November 2022 Newsletter

 

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Burley Family History Center.   We are thankful for each of you for coming to the center.  And, so thankful for the wonderful assistants and consultants who so willingly help in many ways!  

Thanksgiving is a time of great reflection for most people.  A time to slow down a little and think about the many blessings we have all received.  Often those thoughts include family and friends and perhaps this wonderful community in which we are blessed live.  As we continue pondering, our minds often go to those who have gone before us and provided the path for us to be here today.  As those memories come to mind, it would be a great thing to record them and put them into FamilySearch for others to remember and relish those thoughts as well.   

To give one a jump start on that pondering, check out some of the thoughts or activities below.    

Thoughts and Activities 

#GiveThanks, President Nelson, November 2020

"Over my nine and a half decades of life, I have concluded that counting our blessings is far better than recounting our problems.  No matter our situation, showing gratitude for our privileges is a fast-acting and long-lasting spiritual prescription."

For the whole article and link to the YouTube video click here. 

The Value of Experiencing and Expressing Gratitude, Vaughn E. Worthen, Ph.D. March 2010.   

"Gratitude is a positive experience that comes from recognizing gifts or blessings and feeling thankful. It is also an attitude, a way of perceiving life, in which individuals are willing to receive and acknowledge the beneficial actions of others on their behalf.  Those who consistently display such an attitude are said to have a grateful disposition.  Gratitude is also a habit that can be cultivated, causing one to focus on the blessings of life.  Finally, gratitude can be defined as a coping response to challenging or difficult circumstances."

Check out the entire article here. 

Take a Gratitude Challenge - It was intended for the youth, but everyone could enjoy the activity. 

The Gratitude That Comes with Family History - A blog article from the Family History Guide

Family Reminiscing and Gratitude Journals - A blog article from Family Locket about helping children to give thanks as they remember. 

Center Happenings

1- Kids Class on Sunday November 13 from 4:00 -5:00 p.m.

Children…. sail away in your family tree at the Burley Family History Center, ages 3 to 10 (younger are invited with a parent).  Come discover places and collections.  There are many things to cheer about in your tree!  Bring Dad or a show-n-tell about dad, and remember….X marks the spot with a game of Dead or Alive.  Please call or text Trina Winn with questions, 208-242-6217.

2- November is the last month for classes in 2022.  We won't have any classes in December (except the Kids Class on December 11), so make an effort to come to the classes in November and get some tips about doing family history over the holidays.  Especially the Google Photos class on November 15 at 10:30 a.m. with some options for creating family photo books for Christmas.  And, the Memories App class on November 16 at 3:00 p.m. with ideas of capturing some family history as you gather with your families.  The center will still be open in December, but we don't schedule any classes that month.  

3- Mark your Calendars!  February 11, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The Burley Family History Center is sponsoring a Family History Expo.  We will have multiple classes and presenters throughout the day.  There will be something for everyone and all skill levels.  And, lunch will be provided.  Please help us spread the word to the whole community.  More information will be given as the event gets closer.  

4- We are excited to announce we are working on some community projects.  We are looking for ways to memorialize the people of our great community.  Some projects will include digitizing of photos and oral histories and adding them to FamilySearch.  Others will include working on unindexed databases from FamilySearch, ensuring no one is missed on the records.  Still others will have to do with local cemeteries and obituaries.   If you know of any projects that we could assist with, please reach out to us.  And, stop by the Center to see how you can help with these projects.  

5- We need your help!  One of the community projects involves the photographs from the Cassia County Historical Museum.  There are several hundred photographs without any names, dates, or places.  We are asking anyone who might be able to help identify the people, to please come by the Family History Center and ask to see the photo books.  Come anytime the Center is open.  

6- Happy Veterans Day on November 11.  In celebration, we are offering a class about Military Records on November 7 at 2:00 p.m. 

