Here is some additional information from RootsTech 2019. First link is to all the syllabus' that was available to all those that attended. I know in the past they didn't keep these up on the internet, so just in case, I would visit it and download/print those that interest you.

https://www.rootstech.org/rootstech-2019-conference-syllabi

Here are all the videos that they streamed during conference for FREE. These will also include past RootsTech sessions. Look through also the 'Latter-day Saints' videos that I shared in the last email. https://www.rootstech.org/video-archive

I hope you have a chance to watch/listen to them and gain more insight and learning on what is available.

How are you doing in your wards with teaching family history, helping members find a name to take to the temple etc.? Last week I was invited to teach the Young Women and Relief Society how to use the Family Tree and Memories App from FamilySearch. We had a great time and they all had their tablets or smart phones. I made sure they were downloaded ahead of time and signed in. That saves a bunch of time. I went over a quick overview and then dived into each area of the apps. I didn't go into much details because I wanted to show them what was available. I also had them bring a picture or story and had them take a picture of the picture and add it to Memories. I know, I would rather had a scanned image, but it was better than nothing and they were able to feel good about that accomplishment. But the one that they loved and I saved it for last was the 'Relatives Around Me'. We were all related to each other and even though we all know that we are in God's family, there is just something to know that your neighbor is kin. It maybe far off, like 10th cousins, twice removed. But who cares when you find that connection. There is just something about it.

As always, if you need assistance in your wards to increase awareness of all that is offered, please let me know. These are the 6 things we want to increase:

1. Log into FamilySearch

2. Four generations to be filled out

3. Converts to prepare names for baptisms

4. Youth prepare names for baptisms

5. Add a photo or story to Memories app

6. Indexing

We are starting off a bit low in numbers for January and February, so we need to do the best we can to work with the members. Work with the Relief Society Presidency and Elder's Quorum Presidencies to help find those that need to be taught. This should be covered in their meetings. What a better way to activate or strengthen our members, through family history. I know you know that but we need to remind our leaders.

I hope this is a great week for you. I'm enjoying this sunshine. It is beautiful.

I also can't wait for General Conference and any new announcements that might be coming.

Again, if you need assistance, please let me know.

RootsTech Broadcasts & Links

I hope that you were all able to watch the Thursday night and Saturday morning RootsTech Broadcasts. Both were so good. Thursday night had 3 of the apostles and Saturday was Elder and Sis. Bednar. Fantastic talks. We are so blessed to have these resources available to us.

Here is the link for the Thursday broadcast https://www.lds.org/family-history or  https://www.rootstech.org/video/2019-temple-and-family-history-leadership-instruction 

Here is the link for the Saturday broadcast https://www.lds.org/family-history or  https://www.rootstech.org/video/family-discovery-day-elder-and-sister-bednar 

The information below is taken from another email from FamilySearch blog & LDS365 as it covers the same information that I would cover. Just click the 'title' as it is a link to the information I would like you to review.

I have attached the Stake Family History Goals. In the Thurs night leadership broadcast, it talked about having a ward plan. Please use the guidelines of the stake area plan. It is in sync with the area plan. If there are any questions, please let me know. I have also attached our family history numbers for last year. Please review those.

Organizing Temple and Family History Service at the Ward Level—A Summary of Elder Renlund’s 2019 Leadership Instruction

On February 28, 2019, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at the Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction meeting. He suggested three things ward leaders can do to help members in temple and family history callings be more comfortable and effective.

Clarify the ward’s leadership pattern for temple and family history work.

Create a ward temple and family history plan.

Hold ward temple and family history coordination meetings.

Highlights from the Coordination Council in Action: Applying the 2019 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction

At the Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction meeting on February 28, 2019, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited a group of local ward leaders on stage to participate with him in a live, unscripted coordination meeting. They counseled about ways to apply the instruction they had just received from Elder Renlund and Elder Stevenson, providing an example of how a temple and family history coordination meeting might work at a ward level.

Elder Bednar asked the group if it was possible to have a simple ward temple and family history plan, and how they might keep it so going forward. “We do not do simple plans well,” Elder Bednar said. “We do complicated plans that nobody pays attention to.”

“How do we get a simple plan,” he asked, “that people can really understand and work with?”

I will share in other emails that will go over aspects of the RootsTech Conference. There are some great handouts, videos of classes that are FREE and a few of the announcements that FamilySearch and other companies, like Ancestry.com and MyHeritage.com made.

Enjoy the week. Try to keep dry. If you have any questions, or need clarification, please let me know.