A Complete Beginner's Guide to Family History

We are all curious where we came from.
It is a crucial part of who we are - the cultures, traditions, even the genetics that contribute to our overall being!
But it is more than mere curiosity - the prophet Malachi spoke of the hearts of the children being turned to their fathers before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Malachi 4:5-6). Many people - in and out of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - are feeling that turning of their hearts.
There are many reasons why to do Family History. Here are a few great sources to learn more about why you should get involved:
True to the Faith - Family History Work
Video: Baptisms for the Dead
President Eyring - Hearts Bound Together
Article: Family History Work
Video: Why Family History Work


But today, my focus is on teaching you HOW to get started.

So let's get to it!

One

Create a FamilySearch.org account. This will give you access to millions of records absolutely free of charge, and can be done even if you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Here's how to do it:

1. Visit https://familysearch.org/register/  and fill in the required information
2. When you get to this question, you will notice a box pops up if you click "yes" asking for your membership record number (MRN). If you do not know it, just click the checkbox to remind you later. You can obtain this from the clerk at your Church building (his office is usually right next to the Bishop's office).
   
3. Agree to the terms and click "create account"
   
4. Activate your email so that you can recover your password/username if lost
   

Two

After completing the registration process, you will be brought to the home screen. Notice my name, "Jason Foote", at the top right. You should see your name there; it means you're logged in!

There are a few important parts of FamilySearch's website that I will briefly describe.

First, "Family Tree"

This icon, at the left of the navigation bar, will bring you to a collaborative family tree that all FamilySearch users work on together. Unlike websites like Ancestry.com where individuals work on their own family tree, FamilySearch has a collaborative tree that anyone can add to or change - sort of like Wikipedia.

That being said, it is easy to see why it is important to be VERY careful about changes that you make to this tree. Be sure to follow the law of witnesses - to have 2 or 3 sources to support a change that your are making.

Second, "Search"

This is the middle icon on the navigation bar. Family history is like a puzzle. "Family Tree" is like the table where we are all putting the pieces together. "Search" is the box full of pieces that we are pulling out, trying to find what we are looking for to complete our part of the puzzle. "Search" is where you can find census records, marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, etc. These records may or may not be connected to the collaborative "Family Tree" yet. As volunteers digitize more and more records, there are more and more pieces available to complete the puzzle.

Third, "Temple"

As you find the names of deceased family members, you can reserve their names and print off ordinance cards to perform vicarious ordinances for them in the House of the Lord. Again, I will refer you to the sources above for more information about the marvelous work of the Temple, and will simply share my conviction that it is of God. The Spirit is strong in the Temple.

Note: Temple only appears if you register as a member of the Church.

Three

"Family Tree" is a collaborative tree of those who have already passed on. So, the most important first step is to get any information you can about your living family members. Also, get any information you can about your closest ancestors who have passed on from your living family members. As you obtain this information, you can enter it into "Family Tree", the collaborative tree.

Note: Living persons (such as you... obviously you are living) CAN be entered into FamilyTree, but they are only visible to you.

How to add to the collaborative "FamilyTree"

1. Click on the "FamilyTree" icon at the top navigation bar.
2. After doing this, you will see an additional row of buttons appear
   
3. You also should see this dialog box. I HIGHLY recommend viewing the training. This is intended as a supplement to and not a replacement for the awesome resources already available.
   
4. After viewing the training, click on "Start Here" from the window above. If the dialog window did not open, click here for the training and here for "start here"
5. You will be redirected to a page where you can enter all the information about your living relatives, starting with your father. Enter whatever information you would like to contribute to the family tree. Click "save" after entering the information or "skip" if you choose not to enter information for that person at this time.
   Remember that living persons are private and not visible to others, but those who are deceased will be added to the collaborative tree and others can search for and see the information you contribute!
   
   When you get to grandparents, be careful and make sure you add information about the right grandparent (mother's side vs father's side)

   

   Also, don't hesitate to take advantage of the "live chat" option (left side of screen) to help you with any questions you may have.

   
   

   
6. After you finish entering all of this information about parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, you should see this window:
   

Four

Great work! You've got your account set up and basic information about your family into the Family Tree. 

There are SO many different directions that you could go from here that we will do a "choose your own adventure book" instead of trying to shove everything into one blog entry.

So what are you looking to do?

Find information about a specific ancestor

Find out more about my ancestors in general... I don't know much about them and want to learn more.

Find the name of an ancestor who I could do Temple work for.

I hope this blog has been helpful. Please share any comments or questions below.

Why did the destroying angel pass by?

Each Sunday, I have the privilege to partake of the sacred emblems of the Sacrament representing the body and blood of Christ, and to ponder that magnificent sacrifice. This week, my thoughts turned to Passover and the promise of a Messiah.

I thought of the circumstances of the first Passover, when the Lord commanded His people to kill a lamb and paint their doorpost with its blood.
The destroying angel came that night, and passed by the homes with the lamb's blood on the door. In the homes without blood on the door, the first born son's life was taken.

