September 2023 Newlsetter

Happy Grandparents Day!

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.

This is a repeat from last year . . . have you done any of them yet?  If not, consider doing so now!

Ten websites to check out for other fun ideas and tips:

27 Ways to Find Ancestor Birth Records by The Ancestor Hunt

Quick Start Lessons for FamilySearch  Videos for all of the basic options on FamilySearch

Interview with Cyndi from Cyndi's List

BYU Record Linking Lab How To Videos 

My Heritage has a Photo Dater Estimator 

7 Research Tips for Unusual Last Names

RootsTech will be having a Family Recipe Contest - check out this website for more information about how to enter. 

How to Clean and Preserve Old Quilts

New York City Opens new Naturalization Databases

Blog about Resolving Conflicts on FamilySearch

Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

The Burley Family Search Center will be closed:

September 3rd and 4th for LABOR DAY!

LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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August Consultant Training- Person Page

 This month's topic is the Person Page.

A brief overview

• Top banner: Change the portrait photo (click on center of photo to change), view the family tree, and see your relationship to the individual, and follow/unfollow (receive notifications when changes are made on this person)
• About: A basic overview of the person showing family, memories, time lines and other interesting facts and historic context.
• Details: Add or edit vital information, add or edit family members and relationships, view research helps, search records including hints and potential data issues, see the latest changes, tools (possible duplicates, merges and printing).
• Sources: See what sources have already been added, attach new ones, and detach ones that don't belong.
• Collaborate: Leave notes and discussions about this person for others who use this information in the future. Notes can be deleted by others. Discussions cannot be deleted by others.
• Memories: See what photos, documents, stories, and audio recordings have already been uploaded about this person. Upload new ones if you have them.
• Ordinances: See the ordinance status of the person.

Additional helpful articles

How do I view the Person Page?

How do I change Vital Information?

How do I add in Vital Information?

How do I print Person Pages?

View Details - The Family History Guide

View Children and Spouses - The Family History Guide

Find and Recent Features - The Family History Guide

August Newsletter

Why you should be involved in family history? 

Here are a few reasons. 

Check out the links for tons of other benefits.

Draws family closer together.  "Never forget that family history - and the temple ordinances enabled by it - is an essential part of the work of salvation and that participation in this sacred work for the dead blesses the lives of the living.  It strengthens our faith in and commitment to the gospel, helps us resist temptation, draws our families closer together..." Quentin L. Cook   The Joy of Family History Work

Feel a great connection to ancestors.  "Researching your family history can help you to establish your own identity, embrace your culture and traditions, and help you to understand why you are who you are. If we research our ancestors, and learn about our past, we feel a greater connection to them."   Why Family History is Important?  from Family Tree Resources.

Pass down the meaning of life.  "Harvest the meaning of life and pass it down to the next generation through stories."  Joan Borysenko   60 Family History Questions to Ask Your Parents.

Eliminate the influence of the adversary.  "Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life?  Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them."  Richard G. Scott - Claim the Promises: Taking Family Names

Build bridges between generations of our families.  "My grandchildren will have no knowledge of their family's history if I do nothing to preserve it for them."  Dennis Neuenschwander.   Bridges and Eternal Keepsakes and Keep the Stories of the Family Heirlooms Alive. 

Roots.  "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots."  Marcus Garvey   Why We Need Family History Now More Than Ever.  

 Learn who you really are.  "Begin to unlock the knowledge of who you really are by learning more about your forebears."  James E. Faust   The Phenomenon that is You?

Courage.  "Remembering ancestors gives you courage."  Rachel J Trotter   The Power of Remembering

A healthier life and heal wounds.  "Exploring your family history can shed light on inherited physical and mental traits.  This knowledge can prove invaluable when it comes to understanding potential health risks and taking preventative measures."  klawrence on Exploring Your Roots.   Genealogy Research has 8 Profound Benefits

Feel a part of something greater than ourselves.  "When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us.  We feel part of something greater than ourselves."  President Russell M Nelson  Generations Linked in Love.

Resilience.  "This expanded sense of self is referred to as our intergenerational self, which not only groups an individual but also provides a larger context for understanding and dealing with life's experience(s) and challenges.  This connection across generations appears to contribute to resilience at all stages of life.  Martha Dreissneck   Studies that Prove Family History is Amazing.  RootsTech Presentation Studies that Prove the Benefits of Family History. 

