Temple & Family History Consultants

What Is This Calling?

Temple and Family History Consultants help leaders and members create meaningful experiences that deepen their understanding of family history and encourage participation in temple work. Both adults and youth may be called to this role.

Genealogical expertise is not a requirement. The role focuses on inviting the Holy Ghost to testify about families' divine nature and helping individuals feel connected to their ancestors in personal, meaningful ways.

Who You Serve

Consultants work with a wide range of people. The General Handbook specifically highlights these priority groups:

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New Members

Recently baptized members who need a welcoming entry point into family history and temple work.

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Returning Members

Members coming back to activity who may need a gentle, personal reconnection to this work.

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Youth

Young men and women preparing for temple ordinances and missions — family history grounds them.

Unendowed Members

Members who haven't yet received their endowment — family history can inspire and prepare them.

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Ward & Stake Leaders

Leaders who need support understanding the tools and coordinating the work in their organizations.

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All Members

Anyone seeking to deepen their family history research or connect more personally with their ancestors.

Getting Started in Your Calling

1. Meet with your stake high councilor for direction and to understand the stake's priorities.
2. Study General Handbook Chapter 25 — "Uniting Families for Eternity through Temple and Family History Work."
3. Watch the most recent Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction broadcast (available on the Church's website and FamilySearch blog).
4. Learn the key tools: FamilySearch Family Tree, Ordinances Ready, and Family Name Assist.
5. Complete child safety training — required every three years for this calling.
6. Coordinate with your ward's elders quorum and Relief Society presidencies to identify individuals to help.
7. Start with one person. Sit with them. Help them add names they already know. Let the Spirit do the rest.

Key Tools to Know

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  FamilySearch Family Tree The core tool — where members add ancestors, find records, and connect their tree. Available at familysearch.org and as a mobile app.
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  Ordinances Ready Identifies ancestors who are ready for temple ordinances and guides members through the reservation process. Simple enough for first-time users.
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  Family Name Assist Designed for new members and youth. Allows them to quickly prepare family name cards for proxy baptisms and confirmations without deep genealogy research.
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  FamilySearch Catalog For members ready to go deeper — finding historical records and collections not available through standard name searches. See our Catalog Guide for a full walkthrough.
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  Memories Helps members upload photos, documents, and stories to attach to ancestors in the Family Tree — a powerful way to bring ancestors to life for youth and new members.

A Note on Expertise

Many newly called consultants worry they don't know enough about genealogy. Here is the most important thing to understand about this calling:

Start where members are. If someone is brand new, use Family Name Assist. If someone is more experienced, point them to the Catalog or Ordinances Ready. Match the tool to the person.