Misconceptions about Family History

LDS meetinghouse in Warsaw, Poland
Photo Credit: Public Domain

One of the misconceptions about family history and genealogy is that everything is "online." A corollary to that misconception is that "since it is all online, there is no need for a local LDS Family History Center, particularly if you live smack dab in the middle of genealogy heaven...Utah. Well, did you know that you can go to your local family history center (they are all over the world) and have access to some of the best subscription websites! They are available for you and you don't have to pay a penny to use them! In our family history center, the two most popular sites are Ancestry.com and Fold3.com. We all know that Ancestry.com has some of the most exciting record collections in the world, and Fold3.com has an outstanding collection of military records. Family History Center patrons also have access to:

•19th Century British Library Newspaper Digital Archives
•Access Newspaper Archive
•Alexander Street Press - The American Civil War: Research Database, Letters and Diaries, Images, Photographs, Posters and Ephemera
•Ancestry.com
•ArkivDigital Online
•Find My Past-British genealogy
•Fold3.com (Previously known as Footnote.com)
•The Genealogist
•Godfrey Memorial Library
•Heritage Quest Online
•Historic Map Works Library Edition
•Paper Trail
•World Vital Records

If some of these sites are new to you and you don't have a clue what they contain, click on this link for a full description of each site. If you don't know where your local LDS Family History Center is, click here for help in finding it!
By the way, family history information is NOT all "online!" The online resources are just the tip of the iceberg. :)

Have You Visited a Family History Center Near You?

Have you ever visited a Family History Center that is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (sometimes referred to as "Mormons"? I'll bet that if you haven't, you don't know what you are missing! The Family History Centers can provide very valuable information to you. You don't have to be a member of the LDS church to go there either.

As you can see from this screenshot of the FHC desktop, there are three broad categories of help at a Family History Center. The first one is Genealogical Resources. There are premium programs that are offered at the FHC. These are subscription sites such as Ancestry.com, FindMyPast, Fold3, and others. These sites and others like them are available for you to use at no charge. The second category is Classes and Workshops. The FHC has access to over 300 classes and workshops that can be shown anytime. The third category is One-on-One Assistance. There are volunteers that are willing and able to help you with YOUR research. Imagine having someone to help you every step of the way. Pretty cool!
There are over 4000 Family History Centers in the world, including more than 80 in other countries. Want to find a center near you? Click here for help. If you are even the least bit curious about your family, come visit a Family History Center.