Become a better you.  "Your ancestors' stories can shape you into a more grateful, happy, empathetic and compassionate version of yourself."  Chakell Wardleigh   5 Benefits of Knowing Your Family History

What's holding you back? 

Come to the center and see how we can help you.

Center News

1.  A New Class Offering.  How to Use FamilySearch in Missionary Work.  Started on July 16th and continuing through August 13th, Sundays 6-7 pm.  For more information click here.  

2.  Our Youth Program continues through August 10th, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 2-5 pm.  Short lessons each day at 2 pm with a focus on Community Projects at 3 pm.  These options aren't just for the youth, if something interests you, feel free to come and learn more.

3.  Family History Club (FHC) is meeting on Thursday evenings, 7- 8 pm.  Each week there is a lesson   or topic presented from 7:00 - 7:30, then time to work on your own family history.  Feel free to come and work at the center on your own projects during this time as well.  Come to those weeks with topics of interest to you, or come every week!

Activities to Do with Family

of All Ages This Summer

Click Here

Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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July 2023 Newsletter

Top reasons to come to the center....

• Get it done.  Many say, I can do my family history at home with all that the internet offers.  But, do you?  Or, does life get in the way with too many distractions?  Maybe by setting aside a time in your busy schedule to actually come to the center will help you get your family history work done.
• No idea where to start.  Come ask for ideas about finding a place to start.  Be it with memories, researching your ancestors, switching to descendancy research, or just learning more about your family.  
• Get assistance as needed.  From beginner to more advanced options, i.e., how to change a person's incorrect birth information or assistance in dealing with merges or separations.  Did you know we have research specialists in many areas?  Check out our Staff Speciality Page. 
• Ideas for dealing with a brick wall.  Maybe you've hit a brick wall and just need another set of eyes to look over your findings.  It's amazing what someone else can see when looking at your information. 
• Attend our classes to learn more skills.  Check out our calendar for classes from beginner to advanced options.  Everything from memories, to adding information, to editing information or relationships, consultant assistance, specific website helps, basic computer skills, etc. 
• Digitize your family memorabilia.  We have equipment to digitize just about any media: photos, negatives, slides, audio tapes and reels, 8 mm reel movies, VHS tapes,  miniDV tapes, 8 mm movie cassette tapes, etc.  For more information, check out our Digitizing Options Page. 
• Access to the FamilySearch Portal.  The portal allows you to access more than $400 worth of subscription-based websites for free.  Websites include: British Newspapers, Newspapers, Ancestry, Find My Past, My Heritage, American Ancestors, American Civil War, Fold 3, Kinpoint, Paper Trail, Puzzilla, and others.
• See our beautiful roses.  As shown in the photo above!

Top Ten Tips or Websites

Ancestry's New Features  You Tube Video about some new features for Ancestry

Using the Time Line Grid  Video class by Kathryn Grant

Is your Family History Ever Done? Video class by James Tanner

Compiled Family Histories and Genealogies on Ancestry  Video by Lisa Louise Cooke

15 Souvenirs for Family Reunions by Family Tree Magazine

Shocking Results!  Should you use AI Chatbots for Genealogy.  Podcast by Lisa Louise Cooke

Website Tour: HistoryPin by YouTube Sunny Morton (HistoryPin is a free resource for collecting, searching and sharing images and stories)

Ancestry Thrulines explained on Genealogy TV

Promised Blessings of Temple and Family History - Version 1

Promised Blessings of Temple and Family History - Version 2

Something to think about:

Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

The Burley Family Search Center will be closed:

July 4th

LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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June Consultant Training- Accounts

Creating and managing accounts on FamilySearch.org

Why do I need an account?   Anyone using FamilySearch must create a free account. 

What information do I need to create an account? 

    One can sign in with existing accounts:

        Google username and password

        Facebook username and password

        Apple ID username and password

        Church of Jesus Christ username and password

    One can create an account with the following information:

       Name

        Birthdate (must be over 13 years old; ages 8-12 may create with parental permission)

        Email or cell phone number to verify your account

Do I have to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to create an account?  No.  FamilySearch is open to everyone.  There are differences between what can be done/shown with the two account types.   Only members will see the information pertaining to temple ordinances due to the sacred nature of those things- this applies to the website and to the help section.  Additionally, only members can create the free partnership accounts.   Otherwise, everything is the same.  Anyone can create, edit, delete relationships, do sources and record hints, etc. on FamilySearch.   Anyone can add or edit the memories on FamilySearch. 