 

7- Fridays are youth days.  Not just for the youth to attend and be assisted by the youth, but for everyone to come and be assisted by the youth.  We have some great youth consultants who are willing and anxious to assist others in their family history endeavors.  The youth offer tours of the facility on the first Friday of each month.  We are also working on the community projects on Fridays.  Come see how you can help us, or we can help you.  We're open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Burley Family History Center will be CLOSED:

Monday, November 21st - Sunday, November 27th
for Thanksgiving

Please note: The Burley Family History Center will be open Tuesday evenings from 6:00 - 8:00 pm ONLY through November 15th.  After that date, the Center will only be open until 6:00 pm on Tuesdays until April 2023!

‘That’s my dad!’: The voice one baby boomer hopes to hear in the 1950 Census

Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

         LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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October 2022 Newsletter

"Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice"

General Conference 

Saturday, October 1st and

Sunday, October 2nd, 2022.

October is Family History Month

From Steven Anderson of FamilySearch.org, "Now that we are into the month of October and we all notice the trees turning color around us, it’s good to remember that this month also focuses on another kind of tree, our family tree.  October is Family History Month.

In 2001, Senator Orrin Hatch introduced a bill making October, Family History Month. Imagine that, an entire month dedicated to doing something to find and preserve the memories of our ancestors.  Senator Hatch wrote, "By searching for our roots, we come closer together as a human family."  Family history enthusiasts continue to celebrate Family History Month every October."

Let's not allow this month to pass by without a celebration.  How will you celebrate?

As you think of ideas, don't just focus on "doing" the traditional research, but how can you involve the living family members in this celebration.  Make it a family affair and make some great memories together!

1- Start your own life history.  We can help you accomplish this one story at time at the Burley Family History Center using our Recording Studio.  Imagine one 4-5 minute story at a time.  It's as easy as answering a simple question.  Bring the whole family and record a few stories together.

2- Interview your family members.  Use the FamilySearch Memories App to simply have them talk about changes they have seen in life or tell memories of their grandparents.  Whatever comes to mind.  Then upload to FamilySearch to share with your family.

3- Cook an ancestral homeland treat.  Did you know you can find some great recipes on our Discovery Screens at the Burley Family History Center?  The screens are fun for all  ages.  Come in and let us show you!

4- Check out our classes for October; there's something for everyone.  We will have a kids class again in October.  Bring your children or your grandchildren and enjoy the class together.  Click here to check the calendar: Class Calendar

5- Review your old photos or movies with your family.  Pick your favorite or organize them all.  Then bring those treasures to the Burley Family History Center and we will be happy to help you digitize them for ease in sharing with others, or posting onto FamilySearch.org 

None of these suit your "fancy" -  here's several other online options for tons of ideas:

History of it here on National Today

Ideas from Family Tree Magazine

Ezine Article- Doing Family History During your Lunch Hour

Crista Cowan from Ancestry offers some ideas

Family History Guide's Suggestions 

Genealogy Bank offers 20 Ideas

ThoughtCo. Offers Ten Options

Research Write Connect offers a 31 day challenge

Legacy Tree Genealogists list 8 ways to celebrate

Whatever you decide to do - make it a great time for all!  

The Burley Family History Center will be CLOSED:

Sunday, October 2nd - General Conference
Thursday October 13th and Friday October 14th - Carpet cleaning

Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

         LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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September 2022 Newsletter

 

Happy Grandparents Day - September 11, 2022

Grandparents Day is an official national holiday, the proclamation was signed by President Carter in 1978 and is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day.   In part the proclamation reads:

"Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us.  Whether they are our own or surrogate grandparents who fill some of the gaps in our mobile society, our senior generation also provides our society a link to our national heritage and traditions.

"We all know grandparents whose values transcend passing fads and pressures, and who possess the wisdom of distilled pain and joy.  Because they are usually free to love and guide and befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility for them, they can often reach out past pride and fear of failure and close the space between generations."

Take some time this year to celebrate your grandparents or your grandchildren.

If your grandparents are deceased, honor them by:

• Uploading a favorite photo of them to FamilySearch. 
• Adding a short story about your memories of them on FamilySearch.  If all your cousins would write just a short story about their grandparents, we could learn so much about our ancestors because each grandchild would have different experiences and memories of their grandparents. 
• Create a Facebook page to honor them.  Ask other family members to contribute by sharing photos and stories. 
• Learn about their homeland or ancestral lands.
• Make a dessert or meal from their family's country.

