Five Big Reasons to use LDS Genealogical Resources

Researchers unfamiliar with the genealogical tools and libraries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormons) are missing a goldmine of records.  There are five reasons why any genealogist, Mormon or not, ought to tap the genealogical resources of the LDS Church.

Record Focus: The Entire Population

Since the Family History Library is operated by the LDS  church, some beginners assume the library's collection is mostly a bunch of Mormon church records. When they finally visit the library, however, they are stunned by the scope of its worldwide collection. A search of the Family History Library Catalog online reveals census, tax, church, history, vital, military, obituary, cemetery, and other records which cover the entire population. The Library houses records of the United States, Canada, the British Isles, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. 

World's Largest Genealogical Collection

While some are impressed by the collection's scope, others enjoy its volume. The Family History Library (FHL) houses the largest genealogical collection in the world, including 2.2 million  microfilms (containing roughly 6,000,000 sources), 742,000 microfiche, 300,000 books, and 4,500 periodicals.  Its U.S. collection includes records of all 50 states, over 3,000 counties, and thousands of towns and parishes.  Its international collection, too, is unequaled, with particular emphasis on the British Isles, Canada, Chile, Europe, Mexico, Scandinavia, and Uruguay.

Diversity of Record Types

To identify an ancestor, a researcher must usually search several types of records. Thus, the Family History Library collects several record types for each geographic area. Some researchers are surprised to learn that the FHL houses even more government records than church records. The government records in the U.S. collection, for example, include federal and state censuses; voting and tax records; birth, marriage, and death records; land, probate, and court records; and immigration and naturalization records.

Branch Library Near You

Another benefit of the FHL's collection is that it is available in thousands of neighborhoods worldwide. The Library has 3,500 branch libraries, which are known as Family History Centers. After choosing a microfilm or fiche that you want to search, you can have it sent to your local Family History Center for about $3.25.  Many Family History Centers have photocopy machines which can duplicate film or fiche records. To locate a Family History Center near you, simply type your city and county into the church's Web-based form. 

Books and compact discs are not loaned to Family History Centers, but patrons can order photocopies or printouts from these sources by mailing in a Request for Photocopies form, which is available online.

Easy Access

While the Family History Library and its branch libraries house most LDS genealogical resources, others are available on the Internet at www.familysearch.org. First, products and downloads like Personal Ancestral File (PAF) and PAF Companion are software programs which help users record, document, and print their genealogies. Second, finding aids like Research Guidance and research outlines help to identify records which will yield information on your ancestors.  Third, huge databases like the Ancestral File and the International Genealogical Index allow users to see what information others have gathered about their families. Together, these online databases list over 700 million names, many of which were extracted from original government and church records.  These Internet resources combine with the Family History Library's  size, record scope, diversity of record types, and number of branches to embody the world's most valuable genealogical collection. To learn more about each of these resources, see the course outline.