Do I need a separate login to use the mobile apps?   No.  

Other potential questions:

 How do I create a FamilySearch account? 

What are the rules for usernames and passwords?

How do I create a FamilySearch account using Google?

How do I create a FamilySearch account using Facebook?

How do I create a FamilySearch account using Apple sign-in or link existing accounts?

How do I sign into FamilySearch?

How do I create an account for a child?

Can I use the same email address for multiple accounts?

How do I help another person create an account?

How do I retrieve usernames and passwords?

Additional topic of discussion for this month.   Community Projects.                                       Click here for more info.

We are expanding our options for community projects at the Burley FamilySearch Center.    Topics include:

    1- Cassia Museum general photos

    2- Cassia Museum negative collection

    3- Find a Grave memorials in Cassia and Minidoka counties and Hazelton

    4- Censuses for Cassia and Minidoka counties (and parent counties)

    5- Magic Valley World War II newspaper clippings and bios

    6- Naturalization Papers for Cassia and Minidoka counties (and parent counties)

    7- Numident files for Cassia and Minidoka counties and Hazelton

    8- Obituaries for Mini-Cassia Area

    9- Oral Histories

This will be the focus of our summer program.  We will be featuring one of these projects on most of our Wednesday and Thursday afternoon 3:00 pm sessions.  Check out the calendar for specific dates.   Feel free to come and learn more about whichever projects are of interest to you.    

Limited information is available on the blog page about how to do these projects.   Some of the links are directly to the databases within FamilySearch.    Some of the links are to galleries created within the Community FamilySearch account.    Be sure to sign into FamilySearch prior to clicking on the links. 

Basically we are trying to attach the sources to the persons in FamilySearch- or creating new persons in FamilySearch to attach the documents if they aren't already in FamilySearch.  Care should be taken to only create persons born more than 110 years ago, or with documented death dates.    

June Newsletter

Our Summer Program isn't just for youth this year... 

All ages are welcome to come see how you can make a difference! 

Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 14 to August 10, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Our youth consultants have been doing basic training to be able to assist others whom might come into the center this summer, be it youth or adults. The learning will continue throughout the summer and everyone is invited to come and learn with them.   Lessons will be held on each Wednesday and Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Topics will include: using FamilySearch, memories, timelines, attaching record hints and sources, using Goldie May; also learning new websites like Puzzilla, Tree Sweeper, BYU Technology Lab, Record Linking Lab, and more!  Something for everyone! 

Additionally, at 3:00 p.m. each Wednesday and Thursday, we will be introducing and working on some community projects.  We are continuing to expand our options to include multiple databases and interests including: censuses, cemeteries, obituaries, naturalization papers, WWII memorials, photo attachments, and other databases in FamilySearch specific to our Mini-Cassia area.  Many of these community projects can be worked on from home following the basic training.   Come check out our projects and help us document all those who have lived in our communities.  

Check out the calendar for June, July and August to see which lessons and community projects are being highlighted on specific days.  

Groups are welcome to make appointments during these afternoons as well- come and be a part of our learning for the day, or schedule at 4:00 for other options. 

What will you do to make a difference this summer?  In your life and in the lives of others, including those beyond the veil.  The blessings of family history work are abundant.  Check these out for more details.

BYU Study- Adolescents Developing Healthy Identity and Why It Matters

BYU Study- Family History Can Improve Psychological Well-being of Young Adults

The Promised Blessings of Temple and Family History- Version One

The Promised Blessings of Temple and Family History- Version Two

Center News

Closing on Fridays: We will not be open any longer on Fridays.  Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.  

 Night Classes - Family History Club: There is a group starting on Thursday evenings by Jonathan and Jenny Shurtliff called the Family History Club. They will start meeting on June 1st from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Each week they will have an instructor present a lesson, or occasionally have a "Bring your own questions" and the group will work through the questions together. Feel free to join the club and attend each week to learn from one another. Or watch for the topics and attend those classes of interest to you.