This story is so rich with imagery and symbolism. Of the many things I could focus on, I want to discuss just one - why did the destroying angel pass by those homes?

It was the blood.

It was not the righteousness of the family who lived inside. It was not how hard they worked or how nice they were to their neighbor. It was not how forgiving they were.

It was the blood of the lamb.

God commands us to be righteous, to work hard, to forgive, etc. He asks us to keep His commandments.
And we cannot be saved without it, just as the Israelites could not be saved without obeying the Prophet's command to put the lamb's blood on their door.

Temporal salvation for the Israelites merely required applying the lamb's blood to their door; eternal salvation for all of us requires more - we must apply the Lamb's blood into our lives! We must use His Atonement to repent, overcome our weaknesses, and become like Him.
To accept Him and apply His blood means more than lip service - as Paul said, we must write His law "in the fleshy tables of the heart" (2 Corinthians 3:3).

But ultimately, it is the blood of the Lamb that makes us acceptable before God.

In a prophecy given through Joseph Smith, the Lord described the Final Judgement, where He will act as our advocate with the Father. Notice the "evidence" that the Lord gives in support for our being saved:

"Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life."

Doctrine and Covenants 45:4-5

The Lord is our advocate, and it is through His blood that we are saved, but we must cover our lives with His blood as the Israelites covered their door in order to be saved. 

I am so grateful to Jesus Christ for descending from His Throne above to rescue me. He paid the highest price imaginable to redeem my soul - the blood of the Lamb of God.

A Life More Abundant

After 20 minutes in a small bus jammed to overflowing with passengers, I tapped the man who had taken my 20-cent fare and told him this is where we got off. I was tall by Central American standards, and squeezing past everyone took a little bit of time. 

Once the bus came to a stop and I got my feet on pavement, I could stretch out and breathe. My missionary companion exited behind me, and we began the walk down the dirt path to visit Vicenta Rodriguez.

Vicenta was 25 years old and lived with her brother, Neftali, and her elderly mother. Her other brothers frequented the house, but were involved in the pandilla - the gang- and we never met them. As we sat and talked with her, we asked her how job at the warehouse was going. She told us about her long hours and said that, despite the fact that the pay was low, she was grateful to have a job when so many others did not.

I asked her how much she made a week, and quickly calculated that she was paid less than 50 cents an hour for her work.

50 cents an hour! 

And I thought my $8 an hour job was low paying! I couldn't believe it.

I met many people during my 2 years in El Salvador who lived in depths of poverty that were beyond my imagination. Many in our world today - poor or rich - have opportunity to ponder this profound question: 

What is the purpose of this life anyway?

Why are we here? To be born, to work ourselves to death, to suffer hardships and sorrow, and then to die?

During this past week, I was deeply touched by these moving words from the Savior of Mankind, Jesus Christ:

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

John 10:10

As we follow our Savior Jesus Christ, our life becomes abundant. It becomes more than a job, more than "one more day". It becomes meaningful.

Following Christ does not mean we will be freed from poverty; In the Old Testament, Job lost all..

Following Christ does not mean we will not suffer; The Apostles counted themselves fortunate to suffer for Christ's sake (Acts 5:41).

But, following Chris does mean that life will be abundant. 

It does mean that, despite our challenges and trials, God will not forsake us (Matthew 28:20).

It does mean that the grace of God may be extended to us to help us carry our burdens (Hebrews 4:16)

Following Christ, and losing our lives as we serve Him, means that we will find our lives and find true joy in living (Matthew 16:25)

Jesus Christ descended below all things so that He can lift us above all things. 

He conquered the world - conquered sin and death - so that He can help us to overcome all things (Doctrine and Covenants 88:6)

"He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."

Mosiah 16:9

He is the Savior of all mankind. May we come to Him, keep His commandments, and experience an abundant life.

Photo credit: Tyler Foote

The Sweet Truth About Repentance

Jesus Christ died for our sins. This is true. But He did not die so that the wicked could enter heaven. He died so that the wicked may become righteous.

He died so that we (who are ALL sinners) can be freed from the shackles of sin - free to change and grow and improve.

He died so that - with His help - we can cease to be wicked and learn to be righteous.

That change is repentance.

Photo Credit: Tyler Foote

When Jesus Christ died for us on the Cross, he did more than just die for our sins. He suffered for them. He paid for them. Just as there are consequences for crimes in our earthly systems of justice, there are consequences for sin in the heavenly system of justice. Christ paid the price for each and every sin committed by each and every child of God. He took the consequences upon Himself - He served our term in prison, as it were.

He did this so that we may be released from our burden to pay the price and to serve our time in "spiritual prison", if we will repent.

However, modern scripture assures is that if we do not repent, we must suffer, even as Christ suffered, for our sins.

" 16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that theymight not suffer if they would repent;

 17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

 18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

 19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook andfinished my preparations unto the children of men."

~Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19

To repent is more than just to overcome a bad habit. To repent is to be cleansed from our sins, having them washed out by the atoning blood of our Savior and Redeemer.

