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 Ward Consultant Training

 Topic-Basic FamilySearch Skills

Standardization of dates and places, adding information, editing information, and changing relationships.

Standardized dates: 

    31 December 2000 -- date, month spelled out and year in four digit.  FamilySearch will offer their standardized suggestions.    If you don't know the exact date, one may use: calculated, about, before or after.  Or use a range:  from 1870 to 1880.  Be sure to click on the standardized option offered by FamilySearch.

Standardized places:  

    Burley, Cassia, Idaho, United States -- City, County, State, Country (all spelled out).  For places outside of the United States, start with the smallest geographical area, and go to the country level.  Use the location at the time of the event.  Click on the standardized place offered by FamilySearch.  Check the drop down options to see what the geographic location was at the time of the event.

If the exact place isn't showing as a standardized place, it can be submitted to FamilySearch for inclusion.  Use this knowledge article for instructions.

Reason for Standardization:  

    Standardized dates and places improve the accuracy of the search, record hints, and duplicate features of Family Tree.  In some cases, the lack of standardization will affect the ability to complete the temple ordinances. 

Name Tips:

    Use the person's birth name or complete legal name. 

    Use normal capitalization. 

    If the person legally changed their name, show that name. (This does not apply to married names- always use the maiden name).  In this case, list the birth name  in the Other Information- Alternate Names. 

    If the person used another name for any reason, or had nicknames, add those into the Other Information- Alternate Names.

    Titles would include: Dr., Count, Rev.   

    Suffix would be Jr., Sr. III, etc. 

    Do not use: not named, unnamed, son, twin, mister, or wife as names.

    Do not use "or" to list two different names. 

    Do not use the following characters in the name field.   \ @ # $ % ^ & * = | ~ ? < > { } [ ] ( ) : ; 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

Changing Relationships:

    Couple Relationships apply to the connection of the spouses.  Five options are available:  Marriage, Divorce, Annulment, Common Law and Lived Together.  More than one can be used.   These are accessible by clicking on the pencil icon by the marriage date (or by the "no marriage events").  This opens the Couple Relationship pop up.  Click on "Add Event" to add a new event.  Click on pencil icon by event shown to edit that event.  One can also remove a spouse within the Couple Relationship pop up.  Click on Remove or Replace under the spouse.   Facts, Sources, and other notes can also be added to the relationship in this pop up.  

    Parent- Child Relationships apply to the connection of the child to the parent.  Five options are available:  Biological, Adopted, Guardianship, Foster and Step.  To edit the parent relationship, click on the pencil icon by the child's name listed under the parents.  This will open the Parent-Child Relationship pop up box.  The father or the mother can be removed or replaced, or the child can be removed from both.  Relationship types can be added to either the father or mother.  Sources and notes can also be added to parent-child relationship.  

Note: Persons may be shown in multiple couple relationships and in multiple parent-children relationships. One may select a preferred relationship, this will allow all charts and views to show the preferred relationships.  To do this- use the "Set Preferred" option at the bottom of the Family Member Section. 

Changing relationships will delete the persons incorrectly connected to your family in Family Tree.  My personal tip-- Be cautious when using this option as to not create persons without any family relationships. Try to, if possible, make sure the person you are deleting from your family is connected to their correct family members.   

Options to learn more about adding and editing information. 

Adding and Correcting Information on FamilySearch for LDS by Kathryn Grant     

Editing Facts and Relationships in FamilySearch - BYU Family History Tutorial  

Changing Information in FamilySearch - The Family History Guide

Note: These videos/websites use the old person page and so the screenshots will not match those shown on the new person page.   All editing options on the new person page can be done by clicking the pencil icon by the section one is wishing to change. 

Ten Top Tips and Websites

1- Temple and Family History Leaders can use the Leadership and Clerk Resources to send out emails to members in their wards (or Stakes).   Sign into your account on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.  Go to the nine dots by your name and select "Leadership and Clerk Resources".  Then click on "send a message" and select to whom you wish the message to be sent.  Type in the message and send it out to everyone selected.

2- There is a new training guide for Burley Family History Center.  The old one is outdated due to the changes in the home page and person page recently implemented on FamilySearch.  The new training guide is accessible on a link from the homepage of the Burley Family History Happenings blog.

3- Working with Hidden Gems on FamilySearch  YouTube video by James Tanner

4- Boost Your Brain Power 2- Avoiding the Same Name Trap by Kathryn Grant

5- 25 Best Websites for Beginners  by Family Tree Magazine

6- Hidden Meanings of Gravestone Symbols  

7- Canadian Records and Sources by Genealogy.com

8- How a Research Log will Transform your Research  by Family History Daily

9- 5 Things Every Genealogist Should be Doing by Family History Fanatics

10- Reverse Hints on FamilySearch

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

         LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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August 2022 Ward Consultant Training

 Topic from the month: New Person Page

Person page Knowledge Article

The Family History Guide Newsletter about the New Person Page

YouTube Video about the New Person Page 

• 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. 

