The Figure 8 Family Knot
Beginner Guide To Doing Your Own Family History Work
MY STORY
Hey everyone, I am excited to be on here with you all. Family history work has always been a part of my life. I grew up watching my mother spend countless hours working on hers and my father's family history. She would tell us many stories about our ancestors and take great pride in the work she was doing. I have been taught how to do family history work from time to time growing up, but never really took much interest in it other than that. It was always too confusing for me whenever I tried to learn. Not now though. I have been making efforts every day to learn how to do family history work effectively. Though I have a family to take care of, I have found that I can spend 10-20 minutes a day every day working on family history work. I am more at peace with my busy life, I feel a closeness to my many ancestors, and I feel my gratitude for family history deepens every day. My purpose in starting this blog is to help everyone be able to do family history work effectively and quickly for a little bit every day. I have seen the blessings this has brought to my life and would like to help you all experience these great blessings in your own lives as well.
How do i get started?
You might be wondering where you should start when beginning to do family history work. Logging on to your family history site of choice is a great starting point. Log in and get an account if you haven't already. You can check memories of certain family members, read journal entries, or put in your own records for family members you currently have hard copies of. Other ways of being involved in your family history work are by indexing records, comparing record hints to the family names, or asking older relatives about family members they remember that have passed on. If you're not sure how to accomplish some of these tasks, don't worry, I will brush on these topics and help you get started on each area. I will share videos every week showing the many different ways you can get started. Click on one of the links you like below and get started.
Family history work has alWays confused me.
I know that family history work can seem daunting at times. Have you ever walked into a classroom to learn how to do family history work and then walked out thinking you're not really sure if you can do it on your own? You understand everything that was taught, but are still confused about how to incorporate what you have just learned into your life. I have been there. The more I have made efforts to learn little by little every day, the better I get at doing my own family history work.
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Is family history work only for those who are religious?
No not at all. You will find many people who do family history work usually have a religious belief in God. But whether you have a belief in God or not, all can experience the joys and personal benefits from knowing your family history. Being a part of our own family history is something everyone can be a part of. It is certain that learning more about our ancestors and keeping record of them can greatly enrich our lives. I have added quotes below from many individuals who found what a great blessing family history work is. All have found great purpose in their lives by knowing their family history.
What can others who have come before us teach us about family history?
Michael Crichton, an American writer said, " If you don't know your history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is a part of a tree."
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President Russell M. Nelson, Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints said, "We can be inspired all day long about temple and family history experiences others have had. But we must do something to actually experience the joy ourselves."
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Maya Angelou, a world- famous author said, "The more you know of your history the more liberated you are."
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Anna Swayne, a veteran of AncestryDNA said, "When we discover who we are, it influences our future."
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Hodding S. Carter, an American journalist and author said, “There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children – one is roots, and the other, wings.”