Once we have repented, the stain is gone. The sin is forgotten. The deed is paid or and put away and never remembered again between us and God.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

~Isaiah 1:18

Photo credit: Christina Foote

The Good News is...

When the angel appeared to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem, he announced good tidings of great joy; he announced the birth of the Savior of mankind.

That singular event - the birth of Jesus Christ - began a life of service and devotion and salvation. Because of Christ and His Atonement, the way has been prepared for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven.

The good news that the angel announced was His Gospel - the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Greek account uses the word "evangelizomai", which is translated as "good news"

It is derived from euaggelizo, which can be broken down into

eu and  aggelos

……………….……………….……………….……………….……………….……………….

Eu means good

Aggelos means angels

What are angels?

Messengers for God.

The words of Alma come to mind - "O that I were an angel." His desire is to proclaim the Gospel as if with the trumpet of an angel.

And what is the good thing or good message that these angels announce?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Interestingly enough, euaggelizo is the root of another word we often use.

To evangelize is to preach to or to declare good tidings.

In Spanish, evangelio is translated in place of the English word, gospel.

What is the Gospel?

It is to declare the good message of Christ.

Missionary work is the Gospel.

It literally is the heart of the Gospel. The center. The soul.

Mosiah 18:22
 22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God.

Images used from lds.org

Christ is Not Just a Benevolent Bystander

When the Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray, He gave them a model to follow. We often refer to it as the Lord's prayer. Many Christians can recite this beautiful prayer from memory. There is much that it can teach us about God and what our communication should be with Him.

As I studied this powerful prayer, I came to a phrase near the end that taught me a powerful lesson about Christ.

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," the Lord said (Matthew 6:13).

The Greek word used for "deliver" is ῥύομαι (rhoumai), which means "to rescue." 

But it means more than that. 

Strong's concordance, a well-known biblical resource, defines rhoumai further as meaning:

"to draw to oneself"

"to snatch up"

"to rescue a person to and for the deliverer"

"to deliver someone to and for the rescuer"

As I read these definitions, I imagined a family outing by a fast-flowing river. I imagined a struggling, drowning child, and an anxious group of onlooking adults unsure of how to save her from the fast-moving water. 
I then imagined a benevolent bystander who happened to be an excellent swimmer diving in and rescuing the child.
He did not know the child. He did not love the child. But he was a good person who wanted to do what was right.

This is a beautiful and noble act, but it is not what the word connotes.

Christ rescues us to Himself.
He is the one who is most concerned for our safety and salvation.
He plunges into the water out of pure love for us. He ignores any danger. He gives His life in order to rescue us.
He is not just a benevolent bystander.
He is our Savior, who saves us to Himself because He loves us more than anyone else.

Mount Sinai Renewed

Last weekend, I had a marvelous experience. In the midst of my busy semester and busy life, I was able to slow down and have an experience analogous to that of the children of Israel at Mount Sinai.

Just as their prophet, Moses, brought down the word of God and shared it with them, our prophet, Thomas Monson, delivered to us the words that God would have us know.

But not just him.
















The Twelve Apostles also addressed the worldwide church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

These men, just like the 12 Apostles of Christ's ancient Church, are called to preach the Gospel to all the world. They hold the same authority given to Peter, James, John, and all of the ancient Apostles by Christ Himself.

How do Thomas Monson and these Twelve Apostles claim to have that same authority?
How could it be on the earth again?

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that "no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron" (Hebrews 5:4).

Aaron received his authority from Moses, the Prophet.

Who did these men receive their authority from?

In 1829, Joseph Smith was visited by the leading authorities of Christ's ancient Church - Peter, James, and John - and given the authority which they held, in order to renew Christ's Church today.

That authority has been passed down in an unbroken chain of prophets, from Joseph Smith to Thomas Monson.

Mount Sinai is a thing of the past. But Prophets are not! God loves us today. He continues to send His prophets.
The words of God's prophet today, Thomas Monson, and the Twelve Apostles, are available.
Study them.
Ask God if they are truly prophets, for "by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:15-16).

Here are their words

And here are a few of my favorite excerpts

"...are you the same person wherever you are and whatever you are doing—the person our Heavenly Father wants you to be and the person you know you should be?"
-Thomas Monson

"As you pray and serve others, your knowledge that you are a child of God and your feelings about Him will grow. You will become more aware that He is saddened if you are dishonest in any way. You will be more determined to keep your word to God and to others."
-Henry Eyring, Apostle

"There are countless ways technology can distract you from what is most important. Follow the adage “Be where you are when you are there.” When you are driving, drive. When you are in class, focus on the lesson. When you are with your friends, give them the gift of your attention. Your brain cannot concentrate on two things at once. Multitasking amounts to quickly shifting your focus from one thing to another. An old proverb says, “If you chase two rabbits, you won’t catch either one.” "
-Randall Ridd, leader of Young Men in the Church
"At times we may be tempted to practice what I call “natural man’s obedience,” in which we disobediently reject God’s law in favor of our wisdom or our desires or even popularity."
Robert Hales, Apostle

"Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet"
Jeffery Holland, Apostle