Mormon Genealogy
Filed under: Basic Beliefs of Mormons, Genealogy, Jesus Christ
Mormon genealogy has gained world-wide attention due to the Family History Center libraries found around the world, the large genealogy library in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the extensive genealogy website, all of which are free to people regardless of religion. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are sometimes informally called Mormons, considers genealogy more than just a hobby. It is a sacred obligation. Mormon genealogy libraries are not just for Mormons; anyone can visit them and no one will make an effort to convert you unless you want them to. They exist just as places to do Mormon genealogy or any other type of genealogy.
Did Proxy Baptism Make Obama’s Mother Mormon?
Filed under: Mormon Temples: Purposes and Promises, News, Public Issues, Saving Ordinances, Temples, Work for the Dead
The stories are circulating the internet that President Obama’s mother is now a Mormon according to Mormon records, because a posthumus baptism was done on her behalf. It’s important to understand how names come to be submitted and what it means when the work is done. It does not mean she is a Mormon; nor does it mean her name has been added to church membership records.
Mormons are instructed they must only submit names of direct ancestors and their immediate family (parents, siblings, etc.) unless they have permission from the family. Not every Mormon knows the rule, however, although it is written in the places where submissions are made, and many feel they are helping people they consider special by submitting their names. Therefore, when a name is inappropriately submitted, it is due to a misunderstanding of the rules by the member who submitted it. Since they can be submitted online, there is generally not a worker who can ask them about the names they’ve submitted. The church itself does not submit these names and does not give permission for the practice. Of course, as you go further back into a famous person’s genealogy, there are LDS church members who can legitimately submit the names because they are also descendants of the ancestors. Read more
Genealogy Dilemna: Sorting Out Multiple Marriages
Filed under: Genealogy, Genealogy, Family History & Temple Work, Intermediate Family History
The past week I worked to sort out the life of a man who was associated with four women. Because these relationships resulted in children, I wanted to be certain I had the proper children assigned to the correct parents. Internet searches complicated the matters, since different researchers gave the children to different parents, and some of the women had other spouses over time, and children from those relationships as well. If you’re facing a similar problem, there are a number of steps you can take to organize the families correctly.
Begin by listing all the spouses for each person you can find. You need the spouses who are not your direct line as well. You also need the spouses of the non-direct spouses. For instance: Man A had children with Woman B, Woman C, and Woman D. You’re not sure yet which ones he might have actually married. Woman C is your direct ancestor. However, Woman C had an additional husband, and Woman D had two additional husbands. You need all the husbands and wives involved in this story and all the children resulting from each relationship, even though technically, many of them are not related to you in any way. Otherwise you run the risk of missing a child or assigning him to the wrong parent. Read more
Getting the Most Out of Your Genealogy Vacation
Filed under: Genealogy, Genealogy, Family History & Temple Work
I just returned from a week in Kentucky. I was visiting, for the first time, the place where my grandfather was born, and where my ancestors lived from the 1800s to the time my grandfather moved out of state. I had one week to get as much as I could from the visit.
I was helped by the fact that the town was just over two square miles total and everyone is pretty much related, one way or another. Because of this, the town boasted a wonderful genealogy library and historical society. I planned to center my week around that library. Read more
Preparing for a Genealogical Vacation
Filed under: Genealogy, Genealogy Know How, Genealogy, Family History & Temple Work
When times are tight, it can be hard to justify taking a vacation. Giving the vacation a practical purpose, however, can make it seem less of a splurge. You’ll get away from home, but you’ll be working hard on an important task. A genealogical vacation can be the answer to this challenge.
A genealogical vacation involves spending time in a place where your ancestors lived. It allows you to see for yourself where they lived, placing them into context. Even though things are changed, a genealogy buff with a good imagination can remove the houses, telephone poles, and cars and get a glimpse into the past. Read more
Dialogue between a Catholic and a Mormon/ Part 2
Filed under: Basic Beliefs of Mormons, Netiquette & Correspondence, The Fall, The Garden of Eden
Continued from Part I…
Dialogue between a Catholic and a Mormon From November 28, 2008 to December 29, 2008
Filed under: Basic Beliefs of Mormons, Netiquette & Correspondence, Sharing the Gospel
Making Ancestors More Real
Filed under: Beginning Family History, Genealogy Know How
Sometimes people are bored by genealogy because it’s just a list of names, dates, and places. You’ll find it far more interesting if you make your ancestors real in your mind. Following are some fun ways to bring them to life.
Moses Harris: Utah Pioneer and Man of God
Moses Harris is my great-great-great grandfather. I’ll admit it, I’m a genealogy buff and I go above and beyond the normal seeking out of ancestors. I try to find journals, newspaper articles, wills, obituaries, family bibles, letters . . . anything I can find to help me realize these men and women who trod this world before us were once real, living, breathing human beings.
Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Ancestors
Several weeks ago an interesting idea came to mind. Okay, it was probably more like several months ago. Nonetheless, I toyed with the idea for quite some time before I spoke to anyone about it. After a few interesting conversations with friends I called my mother. You see, my mom is always the final source of confirmation for me, just to make sure I don’t ever go off the deep end. My mom is one of the straightest shooting people you will ever find.
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