My talk on my genealogy

Here is why and how I started research of my family's history:

As Latter-Day-Saints you know Jesus Christ wants us to know our families so we can live together eternally. This includes all those who have passed on before us.

Did You know we are all amateur genealogists?

Take a moment and think about how many times you thought of your family who preceded you.

BUT the world looks at us as experts.

Why Family History is important to YOU?

What is Genealogy? A record or table of the descent of a family, group or person from an ancestor or ancestors.

My father was an orphan. I was excited to learn about the people who gave him up.

Perhaps,

Discovering that you’re related to a renaissance nobleman could be a lot of fun.

It could also mean giving him and his family an opportunity to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I’ve found that I’m related to

Sir William Vl Smith,  born 1305 Dunham, England and his wife Lady K de Montagu On my father’s father side. In fact, I have gone as far back as 1213.

Those of us who have been bitten by the family history bug know of the importance and how fun it can be. But this isn’t why we have the largest genealogical library in the world and why 13 million Mormons are encouraged to research their family roots. Rather, we are driven by our doctrine that teaches that marriage and families can continue beyond this life. But this can only happen when families are sealed together in one of the Lord’s holy temples around the world and united for all eternity.

That’s fine for all of us today who have the chance to be sealed in a temple, but what about our ancestors who die without the opportunity to receive ordinances like baptism, or the blessings of being an eternal family? Does it make sense that God would simply say, "Too bad, tough luck?" Of course it doesn’t. When Christ organized His Church anciently, it included vicarious work for the dead and the practice of performing ordinances for deceased relatives "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:29). Christ’s restoration of his original Church to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith included the ancient practice of performing these ordinances for our deceased relatives in holy temples. The gospel of Jesus Christ includes the same blessings today in holy temples.

Genealogical or family history research is the essential forerunner of temple work for our deceased ancestors. We do it to obtain names and other genealogical information so these temple ordinances can be performed for our kindred dead. Our ancestors then are taught the gospel in the spirit world and have the choice to accept or reject the work performed for them. Mother Teresa once said that "loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty."

The thought that this poverty of loneliness—this being unwanted and separated from loved ones—could extend beyond this life is truly sad and something temple work can prevent.

The Promise of Elijah

Millions across the world of all faiths are actively engaged in genealogical research—trying to find cherished ancestors and binding their family ties past and present. There are TV shows such as “Who do You Think You Are” and “Finding Your Roots.” These shows and many like them are helping to inspire people to find out who they came from.

Why are they doing it? Most would probably say because it’s an amusing hobby and they feel motivated by a strong curiosity about their ancestors.

It is because they’ve been touched by the spirit of this work. 

According to the Old Testament, Elijah was to come back and prepare the way of the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord is the spirit of love that may eventually overcome all human family estrangements as it builds bridges between the generations. It binds beloved grandparents, now deceased, with the grandchildren who never knew them by preserving and sharing their histories and keepsakes.

A life not documented is a life that within a generation or two will largely be lost to memory. And yet, knowledge of our ancestors shapes us and instills us with values that give direction and meaning to our lives.

That is why you/we all do Genealogy work.

Many people think that all that is needed to do genealogical research is to verify information (taking what you already have and looking up the sources).  Or, that organizing research (many have a pedigree chart or family group sheets but no sources) is all that is required and that you to put together information that is easily obtainable with sources that are easy to find.  There is a third type of research called Investigational research (where you don't have the names and sources.)  The last is when you really are doing research.  The Verifying and Organizing steps are also research but not in the same sense. The third is true research.

What images come to mind when you think about solving a genealogical problem?

Are you overwhelmed? 

Where do you start?

 How can you  organize the problem? 

How can you sort through the variables of a problem? 

 How do you determine the quickest way to solve a problem?  And, how do you determine what the problem actually is?

Genealogists need a systematic approach to tracing ancestry. I keep changing my system which adds to more confusion. Decide and progress.

All genealogists try to identify the basic indicators of existence: names, dates, places and events. Examining how to accurately identify these indicators in a logical, systematic approach using effective methodology, research standards and critical examination of evidence determines success.

1. Identify basic indicators of existence.

2. Learn systematic, organized approaches to genealogical research .

3. Determine variables of the problems of research.

4. Diagram genealogical problems with flowcharts.

5. Successfully research using other charting methods

6. Analyze genealogical evidence.

To start : You need to gather information around the house and from relatives about your ancestors. The things that you look for help to provide proof of the four basic indicators of existence for each ancestor: names, dates, places and events. As you find information , you will discover that you need to determine whether there is enough information or proof of ancestry before continuing to research further back. Do you have the correct names (many love to simplify or change their last names.), dates, places and events for the people you have found in your home and other family sources? It becomes extremely important to organize the information about the people you find in your home and family sources into family groups and begin an organized way of filing your information on each person or family group.

Let me tell my personal story of my genealogy work.

 I had always been curious about my Dad’s past and his family. He never discussed his past life. He said,  “Now and your future is what is important. Plan for your future and don’t waste time dwelling in the past.” 

I took a genealogy class as my first class at BYU durning the summer.

I started attending the “Y” in the summer of 1969 with a class in genealogy. I learned how important it was to keep records concerning ancestors. I heard stories of how ancestors appeared in dreams to help with the search. I heard inspirational stories of “coincidences” of lost records appearing or leading to other records. One inspirational story was said by my professor who was researching an ancestor who somehow was lost in his search. He was awaken by a dream and was able to converse with this person who told him where the records were that were lost. This lead to a years worth of work for him.

I wanted to learn about my father’s family.

