Our primary goal is to inspire members of the Stake to catch the Spirit of Elijah by participation. We want you to develop a deeper love for your ancestors by continuing your direct line research beyond four generations. Most importantly, we want you to qualify yourself to go to the temple to receive the ordinances for yourself and then to receive them for those whose names you have sought out in your research.
Modern apostles, including David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, Neil L. Andersen, and Dale G. Renlund have promised many powerful blessings to those who participate in family history and temple service.
Usually a key to successfully discovering an ancestor is the easy searchability of online historical records. FamilySearch has introduced an exciting new online volunteer experience—Get Involved—to help with the process. Coupled with state-of-the-art handwriting recognition artificial intelligence, Get Involved promises to make billions more historical records more freely discoverable online—in a fraction of the current time.
Many members of the Church remember, or have heard about, the 4 Generation Program for family history. Some mistakenly think that if their aunt has submitted their 4 generation pedigree chart that their responsibility for family history is done. The 4 Generation Program ended in 1978 almost 50 years ago. So what is our current responsibility?
According to the current Church Handbook "Church members are encouraged to identify their deceased relatives who have not received temple ordinances. Members then perform the ordinances on behalf of those relatives."
If we assume that there are an average of 4 children in each family in your family tree out to 4 generations you would have 30 direct ancestors, but over a thousand relatives. And because there is no longer a limit of four generations your relatives could soon exceed hundreds of thousands of people. There is always more family history work to be done.
President Woodruff instructed the Saints: “We want the Latter-day Saints from this time to trace their genealogies as far as they can, and to be sealed to their fathers and mothers. Have children sealed to their parents, and run this chain through as far as you can get it. . . . This is the will of the Lord to his people, and I think when you come to reflect upon it you will find it to be true.”
Elder Neil A. and Sis. Andersen were joined by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland both of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. They share the stories of their childhood, the significance of family, and what it means to be united as God’s children.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can subscribe at no cost to the following premium online services. You can use one or all to make new family history discoveries. Check out the brief summaries below to get a quick idea. Select Join for Free to get more details and to sign up. Click on the Link to Members access page (below) to join for free.
Sometimes you find inspiring stories in your family.
Learn about some great women in Barbara Snider's family
Sometimes you have to be prepared for your relative's name to be misspelled.
Watch the fascinating story of Nimrod Emo!!
Service takes many forms.
Watch the fascinating story of Dwayne Ogzewalla!
The Gathering takes many forms.
Watch the fascinating story of Elder and Sister Duncan- Record Preservation Missionaries!