January 2023 Newsletter

Extra! Extra! Exciting News!

We are pleased to share more information about our expo. February 11, 2023, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Burley West Stake Center, 2420 Parke Ave, Burley. The theme is Turning Hearts. President Harris, the Twin Falls Temple President, will give a presentation "Turning Hearts - A comprehensive look into the scriptures describing the restored keys of Elijah and our role in gathering all of God’s children for the coming days." There will be over twenty classes offered throughout the day, with the opportunity to attend up to six classes of your choice. Options include all skills levels and interests in several different family history areas. Come for an hour or stay all day, whatever fits your schedule and interest. There is an event website what contains more specific information about the expo and the classes being offered. Check it out. Burley Expo

A pulled pork lunch will be provided to those who RSVP prior to February 1st. In order to ensure we have enough food, RSVP’s are required. To RSVP go to the event website link above and click on the RSVP link there. Lunch will be available from 11 am to 1:30 pm, so you can choose which time fits with your interest of classes available. If you prefer to bring your own lunch or snacks, please feel free to do so. There will be tables set up in the gym all day.

The gym will be a hub of activity, in addition to the luncheon, we will have some live music playing throughout the day. The gym will also be lined with booths with various opportunities to learn more about the Burley Family History Center digitizing options, the progress of the Burley Temple, chat with the missionaries, a question and answer booth run by some consultants from the center, and options to learn about other projects and opportunities within the community to further family history work. We will also have a drawing for some DNA kits, umbrellas and toy pioneer replicas for participating in a QR scavenger hunt throughout the day. Fun for everyone!

This will be a great option to jump start those New Year’s Resolutions that relate to doing more family history work in 2023. Mark your calendars, invite your friends and RSVP if you plan to have lunch with us.

Center News

January class calendar is full.   Classes being offered several times a week with new options this month. Highlighting just a few of them.

Children's Class on January 15 at 4:00 p.m. taught by Trina-  Children.... there is someone moving around in your family tree.  Who's footsteps could those be?  Come to the Burley Family History Center, Sunday, January 15th from 4- 5 pm, ages 3-10 (younger are invited with a parent.)  It will be a day to discover Grandpa and treasure boxes filled with promised blessings!  Take home an owl that will keep you  cheering on your family tree.  Bring Grandpa or a show-n-tell about Grandpa.  Call or text Trina Winn with your questions.  208-242-6217  

Note: This is the the end of a five part class.  Trina is available to teach this class whenever another group (or family) wishes to have another set of classes.  Just contact her for more information. 

How to find unindexed images on FamilySearch- taught by Shaura - January 31 at 10:30 a.m.

Consultant Training classes are January 17 at 7 p.m. and January 24 at 2 pm.   The topic this month is Memories App.  Please have the app downloaded and be logged into your account on your device prior to class.  Note: the FamilySearch Memories app is not the same as the FamilySearch Family Tree app.  These classes are taught by Tammy.  Note: If one is unable to attend, check out the blog for the outline of the meeting including at home learning options and the monthly top tips and tricks links. 

Our Research Like a Pro class is starting again on January 18 at 10:30 a.m.  This is a hands on intermediate research class taught by Shaura and Tammy.   We meet once a month for 4 months with specific homework assignments each month.   It's based on Diana Alder and Nicole Dyer's book "Research Like a Pro."  This is not how to use specific websites, but how to follow a research process.   Because all of the homework and assignments are google docs, there is a google prep class for it in the January 10 at 10:30 a.m. to familiarize class members on how to use google drive and docs.  

   Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

Top Websites or Videos to check out during January

Family History Fanatics shared a presentation about 10 Little-Known Free Genealogy Websites Professionals Use

Legacy Tree Webinars recently had Devin Ashby from FamilySearch share 5 More Links You Have to Try at FamilySearch

Kathryn Grant presented a class on Understanding the new Home Page and Person Page on FamilySearch- check it out.

Back to Basics with Marriage Records- Part One - Marriage Bonds by Nicole Dyer

Family Tree Magazine published an article about Witnesses and Bondsman which might be helpful with some of those brick walls

Looking for a new productivity tool for your family history. Check out Notion. Family Tree Magazine has an article explaining what it is and how to use it.

9 tips to writing your own family history story by the editors at Family Tree Magazine.

Check out our blog for updates links to more community projects. Burley Family History Center Happenings- Community Projects. Including new links to the albums on FamilySearch with some of the negatives recently digitized from the Cassia County Historical Society Museum's collection. See if your family is included in their collections.

Just for some fun watch this little video by Ancestry- Pentatonix’s Holiday Family History SHOWDOWN | 2 Lies & A Leaf® | Ancestry®

Another fun and simple option of sharing family connections

On November 29, 2022, Jolene Hunsaker (Rupert 5th Ward) posted the following on her family's Facebook group:

"Dear Family:

I would like to share a story and issue a challenge.