Top Ten Websites to Check Out

Find Fun Family Recipes in Newspapers.com By Lisa Louise Cook

Ancestry's New Photo Scanning Options a YouTube video showing how to use your phone to crop, edit, scan, colorize and enhance your photos.   Thanks to Sue Egbert for sharing this great option. We will have a class on this in the future. 

How to write a family history report

Southern Colonial Research- Maps and the Law  By Diana Elder

History Resources for England Counties on The Family History Guide

16 Records for Identifying Ancestor's Hometown

10 Best Websites for Italian Research

Using Tree Search on Find My Past   Warning- always view others trees as "clues" unless they have sources attached. 

Ancestry.com Series #3- Searching and Adding Information and Sources - by Nancy Busby.  She had four videos in this series, they are all available on BYU Family History Virtual Class Archive

Christmas Gifts by Marilyn Thomasen. It's not too early to start on some Christmas gifts. There is a handout with this video. 

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

         LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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July 2022 Ward Consultant Training- Navigation and Help

Monthly Topic- Navigation of Family Tree and Using Help Options

Home page views-

The Family History Guide Basic Navigation  

Family Search icon is the magic home button.   Clicking on the FamilySearch icon in the upper left hand corner will always return one to the home page. 

There is a new home page, if you haven't been migrated to the new one yet, you will be.  Or you can manually choose to view it now. 

Basic tabs at top are the same.

Family Tree-  access to the Family Tree- one big open edit tree we are all sharing

Search- look for records

Memories-  quick link to Memories section- showing memories you have uploaded and all of those connected to ancestors in your tree

Get Involved-   the indexing and name review options including the 1950 census

Activities-  options to learn more about you and your family using information gleaned from FamilySearch

Temple- place to reserve names using Ordinance Ready or to view names you have reserved, also links to view completed temple ordinances for those you have reserved.

New Options- 

Friends - place to create mini Facebook like groups to share information and temple reservations

Tasks- recommended records to be attached or persons needing temple work

Recents- quick link to last 50 persons you viewed in the tree

A section with your yearly contributions.  One showing recently uploaded memories to your ancestors.  

Shortcut to Ordinance Ready and notice the new option to schedule a temple appointment from the home page.  Note: Twin Falls is not requiring appointments, but is still recommending you schedule one. 

Another Search Option for all collections, another view of recommended tasks and another option to see most recently viewed in Family Tree. 

Different tree views- 

The Family History Guide- Different Views

1- Landscape- basic horizontal pedigree with both person's and spouse's lines showing- only show 4 generations, can open one ancestor's line at a time

2- Fan Chart- only shows person's line (options to filter for birth country, stories, sources, etc.)- can show 7 generations and can move anyone to the center to get more generations on that line

3- Descendancy- shows the descendants of the person (options to add more generations up to down the tree)  It is helpful to turn off the portraits to see more people on the same screen.

4- Portrait- vertical pedigree with photos of ancestors showing (if no photos, make sure the portraits are turned on)

5- First person- vertical pedigree from one ancestor- used mostly for clan genealogies (Korean and Chinese)

Using Help  and Communities- 

The Family History Guide- Help

The question icon at the top of every page is a "help" option for that page.  So it will appear differently on each page from which you access it. And the knowledge article appear differently for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, so make sure you are signed up prior to clicking on the icon.  The top options will apply to the page from which you accessed the help section.   From there one can go to the Help Center or the Community to get further assistance.   Also links to Contact Us  (to call or schedule a chat with FamilySearch)  and Helper Resources (more on this in a future class).

For Help Center-

    1- Search tip on Help Center- less information is better.   Use only a few keywords (one or two) to start the search, then use the related articles to assist in narrowing things down. Open related articles in new tabs as to not loss the original search results.

    2- Can go into a specific topic and check the links from there

    

For Community- 

    1- You must sign in there again (same username and password)

    2- You can join groups or just search for answers or ask questions

    3- Can search globally or within categories

    4- Before asking a new question-  use the search option to see if someone else has already asked a similar question.

    5- Beware anyone can answer the questions, so use answers without knowledge documents (or supporting links) with caution.

    6- Suggest an idea is a place to suggest new things or changes you would like to see added to FamilySearch.  Again use the search option to see if the suggestion has already been made. 

This Month's Top Ten Websites to Check Out:

1- Daughters of the American Revolution Website- See if you can find your ancestor in their database.

2- Revolutionary Records on FamilySearch 

3- Rule Six- Records Move - James Tanner explains how paper records moved from one locality to another in this YouTube video.

4- Using PERSI Like a Pro - by Lisa Louise Cook, a video and article

5- FamilySearch.org- 10 links you have to use - Devin Ashby.  You will probably be surprised about some of these links on FamilySearch. 

6-  FamilySearch Discoveries in Minutes- Devin Ashby  Family History doesn't have to take hours, see what you can do in a few minutes. 

7- Summer Activities from The Family History Guide

8-  Ward Temple and Family History Plans-  Handbook and short video.

    Also check out our page with sample plans.  

9-  BYU Family History Webinars -hundreds of options for every skill level and interest

10-  RootsTech 2023  Live and Virtual! March 2-4, 2023

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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