If your grandparents are living, ideas include:

• A personal visit, if they live close.  Maybe taking a card or special treat. 
• If they live far away, give them a call. 
• Ask them to share stories of their lives with you about when they were about your own age… you might be surprised how much more you have in common with them than you think. 
• Send them a card or letter expressing your gratitude for the things they have taught you.  They will treasure that card or letter for weeks, months, and years to come. 
• Record their stories on the Memories App.  In the future, you will treasure hearing their own voice telling you the story.

If you are the grandparents, think of what you can share with your grandchildren:

• Time is always the best thing to share with them. 
• A special dinner or treat. 
• Calling to read them a bedtime story if they live far away. 
• Sharing your testimony with them.
• Record a part of your life history for them to cherish in years to come. 
• Have a family fun night and play games or watch movies together.

Check out these websites for more great ways to celebrate:

https://grandparentsday.org/

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/grandparents-day/

More about the history of the day:

https://www.legacyproject.org/guides/gpdhistory.html

It's not just a holiday in the United States.  This wiki article lists other countries in the world who also celebrate grandparents day:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandparents%27_Day

The Burley Family History Center will be CLOSED:

Friday September 2nd, Sunday September 4th and Monday September 5th for Labor Day!

September Children's Event:

CHILDREN....you are invited to a family history event, Sunday Sept 18th, 4-5 p.m, ages 3-11 (younger are invited with a parent).  Come experience treasure, trees, fan charts, names, pedigree charts, bells, owls, music, games, show-n-tell, questions and an unforgettable cheer.  Bring a show-n-tell about you!!  Please call Trina Winn with questions 208-242-6217.  

Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

Fifth cousin three times removed?  What in the world does that mean?  Here's an article and chart to help you understand:

https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/cousin-chart

 

Jason Wright: What I learned writing about the 1950 census for FamilySearch

https://www.ldsliving.com/jason-wright-what-i-learned-writing-about-the-1950-census-for-familysearch/s/10901

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August 2022 Newsletter

 

A lot of things are happening at the center:

1-  Youth Days are continuing in August.  We have decided to try something a little different for the last two weeks.  On August 3rd and 10th, we are encouraging youth to bring a parent or a grandparent to the center.  The Discovery Screens will allow the youth to compare things of their time frame to those of their parent or grandparent.  And what would be better than doing some recordings in our Recording Studio?  These can be family history stories, but also includes options for sharing some time in just answering some fun questions.  So youth and parents, or grandparents, make plans now to spend some time with each other in our center on August 3rd and/or August 10th, 10 am to 6 pm.

2-  Evenings.  There has been a request for evening options.  We are excited to announce we are expanding our hours starting in September.  We will extend our hours on Tuesdays until 8:00 p.m.  No appointments necessary, we're just remaining open for an additional two hours.  As part of this, we will occasionally have some evening classes.  You can still book group appointments on Tuesday evenings for special groups, classes, or training.  Watch our calendar for the evening classes.

3-  Fridays.  We will also be open on Fridays from 10 am to 1 pm starting in September.   This will allow families to come to the center on Fridays when there is no school (at least in Minidoka and Cassia.  Valley students are welcome to come on Mondays!)  We will sometimes offer classes/activities geared toward the youth and youth consultants on staff for Fridays.   

4-  Learn more about our Memory Devices.  We can digitize about anything at our center - slides, negatives, photos, documents, 8 mm reel movies, VHS, VHS-C, Mini DV and 8 mm cassette movies, audio cassettes, and reel to reel audio.  We will be offering classes on how to use the memory devices at our center.  Classes will be held on a monthly basis with the topics rotating over a three month period.  We encourage everyone to come and see how easy it is to use our equipment.  Class members are encouraged to bring their own photos, slides, movies, etc. for some hands-on training as time permits.    It is not necessary to attend these trainings prior to using the equipment, just an option to come see how easy they are to use.  These classes will be repeated every three months.  Using these devices can save you hundreds of dollars in digitizing your items.  Memory digitizing devices can be reserved, though not necessary, by calling the center at 208-878-7286  

5-  Ward Consultant Training.  We have been offering Ward Consultant Training for the last two months.  As we know, not everyone can make it to the center to attend the classes in person, so we have been posting the basic information from the class (complete with the links) on our blog.  For those who don't have family history callings, but want some additional training options or great websites to check out, be sure to look at these posts as they contain the top ten links for the month!  So there's something for everyone on the consultant posts as well.  Just scroll down to see all posts on our blog.  And, see additional Consultant Helps and Training here.