My great-grandparents were Thomas and Phoebe Watts Jones. They lived in Hooper, Utah, with their 12 children. Their eighth child was my grandma Alice Louise Jones Smith.

In the winter, Thomas, along with three work crews, would saw ice from a fresh water pond. The ice was shared with the crew, as needed, and the rest sold to the local mercantile.

When the town had a celebration, Thomas and Phoebe would use some of their ice to make ice cream. They did this with a horse-powered ice cream freezer. Thomas and Phoebe were very popular at parties!!!

So here is the challenge: Together with your family, make home made ice cream as part of your Christmas celebration. The horse is optional!

Well ok . . . if you have no way to make ice cream, you can buy it and share the story with the family.

I would love to hear from you when you've completed the challenge."

What a simple, wonderful way to share a piece of family history!

 The Burley Family History Center will be CLOSED:

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 - Tuesday, January 3, 2023

for Christmas and New Years! 

         LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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December 2022 Newsletter

'Tis the Season

'Tis the season for what?  The season of gladness and cheer.  The season of happiness and joy.  The season of goodwill and love of fellowmen.  The season of thanks for our many blessings.  The season to celebrate the birth of our dear Savior.  As President Nelson has said, "The life of Jesus Christ neither began in Bethlehem nor ended on Calvary's cross.  He was a God before He ever came to this earth.  He was the Jehovah of the Old Testament and became the Christ of the New.  He atoned for the sins and sorrows of all mankind in Gethsemane and completed His ultimate sacrifice on a cross at Calvary.  He rose again the third day in glorious resurrection.  The ending of His mortal life was the beginning of eternal hope and happiness for each of us.  He lives!  And He loves us more than we can comprehend. Jesus the Christ stands ready to help, heal and strengthen each of us in His divinely commissioned way.  At this Christmas season our thoughts turn to this babe born in Bethlehem.  I urge you to seek this Jesus.  He truly is the Prince of Peace.  I invited you to draw closer to Him and experience that joy that envelops all who are willing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.  As one of His Apostles, I bless you with the ability to receive and feel the infinite love that our Savior and our Heavenly Father have for you."

And how about the season of recording those family stories.  Or the season of gathering the family photos and treasures in those other boxes in our attic or garage as you get out or put away the Christmas décor.  And how about the season in your life to start or continue your family history journey.  To everything in life, there is a time and a season.  Maybe this is your family history season.  Or maybe family history can play a little part in your season now.  

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Great New Year from the Burley Family History Center.  Hope to see you in the Center soon!

Center News: 

We are only having a handful of classes in December, but watch for a full schedule coming again in January.  In December, enjoy the Basic FamilySearch 101 class on Thursday, December 1st, for part one and on Thursday, December 8th, for part two - both at 10:30 a.m.   

And a special children's class …you are invited to add a flower in the garden of Memories at the Burley Family History Center, Sunday, December 11th, from 4-5 p.m., ages 3- 10 (younger are invited with a parent.)  It is a day for GRANDMA!  There will be music, buttons, cheers and smiles.  Bring a show-n-tell about grandma or….bring Grandma and share an interview in the recording studio.  Please call or text Trina Winn at 208-242-6217 with any questions.

Note: We will close early at 5:00 p.m. on December 4th for the First Presidency Devotional. 

Have you heard?  We are having a Family History Expo February 11, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Burley West Stake Center.  We will have a variety of classes for all ability and interest levels, with over 30 classes to choose from throughout the day.  Mark your calendars and watch for more information in next month's newsletter.  

Christmas Gifts and Fun:

If you haven't finished your Christmas shopping yet, consider giving a gift of family history.  Check out these websites for some ideas. 

12 Great Genealogy Gifts- by FamilySearch 

16 Fun Gift Ideas for Genealogists and Family History Buffs -by Join Cake

Best Genealogy Gifts that Go Beyond DNA -by Family Tree Magazine

The BEST Genealogy Gift Guide for 2022 by Lisa Lisson

9 Genealogy Gifts for the Family Historian on Your List by Family History Daily

Share the Nativity Story with your family from ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Did you know there's a visitor's center for the Burley Idaho Temple?

It's in the trailer on the south west corner of the temple building lot.  At this point, they are open by appointment only.  Call either Elder Griffin 208-317-8048 or Sister Griffin 208-232-0722 to schedule your appointment.  And, just recently artist renderings of the inside and outside of the temple have been released.  So, if you're wanting to see the floor plans or the renderings, give them a call and check it out. 

