5,000 expected to attend SLC family conference

SALT LAKE CITY -- More than 5,000 people are expected to come to Salt Lake City to learn more about tracing their family roots.

The three-day "RootsTech" conference kicks off Thursday. The conference has become the largest family history conference in the U.S. in its third year.

It is hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' nonprofit organization dedicated to the research of family history, Family Search.

RootsTech spokesman Paul Nauta says the conference brings genealogy enthusiasts of all levels, including people just getting started.

The conference features more than 250 presentations, including by software designers demonstrating programs that help trace, preserve and tell the stories of their family history.

Organizers say the rise of social media and development of new technology has driven more people to dig into their family history.