Support from Stake Leaders

(last updated 01 Mar 2003)

Why You Need Support

1. Everything the FHC needs to grow is more easily obtained with the support of stake leaders, including Stake Presidents, Stake Family History Consultants, Stake Clerks, Stake Computer Specialists, PM Group staff, and Bishops.  Here are a few examples of the things they can help you obtain:
   • Building Modifications
     • Electrical outlets
     • Doorbell
     • Phone Jack
     • Phone Line, Dedicated
   • Computers & Computer Supplies
     • Computers
     • Printers
     • Printer Cables & Switchboxes
     • Printer Service Contracts
     • Printer Toner or Ribbons
   • Equipment & Supplies
     • Keys
     • Light bulbs
     • Office Supplies
     • Phone
     • Photocopier
     • Photocopier Service Contracts
     • Photocopier Toner
     • Surge Suppressors
   • Funding
   • Motivation of other stake and ward leaders
     • A supportive Stake President, for instance, is better than a FHC Director at motivating Bishops, Stake High Councilmen, Stake Computer Specialists, Stake Clerks, or PM Group members.
   • Staff
     • Extraction Staff
     • Family History Center Staff
     • Ward Family History Consultants
2. A few leaders who are supposed to support their FHCs are tempted to maintain the status quo, especially if this keeps their callings simpler.  Nobody likes more work; nobody in the church begs for their callings; and everybody likes callings better when they're simple.  The status quo is perhaps the toughest opponent a new FHC Director will face.  To overcome the excuse of "We do it this way because that's the way it's always been," a Director will sometimes need support from those with higher authority than her own.

How to Get Support

1. Go to the top.  Find out the Stake President's goals, and help him reach them.
   • Often, leaders assigned to support a FHC don't know what the FHC can do for the stake.  Their support can be easily rallied if they are shown how the FHC can back the stake's current efforts.  They need to know the benefits of a successful FHC:
     • Boosts temple attendance.  Very few members who research their families merely hand over the names to another to do the temple work.   Most want to do it themselves.  When an LDS church member starts her genealogy, she is gifted with an ever-increasing love for the ancestors she has worked so hard to find.  As she compiles her family's genealogy, she realizes a growing desire to personally do their temple work.  For many members, then, genealogy work yields a greater desire to attend the temple than does any Bishop's counsel, patriarchal blessing, church magazine, or sermon.  Thus, an active Family History Center greatly increases temple attendance.
     • Reactivates members.  Many members who won't come to church services will come to the Family History Center.  First, they start coming on weekdays to do genealogy.  Next, they start attending Sunday school genealogy classes.  Then, even if they themselves feel unworthy or unwelcome to attend church, they gain a desire to submit their families for temple work.  Finally, through the temple work they submit and through the new friends they make at the Family History Center, they start to feel worthy and welcome to come back to church.  In this way, many LDS members are re-activated through their work at Family History Centers. 
2. Show 'Em the Numbers
   • Bad Numbers:  Show Them What They're Missing
     • Usually, a stake leader who is satisfied with his inactive FHC has never compared his Center to an effective one.  Since he doesn't know how effective his FHC could be, he doesn't know how ineffective it currently is.  The Director must do her homework so she can quantitatively show just how ineffective the lack of support makes the FHC.  The best way to gather the needed information is to visit other FHCs and network with their Directors.
   • Good Numbers:  Show Them the FHC's Accomplishments
     • Inform stake leaders of every milestone the FHC achieves.   Again, do it with numbers.  If the FHC is on a shoestring budget, so much the better:  You can prove how efficient, how cost-effective, the FHC is.  Keep monthly statistics of the following:
       • Individuals cleared for temple ordinances:  Each month, copy every temple GEDCOM that is produced in the FHC, and import all of them into a massive PAF file.  If you have trouble getting support from a stake leader who does not understand the significance of what is being accomplished in the FHC, print out a list of everyone on this gargantuan PAF file, and put it on his desk one day with a note saying, "These are the people we cleared for the saving ordinances this month.   Thought you'd be interested."  Leaders can ignore numbers, but have a hard time ignoring the names of real people who the FHC has cleared for temple ordinances.
       • Patron/hours. 
       • Computer use.
       • FamilySearch software use.
       • Volunteer hours.
       • Training hours.
       • Classes taught.
3. Document Everything
   • Submit all requests in writing, remembering to date each one.  File a copy of each in your notebook.
   • When a FHC supporter does not respond to a request within two weeks, write another request, reminding him of the earlier request and the date it was made.  If the FHC is rendered ineffective without the request's fulfillment, explain why.
   • Each request should contain:
     • A list of the FHC's recent accomplishments, along with an explanation of their significance.
     • A carrot; something to make the leader want to support the FHC's efforts.  List goals the FHC can reach once the leader has fulfilled the FHC's request.