Family Search
Family Search is a non-profit genealogical website run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because the Church feels it is important that anyone who is interested is able to learn about their family history, the website (as well as other Family History resources) is available to anyone from any religious background or culture.
The website is a tremendous resource through which the Church provides records it has been gathering over the last century. Doing family history work is so important to members of the Mormon Church because its doctrine teaches that life does not end with death. Our spirits go to a spirit world where we will continue learning while we wait for the Resurrection and Final Judgment. Family units can also continue after death when members make and keep special covenants that are made in the temple. People that have passed away can also make these covenants and be united with their families throughout eternity. This work, however, must be done by proxy, where living persons stand in behalf of deceased persons. Once the work is done for a specific person that person can then choose if they would like to accept it or not. Members of the Church feel it is vitally important that all who have passed away at least have the option of choosing. In order to do this work Church members must be able to identify their ancestors, which leads to family history work.
The LDS Church has set up many family history centers through the country and has a large Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. When the Internet came along, Church leaders saw its potential to assist people in doing their family history work and launched the Family Search website. To use LDS Family Search, visit www.familysearch.org. You can then register for free with the website. When registering it will ask you for Church membership information, but this is optional and can be left blank. The website will then provide you with your own place to share records with people and turn records into the Church that you have found through other sources so that other people searching for their family history will have access to them.
If you are just starting family research you can find helpful tips by reading the information titled “How do I get started?” on the right hand side of the screen. If you are stuck and cannot find anything another option is to locate a Family History Center in your area. This source is located on the home page of Family Search in a light green box in the middle of the screen. Like the website, the services offered at Family History Centers are free. There are volunteers there that can help you locate things you might not find otherwise or explain how to get started.
See also Family History and Family History Library
