way to upload larger groups of data in lieu of using GEDCOM. If you haven't watched it, go to and watch the video entitled "Upload Data to NFS" -- about 7 minutes. This is a technique you can use in AQ to get your PAF or GEDCOM data into nFS without using the nFS GEDCOM upload. It compares all your local records with nFS before the upload, so you only upload the records that are not already in nFS

Gaylon Findlay

SYLVIA’S GENEALOGICAL CORNER

Jack and I had the opportunity to spend the weekend in Lynchburg, VA, where our son and family moved over Easter. Today we went to church with the Landises in the Lynchburg 1st Ward. Because it is the 5th Sunday, the men’s and women’s organizations met together. What do you suppose the topic was? Family history, of course. Their Stake Extraction Director was giving a presentation on indexing. He said that their stake had indexed 100,000 names last year, and now the stake president has doubled that goal, and the bishops are calling people within the ward to be indexers.It was an interesting presentation because I have been indexing for about a year. In fact, we have about 63 people in our stake indexing.

Just what do we mean by indexing? We mean that The Church is trying to make the records in the Granite Vault in the Wasatch Mountains available to members of The Church free online so that you can research your family in your pajamas if you want. At the present time the only way you can get access to the records stored there is to pay $5.50 per microfiche to have it shipped into the family history center (FHC). The FHC retains ownership (you pay S&H), and you have to come into the center to view the film.

Lots of census and other records are now indexed. We are well ahead of our goal. You can view what has already been indexed and is available to the public at Look under “Record Search.” Many of the censuses are free to research there.

If you are interested in indexing, you can go to You must register. Then you can volunteer. You can also go to as a portal to indexing and also

Friday, May 8, 2009

David Rencher named Chief Genealogical Officer of Family History Department (Salt Lake City)

The Family History Department (Salt Lake City, UT) names David Rencher to new position - Chief Genealogical Officer.

I am pleased to announce the creation of a new position in the Family History Department: Chief Genealogical Officer (CGO). This key role will be filled by David Rencher, a 28-year veteran in the department and the genealogical community.

The position of Chief Genealogical Officer ensures that the genealogical integrity of FamilySearch is maintained at the highest levels. The CGO will make sure that a genealogical perspective is reflected in our operational and strategic direction and that the department’s many efforts are connected to the genealogical community.

David’s responsibilities will focus on four major areas:

Genealogical Soundness of the Organization

· Strengthening the genealogical focus of the department’s products, services, and processes

· Providing input to the Strategy Team for genealogical issues

· Maintaining and growing genealogical expertise in partnership with the genealogical community

Record Strategy

· Providing input on the overall record strategy for FamilySearch

· Using genealogical experience and contacts to help build an open FamilySearch environment

· Providing input on third-party affiliation opportunities

Marketing

· Leveraging the genealogical community to assist FamilySearch goals

· Providing input regarding outbound marketing to the genealogical community · Speaking at key genealogical conferences to share FamilySearch messages

Public Outreach

· Providing a public face to the genealogical community for communication · Interacting with the media to promote FamilySearch objectives

· Assisting with V.I.P. visits and tours

· Expanding the network of key genealogical contacts worldwide

In addition to his new role as the Chief Genealogical Officer, David will continue as director of the Planning and Coordination Division. David will continue to report to Russ Stay for Information Divisions-related issues and will report to Jay Verkler on CGO issues.

We wish David well and ask for your support as he takes on these important new responsibilities.

Jay L. Verkler

Managing Director for FamilySearch

Mormon Channel

Listen to Mormon Channel, the Church’s new 24-hour-a-day audio station featuring gospel-oriented programs, music, interviews, and much more. You can access the station through live Internet streaming, podcasts, and iPhone applications, as well as on HD radio.

Mormon Channel, a new radio service of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, launches 18 May and can be accessed via the Internet or HD radio affiliates. The newly created 24-hour, 7-days a-week format is available live online at but content may also be downloaded.

Broadcasts originate at Temple Square in Salt Lake City and feature a vast and varied array of programming, according to Chris Twitty, director of digital media for the Church.

NEW VIDEO CHANNEL LAUNCHED BY THE CHURCH

The Church has launched a new video channel on YouTube (a popular Internet video site) called “Mormon Messages.” Each week, “Mormon Messages” provides short segments about the Church’s basic beliefs, as well as inspiring stories and messages of hope. Members are invited to watch these gospel-centered videos and then share them over the Internet with family, friends, and peoples of other faiths.

The “Mormon Messages” channel can be accessed at mormonmessages.org. Please feel free to share information about this new online Church resource with your stake or ward members.

New Personal Assistance Option in the New FamilySearch Help Center

To encourage closer interaction between Church members and their family history consultants, a new personal assistance option will soon be added to the Feedback page in the Help Center in the new FamilySearch.

