FamilySearch Library inviting other faiths to use services
The Ogden FamilySearch Library contains a cataloging area where people can order microfilms that contain birth, death and marriage records from around the world.
People search the Internet for the names of deceased relatives at the Ogden FamilySearch Library on Friday, Oct. 10, 2014.
FamilySearch has announced the top 10 free online ancestry databases for 2014.
The Ogden FamilySearch Library receives hundreds of books from around the world that are scanned in for people to research their genealogy on the Internet.
Ogden FamilySearch Library is the second largest genealogy research center.
Inspired by his pioneer ancestors and author of 10 volumes of stories, Don Lee will discuss his most recent writing regarding his third great-grandmother, Jerusha Barden Smith, at the Ogden FamilySearch Library on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014.
OGDEN — Staff at the Ogden FamilySearch Library are hoping to get a message out that there are no faith barriers to using their facility.
Officials are hoping to draw members of all faiths and those with no faith practices into their facility to research their genealogy.
“We are beginning a conversation with other faiths about family history,” said Emil O. Hansen, director of the Ogden FamilySearch Library, which is run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Hansen and others said researching family history has become the No. 2 hobby in the nation, garnering widespread interest by many in discovering their roots.
Hansen said discovering a statistic that 60 percent of those who visit the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City are members of other faiths, while only 2 percent of those who currently visit the Ogden library are non-members of the LDS Church, has prompted him to want to reach out better to all faith groups.
He noted that his staff already has been invited to give hour-long family history trainings at four area churches of other faiths. They are hoping to be able to do more.
He said those who find benefit from the classes will be invited to attend together with their faith groups to six-week long trainings at the library.
“If all these people are interested — have it in their hearts to look up families — we have an opportunity of helping them in ways they might find of value,” said Stephen Felt, associate director over education and training at the library.
Hansen said genealogy has taken off as a hobby in the United States and while The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has historically held family history in high regard, they aren’t the only ones with a vested interest in finding their ancestors.
“A lot of people think LDS people are the only ones interested in family history,” Hansen said. “That is not the case.”
Hansen said everyone is better served when all are invited to participate as the pool of information grows. And families who know their roots are happier and do better in today’s world.
“Children are happier and more productive,” Hansen said. “The more they know about their ancestors, the stronger their characters tend to be.”
Felt said there are studies by universities that show if children and adults are connected to how their ancestors overcame trials, they are much more resilient to the demands and trials of their lives.
Mike King, a member of the Northern Utah Public Affairs committee with the LDS Church, with interfaith responsibilities, said he was impressed with Ogden’s Interfaith Works committee’s efforts to bring members of different faiths together for common causes and decided to reach out to churches in that committee with FamilySearch Library offerings.
“That interfaith council is an organization of people who have become friends,” King said. “That increases the level of trust between faiths.”
King said that trust has led to the four classes already scheduled in the various churches.
The relationship also was the impetus for a leader in the group, Rev. Gage Church of the Ogden Congregational United Church of Christ, to visit the library and research his own genealogy.
Church said after just about 40 minutes at the library, he already had found several generations of his family who had already been identified electronically by others in his family tree. He said he previously had little or no information about those ancestors.
Hansen said Church was so grateful for the information that he wrote a heartfelt letter of appreciation for the service to staff at the library.
And King is hoping to offer this same service to many others of differing backgrounds.
“Why wouldn’t we make it available to everyone in the community?” he said. “It doesn’t matter what their ethnicity is or what their background is. The information at the Family History (FamilySearch) Library will put them that much closer to their loved ones who have passed on.”
All questioned emphasized that no proselytism is allowed at the library and assured those interested in doing their research that no one will try to convert them while they do such work.
Dale McIntyre is one volunteer at the library who can attest to the lack of pressure of joining any particular church at the library.
McIntyre teaches classes on several computer programs to help with family history work at the library and has been a volunteer there for three years. He said he has learned to be passionate about the work.
“We live in a world that is becoming more and more disconnected,” the volunteer said. “Going back and looking at family helps you to appreciate family and those who are here.”
But despite McIntyre’s lack of any faith background, some other volunteers still refer to him as Brother McIntyre.
The volunteer said he didn’t mind that title at all.
“They are good people,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind being brother to any of them.”
You may reach reporter JaNae Francis at 801-625-4228. Follow her on Twitter at JaNaeFrancisSE. Like her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SEJaNaeFrancis.
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