Welcome

New Members & Those Learning About the Church

Family history isn't just for experts. It's one of the most meaningful things you can do as a new member — and you can start today, with what you already know.

Why Does Family History Matter?

At the heart of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a beautiful truth: families are eternal. The temple makes it possible to extend those eternal bonds to ancestors who didn't have the opportunity to receive saving ordinances during their lives.

Family history is how we find those ancestors. It's the bridge between what happens in the temple and the people it blessess. Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve taught:

"Think of the Savior. Speak of Him. Have Him at the middle of all of this." — Elder Patrick Kearon, 2026 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction

This work isn't about collecting names — it's about connecting families to Jesus Christ and His redeeming power.

You Can Start Right Now

You don't need to know anything about genealogy to begin. The most important first step is simply adding what you already know — your own name, your parents, your grandparents. That's it.

📚 Family Name Assist

This free tool on FamilySearch was designed specifically for new members. It lets you quickly prepare family names for proxy baptisms and confirmations — without needing to do deep research first. Your ward consultant or family history leader can walk you through it, or you can find it at familysearch.org after creating your account.

As you add what you know, FamilySearch will often find connections already in its database — extending your family tree further than you might expect on your very first visit.

How It Connects to the Temple

Once you discover an ancestor whose ordinances haven't been performed, you can reserve that name and take it to the temple. The Ordinances Ready feature on FamilySearch makes this simple — it identifies ancestors who are ready and guides you through the process step by step.

New members are encouraged to begin this work soon after baptism. Your ward has a Temple and Family History Consultant whose calling is specifically to help you — a new member — get started. Don't hesitate to ask for them.

Your First Steps

  1. Create a free FamilySearch account at familysearch.org using your Church membership record number.
  2. Add yourself, your parents, and your grandparents to your Family Tree.
  3. Look for the yellow temple icon — it marks ancestors whose ordinances are not yet completed.
  4. Use Ordinances Ready to find names that are prepared for temple work.
  5. Contact your ward's Temple & Family History Consultant for personalized help.

For Those Learning About the Church

You don't need to be a member to explore family history. FamilySearch is free and open to everyone. Many people who are learning about the Church have found that researching their family — and feeling that connection to those who came before them — deepens their experiences and strengthens their sense of purpose and identity.

This site can guide you through the basics. Start with the 4 Generations guide — it's designed for absolute beginners and takes you step by step.

Ready to Begin?

This site will walk you through every step — from creating your account to finding ancestors ready for temple ordinances. You don't need experience. You just need to start.

🌳 Start Here

Sources & Citations

Content drawn from official Church and FamilySearch sources. Refer directly to the linked documents for the most current and complete information.