Spanish Consultants:  Each 4th Sunday from 3 pm to 6 pm, we have Spanish speaking consultants available to assist as needed or with Spanish record translations.  Everyone is welcome to come in for personal assistance with their family history research. 

Community Projects: In addition to focusing on these projects on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, there will a class on June 6 at 5 pm to give an overview of the projects with instructions on how to become a part of these great projects.  

Things to Check Out

5 Minute Finds- 5 Things to do with Every Record by Ancestry

Daguerreotype, Ambrotype and Tintype: Telling Them Apart by Maureen A. Taylor 

Family History- Easy, Difficult or Impossible?  by Bob Taylor at Family History Guide

Why the Pennsylvania Dutch Aren't Dutch by James M. Beidler 

Tutorial: Find Records at the UK National Archives Website by Richard Simon John Wills  

Family History for Life: Guilt Free Approaches to Gathering Israel- Roots Tech Video 

Prevent the Spread of These Common Genealogy Errors by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack

Everything You Want to Know about Navigating FamilySearch Family Tree by Kathryn Grant

Getting Help for your Family History Research by James Tanner- Family History Guide

Fixing Sticky Problems in FamilySearch Family Tree by Kathryn Grant

Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

The Burley FamilySearch Center will be closed:

June 18th for Father's Day

LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILYSEARCH CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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May Consultant Training- Ward Plans and Organization

Ward Plans are the basis for all Temple and Family History Work in our ward.  Here's a short 3 minute video from RootsTech which explains Ward Plans.

Elder Renlund's 2019 RootsTech instruction clarifying of leadership responsibilities in the ward.

Link to his comments complete with slides. 

From the Handbook of Instructions, see Section 25.2.6 for more details.

"Each ward should have a simple temple and family history plan. This plan helps ward members, including children and youth, participate in family history work and prepare to worship in the temple as often as their circumstances allow.
"The elders quorum and Relief Society presidents help the ward council develop the plan. The ward temple and family history leader also helps. In developing the plan, they:

• Consider available needs and resources.
• Identify actions to take during the year.
• Determine how to implement the plan and make assignments accordingly.

"Examples of what the plan might include are listed below:

• Help members build their family trees on FamilySearch.org or with the FamilySearch Tree app (see 25.4.2).
• Involve new and returning members, youth, and children in family history work.
• Help specific members prepare to receive temple ordinances.

"The bishop reviews and approves the plan. Members of the ward council take the lead in implementing it. They report on progress in ward council meetings. They also update the plan as needed."

Other practical tips.

• Ideally the Ward Council should develop the plan.  But the committee might do well to make suggestions of possible areas of focus. 
• Make sure the whole ward knows the plan, so everyone can participate in it.
• It would be helpful if there are specific tasks for the Ward consultants to accomplish.  
• Suggested to have meaningful measurable goals.  Not just generalities or abstract ideas.   More concrete and measurable to see the progress. 
• Think outside the normal genealogical box.   Not just research based or temple attendance.   What else strengthens family relationships and our eternal covenants and connections?
• Could include goals for specific age groups or organizational goals.
• Could include specific ward activities, sponsored and supported by organizations, to get the whole ward involved.   Some wards are doing family history linger longers.  Some are using the 5th Sunday lessons for family history ideas.  Some are doing ward activities.  Some have family history talks presented on a regular basic in their sacrament meetings.  
• Plans can be changed as needed throughout the year or at least have an annual review. 

Sample Ward Plans

Ward Organization

Top Ten Websites or Tips

What is a 2nd cousin twice removed?  Free Family Relationship Chart

Help us advertise your summer youth program.  Flyers available for your buildings.  Or download from our google drive. 

Piecing Together Your Ancestor's Life Using Newspapers- interview by Lisa Louise Cooke

Presenting the Family History Guide to Wards and Stakes - by the Family History Guide

Do you know BYU-I Pathways offers a Family History Research Certificate?  Check it out here. 

Information about the BYU-I Pathways certificate by presented by Family History Guide. 

Honoring Mothers and Women in Genealogy- videos done by FamilySearch or posted here on  RootsTech scroll down to see this section

April DNA Days presentations by FamilySearch on RootsTech scroll down to see this section

News Story- DNA Reunion Project is using DNA to reunite Holocaust survivors and families

Crossing the Border: Finding your Immigrant Ancestor by James Tanner