Family History Ideas

How to submit a name

16 Ideas under 20 Minutes

31…Ideas That Are Totally Doable

52 Stories–hints to help you write your personal history–one story a week

Start Indexing

Improve the accuracy of a Family Tree

20 Ways to Do Family History in 5 Minutes a Day

Link to FamilySearch on “Getting the Most out of RootsTech Connect 2021”:https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/rootstech-connect-2021-how-to/

Access the tools at RootsTech: https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/rtc2021

The New York Times article, “Stories That Bind Us”: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/fashion/the-family-stories-that-bind-us-this-life.html

Family Search Login Page: https://www.familysearch.org/

BYU’s Family History Technology Lab: https://fhtl.byu.edu/

BYU Record Linking Lab: https://rll.byu.edu/

The Family History Guide: https://www.thefhguide.com/

Elder Dallin H. Oaks June 1989 Ensign article “Family History: In Wisdom and in Order”: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/06/family-history-in-wisdom-and-in-order?lang=eng

Video Blessings of Temple and Family History: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2020-06-0020-temple-work-promised-blessings?lang=eng

Family Activities

1. Find ancestor(s) who need Temple ordinances and do them
2. Add photos, stories, documents, or audio files to the Memories section on my family tree
3. Take a family history class at the Family History Center
4. Check out and do some of the “Family History Activities” on the FamilySearch website:https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/family-history/family-history-activities?lang=eng or on the Family Tree App
5. Install and learn how to use the Family Tree app on a phone, tablet, and/or computer Start writing a family history (there are guides and booklets online)
6. Start writing a personal history
7. Digitize family histories, journals, diaries, etc.
8. Digitize and organize family photos and/or slides
9. Digitize audio recordings of family members and/or ancestors
10. Digitize video recordings of family members and/or ancestors
11. Post some of these digitized items on the FamilySearch Memories page
12. Set a goal as a family how many times per week, per month, or per year to attend the temple
13. Get DNA test done to find out where ancestors came from
14. Interview a living ancestor. Make a video recording of their stories (using available interview questions) 
15. Attend one of more Saturday Seminars at a Family History Library–when they resume again
16. Ask for help finding ancestors who need temple ordinances 
17. Ask for help with any other Family History/Temple activities
18. Learn what family history software is available, choose a program, learn to use it, and build a family tree.
19. Participate in Indexing for a certain amount of time each day or week. Do other Family History activities that you are interested in that are not listed here