When this new option is available, those who select it will see contact information (typically phone number and e-mail address) for:

  • Family history consultant(s) in their ward or branch
  • Local family history center(s)
  • FamilySearch Support

Consultants’ contact information will only be displayed to members of their own ward or branch. The displayed contact information comes from the consultant registration information you provided on the Web site at consultant.familysearch.org. This new personal assistance option will be available to members in all areas of the world that use the new FamilySearch Web site.

You may experience an increase in your opportunities to help members of your ward or branch with their family history. To enhance the support you can provide to members, you are encouraged to enroll in and complete the new FamilySearch Web site training course and other consultant courses available through the Help Center.

If you are no longer serving as a family history consultant or do not want your contact information displayed in the Help Center to your local ward or branch members, contact FamilySearch Support.

Note: Consultants who live in European countries must contact FamilySearch Support to request that their contact information be displayed in the Help Center. If they do not do this, their contact information will not be displayed.

Sincerely,

FamilySearchSupport

U.S. and Canada: 1-866-406-1830

RETRACTION OF UTAH NFS INFORMATION

Don Hartman kindly informed me that Utah is not onboard with new Family Search. Sorry for the misinformation. Sections of Utah have been given roll-out dates. Some family history consultants are now onboard so that they can learn the program. We will provide a URL that will allow you to monitor information about the rollout in Utah:

Part of the delay is caused by the concentration of Latter-day Saints in this area and a desire to keep the servers from crashing.

Thanks to the Ancestry Insider Blogspot for the information.

ANCESTRY.COM HAS NOW POSTED OVER 8 BILLION RECORDS

We continue to laud Ancestry.com as a useful site to find genealogical information. Ancestry has now posted over 8 billion records. You can check out this site to see those most recently posted:

Ancestry Updated Records:

I hope that you can see this site even if you do not have a subscription. The records fall into a variety of categories, including the following:

Family Trees Birth, Marriage, and Death Records Censuses and Voter Lists Court, Land, Wills, Probate, and Financial Records Directories and Member Lists Reference Books Immigration and Emigration Records Military Records Newspapers and Periodicals Photos, Maps, and References Stories, Memories, and Histories African and Jewish Collections

Of all the sites that we use for genealogical research, this site has proved to be the most useful.

Recently as we taught a family history class, Jack used Ancestry to find ancestors for our class members. They were amazed at all the information that he was able to find on their families. On one family he was able to give the woman 17 pages of information on one family name. We love Ancestry.

TOP 25 MOST POPULAR BENEALOGY BLOGS

Taken from "The Ancestry Insider", Posted: 14 Apr 2009 11:05 PM PDT

  • About.com Genealogy (Kimberly Powell)
  • Eastman Online Newsletter (Dick Eastman)
  • Genea-Musings (Randy Seaver)
  • Creative Gene (Jasia)
  • DearMYRTLE (Pat Richely)
  • AnceStories (Miriam Midkiff)
  • Genealogue (Chris Dunham)
  • footnoteMaven (Anonymous)
  • Genetic Genealogist (Blaine Bettinger)
  • Tracing The Tribe: Jewish Genealogy Blog (Schelly Talalay Dardashti)
  • GenaBlogie (Craig Manson)
  • Olive Tree Genealogy Blog (Lorine McGinnis Schulze)
  • Steve's Genealogy Blog (Stephen J. Danko)
  • 24-7 Family History Circle (Juliana Smith)
  • nsylvaniandutch.blogspot.com/ TransylvanianDutch (John Newmark)
  • GenDisasters (Stu Beitler)
  • Genealogy Insider @ FamilyTree (Diane Haddad)
  • Think Genealogy (Mark Tucker)
  • California Genealogical Society and Library Blog (California Genealogical Society)
  • The Genealogy Guys (George G. Morgan and Drew Smith)
  • CanadaGenealogy, or, 'Jane's Your Aunt' (Diane Rogers)
  • Ancestry Insider (Anonymous)
  • GenealogyBlog (Leland Meitzler)
  • Ancestor Search Blog (Kathi)
  • Genealoge (Hugh Watkins) its a tie!
  • .legacynews.typepad.com/ Legacy News (Legacy Tree Software) its a tie!

QUESTION:

Some of my ancestors never married but had children. I can seal the children to the fathers but can I seal the spouses?

ANSWER:

Yes. A deceased couple who lived together as husband and wife may be sealed, even if the marriage cannot be documented. (source: nFS Help Center)

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New Family Search is rolling out in groups of stakes in Logan, Utah. Here's a page that will show progress as they roll it out in that district.

HOW TO GOOGLE YOUR SURNAME

Question: When using the Google search engine, is there a way to search for a surname and just get family history related sites?

Answer: Along with your surname, add ~genealogy. That is the word "genealogy" preceded by a tilde (~). This will yield results including terms such as ancestry, family, family history, family tree, genealogical, genealogists, roots, surname, tree, vital records, and others. If, when you do a search, you get several sites that you can identify a common term, such as president along with Lincoln, you can add -president to your search terms. This will eliminate any sites with the word president.

Source: Logan Family History Weekly Newsletter, April15, 2009

USE OF LIMITED RESOURCES