Lesson #2: Navigating the FamilySearch tree

Overview:

Hello there, friends. So, you should have signed up for a FamilySearch account. And now we're going to teach you how to use it. In this lesson, you will learn how to navigate in the tree, and how to find a starting place for your ancestor search.

FamilySearch offers two big services, the Family Tree, and Record Search. Today we're going to be focusing on the Family Tree.

STEP #1.

 Log into your FamilySearch account. It should look something like this.

Spiffy. OK, click on that tab called Family Tree and then the Tree option that pops out.

STEP #2.

Welcome to the tree. Here you can see 3 generations of my family. There's me, my parents, and two pairs of grandparents.

The tree begins with you, and branches backwards in time. To go back a generation, click the little grey arrows.

The farther back you go, the wider the tree gets.

See?

Depending on how much work has been done, you may some tree branches (often called "lines") that go back to pretty crazy old dates. I have a few lines that go all the way back to the 1400's or so. However, if you're new, then your lines might end after only one or two generations. THAT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD THING.

See, most of the digitized records that are available online only go back to the 1800's or so. If all of your work is done up until 1800, it will be considerably harder for you to conduct internet-based genealogical research. (Harder, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE.)

STEP #3.

Each person's box on the family tree has some crucial information. Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death, Place of Death. To get more detailed nformation on a specific person, click their name, and a little bubble box will come up;

See that? This box tells you the person's name, their FamilySearch ID (in Benjamin's case, it is 2W31-XV4) their birth date/place and death date/place.

It also includes a temple key. See the grey boxes next to "temple?" That means those ordinances have been done. Sometimes those boxes will be green. That means these names are ready to be taken to the temple!

Looks like Caroline Maria needs her Initiatory and her Endowments done. Click on this link to learn more about how to prepare names for the temple.

B=Baptism
C=Confirmation
I=Initiatory
E=Endowment
SP=Sealing to Parents
SS=Sealing to Spouse

Got it?

STEP #4.

If you want even more detailed information, click on the person's name in the bubble box again.

See? We've left the family tree, and entered the "Person" page for Caroline Maria. (Notice that instead of the Tree tab being marked in green at the top, we now have the Person tab marked.

On this page, you can record information about when they got married, who their children were, any records of places they lived, etc, etc. It's sort of like a Facebook page for your ancestor.

STEP #5.

Returning to the Tree section of FamilySearch, I want to show you some nifty little tools that FamilySearch has added in. (Pretty recently, as a matter of fact.)



See the buttons?

Blue button-This is a hint button. Click on it, and FamilySearch will auto-suggest some records for you to search

Purple button-Research suggestions. Clicking this button will tell you what information is missing for this person.

Green button-Temple Ordinance opportunities! Click here to see what work needs to be done.


Conclusion: 

FamilySearch is easy, convenient and effective. Play around on it, and you'll get the hang of it.

Any questions? Feel free to post them below!