When Family History is Done (Part 2)

So, I gave this post last semester, but it has been asked again.  And it's a good question, so here we go:


This is probably the most common concern that I hear (I being Hannah).  But, the great thing is, it's not actually a real concern!  Because it's not true for two reasons.

1) If your family history was "done," mine would be too.  Eventually, we're all related, so if you haven't found me yet and haven't finished my work yet, you're not done.  If you have finished my work, please give me that information.  It would save me a lot of time and effort.   If your family history is so far back that it is too challenging for a beginner, start going laterally.  The parents of your great-grandfather's sister's husband are your family too.  Don't feel limited to the direct line.  There could be some much more recent, much easier family history if you go sideways and down.

2) Your grandparents having found a name doesn't make that family history done for you.  Remember that a huge part of family history is building a link and familial relations with our ancestors.  Ask for that info from your grandparents so that you can have it, so that you can find journals and anecdotes and such for those people, and so that you can build a relationship with them.  This is almost more important than the date-finding.  (Disclaimer: date-finding is important too, because if you didn't have the dates, the names couldn't go to the temple).

So, no.  You're not done.  And you won't be done until the end of the millennium.  So, have fun!