Training data!!!

I have long lamented the fact that you can't make instructional edits to family search data. I've always wanted a 'reset button' so I could merge records, add ancestors, and elect to do ordinances -- as an example -- and then hit the reset button and take it back to the last correct state. You couldn't. If you started monkeying around with records, they were LIVE records, and you would do damage.

Finally the church has setup a 'test' area where you can do just what I'm talking about. You can do everything, including electing to do work, and then (!!) you can print out an example IOR! This is brilliant, and it's honestly overdue.

This will be a fanTAStic training tool, and I can't wait to see it in use at the family history center and in sunday school classes.

--Sean

We are excited to announce a great new resource for you to use as you teach others how to use the new FamilySearch. We have created a fully functional training version of new.familysearch.org that contains fictitious data designed specifically for training purposes. In this system, you will be able to:

· Use practice exercises to teach others how to use the new.familysearch.org Web site.

· Add, edit, and modify information without the worry of using real data.

· Combine and separate records.

· Practice submitting names for temple ordinances. Note: You can print a Family Ordinance Request, but do not take the request to the temple.

· Use the Help Center to search for answers to questions, and find additional training helps, including access to the new FamilySearch E-learning Course.

· Submit GEDCOMs that are limited to five names.

· Use your account until it expires after six months.

· Get a new account each time your old account expires.

The training system will:

· Delete any data you have added after your account expires.

· Refresh the account and return it to its original state so it can be used again.

· Continue to be upgraded as the new FamilySearch system is enhanced.

Access to this new training system is available at: https://training.familysearch.org. Those with an LDS Account user name and password (Church members who have registered at https://ident.familysearch.org/cis-web) will be able to sign on using that user name and password.

This is the first version of the training system. It provides the full functionality of new FamilySearch and has a basic set of exercises. We will continue to enhance the exercises based on feedback from those using the system. We hope this will prove to be a great new training resource for you while you teach classes about the new FamilySearch. The training system is available now.

Sincerely,

FamilySearch

Sign up for FamilySearch Indexing

Have you ever thought any of these statements?

· I don’t have time to do family history.

· My grandmother did all of my family history.

· I work at the family history center, but I run out of things to do when there are no patrons.

· I’ll wait and do my family history when there are more original records available on the Internet.

· I don’t know how to get started with my family history. What’s a census?

The response to all of these statements could be—“Sign up for FamilySearch indexing!”

FamilySearch indexing allows an army of volunteer indexers from around the world to help preserve and make the records of our ancestors available online for research. Using our online system, these volunteers are easily able to extract data from valuable records and provide free searchable indexes—all from the convenience of their homes.

Anyone can help at any time. Volunteers do not need to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They simply need to register, sign in, and follow a simple process:

1. Select “batches” of records to download to their computers.

2. Enter the requested information (names, dates, events, etc.) in the corresponding spaces.

3. Submit the completed batches to the online system.

Here are some of the benefits of being a volunteer indexer:

· You don’t have to be an expert genealogist. New indexers and genealogists can become familiar with the types of information available on a census record or other vital documents by doing indexing.

· There are no fixed time commitments. Volunteers can index any time and for any amount of time that they want. Some indexers volunteer an hour a day; others volunteer five minutes a week. All are welcome and appreciated.

· Help FamilySearch publish more records online. The more volunteers that help index, the faster records will be made available online to researchers.

· If you’ve hit a roadblock or you feel that all your family history is complete, become part of the indexing community. Help make records available for others to do their family history.

· Index while you are at the family history center. Family history has many facets, including indexing, and many family history centers already have the indexing system installed on their computers. If there are no patrons at the center to assist, use your free time to index.

We are currently indexing over 70 different collections of records from 28 different countries and 10 languages. The FamilySearch indexing Web site and computer program are available in the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. To sign up for FamilySearch indexing or to learn more about the program, go to http://indexing.familysearch.org.

We greatly appreciate those who donate their time and talents through the FamilySearch indexing program to help make these collections of records freely available online to researchers.

Sincerely,

FamilySearch

support@familysearch.org

U.S. and Canada: 1-866-406-1830

International: go to http://contact.familysearch.org for more toll-free phone numbers.

What classes are offered at BYU and when?

This is pretty cool. BYU has now set up their own blogspot blog to display their schedule for classes. I've attended a couple, and these are very informative.