  The Burley Family History Center will be CLOSED:

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 - Tuesday, January 3, 2023

for Christmas!

Be sure to check the calendar for all classes!

         LINKS TO THE BURLEY FAMILY HISTORY CENTER'S MEDIA PAGES

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November 2022- Consultant Training- Using the Consultant Planner

Using the Consultant Planner

What is the Consultant Planner?

FamilySearch "The Planner is a tool available for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for helping someone else with his or her family history. Use it to view the FamilySearch Family Tree from the other person's point of view, browse discovery activities, design personalized family history experiences, record notes and build lesson plans." Note: the Consultant Planner is only available on accounts of members of The Church and can only be used when helping of other members of The Church.

How do I access the Consultant Planner?

1- Sign into FamilySearch.org

        2- Click on the Question Mark Icon (near your name in the upper right hand corner)

3- Select "Helper Resources"

What's on the Consultant Planner?

Home page of the helper resources main option- left hand side

• Recent Articles for Latter-Day Saints- link to the latest blog articles pertinent to Latter-Day Saints

• What's New at FamilySearch- learn about the changes and new features at FamilySearch

• FamilySearch Community- a place to ask assistance of others in the FamilySearch Community.  Please note: Anyone can answer the questions posed.  So take the answers with a "grain of salt" and look for those whom link to Knowledge Articles for verification of their answers. 

• Easy Invitations- A great way to introduce members in your ward to FamilySearch providing a quick link for them to learn something.  Do not use the "invite" option as the first contact.  Let them know you will be sending them something so they will look for it and know it is coming.  Then meet with them to follow up on what they found.

Bottom section provides a ton of links for additional helps and options.

                   Highlighting only three

• Personalized Family History Experiences (under Calling Information)- Contains information about how to create Personalized Family History Experiences including some great instructive videos.   

• Family History Network (under Calling Information) -This shows the local family history center, and also the local network of Temple and Family History Consultants- in your ward, stake, area and area office. 

• Family History Activities  (under Quick Links) - A quick link the activities page.   Please note not everyone wants to do things online.  For those looking for non-technology options, use the In-Home Activities.   These In-Home Activities have suggestions for simple non-tech activities as well as digital options. 

Planner -   right hand side

There's an option to access to your own tree to see what it looks like.  And options to send invitations to others to allow you direct access to their account.  

Click on your name to access your planner.

Four Options on the far left hand side

• Discovery Ideas- these each apply to the your account (or the person whom you are helping)

• Family History Activities- quick link to all of the Family History Activities based on the person FamilySearch Family Tree.  Great options to draw on the interest of the person being assisted. 

• Hints- Record Hints needing attached- possibly creating new people or events

• Temple- List of persons within their tree needing temple ordinances completed.  Some persons need more information before being eligible for temple ordinances. And also some persons with possible duplicates.  

• Tree - can view from all of the different fan chart options including research helps and temple ordinances needed

• Notes- Place to record your thoughts, ideas or future research options.

• Plans-  Where to record the research you have done for others and prepare the lesson for assisting others

Where can I learn more about using the Consultant Planner?

How to Use the Planner Blog 

How to Use the Planner Knowledge Article 

How do I Prepare a Lesson Knowledge Article 

 

BYU Family History Tutorial- Using the Consultant Planner -  outdated screen shots, but some great ideas for how to use the Consultant Planner. 

Temple and Family History Planner and Lesson Video Playlist  - this walks one through each step of the personalized family history experiences in short video options. 

Top Ten Websites/ Ideas for November

1-   Alert Note-  Notes now appear on the right hand side of the person page, as well as under the collaboration tab.  For those important notes, an option to add an "alert note"  which will appear just under near the top on person page.  Thanks to Claudette Jones for sharing this new function.

2- Using Goldie May- Software Power Tools for genealogists. Thanks to Dorothea Larson for sharing this option

3-Learning Resources on FamilySearch - Note: some are old options and so the screen shots will not match current screen shots, but a lot of options for those wishing to continue their family history studies. 

4- Interview Questions for Life Histories by Family Tree Magazine. 

5- U S Census Tools  from The Family History Guide- Want to know what was asked on each census or where to find census worksheets. Check out this blog article. 

6-Cemeteries- Finding the Stories by Lisa Louise Cooke  

7- What Does That Mean?  300+ Family History Abbreviations by Family History Daily  

 

8- Exploring the Unindexed Images by Family Search

9-  Personal Digital Archiving by Jermey Myntti 

 

10- New Blog Layout-  Check out the new layout and new options

    There are a set of tabs across the top under the main header.   One of these is the community projects.  We have started working on a number of community projects, information about how to get involved can be found on this tab.  Check back often as projects will continue to be added in the future.  

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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