I called my Mom to get the information for my family group sheet. I learned where my father was born and his both of parents names. I knew my father was Jr. but I didn’t know my grandparents. I knew nothing about them. My mother called my Uncle Dee who was living in Los Angeles at the time. He was the brother of my grandfather, to see if anyone could help me on my quest.

I was given the name and phone number of Cozzy Biggs. She was my grandfathers younger sister. I told her who I was and my interest in genealogy. She then invited to come for a visit in Ogden. That weekend I hoped into my little Grey Opal and drove from Provo to Ogden.

I arrived about midmorning. She welcomed me with open arms. My Aunt Cozzy was anxious to learn about me and my family. We sat and talked until about lunch time.  After lunch she showed me her record closet. It was filled with these large Book of Remembrance from floor to ceiling. As she gently grabbed one of the books and placed it on the kitchen table. She gave me blank pink family group sheets to start to fill out. I spent the night listening to stories and filling out FGS. I left with four generations on my fathers side of his father. But nothing about his mother. Only her name, Mae Nation.

Soon; Life happened:  I got married had a couple of kids, got divorced, went back to school while working and raising two kids..

Fast forward to present day, my children are grown and on their own. They now have families of their own. I’m still working but I work part time. I enjoy working on genealogical projects.

Last couple of years, I decided to seriously review my research. In doing so I realized there were some brothers a couple of generations ago who just fell off the family radar. I proceeded to finish the work for them. I realized that probably there are many such cases. I soon realized that I didn’t know my great grandfather, my father’s mother’s farther.  I learned: He “married” my great grandmother and had two little girls. My grandmother was the oldest of the two. She was raised by her mother and her younger sister Bessie was raised by her father who had another family.

I need more information on my great-grandfather. I got his death date and location from Ancestry.com. It was San Bernardino. I ordered a copy of his death certificate. He died in 1965 and lived to be 84. He worked at San Bernardino County Hospital as a janitor. The same hospital I worked at three years after his death.

My parents moved here in 1960. I would’ve liked to have met and interview him.

His other daughter, my Aunt Bessie lived in Fontana. She died in 1994.

I put the names in for temple work for my newfound ancestors.

You will learn tangled web we see in relationships when researching our genealogy.

You can find ancestors journals online from cousins who have uploaded. I have downloaded journal pages to learn more about my ancestors. I was searching for one of my lines online, Kuntz. I found a journal from the fallen monarch from Switzerland from the 1500s who fled to Pennsylvania. He wrote how none of the religions in their area were correct but it was the law to join one of them. So he allowed his children to choose which church to attend.

 After the Magna Carta was signed, the people started to take over. There was lots of chaos when there’s a change in government. You might have royal blood on your line too.

I am related to the Robert Smith (Smyth) of Devon, England in born 1425

 This monarchs family came from a King who had two wives. One had a girl and the other a boy.

The children married. This was a time of great unrest in England. They moved away from where the castle was that they were raised. Thru their son became a Joseph Smith born in 1611 England, who traveled to Virginia with his brothers. His oldest son traveled back to England. His descendants stayed in Durham until, Ralph Usher Smith, born in 1835, got the bug or touch by the missionaries to move to Utah. He served two missions back to England, he had six wives and he was the Sheriff of his town. He was a busy guy my fourth great grandfather. His third wife, Emma Girdlestone has a book written about her trek across the plains called “The Frozen Trail” written by Lisa Westenskow Dayley.

How to get started...

What is the best way to organize genealogical research materials to make problem solving easiest? Experiment and Find out what works for you.

Do you have a stack of certificates, innumerable family photos and possibly a trunk full of family letters and memorabilia courtesy of dear old great-aunt Esther? Are all these carefully stored in the attic or the back of the hall closet? What is more important, do you really know the full extent of your priceless collection?

We are a generation who moves many many times. Much has been lost. Thank goodness for computer programs. you can store your files online in icloud. You can start today.

There are new computer programs popping up each day to help you organize you search and materials. You need a filing system and a way to group documents. I have separate notebooks for death certificates, marriage certificates, Census records. It’s a good idea to have hard copy as well as online.

Military records have shown that I have ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War, both sides of the Civil War, WWI and WWII.

When you subscribe to the newsletter from Family Search, you will get updates and new tutorials. It’s exciting work that we all do.

Please have a good source.

My intention here was to give you great ideas as to why and how to research your ancestors. Remember to organize your system and use it for the names, dates, places and events of your ancestors.

I have learned many of the stories of my ancestors and I am looking forward to the time when we can rejoice at our final meeting. I pray that I am told at the end of my life that I lived a good life, and I have been a good daughter..

On my mother’s side my great-great grandmother has been sealed to about three different names. She was never married to my great grandmothers father and we really don’t know who he was. Don’t be putting people together just because they were born or died in the same area.

DNA - I’ve been tested by two different DNA companies. Ancestry.com and 23andme.com

I’ve been told that I am 100% European. Europe includes Scandinavian Countries. Introduction

U5 is one of the oldest haplogroups in Europe. It probably arose when modern humans first moved into western Eurasia from the Near East about

DNA - Highlight: Though primarily a European haplogroup, U5 was recently found in mitochondrial DNA extracted from the remains of a 6th-century AD Chinese chieftain.

Branches of U5 - Silk Road Connection

During the 6th century AD the Persian Empire controlled trade along the Silk Road through its Central Asian province of Sogdiana, providing a vital trade link between China and Europe. New evidence suggests there was a genetic connection as well. Researchers recently extracted mitochondrial DNA from the remains of a chieftain named Yu Hong, who was buried about 200 miles southwest of Beijing in 592 AD. His burial epitaph indicated that Yu Hong had Central Asian ancestry – and his DNA revealed an even more exotic background. Yu Hong's mitochondrial DNA belonged to the U5 haplogroup, a sure sign that he had European ancestors on his mother's side.