Beginner "How-To" Resources

How to Log In

How to Log in with your free account: If you already have access to churchofjesuschrist.org to view the Directory, pay tithing, view member tools, or save notes in the Gospel Library--you use the same login information for FamilySearch.

Getting Started

Visit Family Search's "Getting Started" Page if you are brand new to family history

How to Join the Cedarcrest Ward Family Group in Family Tree

1. Click this link to join the group

2. To add names to the group, follow these instructions 

3. Under the Temple tab in FamilySearch (either desktop or mobile device):

• If you already have reservations under "My Reservations," you may share any names with the Family Group as long as they have not been shared before. If they have been shared, there will be a note under the name that says "Ordinances that were previously shared with the temple cannot be shared again." 

• Select a name in the My Reservations list, and click "Share," then choose "Share with Group," then choose the "Cedarcrest Ward Group."

• To find names for baptisms that haven't yet been shared with anyone (by any other relative), you have two options:

• 1) Click on Ordinances Ready and choose "Baptism and Confirmation," then select the names you want to share, then share with the group. If you don't see any names that have never been shared before, go to the next step.

To search your tree to find new names to add to your reservations list and share, follow these steps:

1) Choose a distant relative from the fan chart, go to their profile, and choose "Descendants with Tasks." From that list, find a person who needs ALL ordinances. Add them to your reservations list, then share the Baptisms and Confirmations with the group. (See the photos below)

STEP 2

Once you reserve the names under My Reservations, you can follow the steps to share the names with the ward group.

Basic Navigation in FamilyTree

This 2 min. video shows some basic navigation

Basic Facts for Searching

1. Stick to people who were born after 1800. (1850 was the first U.S. census year. Earlier census records only name heads of households.)

2. Until about 1920, people didn't move around a lot. If they did, they were moving west for more land. If you're comparing two individuals to see if they match, compare counties and historical maps of county lines to see how close they were.

3. Often birth years can be off by 1-3 years. They may even go by several nicknames. The best indicator that two individuals are the same person are the family relationships.

How to Search for Records

1. From a person's profile page, click the FamilySearch or Ancestry icon on the right side bar. A new window will open that will populate the search fields with that person's basic facts. (If you're searching for a woman, you may need to change her maiden name to her married name to find her.)

Intermediate Help Resources

Where to Start

Don't know what work needs to be done or where to start looking? 

1. Go to Recommended Tasks from the homepage. 

2. Choose someone and start browsing their profile. 

3. Browse their basic facts (where and when they lived, who their family is). Are there sources to back up this information? Are there record hints that match those facts, so you can attach a record already?

Attach a source from a Record Hint

Use this detailed guide to help you learn how to attach a source to an individual. Make sure you've analyzed the information so you know it's the right person (year of birth within 1-2 yrs, correct location of residence or place of birth).

How do I know what sources are missing?

Here is a list of the most common sources in the U.S. that you can check profiles for; if something is missing, it's something to search for.

1. U.S. Census records (1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940)

2. State Census records (New York, Florida, Alabama are some examples)

3. Marriage records

4. Military service and draft registration records

5. Birth (not common) and death records

6. Cemetery records (Find-a-Grave, etc.)

7. U.S. Social Security Claims records (only available in Ancestry, and lists a person's parents and marriages)

Find Gaps in your "Completed" History

If you believe your work has been done, including all siblings and spouses of all direct line ancestors, here's how to find potential gaps, places to add sources, etc.

1. Go to the FamilyTree view, choose someone who died during your lifetime, and choose "Fan Chart." 

2. Choose a 7 generation view

3. Choose "sources" and look for individuals with zero or few sources. This is a place to start!

Another strategy to find gaps is to use the "Descendancy" View.

1. Choose a great-grandparent from FamilyTree.

2. Change the view to "Descendancy." This will show all this person's descendants, including siblings of your direct line.

3. Browse the list. Are there only 1-2 children in some families? Are there people missing death dates? This is a place to start!

Advanced Research Help

If you've been doing family history research, using ancestry, attaching sources, etc., but need more help finding other types of sources, this 30 min. video gives a broader overview of types of sources you can find.

Using Mobile Apps

This page of the Family History Guide shows you how and where to find help with mobile apps. (This might be helpful if you want to get your kids involved--but using a computer is the most user-friendly way to do research!!).