Go check them out at byusunday.blogspot.com

PAF vs. NFS

I was sitting in Sunday School today, and there was a bit of confusion among those who are just getting into NSF. The question discussed was whether we needed PAF or other softwares to do this work. Nope, not this work. NSF is for the deceased. PAF is for the living.

If you're doing your own genealogy, and you're developing your family records, you want the names, dates, and places to be correct.

If you're trying to make sure the work is done for your ancestors, does it matter where or when they lived and died? If you could ask them right now, would it matter to them? All that matters is the work is done for the right person, right? And it doesn't even matter when the work is done, only that it really is done.

PAF is for the living. That's where you record all your family history, with pictures, biographies, dates, places, etc. NFS is for the deceased, to make sure all the work is completed in an orderly, duplicate-free manner.

As I'm only now getting into my family history (I really should be keeping a journal), PAF is new to me, and keeping such records is a bit daunting. Since I've been called as a specialist and have dived into NFS, it's already pretty familiar to me and I'm very comfortable with it. I've now hit a point where I need to do the research to extend my lines. I'm going to be spending time at the Family History Library in the coming weeks (any good Irish researchers out there?), and I'll be spending a lot more time in PAF.

Oh--one other thing--PAF is free too. It sits on your computer, so it's not online. You can download it here.

Upcoming BYU Family History Conference

(From FamilySearch)

As a part of our regular e-mail communications, from time to time we notify you of family history conferences or other training opportunities in your area. We would like to make you aware of the annual Family History Conference at Brigham Young University, which is sponsored by the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) and the Center for Family History and Genealogy. The conference will be held at BYU on November 6–7, 2009. ICAPGen is the organization that provides accreditation for the genealogists who work at the Family History Library. They have a wealth of knowledge about genealogical research worldwide.



The mission of this conference is to help individuals become excellent genealogists. A class schedule and registration form are attached. Early registration ends October 30, after which the registration fee will increase. If you want to attend, please print and send in the attached registration form, or download a registration form at http://www.icapgen.org/Programs/conference.htm.



We anticipate that this conference will be a great event. If you have questions about the conference, please direct them to Tristan Tolman, ICAPGen Public Relations, by e-mail at tristantolman@comcast.net or by phone at 1-801-380-5924.



Sincerely,

FamilySearch

support@familysearch.org

U.S. and Canada: 1-866-406-1830

International: go to http://contact.familysearch.org for more toll-free phone numbers

Finally! The Roll-Out!!!

I just checked my email this morning (because I was able to go into work early) and what to my surprise do I have? An email from headquarters saying we're going to roll-out on Monday the 12th!!! Ta-daaaa!!!

Ok, so now we can all use it. I can help anyone who asks. I can answer questions, I can train classes, I can speak from a pulpit. I'm ready.

If you have any questions, please ask. If you have any comments, please comment. I'm a resource for the stake. I'm ready.

Timpanogos Priesthood Leadership Meeting

We had a meeting last night for the priesthood leadership for the Timpanogos temple district, getting them fired up and ready to go with new.familysearch. The meeting house was a stake center, and we were filled to the rim. They had seats on the stage, the entire cultural hall filled, and people standing around the edges. I don't know the count. Man, was it hot in there! Muggy, and with one annoying fly visiting every guest personally.

Highlights--

The way to make Family History work in your ward is to talk about it during PEC meeting (Bishops).

We are doing this work to save our brothers and sisters from spirit prison.

Whether you are converting someone, reactivating a member, or redeeming your dead, it is all the SAME work.

AND the coup de' grace!! 15 stakes in the temple district are rolling out on Monday (Alas, I don't think we're one of them). The following Monday, at least 15 more will rollout, and this is what they said, "I don't know if we'll have enough ready stakes to meet the minimum of fifteen, so we'll add more." When it came to Q&A, I stood up (I was in like the fourth to last row in the gym) and sought clarification. "You said that you'd be choosing some other stakes to get up to 15. Does that mean that the entire temple district will eventually be added, whether they're ready or not?" They confirmed that this is the case. They said that they just finished rolling out the Provo temple district this past Monday (two days ago), and it took three weeks to do that whole district.

So....I'm thinking we'll all have access before the end of October. Pretty cool news, donchathink?