6- Research Like a Pro.  We are starting another round of our Research Like a Pro class this fall and offering it in the evenings.  It's based on the book, "Research Like a Pro" and is about the research process more than how to use specific websites for research.  It is helpful to have the book prior to the class, as we refer to it often.  We do have a couple books at the center that can be used during the class.  The classes will be from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on August 23rd  September 20th, October 18th, and November 15th.  Each class builds on the previous class.  There are reading assignments and homework projects to work on for each class.  If you can't attend them all, you can keep up by completing the reading and homework assignments prior to the next class.  Please send an email to the center at id_burley@familyhistorymail.org to register for the class so we can get you on the special email list and send you the first reading assignment prior to classes starting.

Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

                                   Follow this link for:

Genealogy Made Easy: 17 Ideas under 20 Minutes

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July 2022 Newsletter

 

Happy Pioneer Day!

July is the month we honor the original pioneers; those faithful Saints who paved the way for us to enjoy the blessings of the gospel in our lives.  Many sacrificed much.  In return, they learned valuable lessons and received some treasured blessings.   

Francis Webster said of his experience, "I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other.  I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, 'I can go only that far and there I must give up for I cannot pull the load through it.'  I have gone to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me!  I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one.  I knew then that the Angels of God were there. 

"Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart?  No!  Neither then nor any minute of my life since.  The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company." 

Elder Ballard and Elder Walker share some pioneer stories.  Links to their speeches:

Pioneer Faith and Fortitude - Then and Now by Elder M. Russell Ballard 

Live True to the Faith by Elder William Walker

Click on the link pioneer campaign to see if you have pioneers among your ancestors.   See what you can learn about your own ancestors.  Although this site honors those who crossed the plains, it's important to remember not all pioneers did so as a Primary song reminds us:

You don't have to push a handcart, 
Leave your fam'ly dear,
Or walk a thousand miles or more
To be a pioneer!

You do need to have great courage,
Faith to conquer fear,
And work with might for a cause that's right.
To be a pioneer!

President Uchtdorf and President Monson have reminded us of the same thing:  

"What a joy and privilege it is to be a part of this worldwide Church and be taught, and uplifted by prophets, seers, and revelators!...  As the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is now being embraced around the world, we are all pioneers in our own sphere and circumstance." (President Dieter F Uchtdorf)

"A dictionary defines a pioneer as 'one who goes before, showing others the way to follow.'  Oh how the world needs pioneers today!" (President Thomas S. Monson)

We can all be pioneers in our own ways.  We can show others the path to follow.  We can live with great courage and faith.  We can work hard in righteous endeavors.  In doing so, we can be modern day pioneers.  We can change our lives and the lives of others, including our descendants.  That's all a part of the great work we were sent to earth to accomplish.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said,  "If we are faithful, the day will come when those deserving pioneers and ancestors, who we rightly praised for having overcome the adversities in the wilderness trek, will instead praise you, for having made your way successfully through a desert of despair, for having passed through a cultural wilderness, and having kept the faith, for having been true to the faith.  And yes, you will rightly go on praising them for what they did in their days, but one day, [they] including some of your ancestors, will praise you for having come safely home, through that cultural wilderness and that desert of despair."

What are you doing to fortify your faith and live worthy of the praise of these pioneers?

ATTENTION  YOUTH!   Want to learn more about your pioneer ancestors or about family history in general.   You are in luck!  Our youth program continues on Wednesdays from 10 am to 6 pm through August 10th.   Come for a few minutes or a few hours and be taught by our Youth Consultants.  Treats are served!

Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

The Burley Family History Center will be closed

Sunday, July 3rd and Monday, July 4th 

for the 4th of July!

Check these links for great ideas:

How to Preserve Newspaper Clippings

 Family History Writing Prompts

LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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